Science Museum of Minnesota

For Christmas last year, Missy & Pete gave the kids a membership to the Science Museum of Minnesota.  It's a one-year membership that starts on our first use, well we went to the museum on July 5, meaning it's good until July 5, 2015.

 The trip started looking at some Pleistocene-aged fossils of mammoths and the like...

And if you're talking the Pleistocene, you have to look at the Giant Beaver (it almost became Minnesota's state fossil back in the '80's)...

The kids played around in the interactive exhibits for a while, here's Kieran and Lex trying to broadcast the news --- pretty sure it will not be Lex's career, if Kieran doesn't smile, it won't be his either...

But it didn't take long for Luke to point out why we were there....dinosaurs!  He wanted to see dinosaurs!  His current career plan has him 'digging dinosaur bones' in the future.  So off we went...

Some were large...

-  The special traveling exhibit is called 'Ultimate Dinosaurs' and is at the museum through the end of August.  It focuses on the evolution of dinosaurs that lived Gondwana (essentially, the continents of the southern hemisphere) and how they changed over time in comparison to dinosaurs living on Laurasia (essentially, the continents of the northern hemisphere).  Gondwana and Laurasia were fragments of the once much larger supercontinent of Pangea, both continued to fragment to the continents we know today through the action of plate tectonics....there, science... -

Some were small...

Some must have been really large...here's Luke and Kieran standing in front of a sauropods leg bones...

Lots of shapes and sizes...

Eventually, the museum compared the southern hemispheres therapods to North America's well-known therapod --- T-Rex.

We imagined that if your point of view was the same as the one shown below...it was the last thing you ever saw!

It's much safer now that they are extinct!

After leaving 'Ultimate Dinosaurs' we checked out a few more classic Cretaceous North American Dinosaurs, including Triceratops...

And while the kids were playing around changing the wave length, etc. of waves....we played around taking some different pictures using mirrors...

We didn't see the whole museum, after 4-5 hours the kids and adults were hungry so we left for lunch...the best part is we can go back to see the rest!

Kindergarten Connection

Central Public Schools does a program called Kindergarten Connection during the summer before kids start kindergarten.  It's essentially a bridge from pre-school to kindergarten, getting the kids ready for new routines, new buildings, eating lunch at school, etc. all so that on the first day, the kids can hit the ground running.

Luke's been going for the last four weeks, his last day is tomorrow.  The bus picks him up at home around 8:15 and drops him off at 1:30.  It's longer day than pre-school, but not quite as long as a normal day starting this fall.

The day's plan

Kindergarten connection is free, except for lunch and that our taxes are probably paying for it, but Luke loves it.  Big difference from the first day of pre-school...

Ready for the bus

He gets on the bus with two neighbor girls....

Climbing aboard the bus

 Generally, Luke sits somewhere in the front of the bus and waves to me until he's out of sight..wonder how long that'll last?

He's on the bus...can you find him?

Look at the video to see how he gets off the bus....everyday it's the same...

Flag Football

The last week of July brings the end of many of the summer activities we've been going to for the last two months.  T-Ball and Comboball end this week, dance ends this week and today was the last day of Flag Football for Kieran.  It was supposed to end last week, but an additional day was added because a day got cancelled back when we were in Spokane/Coeur d'Alene - Kieran wasn't going to be at that day anyway, so today was truly an 'extra' day for him.

Kieran's played flag football the last couple of summers - it's like $15 for probably 7-8 sessions, a t-shirt, plus he likes it.  Takes place at the high school practice field during the afternoon.

Can you find him?

It was run by a Community Ed intern (who was great with the kids) and two high school football players.  They start with 10-15 minutes of drills and then play a game for the rest of the hour.

He's open on the goal line!

Kieran loves to recreate the days flag football events for mom, telling her all the receptions, drops, tackles and most importantly, touchdowns!

Touchdown!

He'll be telling her of two touchdowns, a couple of tackles and may have a story about an interception that he dropped.  He will go into much greater detail....

In a few weeks, he'll get his equipment for fall football - it'll be an introduction to tackle football.  That should be interesting....Tuesday/Thursday nights will be spent at the football field.

Emergency Room Visits

For a while there, we tended to visit the emergency room with the boys and we acquired all the 'prizes' that they give there (those $400 dollar balloons or stuffed penguin with a blanket - we still have the penguin somewhere).

