The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

A while back my kids told me that they missed me blogging. I was a bit surprised, as I didn't really see that one coming. They explained that they loved reading it, looking back over the things we've done and the pictures. 

So, I tentatively promised that I would take it back up again. It's funny how you can fall out of the habit of doing something you love, or something that you know you should do. And then it becomes unfamiliar and awkward to take up with it again. All sorts of things, from allowing the dishes to go all day without getting done, to devotions, to case in point, blogging.

So this is my attempt to blog--again. If I remember how. I hope I do.

I figured I'd just pick a place, and start. It's weird, I know. But I can live with that. A subject pertaining to homeschooling seemed to be logical, since that's what the majority of my days are filled with, and it's a lot more interesting than other things my days are filled with, like say laundry, diapers, etc.

So this year, we've used this art curriculum. And we have LOVED it. It introduces so many techniques and art supplies, in easy little bite sized pieces. You can make them bigger and more involved if you want, but you don't have to. It says it's for K-3rd grade, and I'm sure that's true for some, but for myself, I probably wouldn't want to deal with keeping a Kindergartner on track with the lessons... I prefer waiting until they can keep themselves on point, because I'm grumpy like that.  

 Since Garrett works nights, a lot of our Saturdays are sort of um, lame. Because he must sleep through Saturday afternoon. So, we've tried to make it fun Momma/Kiddo time instead, and mostly succeeded, I hope. I like to leave the house because it's stressful to keep a loud little toddler under control. So we try to head out and do something fun. Sometimes we move our art lesson from Friday to Saturday, and take it out and about. We all look forward to this.

The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory has been a lifesaver this winter for leaving the house. Because it is so incredibly wonderful to have a warm, green place to go when you're SO SO SO tired of the indoors, and it is too cold to be outdoors.

Trying so hard to get more pictures of myself WITH my kids. When you're always behind the camera, that's not easy to do. I'm not a huge fan of selfies, but in limited amounts, with purpose, they're alright, right? Especially if you want record of the fact that you were actually WITH your children. 

 On this trip we were using oil pastels. Keira loves oil pastels especially, and she was excited. The previous time we did a "do art" trip to the conservatory it was all pencil sketching, so she was thrilled to get some color in on the action too. She chose the amazing Bird of Paradise they had, and Brianna chose the beautiful Spiral Ginger plant.

I was highly amused and felt like a ridiculous cliche on this day, because the conservatory was PACKED. And the girls chose the place that everyone walked by to sit and do their flowers. So funny and awkward. So everyone is looking and talking to the girls, and saying, "Oh! You must homeschool!" Haha. Yep. You called it. I should have worn my denim jumper and brought a goat. (I don't have a denim jumper, to be clear. Just in case the fashion police are reading this. Or a goat. I don't have one of those either. Just Daria, who likes to pretend to be a dog. So that could count, I suppose. In a pinch.)

It was fun though, because there was another artist with acrylic paint, and one with watercolors, so the girls got to watch other people for a while. They loved that.

Daria was particularly attached to Keira this day. I had to include this picture because I love how alike these two look here. 

The fruit and spices of the world room is our very very favorite. It has cocoa trees! It's amazing. I heard a frantic "Mom! Mom! Mom!" from across the room, and nearly had a heart attack.  Thankfully, it was just Brianna, who'd discovered a Jack fruit Tree. She'd just learned about how important Jack fruit was to India that week, and was really excited to find one in real life.

The tropical rainforest room has a free-roaming sloth. It's become a "spot-the-sloth" tradition for us every time we visit. I'd never actually managed to see him before, but on this day he was in plain view, so we got a picture to commemorate. 

 After we spent a long while basking in the warmth and greenery of the Conservatory, we headed over for a quick run through the zoo part. It was still pretty cold, so we did that part as quickly as we could with a grumpy toddler who will not be strollered, or carried, or hold anyone's hand while walking. And every time one of us held our hands out for her she would neatly fold hers on her chest, and get this stubborn face and say, "No! Mine! I walk." She's a real team player, that one.

 Thanks for coming along with us!