Chickadee Manor

Dark Sky Festival

We had a great time again at the TAWBAS Dark Sky Festival this year.  The guest presenters were Michelle Nicols, Master Educator for NASA Forum Programs at the Adler Planetarium; and Yuichi Takasaka, aurora and space photographer extraordinaire.  Also featured were Peter McMahon - "The Wilderness Astronomer" and "Professor Quark".  I didn't take many pictures at all this year but got a few of the kids playing and enjoying science experiments.  A sampling of events and activities - presentations by guest presenters, science experiments with Professor Quark, viewing of the night sky through several different telescopes, a cultural presentation, launching of kid-made rockets, yummy hot meals, a photography workshop, creating glow-in-the-dark t-shirt and hats, canoeing, and several other things I've failed to mention!

Escape Artist

Three months ago, when nap time looked like this...

It's official!  We have an escape artist in the family.  Since we returned home from vacation, our two year old has managed to master climbing out of his playpen, and quickly.  Less than 10 seconds from idea to his feet hitting the floor.  Yikes!  I have tried two different playpens thinking that the different styles might make a difference.  All of his "big kid playground" coping skills have made everything in the house a cinch.  The same afternoon he began climbing out of the playpen, he also began trying to scale the oven and the bathroom sink.  I was hoping for another half year or so of confined naps and bedtimes.  Time to figure out a strategy to tire him out enough that nap time is a desirable thing! 

 

An Afternoon at the Beach

On our way home, we stayed overnight with friends who live right at the edge of Great Slave Lake.  The beach in front of their home is beautiful.  The kids had a blast making their own pool by making a driftwood log frame at beach level which they then covered with muddy sand they bucketed from the lake.  Once the pool was dug to their satisfaction they brought water up from the lake to fill the pool!

 

 

 

Dino in the Sandbox