Michelle and Marina at the Museum

With Marina's cousin Michelle in town for the summer, we decided to spend some extra time with her. We had several options to consider for today, but with the temperatures expected around 95 degrees, we decided to spend the day inside. We went to the Museum of Nature and Science.

Marina's favorite part is the health exhibit, so we started there. The museum wasn't crowded today, so Marina and Michelle were able to try out all the activities without waiting. We tried out nearly everything before we caught the pirate microbial show. Marina was selected to go onstage as a volunteer. Later on, when the pirate asked for a grown up volunteer, she was more than happy to push me into the act. Fortunately, I narrowly avoided walking the plank.

We stopped for lunch. The table was very quiet showing how hungry we all were. We decided our next activity would be to find all the elves hiding in the museum. I brought my cheat sheet to help us along. We ran into several other elf hunters along the way. It was fun to help each other out.

Next up, we went into the space exhibit. Again we had missed the crowds, so there wasn't much of a wait for all the activities. The girls dropped meteors, searched for metal plates in the sand and played with refracted light. We attended a demonstration about liquid nitrogen. Marina was amazed when she saw a rubber ball shatter after being frozen by liquid nitrogen. 

On the way home, we stopped for frozen yogurt at our new favorite place. We're enjoying our summer with Michelle.

We're Off To See The Wizard

After trying out dinner theater last summer, Marina was happy to go again. The one we went to last year schedules kid friendly shows every summer, so we had the perfect excuse to go back.

This year's show is The Wizard of Oz. Naturally, Marina wanted to dress for the show. Unfortunately, her Dorothy costume was a bit too small for her to wear today. She has a Glinda costume, but she thought it was "too hot." So I dug out a Dorothy costume I wore when I was 15. It was too big, but we made it work. She also brought McKenna along. She had a Glinda costume that fit her, so while they didn't match, they did coordinate.

Marina's cousin Michelle wanted to see the show as well. The only dress she had to wear was very formal, so I dressed up too. We left early since the theater is far from our house. But we arrived in plenty of time.

First we had lunch. It turned out the actress playing Dorothy was one of our servers. Marina was excited by that. They don't have a kid's menu, but they offer some dishes that are obviously geared toward them. However, Marina skipped those and went for the Chicken Cordon Bleu, which she really liked. She also surprised me by eating most of her salad. Usually she's uninterested in salads.

Once the show started, Marina was captivated by it. She laughed at the jokes and sang along with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." She also loved the live dog playing Toto for much of the first act.

We had dessert at intermission. Marina ordered the Emerald City pie. She was pretty pleased with that as well, especially the yellow brick road made out of candy on top.

Once the show was over, everyone had the chance to have their picture taken with the cast. Of course, Marina was anxious to take them up on that offer.We also got a chance to get a photo of the Wizard. We looked for the Wicked Witch and Glinda, but they weren't available for pictures, so we headed home.

Today We Play

Today was a hot one. It was the perfect day for a water park. My sister and I got together to take Marina and her cousins Michelle and Cameron to the local water park. Marina was very excited.

We ate lunch first before heading into the park. Once we arrived in the water park, the kids were ready to play. They started in the wave pool. Marina had gotten upset the last time we were in there. Today she was a bit more cautious. While she played in the wave pool, she didn't go in very deep.

Marina and Michelle wanted to try some of the slides, so we tried out several of them. In between we went back to the wave pool. When  we took the kids on the lazy river they went way ahead of us and we lost them. They were quite pleased with themselves.

We had planned to try out the dry side of the amusement park, but never quite got there. The kids really didn't want to leave, but the dark clouds gathering overhead let us know it was time to go.

On the way home we stopped for ice cream. We were all exhausted, but we'd had fun.

Rapunzel in the Renaissance

Visiting the Renaissance Festival has become an event Marina and I look forward to every summer. This year, she decided to dress as Rapunzel. We arrived shortly after the gates opened. It was Kids Weekend, so we saw plenty of other Disney Princesses throughout the day.

Marina wanted to start the day on some rides. She also tried out the maze. While in there, she spoke to a local newspaper reporter about it. But we were sure to make it on time to see the first joust of the day. Sir William is still her champion. We made sure to sit in his section.

Before lunch, we spent some time shopping. Marina loves checking out the stores. We also came across members of the royal family. She chatted with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Erin of Ireland. She also met with Queen Anne before the parade began. By then it was lunch time. We shared a turkey leg and watched the parade go by.

We didn't sit and watch many shows today. Instead we caught bits and pieces of some. Marina was particularly interested in the musical performances. She's developed a love for bagpipe music. We also enjoyed the costumes of many of the other Festival goers - we saw and spoke to people dressed as Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, the Lone Ranger and Tonto, Captain Jack Sparrow and Princess Merida.

As usual, Marina wanted her face painted. The line for our favorite booth was long all day. We finally decided we'd wait in line for her. While waiting, Marina fell in love with a hair wreath at a neighboring booth. It went so well with her outfit I couldn't resist. And the face paint just complemented the whole outfit.

By then it was time for the next joust. Of course, we had to be there.Marina cheered loudly for Sir William and booed his opponents. We took time to meet up with Twig, her favorite fairy, before we headed to the pavilion for children's knightings. Princess Elizabeth did the honors for Marina. By then the weather was turning a bit. It was cloudy and sprinkling a bit of rain.

We were a bit concerned that Princess Elizabeth's tea party might be cancelled. Fortunately, the weather cleared up enough for the tea party to go on. The girls talked about what they had done at the Festival today. Then they played a story telling game. Marina played the princess in the story. She really got into the acting part.

