North Texas Family Expo

After our volleyball game this morning, the kids and I came home and got their Halloween costumes on and headed over to the North Texas Family Expo for some Halloween fun. Ken was at school and Alex had to work, so we were on our own.
I  intended to stay for just little while, but the kids ended up taking part in the costume contest.



Then we had to wait about an hour before they  revealed the winners.
and guess what?!
Our very own Mad Hatter WON in the 9-11 boys contest!


Congratulations Joseph!

A couple of pictures from the Fashion Show

A friend of mine got some pictures of the girls! Yay!

 

American Girl Fashion Show

Today was our much anticipated American Girl Fashion Show. The girls were even MORE excited this year because they got to be historical characters (vs. Bitty Babies or contemporary fashions). It's a huge milestone in AG Fashion Show world. ;) )

We got halfway to the show before I realized that I didn't have my camera, but I did get some grainy video with my phone.
Libby was Molly. She has braids with red bows and she is wearing red and white striped pajamas.
Caroline was Rebecca. She wore a low ponytail with a blue bow, white pajamas and a blue robe.

I have to tell you this because the picture may not be clear enough to see.

BFF?

Who would have thought that Grumpy Old Lady would put up with THIS?!

Bumper Starz

The girls are playing volleyball again this season. We are having a lot of fun. Caroline actually got a serve over the net today! (This has been eluding both of them this season). Both girls are right there when it comes time to bump though!
Libby is #9

 Caroline is #8 (this was taken right as she bumped the ball)

Nasher Sculpture Center

We had one of our favorite field trip destinations...the Nasher. Not only do they give you a pencil and a sketchbook when you go there, they also have awesome exhibits and really cool projects to do. ;)
Today's class was on innovation in art...how artists use different materials that might not always be considered art material. Some of it really reminded me of my grandfather. He never met a piece of junk that he did not get along with, I don't think. He would have fit right in at this exhibit.
I think that Libby has something that she wants to contribute to this discussion...

 One of the really cool sculptures that we saw.

Libby had a lot to say today.

Working on our projects. The kids had to decide whether to build a weather machine, time machine or machine to do their chores. Then they were each given a lunchbag full of stuff to use to build it. Everyone had different stuff. (Caroline, Libby and our friend Ben)

Joseph and our friends Alex and Alia.

Caroline's weather machine.

Joseph's invention.

Ben contemplating what he should do next.

Alia and her machine.

Alex and his innovation.

Frisco Sci-Tech Discovery Center

We came across a deal for a family membership to the Sci-Tech Discovery Center in Frisco. And we can't pass up a deal! The kids and I went over there and spent hours (after spending hours at the car dealership on an $800 car inspection :p). Their exhibits, right now, are about Math and Coordination. The kids loved all of it and we spent an entire afternoon playing. The place was empty except for a few other families. Coincidentally, we ran into someone that I went to high school with and someone that Caroline went to Chinese school with. How bizarre is that?
They had a crazy tricycle that had square wheels but rode smoothly...

 

There were lots of coordination activities (Joseph was really good at these).

 And then.....BONUS! They had a COW EYE dissection! (Caroline had ZERO interest in touching a dissected cow eyeball, but the other two were really into it.)

Birdseed Wreaths

 

Check it out....a birdseed thing that actually turned out the way it was intended. We made these to go with one of the stories in our Short Stories unit in Moving Beyond the Page. They were very simple, too. 

1 packet of unflavored gelatin

2 T. cold water 

6 T. boiling water

2 c. birdseed

3 mini-bundt pans

Dissolve the gelatin in the 2T of cold water and let sit for a minute. Add the 6 T. of boiling water and stir until dissolved. Stir in birdseed until all seeds are coated. Let sit for a minute. Stir again. 

Spoon into bundt pans and let set (we put in them in the fridge for a couple of hours).

We, also, only 1/2 filled the pans because the "hole" didn't go all the way  to the top of the pan. 

I wonder if the birds will appreciate them!