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!

Places to Go - Katy Perry's Portrait & Kids in a Box at the Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery (Washington D.C.)

Happy Monday everyone!! I felt like we/I needed a break from the vacation posts. Plus, after almost a month touring Europe, I'm even more in awe of how truly awesome DC really is. The first week after we came back from Europe I had a hard time readjusting - first of all, I had a pretty steady stream of photography work for the first few days (which was wonderful, but exhausting), plus after 3.5 weeks alone together the kids could not stop fighting, and a revolving door of playdates kept circulating through my living room (so. many. kids).

Anyways, when KidFriendly DC posted a picture of Katy Perry's portrait at the Smithsonian Portrait museum I realized how much I needed a non-pool outing. Luckily, all I had to do was mention the Firework singer and the girls were all in (like moths to a flame).

While I hate the parking situation, I love the Smithsonian art museums (the Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum share a building, though, somewhat oddly, not a website), they are rarely crowded and the modern art gallery on the top floor is one of my favorite places in DC. Lots of empty space. Cool couches. Amazing large scale installations. If you ever need a place to relax in the big city, this is the place to be.



A new way to read the Constitution.





We also checked out the museum's Watch This: Revelations in Media Art exhibit (only open until September 7, GO NOW!!), where the girls could have spent hours playing with the video camera that films you in a box.








And then we randomly wandered into the Luce Foundation Center for American Art. And this is when I realized the true amazingness of DC. I had no idea this place even existed. Basically, several of the collections that the museum previously housed in storage are now available to the public in Luce's three floored gallery, which looks like the secret garden of libraries. The Luce Foundation also has scavenger hunts and audio tours, which the kids and I cannot wait to try out on our next visit. But, as our time was limited, we spent our first visit perusing aisle after aisle of hidden treasures, the girls especially loved the crazy jewelry collection, where drawers open up so you can explore more.