Giant Cauliflower

This is the first cauliflower I've grown. It turned out huge !! True, not as large as the ones from Alaska, but not bad for Colorado !! We had a huge batch of Curried Cauliflower and still had enough to have raw with dip.

Sustainable Living Fair

Each year Dan and I plan for the Sustainable Living Fair. We love the workshops, the vendors, the music, and talking to all of the interesting people that we meet. Emmett and Cora however live for the hammock display!

Downtown Aquarium

This weekend we went to the Downtown Aquarium in Denver. We only do this every few years or so as it is a bit pricey. But since we do live in a land-locked state it's kind of nice for the kids to see something watery once in awhile.

It was a fun afternoon. Thatcher loved being in the backpack. Cora and Dan loved the turtles. I loved the seahorses and jellyfish. And Emmett LOVED the stingrays. I forked out the three bucks for four small minnows (man, somebody is making a killing here!) and Dan and Emmett feed the rays. Cora and I prefered to just watch.Emmett now asks for a pet stingray every day. He has an elaborate plan to save his allowance to buy a tank and put it in the living room (after we move the coffee table and couches to make room of course.And here's a picture of the Terrific Three. Note Cora is at the stage that in pretty much every picture I take of her, she's making some kind of wierd face. Sigh...

Picnic By A Pond

We're doing a home school science unit on observing animals and famous scientists like Jane Goodall. So we did a picnic lunch at Rolland Moore Park (aka Goose Poop Park) to get in some animal observation. Our animal was the Canada Goose (aka Fort Collins Rat) and Goose Poop Park was the perfect habitat.
Emmett and his trusty magnifier glass - just in case he needed to observe something small.

Trusty field assistant, Cora assists in grass seed collection. We were supposed to collect some pond water but I thought the edge of the pond looked too sketchy for small children and a un-graceful mom to give that a go.

On a side note, we've had a bumper crop of peppers this year. It's so funny that peppers and tomatoes are supposed to enjoy the same culture, yet my tomatoes have done poorly this year.

Butterfly Pavilion

Inspired by conversations with neighbors and posts by fellow bloggers, we decided to finally make a foray to the Butterfly Pavilion in Denver. Hard to believe that we have lived here as long as we have and never been. It was a wonderful day trip. Emmett keeps asking when we can go back.Cora held their mascot "Rosie". I could hardly watch, so Dan took the picture. I was so proud of her. I asked Emmett if he wanted to hold her too and he replied "No way!". Apparently arachnophobia has a genetic link.

They had collections of other bugs besides butterflies, like Walking Sticks, Water Beetles, tarantulas, and then some other bugs I've never seen or read about.

I thought one of the coolest things on exhibit was a "hatching-window" where all types of chrysalises were hanging. You could watch butterflies emerge and dry their wings. The chrysalises were amazing - some were iridescent, some looked gold or silver, like they were made out of metal, and others looked like jade.

Cora getting a closer look at a butterfly.

We then stopped for lunch at a place called The Yak and The Yeti. Really how could you NOT stop at a place called The Yak and The Yeti? Good Indian lunch buffet, good service, reasonable price. The kids inhaled mango lassis the size of their head. Even Thatcher got some. A very nice ending to a very nice day.

Park Time

I've decided one of the best things about homeschooling is getting to enjoy these last few days of wonderful weather. This morning we said "to heck" with lessons and took a picnic to the Fossil Creek Park. It was sort of like being on a set of a horror/sci-fi movie. This park that normally has 50 kids had NO ONE! Nice for the kids to have their choice of playground equipment but unnerving for mom.

Peaches Part II

Well, here are the results of our first attempt at canning - not bad. We didn't leave enough headspace and lost some liquid but it could be worse. Just in case anyone wants to know - a twenty pound case makes about 10 quarts. One case down, one to go!

Chickens!!!

Yeah !!! Last night the Chicken Amendment passed the 2nd reading 5 to 1. It's so amazing to see all of Dan's hard work and preservence pay ff. It may not seem like a big thing but it makes a difference for the families who would like this option. And if Dan has ever stood for anything, he's stood for freedom of rights. Yeah, Dan !

Cora's 1st Day of Preschool

Ah, the day that she has waited two years for. Finally, all those toys and paints and playground equipment and sandbox and books and push-cars and dress-up clothes and the HUGE kitchen set were hers!!! I have been so lucky to be a teach-parent for Emmett's first days and lucked out with Cora. It was wonderful to see well she adjusted (i.e. ran around like a monkey), enjoyed snack time (i.e. ate a whole orange and a bucket of animal crackers the size of her head) and loved the playground (i.e. hogged the tire swing until forced to come inside).

Healthy Kids #5

Mostly healthy anyways... I was feeling a bit under the weather still, so Dan ran with Emmett. I think Emmett was still recovering too as he told Dan on the last 1/2 lap that he thought he might run out of energy. That would be a first! No fear though as he crossed the finish line in fine form. No pics as apparently Dan is a much better photographer of runners than I am. I snapped some pics but none of them had Dan and Emmett. How did that happen?

The Discovery Science Center (one of our favorite places in town) had a booth at the run so the kids got to pet some bugs. Yech! I stood far back and busied myself with "caring" for Thatcher.