Field Trip to the Bell

Can you tell what this is? Any ideas?

Would it help if you could touch it? Well, you can if you go to the Bell Museum on the U of M campus. The workers will not outright tell you what it is, but will give you clues and information to help you figure it out.My professor brought our science class on a field trip to the Bell two weeks ago. Then, independently of my class trip, my friend asked me if I wanted to go with the kids. I jumped at the chance to go with friends and my kids. We packed everyone up, and had a wonderful time.

We enjoyed the dioramas by Jacques. Some of the finest in the world. It is truly impressive how he blends the ground into the painting. Sometimes it was difficult to see where the painting actually began.

We also got to take a nap in a bog.

So nice and squishy and oh so restful!

We spent most of our time in the Touch and Feel room. Actually, we LOVED the Touch and Feel room. Small tidbit: this museum was one of the first in the nation to have a Touch and Feel room.

The kids got to play with different bones and animal pelts, horns and antlers. There was even a hawk talon to touch and feel. Our favorite things were all the living snakes, bugs, turtles and salamanders to observe and touch.The kids had the very patient museum worker take out every single animal.Andrew especially enjoyed the burrowing cockroaches (when they were in the cage). I guess there were hundreds of them in this cage. The guy was nice enough to open the cockroach cage and Emily got to hold one. After this picture, Emily promptly dropped it. Luckily it landed in the cage.

In case you are still wondering, the first picture is of an elephant skull.
Aren't we are all the smarter now that we have been to the Bell Museum.

By the way...I was told by a credible source that everything comes alive at night at this museum. Anyone up for an overnight adventure?

The Cyclones

Andrew's third wrestling season has begun. This year he is excited to be on the Cyclones. Seriously, who would want to wrestle a cyclone? They are tough! Let's have Andrew demonstrate some tough Cyclone wrestling moves. This is the single-leg take down. It is a very useful move when you are trying to get your opponent down on the ground. Who can wrestle on just one leg? That kid is coming down.After your opponent is down, you jump on top of them and work to pin them. That gives you some points.

Unfortunately, sometimes your opponent has some moves....such as this double-leg take-down. Andrew is fighting to avoid it. For memory's sake, let's assume he was successful : )

First Snow

Find the gloves, boots, hats, snow pants, coats, scarves and, of course, hot chocolate. Winter is coming...

and some of us could not be happier.

Dancing at the Gopher Game

This year Emily and her friend, Anna, decided to join the Elite Dance team. This means that she goes to dance twice a week (two team classes and an audition prep class),gets to be more serious about the learning the dance routines, will have more performances, will compete, and will wear the Santa Baby dance costume. The Elite dancers got to dance at the men's basketball game last night at the U of M. It was our first Gopher Game (even though I have been going to the U for the past two years), and fun to attend a college game. We had great seats, thanks to some wonderful friends!Em had to be at Williams Arena an hour before the game began. This was the first time that ALL the Elite dancers practiced the routine together. Em is at the top of the picture in the blue sweatpants...enjoying her flat splits. Something I could never do...even at her age. The teachers had to coordinate 86 dancers, making sure their lines were spaced correctly and that the girls would not crash into each other as they completed their different line-ups. Honestly, it was not looking good at first. They were crashing into each other and they were getting lost in their lines. But, somehow Tina (the owner/head teacher) got them organized and in sync. At performance time, they pulled off a perfectly precise dance routine. Look, even Goldy the Gopher is impressed by their dance!I am going to have the song, "All I want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey stuck in my head all season!

Good job Emily and Anna!

We like the trees, right?

2/3 of the back yard is done (36 bags so far)....If the sun is still out this afternoon, I may tackle the front yard.

What did you do this weekend?

Newsies

Over the past month or so, the youth in our ward have been preparing for the Stake Dance Festival. The theme is Broadway Shows. Our ward picked Newsies. It is the perfect show for our ward. The music is so much fun, and we have SO MANY boys! Yes...Ryan is one of them. In the past, he has always left the dancing to Emily, but this time it is HIS turn to be on stage. I believe he has really enjoyed this experience. He has worked really hard to learn the moves. Actually, the entire youth group and leaders have worked hard. They even gave up part of their MEA vacation...now that is dedication!They had their dress rehearsal tonight. They look so good! I am excited for Saturday night.