Zoo

One of the great things about having a membership to the zoo is being able to spend a couple hours there whenever you're in the mood. We decided that there were some indoor buildings we hadn't fully explored and what better time than when you don't want to be outside!?
 
The place was deserted! So we had all the activities to ourselves.



 

The pandas were uncharacteristically active. This is the first time I've seen them moving!

 

This green snake was lying asleep when we first arrived. Then a keeper walked behind his enclosure and he reared up.

See the beaver? This is also the first time we've seen them out of their sleeping quarters.

 

The octopus was playing with some toys when we arrived. 

I wonder if the animals are more active when there's less noise from visitors? Because it really seemed as if all the animals were up and around. 

 

 This isn't such a great pic of the beaver but I like how E is reflected in the picture.

 On a side note ... A has started taking piano lessons.

Winter Camp

Oh the weather outside is frightful ........

  

But the fire is so delightful ........

  

And since we've no place to go ..... Let it snow Let it snow Let it snow!
 

Swoosh

Today was family skate with M's school.
I chose to stay on the side and play photographer but the boys got out on the ice.
 

While A still likes to hold on to the side while he scoots along .... E feels more confidant to get out there mid-ice and do his thing.

 

Look at those cheery red smiling faces.

I don't normally post this many pics but they were all cute and happy after the skate I couldn't stop snapping.

 

See? They just wouldn't stop being adorable!

 

They Have All the Answers

I scanned the form, moved it into Powerpoint and then projected it up to the Smart Tv.

The kids are working on a 'Steps of Reasoning' unit and this week we were to try a chart.

But first, we needed a problem to consider. So I asked them, "What is a problem we have here at the house that we can try to reason out together?"

This was their idea: Kids Don't Pay Attention

Hm, strange that they chose that!

It was very instructive working through the questions. The kids came up with the all the different points and solutions. We are going to try and follow the suggestions and see how it goes.

Climb the Walls

The kids have been helpful while I've been sick but they were starting to climb the walls in the apartment after being cooped up since Sunday.

So even though I wasn't feeling 100% we went to the Science Centre yesterday afternoon.

You know ... that way they could .... climb the walls or something.

 

The great thing about this museum is that every time we go they find something new to do.

And every time we leave they are asking when we can go back so they can try something else they saw but haven't tried yet. This membership was totally worth it!

 

And then...

This guy turned 65(!) and recently retired.

Now he's got time on his hands we were able to get a little pre-Christmas visit in.

We haven't seen Grandma in quite some time so the boys had lots to catch up on. They have been working with her on their coin collections and they went over what they were still looking for.

Grandma got reacquainted with the birds. And she and A had some iPad time.

It's getting difficult to catch E in any silly photos ... with age he is getting ever so cool.

But A still loves the occasional 'ha-ha' picture.

 

Our unit study until Christmas is on reasoning/problem solving. We talked the other day about how what our senses tell us is important in making decisions BUT that we can't rely solely on that.

To demonstrate I put out several random items and gave them one minute to look.

Then they were to write down what they remembered seeing. They were surprised to find that individually they could recall only half of what was there.

More familiar things were easier to remember .... and more eyes meant a longer list.

 

Then just when we thought we had maxed out out December fun .... we had more fun.

We took K on her first subway ride.

Spent a few hours shopping (while the boys were at a friend's house) and then rode back uptown.

Welcome to the big city K.

 

He Shoots......

Grandma and Grandpa took the kids to the Hockey Hall of Fame on  Monday.

They played in goal.

Played the hockey table and the hockey electronics.

 

Hockey hockey and more hockey!!

Notice there was no 'me' in these pictures. That's because I took the opportunity to plan some school work, clean the bird cage and do some other general chores.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.