Trampoline Park & Carnegie Science Center

Snow here again today!  So I'm remembering back to a more fun/active weekend that we recently had with our family in Pittsburgh at the Flight Trampoline Park and Carnegie Science Center instead of looking grumpily out the window at the lack of spring visible.

We waited until late Friday night (like right before bed) to tell the kids about the upcoming day's plans - because otherwise we'd have had to answer "Is it happening today!?" every three minutes if not.  They were so excited and we reminded them that they needed to get good sleep before the big day that we would need lots of energy!

We got on the road bright and early on Saturday morning and made the almost two hour drive west towards Pittsburgh.  (We purchased our Flight tickets and signed e-waivers early that week which made check in really easy and quick!) As we waited for our turn to jump - our family arrived (Abba, Chum, Aunt Uch, Kevin, Aunt Kitty, and Uncle Ryan).  The kids were itching to get on the almost wall to wall trampolines and finally it was our turn!

The basketball hoop was a BIG hit with the boys, especially Greyson and Daddy.  They organized their own dunk contest and Grey tried multiple times to take charge of not only our family's dunking rotation but other kids that were there too.  (Bossy like his Momma!)  Brandon and Grey both asked if maybe we should build one at our house.  HAHAH. #boysandtheirdreams

We all took turns holding the Lettie Bug who got in a little on the action while sitting supported on the edge of a trampoline while her sister bounced her.  Violet was pretty content just staring in fascination at all the bouncing bodies everywhere though.

After the super fun park, we headed back to the Love house for some delicious potato soup that Aunt Kitty made for us and some lounging.  We introduced Greyson to some new riddles (he's obsessed) and played with the Love pets Miles (cat) and Lemon (pup).  Then after our little break, we headed back out into the city to visit the Carnegie Science Center.  

The Carnegie Science Center is such a cool place.  Full of discovery and new things that the kids don't normally have access too which makes it full on learning and interesting for them.  We got to see exhibits about astronauts, robotics, the weather, natural disasters, and the local ecology.  We all sort of just followed the two big kids around and let them lead us in exploration through the different parts of the science center.  

What is really awesome about the science center is that it's so fun and interesting for my little kids because of all the discovery and access to new things - but it's also great for all other ages too.  The grown ups all had a great time reading and learning about new things too.

Brandon loved the basketball shooting robot and was ready to challenge it shot for shot.  (hahah). Our weather loving Abba was thrilled to give her hand at a weather report in front of a green screen.  Aunt Uch played with the giant building blocks in the preschool section longer then my kids did (she claims she was 'helping them', hah)  And Uncle Ryan was impressively good (and proud) at completing the surgeon simulation games. It definitely was not just a place for the kids to have fun - we all seemed to find something we loved!

hanging out in the 'Earthquake Cafe' 

The science center has this amazing train set set up that takes up the interior of a huge side room.  I was fascinated and in love with all the details and intricacy of it.  Grey loved following/chasing the trains around the tracks.  It is all set up like an old time version of Pittsburgh and it was all so tiny and delicate that it felt really magical.  It was my favorite part of the whole place!
 

We are always so grateful to be able to visit amazing places with extended family in tow.  We are so blessed to not only get the time to spend with our family - but also for our kids to make memories and learn new things from the people that love them.

Afterwards, Brandon, Violet and I had to head back east home to take care of the pups and be home for Sunday school teaching the next morning.  Our lucky two big kids got to have a sleepover at Aunt Kitty & Uncle Ryan's house with Abba & Chum and Uch and Kevin for the night.

We had such a fun filled day for both our bodies AND minds!  And it's pretty hard to beat that!

Currently

Heading out on a Bigfoot hunting expedition in our yard

Loving that I got a chance to take Bullet out for a jog/walk this week.  We both really needed it.  We have been researching Bullet's breed for the past few weeks after his dog training session when the trainer asked if he was a Belgian Malanois (aka police/military dog) and we were like, whaaat, we were told from the beginning that he was a pitbull mix!!  And so now after researching it, we believe we have narrowed it down to a mix between Belgian malanois, Dutch Shepherd, and Lab Mix.  Definitely changes our perspective on Bullet and why he's always been like he has been.  So, we are looking into ways to keep him content and satisfied after now understanding what would even makes him tick!  Eye opening!

Watching the Voice as a family (the kids love 'playing' the voice during the day) and then B & I staying up later than we should watching sitcoms like we normally never ever do afterwards (The Night Shift, Undateable, and One Big Happy.  It has been so nice to share the same couch and weirdly laugh at not-that funny stuff together in silence while our babies sleep upstairs.  #itsthesmallthings

Reading The Ten Thousand Things and lots of readings of Mercy Watson to the Rescue as Gemma is no interested in short chapter books.

