101 Places to See Before You're 12 - A Dinosaur Site

A DINOSUAR SITE

When we visited Chicago in May 2008, we visited the Field Natural History Museum and the boys absolutely loved it.  I had in the back of my mind to go to the Shedd Aquarium too that afternoon, time permitting, but we had too much fun at the Field Museum.

One of our favorite sections of the museum was the Dinosaur exhibit.  Thomas has always loved Dinosaurs and still considers Paleontologist one of his possible careers.

 

not sure who the families on the right are:)

From the Book

#59 - A Dinosaur Site

All of North America was once dinosaur country, and dinosaurs left their mark (well, their bones and footprints, really) all over the place before they disappeared forever.  A visit to a dinosaur site or museum is as close as you can get to seeing what they were like in real life.  You can look at reconstructed skeletons and life-size reproductions, and maybe even take part in a dig yourself.  It's amazing how many different types of dinosaurs there were (and scientists are discovering an average of seven new kinds each year).  If you are, or ever were, dino-crazy, you've just gotta check out a dino-site.

Fabric Covered Magnetic Board

We have a bunch of coupons for free kids meals and other items that I want to keep out so I don't forget about them, but didn't have a good home for them.

They were either in a pile in the front seat of my car or in a pile in the kitchen.  I decided neither was working so I put the stuff on top of the dryer.  But they kept getting knocked off when I was folding clothes.  So, I decided to put a magnetic board in the laundry room.

I have seen fabric covered magnetic boards in several stores, and thought I would try to make one.  The hardest part of this project, BY FAR, was deciding on the fabric.  The rest was a piece of cake.

I chose a cheap, light magnetic board (23"x17") at Wal-Mart for $6.  I got the fabric at Hobby Lobby (1/2 yd.).  I chose mosaic tiles and then glued magnets to the back.

I ironed the wrinkles out of the thin cotton fabric quickly and then centered the board on the fabric.  I pulled one side over and began hot gluing the fabric to the back of the board.

I cut off the excess and continued all the way around.  I considered gluing the fabric to the front of the board as well, but decided against it.  If I ever want to change the fabric, this will be easier.  And, hot gluing it just on the back worked great.

These are the 1" mosaic tiles I picked up.  The colors worked with the fabric.

I hot glued Lowe's magnets to the back.

David hung it for me using the sticky things that come with the magnetic board and a ribbon I attached.  I considered hot gluing the ribbon around the edge of the board for added color, but decided against it. I liked it plain.

And now it's ready for all that stuff that didn't have a home.

I'm linking up to several parties next week.  Stop by and see more great projects!

101 Places to See Before You're 12 - An Unusual Animal Farm

On our way to visit family in Mississippi last week, we took a side trip to visit An Unusual Animal Farm.  In Tupelo we visited the Buffalo Park and Zoo.

(not a real buffalo)

Here are the real buffalos.  We didn't have the chance to take the bus tour to see others, but apparently this site has the largest buffalo herd east of the Mississippi River.

A cool turtle - he was huge!

I love this photo of Brennan with the giraffe.  They knew we all could have food so just walked right up.

Wallabees

Llamas are so funny to me.  They are very confident, just walk right up.  But there's something about them that makes me think they will spit at you if you look at them wrong.

A zeedonk - cross between a zebra and a donkey.  Apparently these are common - I've never seen one before.

It's as if these goats were posing.  I swear they saw me taking pictures and climbed on their little stages.

These were awfully loud and boisterous parrots.  Performing and hamming it up for the tourists.

My mom called yesterday - apparently a capuchin monkey was born yesterday at the Buffalo Park.  They're taking suggestions for names.  We'll have to head to their website and think up a couple.  The capuchin we saw (sorry, no photo) Thomas is SURE is the one from the "Night at the Museum" movies. 

 

From the Book:

#74 - An Unusual Animal Farm

Bison, emus, ostriches, llamas, and alpacas:  Old McDonald never had these on his farm.  However, some farmers do, and it's fun to see them.  There's really nothing like the sight of hundreds of enormous woolly bison grazing on a hill together or the sound of a peacock mating call (it's way louder than you would think!).  And who can resist the sight of a friendly, fluffy llama?  Unlike at a zoo, you get to observe the animals up close at an animal farm.  Rules permitting, you may even get to interact with them and find out the answer to that eternal question:  Do llamas really spit?

12 of 52

Daddy and I went to the State/North Carolina game on Saturday.  My parents have tickets and I thought my mom was going, but she offered her ticket up and I happily took it!  It was GREAT to be at The Hump, with my Daddy, enjoying a game.  Sadly, we lost in the final seconds.

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with your family. Your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Now go take a picture!

101 Places to See Before You're 12 - The House Where Your Parents Grew Up

The House Where Your Parent(s) Grew Up

We are fortunate that when we travel to visit family, we are able to see most of our family in one town.  So, #24 in the book above was pretty simple for us to do!

This is David's house where he grew up.

And this is my house where I lived for 3 years.  I grew up in a military family so we lived in numerous houses, but this one is HOME.

Thomas and Brennan love visiting their grandparents at our childhood homes three or four times a year.  We are very fortunate that our families lives less than a mile from each other!

From the book:

#24 - The House Where Your Parent(s) Grew Up

"It used to be so much bigger" is probably the first thing your mom or dad will say.  Your dad will start to tell you lots of funny stories about what he used to do and the time he got in so much trouble for something he would never let you do.  Your mom will talk about trees or bushes that used to be there, or who her neighbors were, or she'll start digging in the yard for smething she buried long ago.  She might even start to cry.  You may learn more about your parents from this one visit than you've ever known.  And you may find out that underneath all that grown-up stuff, your parent is really a kid at heart.

Spring Break 2010

We had a wonderful trip to Mississippi to visit family and friends over Spring Break last week.  Except for the rainy drive back home yesterday, the trip was just about perfect!

Here are lots of photos from the visit.

Thomas (9) with Grandma Carolyn and Grandpa Don.

With cousins Taylor (8) and Ellie (5)

Brennan with cousin Natalie (6)

Thomas at the park

Brennan (8) and cousin Danielle (3)

Mamaw with Natalie

Grandma Nan with Brennan and Natalie

Enjoying MSU ice cream

Shelly and Danielle

Visiting with Mawmaw

Thomas and Mamaw

The trees and flowers were blooming and it was beautiful!

More beautiful trees on campus.

Chapel of Memories

Thomas's shot below.

It was a fun visit!