Last December, Luke had to go to the ER.  He laid down with me for most of the night running a fever and alternating between sleep and crying.  Eventually Sarah decided to take him to the ER around 3:00 am, turns out he had an ear infection plus something else in the ear that we've long forgotten.  He received his 'prize' and was sent on his way.

This 'prize' or balloon has been the longest staying balloon we've every seen.  It just recently dropped to the floor level, for almost 8 months it floated as high as the string would allow --- it's been played with, things have been thrown at it and it just kept floating....

This balloon might have been worth the money....

Never fear....we see addition trips to the ER in our future.  Last night, while getting ready for T-Ball, Luke asked "dad, how do you make wings?"  Why?  "Because I want to fly!"  Bad idea buddy....bad idea....

Lex's Birthday

Lex turned four yesterday and she reminded us this morning that she is still four today (of course she said that she'll be four for a while, then have another birthday, then be eight).

Her wants for her birthday were similar to last year -- a puppy (because "I like puppies") and a real horse.  She got neither...

This was as close to a horse that she got, a my little pony - which she was pretty happy with...

She also got some clothes (princess and dora), some books, an Ariel barbie doll that can go in the water - all the things that she likes.

She may be little, but she is growing and the proof is the picture below.

We've been measuring them on their birthdays starting at age one.  The pictures shows their heights at age four - obviously Lex is about an inch or inch and half behind the boys - but Lex did grow a little over three inches in the last year.  (Yes, believe it or not, Luke was taller than Kieran on the day that each of them turned four.)

Chaska Triathlon

Yesterday, the kids and I went to Chaska to watch Sarah in the triathlon.  It was the first time she had done that one for 6-7 years and the last time I remember seeing her do that one was 2004 or 2005.  It was close and easy to get to, plus, Kieran really likes watching.

The day starts with a swim in the Clayhole, not where I'd want to swim, but apparently it wasn't as weedy as it's been in the past.  That's her in the center of the picture breathing...

 After the swim is T1, the transition from swim to bike.  In Coeur d'Alene, volunteers helped pull off the wetsuits, they called it the 'banana peel.'  Here.....you talk your own wetsuit off.....

Then you need to get your bike helmet and other accessories ready for the bike...this is when the boys got a little close to see what was going on.,.

Kieran asked at one point, "what's taking her so long?"  Don't say that loud enough for mom to hear buddy, she'd get upset with you....but eventually she was off on the bike....

 While Sarah was biking, the kids probably had the most fun....they hung out at the park playing, yelling, pushing, etc.  Lex fell 2-3 times, scraping her knee each time, once was band aid worthy (but Lex hates band aids).  They made it back to me just in time to see Sarah come in for T2 - the transition from the bike to the run.

The kids really wanted to play at the park again while Sarah was running, but this was a short run and we needed to get moving towards the finish line.  It wasn't too long before she was coming in....

 In a little over an hour it was all done and we were home early for the day...

Swimming Lessons

Said the other day that our week nights are pretty busy, well Thursdays are swimming lesson night.  Lessons are at the outdoor pool that Sarah runs, SandVenture Aquatic Park.  It's got four slides, a diving board, and is sand-bottomed (obviously).

I don't have many pictures from lessons, as Sarah and I tend to be on the other side of the pool near the building (Sarah managing the pool and me eating/drinking too many pretzels with cheese and Diet Mt. Dew), but here are a few.  These first few I've adding some annotations to help you find the kids.

Luke had a really bad experience here for lessons a couple of summers back but has loved them for the last two years.

This is Lex's first summer with lessons at Shakopee, she still finds it a little strange that she has had the same teachers each week --- that didn't happen this spring at Waconia.

It's the first summer that Kieran hasn't had his preferred Heather as an instructor, but he still likes his new instructors.  Though he likes the 'hellos' and 'fist-bumps' from Heather when he sees her at the pool more.

Now you find them....

Last night, Lex's instructors let her take a Barbie into the pool with for lessons.  Lesson #1 with Lex, you let her choose and do what she wants once --- she will think that she has control for the rest of time.  When I walked down to take pictures, she was 10 feet away from the wall (and instructors) playing Barbie....

Kieran's actually getting better at his front crawl....he loves the slides and the diving board.  Yesterday he came up to me and said "dad, I'm going to start working on flips."  No...no you're not buddy...keep working on the dives and front crawl first.

Luke is a little angel in class...wish he'd give his instructors and teachers a little harder time and be better behaved at home.  Might be less stressful and less yelling at home....

