Friday Pictures

Okay, not an exciting title, but there you have it. Friday was a long day for me. It started with trying to take DS#3 to Gymboree Art and then Gymboree Play, well, I never was that interested in the "Art" anyway as the parent does most of the work and DS#3 wanted nothing to do with it. They got me to sign up with that to use up the money they overbilled me for (long story). Let's just say I am going in on Tuesday with some paperwork and demanding they simply refund the money.

The Art class was a complete bust, and we couldn't simply stay and wait for the "Play" class so we went to the park. DS#3 loves playing at the park. Climbing, sliding, hanging on things, all those 2 year-old activities. The one thing he still hates (though he did try it again yesterday) is swinging on the swings.



My other activities on Friday involved napping with DS#3. Hey, I had to make SURE he napped, didn't I? I got a good 30 minute nap in myself and needed it. In the evening I stopped by the swim practice for DD, just the beginning, my lovely wife stayed at the pool with her, and then DS#2 and I went off to a team meeting for his new soccer team. I think he is adjusting to the idea of his new team and I personally think this coach is going to be very good for him. The coach is very big on technical work, including learning to make fast decisions with the ball. In addition, DS#2 is going to be one of the main players of the team meaning he is going to be encouraged to step into a leadership role (something he isn't all that fond of but that I think he can do.

We left that team meeting early to head to a special field trip for the GT 4th graders at his school. We went to the Witte Museum for an overnight field trip. We left at 10:30 or so because DS#2 wanted to sleep in his own bed. After the overnight we did at the Zoo last year, I could only agree with him.

The first picture from the field trip shows DS#2 desperately trying to move out of the picture and his teacher laughing about it. His teacher commented to me later about the fact that he hates to be in the spotlight. We did a number of activities focused on the latest major exhibit about the Human Genome. Projects included a discussion about Eco-systems and being able to pet such wonderful animals as snakes, rats, and cockroaches (okay, and turtles, but that isn't so exciting is it?), making a DNA helix out of candy, extracting DNA from onions, and even extracting some of their own DNA and putting it into a charm.

When DS#2 first heard about this field trip he wasn't very impressed because he had already been to the exhibit before and done some activities when we went to the opening of the exhibit. Once we got there and started, he had a blast. I am thrilled about how he as been doing in school and about how much he loves his teachers, particularly his GT (Gifted-Talented) teacher.

I guess that should be it for now. It is a rainy, dreary day today so the kids are inside. My lovely wife and I have a "date night" tonight so I guess we'll have to figure out where we want to go sometime soon.