Things to Do/Places to Go - Around . . . (Jan & February 2016)

I haven't done a huge photo post in awhile, so here goes . . .





I love spending weekday afternoons at Longbranch Nature Center with this coolio preschooler.



Sister cheers with hot cocoa (proof that sometimes they actually get along).



The morning crowd. Love these kids.



The kids tried to train Happy the dog. Unsuccessfully.



These three have been besties since pre-K and they're still going strong.



Sometimes swordfights erupt on my front lawn. Of course.


Looking out windows and waiting for spring.


We spent an afternoon at the Smithsonian American History Museum. And my kids fought over a chair.



Winter if my favorite season at the National Zoo.



Because the bears finally come out to play.




And the birds.





We made a few new friends.





Who seemed to enjoy "hanging" out with us.



But most importantly, my kids actually bonded with each other.



T continues to love Arnie the Doughnut.




Saturday morning Sorry games always start off friendly, but they don't stay that way for long.



P's friends curled her hair.



This is my front lawn (you can start crying now). The boys found an abandoned shopping cart and a disassembled bunk bed. Hence the beginning of our "fort building kit".




After the blizzard, we didn't have many more snow days, but we still had some.



Luckily, the fort building kit is a rain, shine, or snow activity.



Cozy nights on the couch.



Dog walking with my favorite 3rd grader.



Umbrellas are so much fun.



P drew her entire class.



And, finally, sometimes we tune everything else out. As we put on our headphones and wait for spring!

Places to Go - Inventing Stuff at the Smithsonian Museum of American History (Washington D.C.)

This summer, the Smithsonian reopened their "Innovation Wing" on the first floor, after a long renovation (how many years has it been closed? It seems like forever). We finally had a chance to check it out a few weeks ago and I cannot say enough good things. Tons of hands on learning experiences perfect for kids of all ages.









First stop, the new Spark!Lab, aimed at children 6-12. Through October, the Lab focuses on "Things that Roll" (after October the lab plans on changing its focus every few months). Kids can use everyday materials to make their own rolling vehicles and test them out on a ramp. Stations also allow children to create an adaptive car, make a rolling toy, and experiment with other materials and projects. The girls spent a whole hour creating vehicles out of cardboard, pipe cleaners, tape, and beads.




After Spark!Lab, we moved on to the Places of Innovation exhibit, where you can: operate a turntable, create a computer Icon, and work on an assembly line (the boys had a BLAST working together to make random wire "things").




Next stop, Object Project - virtually try on outfits from past decades, "ride" an old-fashioned bicycle, and (my favorite) play The Price is Right by guessing the listed value of items in old (sometimes super old) Sears' catalogs.

AND THAT'S JUST ONE SECTION OF THE FIRST FLOOR!! So much fun!! If you haven't been yet, I highly suggest a visit. The Spark!Lab is open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m every day but Tuesday. It was not crowded when we visited (on a weekday before school started), but I'm not sure it could handle crowds well.



And for those of you with younger children, even more fun is coming in December!