Celebrating that despite the fact that we were way late for sign-ups, we were able to get Greyson in for his first ever tball league.  He is so excited to be on a 'real team' with a real uniform and everything.

Struggling with trying to juggle a little too much this week, between getting Grey's bday invites created (5 years old!??!!), sending in our final payment for our upcoming vacation, and getting ready for an event I planned this weekend with our alumni association - I got mixed up on which day Greyson's Kindergarten testing was happening (we went a day early) and then I didn't make it to a doctor's appointment and had to reschedule.  sheesh, Grey suggested that I needed to just relax and watch a movie with them, so that's what we did yesterday; we watched Holes all snugged on the couch together.

Cooking two new dinners this week that were a hit!  Chicken Zucchini Casserole from Six Sister's Stuff which was delicious (we have a zucchini obsession over here), and Tater Tot Enchilada Bake from Brunch Time Baker which the kids gobbled down.  Grey had three helpings!

Obsessing about Violet as she has had a patch of eczema on her cheek for over a month now (mostly from slobberville) and we finally have some progress towards it looking better.  She is also cutting her first two teeth, and has finally rolled over this week.  It's been a big one for this chick!

Laughing at Gemmi as her hilarious stories are never ending.  She had some funny ones this week with her leprechaun trap idea (have a chicken eat him and poop out the gold!), she went into a full on pout after Greyson informed her that she couldn't marry her Daddy because he's already married to Mumma, and then she put glob after glob of beeswax lotion in her hair.  Oh, Miss Ro.

This week in interesting internet:
Reading about how many steps young boys and girls are supposed to be getting in everyday!  So wild and interesting from 1000 hours outside

Watching this video about giving children a 'wildhood.'  We aren't big RV people, but I love the sentiment behind the video.

This article from the NYTimes about how calling SAHMhood a luxury can paint an inaccurate picture about what is possible as a one paycheck family.

I cracked up reading this hilarious account from StuffMomsSay  Hahhaha, definitely have contemplated paranormal interference in the late night mayhem that our kids' have had.

This article about real women who were photoshopped like celebs.  So interesting to read their reactions to their before and afters and also their thoughts on the other girls' changes.  I also felt so close to the comment about how one of the girls mentioned that although she knows that's not what her friends look like in real life, it was what they look like in mind's eye anyway - and I totally get that.  That the people you love already look perfect in your mind & heart. Also, these girls are funny and I wish they were my friends.

special thanks to Ashley from BWF for the inspiration in today's update post.  Maybe I'll just keep copying her Friday postings?  xxoxox

FTWM to SAHM vlog series: How we get through the days

hi!  took a week off from vlogging but back this week talking about how we pass time in our day and sort of the feel for how and why we do the things we do in our house.  I initially planned to talk about our kid routines, but after starting, it sort of morphed into something else entirely on its own.

Our routine here at Team Studer follow this general outline daily:
Mum wakes up
Kids wake up
Playing/making breakfast
Breakfast together
Unstructured Free Play
Home Preschool (ie. Letter of the Week crafts)
Lunch together
Unstructured Free Play
Daddy comes home
Dinner together
Bedtime

Unstructured Free play includes any of the following (sometimes all at once, HAH):  costumes/dress-ups, parades, pretending to play The Voice, babydolls, laps (running around the 'circle' of the downstairs), matchbox cars, cooking toys, reading books, playing with Violet, sports toys, going outside, using art supplies, etc.  Whatever the kids feel like playing or imagining - that's what they do.




And now for the resources if you're interested in getting an idea specifically of what we use and learn from over here.  Some affiliate links included (thanks for you support)

My favorite educational support tools:
how we do:

• The Measured Mom
• My Learning Home pinboard
• Let's Play!  Weekly activities to do with your baby in the first year (from BabyCenter)
• My aStore with Amazon (affiliate link) that includes some of our favorite books, games, and toys that we use here at our house (both baby and preschool options)    
• Child independence list by age
• 10 things to think about before you child starts kindergarten from Harvard Homemaker
• The Healthy Sex Talk & Teaching Consent ages 1-21
• The Super Ten Play-it-safe Rules

My favorite homeschooling mommas:
Shelly
Ashley


Encouraging Kindness & Empathy Resources:
My list of 12 Ways to Practice Empathy with Kids
8 ways to teach kindness to toddlers (my article from What to Expect)
Speaking with kindness, gratitude, and patience (from 12 Months of Kindness)
11 ways to raise a grateful kid (from Musing Momma at Bon Bon Break)


Screen Free Inspiration:
1000 hours Outside blog - read her latest post with the stats on how many steps kids are supposed to be getting each day!
My Screen Free week & beyond pin board 
Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood - Screen Free Week info
My reflections from our 2014 Screen Free Week experience


Next week back to vlog about budgeting & meal planning!