Free Day with a Twist

  We shuttled Hubby around for work one day this past week, but it wasn't a normal free day, we had a furry companion with us too.  A couple of weeks ago we took in a miniature pinscher for a friend while they are away.  She has some health problems currently so she needs us to stay close at hand, so she got to come with us.
  We started out our time at the Kansas Historical Society.  Pup stayed in the car while we played in the Discovery Area.  It was a beautiful spring day of about 50 degrees, we cracked the windows and set a timer for a half hour in the play area.
  We really enjoyed the newly re-vamped trails section of the play area.

We'd loaded the covered wagon before, but this time I made them add up all the packages to see how much they weighed.  Bubby is carrying over 1500 pounds in the picture.  Boy is he strong ;)
After our time was up, we headed outside to the playground.  Pup and the kids enjoyed the cool, breezy day and mom, well, she just sat and took it all in :)
  Our next stop was to the library.  We set another goal of a half hour.  When gas was so high and we were cramming all kinds of errands into a day in the city, we got this down to an art ;) We came out loaded down with books and took Pup to the park across the street for some leg stretching.

This accomplished one of my goals for the year.  To take time doing little oddities along the way.  We do the big trips and do them up well, but to stop and go to that tiny park right across from the library that has those cool gargoyles salvaged from a historic Topeka building - even just for a few minutes.  Doing those things you always pass by, but don't take time to do - that's what I want to do more of this year!  One checked off of the list :)
  Daddy was working in rural Shawnee County which allowed us to oogle wonderful historic houses like this one when we were dropping him off and picking him up. The big kids have come to appreciate looking along the way, Shorty begged to watch a movie and Mommy responded with "watch the movie that is going by out your window..." lol.  Poor kid...

Happy Birthday Kansas!

  Today we went to the Kansas Day celebrations at the Kansas State Historical Society.  The Society holds special meaning to our family.  The current building is just down the hill from where my Grandparents Murray used to live.  Hubby & I worked there for years in the archaeology department & library/archives.  Plus, it is one of the kids' all time favorite places to be with the exhibits, the trails and even the library.  We hadn't attended the Kansas Day festivities there for a few years, so we were really excited to go!
  We always try to go around lunch time so we can beat the large school crowds.  Its still really busy, but a little less so.  When you get there they have you sign in and give you a handout on where the activities are within the building.  The set up is really wonderful - you don't need to advance register and homeschool teachers are treated just like regular teachers:)  The activities range from crafts and live performances, to individuals demonstrating different crafts.

Shorty & his railroad hat

  The absolute best demonstrator is the rope making.  There's always a huge line.  I'll let you in on a little secret, homeschoolers have a HUGE advantage at this one.  They allow each class to make a rope and one lucky kid gets to actually take the rope home.  Mookie was dying to get a rope this year.  Fortunately for us even though she got the rope, our "class" gets to take home the rope and share it amongst themselves:)  Bubby's rope from the last time we went is an improvised rope swing in one of our trees.  It is quite a treasure for the kids to take away from this day. 

Bubby helping Mookie make her rope

  In true Bubby form, he had to go to each activity/demonstration on the map.  That made for a real challenge with a toddler who refused a nap before we left, but we almost made it.  I think we missed 2 :)  We even completed the gallery scavenger hunt which the kids loved!

Mookie trying her hand at basket weaving

  One of the really cool things about the day for the teachers is they send you home with a packet of great Kansas teaching helps.  There are some other wonderful Kansas Day activities in our area, we hope to try them out in the years to come too:)