Luke's T-Ball

We have something every night of the week (baseball, dance, swimming lessons, etc.), Wednesdays are T-Ball for Luke.  It's something he is really proud of, his shirt and hat is his, he doesn't share them with anyone and they are not hand me downs.  He likes knowing that we're all their to watch him.

Luke and Coach LD

Turns out that two of his coaches went to UM - Morris with three teachers that I work with.  All three said that I'd like both of them and they're right.  LD played football and is incredibly patient (and with this particular T-Ball team you need to be....there's at least 4 I wouldn't be able to handle) and Rhonda played basketball (I think).

Luke has really started to turn into being a runner, his stride length has increased so it's more of a natural looking run.  This is about the age that Kieran started running more naturally too.....it's interesting to see kids run, because many of them on the team have unique running styles that'll change as they get older.

Luke and Coach Rhonda

Luke has the tendency to throw his bat after he hits the ball (just like Kieran, who still does it) and has to be reminded to set the bat down.

He does like the night being all about him....though he could probably focus a little more on the game as opposed to waving and smiling at us while he's in the field.  At least he isn't like some of the kids who sit down, play in the dirt, don't pay attention at all, run all over, etc....all the things that T-Ball kids do that are...well, rather annoying.

Our little Lukie

Lexy's Dance Class

Dance started Monday night for Lex, and she was excited....All I heard that day was "is it time for dance?"  It's something that is hers, she doesn't have to share it with anyone, plus she has to get dressed up (unfortunately, I know nothing about dance, but here we go).

All dressed and ready

 The class consists of four little girls....

The 'Feather Step'

Not surprisingly, it was all moms dropping the girls off....when Sarah had to leave for work, the boys and I were left with the other moms.....a grandpa came by later though.

The 'Inside Partner Step'

There were a lot of young girl giggles and screaming....

The 'Cross Body Lead'

The class is only 30 minutes long, every Monday night....

The 'Thunder Clap'

I already know that the dance names I'm putting in the captions are wrong....I'm trying.

Lex cannot wait for her next dance class!

Ironman Coeur d'Alene w/ youtube video

It was pointed out recently that there hasn't been a post on here since March....well, we've been busy and frankly life has been in the way.  There is a ton of things that should end up here, maybe you'll see a lot of it sometime soon....

We'll start with the most recent event - Sarah's Ironman triathlon at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  The race consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike and a 26.2 mile run.  It's incredible to watch, can't imagine doing it and the feeling when you finish.

The day starts early - I think Sarah and I were in Coeur d'Alene around 5:15 am or so, we were staying 30 miles or so away in Spokane, so we had to get moving.

Body Marking - Bib #, age, etc.

 After a final check, Sarah got on her wetsuit (it was definitely needed) and it might have been the last time I saw her smile until around 8:30 pm.

The swim starts with a 'rolling start' - it took the nearly 3,000 athletes eleven minutes to make it through the start line.  It was a two-loop, out and back swim --- again, totaling 2.4 miles.  

Swim Start

Water temperature was 62-63 degrees (Sarah might correct me, trust me, she knows) and believe me, it was cold to the touch.  Two brave or idiotic males did the swim wearing only a Speedo....

The entire swim happens right in front of you, making it easy to watch and look for your athletes finish.

After the swim, they transition to bike with the help of volunteers who peel the wetsuit off you - the nightly news called it the 'banana peel'.

Start of the 112-mile bike

It was windy race day, causing problems for the swim (lots of big waves) and the bike.  You can ask Sarah about her bike, but most or all of the people that I talked to said the bike was rough.  Most people had the look of relief as they finished the bike, glad to be done.

Bike finish

After you finish the long bike ride, who wants to run a marathon?  Well....that's what you do in this race.

Run start

Weather that day had everything; sun, wind, clouds, low temperatures, temps in the 70s and rain during the run.  Standing in the finishing chute was fun, the looks on the athletes faces as they were  almost done was fantastic.  It was loud - yelling, cheering, clapping, etc.  Every finisher was told as they neared the finish line:  You are an Iron Man.

Sarah - You Are an Iron Man.

It was a fantastic scene to take in, maybe not run the race, but the scenery was nice.  Here's a panorama of the beach area (that dark line on the right?  That's were almost 3,000 athletes left the water after the swim.  The picture was taken at least 4 hours after the swim).

If you want to see what it's like on race day, I recommend you check out the youtube video 2014 IRONMAN Coeur D'Alene: Race Day.