After the tea party, we checked out the kids area. She is now too tall for most of the rides there, but she was able to ride a horse on the carousel. We also took a look at the animals in the petting zoo. Marina still doesn't want to feed them, however.

It was time for us to find a spot for the final joust of the day - the joust to the death. Sir William was set to battle Sir Sancho. Marina obviously enjoyed watching the combat. And she was happy that Sir William came out as the victor. The "death" part didn't bother her in the least. Even later when was saw Sir Sancho she thought it was silly that I pointed out that he was okay.

On the way out, we caught the end of the fire eater's act and she rode one last ride. But before we could leave, we had to meet up with Sir William. He greeted her with a warm hug. He is always so gallant with her!

As we left, we got the see the cast's song and dance. This year, Princess Elizabeth and one of the fairies brought some of the girls out of the crowd and danced with them in a circle in front of the performers. Marina was thrilled!

By the time we finally reached the car, we were both very tired. It was a quiet ride home after so much fun today!

Historic Fourth

Last year, Marina and I spent the Fourth of July at the local historic park. We had such a good time that we decided to go back this year. Since we'd already been there, she knew what to expect. As we walked in, she recognized Uncle Sam and Abraham Lincoln.

Many of the attractions were the same. Marina was happy to sign the Abolition of Slavery petition with an old fashioned pen that she had to dip into an ink well. She also spent some time chatting with Abraham Lincoln as well.

Our next stop was s station where Marina was able to churn butter, grind coffee, clean laundry on a wash board and pare and peel an apple. She learned that those methods took a lot longer than what we have now.

We checked out the Civil War camp next. Marina was wearing her Union Army cap, so she was welcomed there. But the reception wasn't so warm in the Confederate army tent. Then we took a ride on a stagecoach before having lunch.

After we ate, Marina panned for gold and found five pieces. She even took the time to show other kids how to do it. We also tried some snickerdoodles from a wood burning stove. Our next goal was to complete the scavenger hunt the organizers had created. It took some perseverance, but we were able to complete it.

By this time, Marina was practically melting in the heat. So we decided it was time to call it a day. We stopped for cold drinks before heading home.

Saige Sleepover

The American Girl store had a premier screening of the new movie Saige Paints the Sky and Marina was dying to go. We invited her best friend Madison to join us and it turned into a sleepover. Last night, Madison came to our house, the girls played and watched the movie Brave together. They slept pretty well but they woke up before 6:00 am. I tried to convince them to go back to sleep, but they wouldn't. I knew they'd be tired later.

After breakfast, we headed out the local water park. Marina hadn't been there before, so she followed Madison's lead. Most of the slide held one or two riders, so the girls rode together and I rode behind them. Madison convinced Marina to try some that scared her a bit, but she loved them all.

After lunch the lines for the slides were longer, so the girls kept themselves to the kid's playground and the wave pool. While in the wave pool, Marina got hit in the face with water. The early morning wake up was showing. So we decided it was time to go. On the way home, we picked up so cold drinks and we relaxed for a while.

The girls got ready to go out. Since the main event of the evening was the American Girl movie, both girls brought their favorite dolls. Marina has two outfits for herself and the American Girl dolls. So she and Madison wore them for the evening. Madison brought her doll, Caroline, and Marina brought McKenna.

Before we checked out the activities at the American Girl store, we had dinner. The waitress gushed over how much they looked like their dolls. That pleased both of them. They both ate well despite telling me they weren't hungry.

Our next stop was the American Girl store. Marina and Madison both hammed it up on the red carpet and they tried out several of the Saige related activities. Two of the horses used n the movie Saige Paints the Sky were also there for the girls to meet. The horses were very tame and both girls were able to pet them.

We spent some time in the store during a sudden rainstorm. Both of them are dying to get the Saige doll. While we were in there, the women in the salon offered to fix up the hair of Caroline and McKenna before the show. They were thrilled.

Once Caroline and McKenna had their hair done, we headed for our seats to watch the movie. By then it was pretty late. While both girls watched the movie, it was clear that their early wake up and busy day were taking their toll. Marina was emotionally tired and Madison was spacing out. Somehow they managed to make it through the movie and we headed home. 

Princess of the Plains

Marina’s third grade class took a field trip to the conservatory near our house in the spring. She has a great time and said we should go sometime. We decided to check it out today. We started off in the Visitor’s Center. Marina was immediately interested the incubator with baby chicks in it. We also looked at the cases with snakes and other local reptiles in them.

Next we checked out the cluster of teepees nearby. They were difficult to get into but once inside we were amazed by how much space was inside.

The area was cover with prairie dog holes. So we were able to observe them for a while as well. Marina thought they were adorable, We also saw a few small rabbits and two hawks were appeared to be hunting. By then, Marina was annoyed by all the bugs. So we went out for ice cream and then headed home for a while.

We went back to the Conservatory after dinner for a “Sunset Safari.” Marina decided to wear her Pocahontas costume for the trip.  Everyone was loaded into a wagon and we drove out into the conservatory for a tour. We stopped many times along the way to view animals. The guide was very knowledgeable about all the animals we saw.

First we saw more prairie dogs and Eastern Cottontail rabbits. A bit farther on we saw some Pronghorns in the distance. One let us get pretty close but lost interest in us quickly. We drove past a Red Tailed Hawk nest with two babies in it as well.

At one point, we stopped because there was a snake in the road. It turned out to be a dead Bull snake. The kids all got out to take a closer look at it.

When we returned to the Center, everyone gathered around a fire to toast marshmallows.  That might have been Marina’s favorite part.