Fun with Pipe Cleaners

K and AJ have been begging me to get pipe cleaners to make various critters. K finally petitioned her Farmor to send her some. They arrived yesterday, and these were some of the resulting creations.



K's Caterpillar



My duck



My Zebra



The jaguar that AJ wanted me to make. It looks like it has stripes, but we are pretending those are spots. AJ did help a bit.



Applied Mathematics

K has told me more than once that she hates math. What? The daughter of two engineers? This is simply NOT acceptable. So, yesterday I left the workbook on the shelf, and we made up our own math problem.
First, she measured the perimeter of the playroom, a room that includes 8 walls to measure. Then, she added each measurement up to practice her column addition. She then chose any other room in the house to measure. She chose our room, which has five walls to measure. After adding to find the perimeter of our room, I asked her to find the difference between the perimeters of the two rooms, which allowed her to practice her subtraction with borrowing.
This problem was much more difficult than the worksheet problems she has done, but she actually enjoyed it. She asked me this morning if we could measure again. Ah.... that's more like it.

First Sleepover

K enjoyed her first sleepover last night. She had her best friend over to spend the night since they are moving away soon.

The fun began at dinner, and continued through the night. The girls played, watched a little Swedish movie called, "Alla Vi Barn i Bullerbyn." It is such a sweet, classic Swedish story. All four kids lined up on the couch with their bowls of popcorn to watch together.



Alla vi barn i Sofan

  The girls were allowed to stay up until 10pm, at which time we turned the lights off. I thought they would sleep in, but they were up and ready to take a bath at 7am. After a bath and breakfast, they played a while. K decided to forgo soccer in favor of spending more time playing. The girls opted to paint pictures, and the boys, of course, insisted on joining them. Even Flat Stanley joined in on the fun.


Elvira and K




Painting

H painting



Flat Stanley and his self-portrait

 AJ painted a picture for me, too. I took a photo of him sitting next to Flat Stanley, but for some reason it won't upload.

The challenging part of having Elvira over was the language issue. I was forced to practice my (really bad) Swedish with her, and we managed to communicate (although she wanted to ask me everything through K). She is such a sweet girl, and I am sorry to see her move away.

When I took Elvira home, K stayed with her, and they played until almost 5pm. As I mentioned before, this was their "last hoorah," so I am glad it lasted so long.

Sleigh or Sled

On our way back from the science museum, we stopped by our friends' house for a visit.  Åke took the kids out to try out these sleds. Or sleighs. They kind of seem like a cross between the two. I want one. You stand on the back , and push yourself along with your foot, putting it on the other side once you've got some speed or to go downhill. How fun. Apparently, these are extremely common in northern Sweden. I had never seen one before, even though I have lived here three years. I need to get out more.



Åke  and AJ sledding



K trying it out



Happy girl



AJ going solo



K pushing H on one

 After the kids became too cold for more, we went inside for some food and fellowship. At the end of the day, H decided to try out this, this, what is this? It's not a lute. It's not an oud. Maybe a domra? Most likely a balalaika. Anyway, H didn't care what it is called. He was having fun.

What a busy day. These days make good memories, though. :)

Science, Science, Science.... Oh, yeah, and Science

Wednesday, I took the kids to the somewhat local (1.5 hours away) science museum. I was a little hesitant about braving the journey solo, but I did a quick cost-benefit analysis and decided to go ahead and proceed.

The kids were in great moods while getting ready in the morning, helping out and being extra-obedient. K helped make sandwiches for lunch and helped dress H. AJ didn't dilly-dally around getting ready, and we made it out of the house only a little past our target time.

Upon our arrival, we unbundled ourselves (the outdoor temperatures were subzero -- Fahrenheit), shoved everything in a locker, and commenced our day.



H had been surrounded by a bubble a split second before this photo was snapped




K making a huge bubble




K and the wave-maker







A very crooked picture of an old American clock they had mounted on the wall




All three kids spinning




H and K learning about gears and differentials




AJ examining the engine, and H unsure of what to do next.





H driving the big semi-truck -- with AJ's help





H was loving that steering wheel



AJ trying out the buttons



AJ and H converting the rear axle into a jungle gym



AJ wanted to sit on a tire



Then K wanted a turn




AJ holding himself up in the chair lift




K pulling herself up



K pulling AJ on this Chinese chariot.



K and H playing with the marble bench

A fun elevator



The water section



H walking over a bridge that teaches about keystones.



Sitting on the bridge. That's AJ in the background climbing on something he should not have been climbing on.



H discovered some mirrors



The boys looking at themselves



K and H looking at themselves and each other



These look like roller-racers



My silhouette as I took a picture in this room



H enjoying looking at the fish




AJ and H




Lights and music.  If the light is blocked from the spot, music plays.




More lights and music. I thought this was pretty cool, and the adults were having more fun that the kids at this exhibit.



The track for some pool balls. They go all around the ceiling of the second floor. This is where they start.



K watching the ball go down the track. You can see it near the ceiling, below the pipes.

 Right after this, I experienced one of the worst moments of my life. K was going down the stairs, and H decided to follow her. He lost his grip on the railing he was holding, and fell down the stairs. I was so close to catching him, but not close enough. Then, as I watched him, I was so horrified, I was frozen. And screaming. K caught him before he got all the way down, but he fell a long ways. I couldn't believe no one came to help me or see what I was screaming about except a girl who was, perhaps, seven or eight years old. With all the people around, I was more than a little disturbed about that. Then, I was sitting on the stairs with a screaming baby, and people were just walking by, some trying to get by me on the stairs. So they were basically ignoring me. Timo pointed out it isn't the Swedish way to anything in a situation like that, but I find that somewhat infuriating. Thankfully, H is fine. He has a couple of bumps and bruises, but that image is seared in my memory permanently.

After that experience, I needed a break. So, we took an ice cream break. I didn't eat any, but K and AJ did.

Ice cream break!

 

K finishing up her ice cream bar



AJ pushing the ball off of the air that was keeping it up. The air came from that hole near AJ's feet.



H and the elevated ball. That sun was pretty bright, poor little guy.



AJ and H on the giant chair

Overall, our experience was a good one. We didn't get past the second floor, which means we only saw half the exhibits. We will have to return to explore the third and fourth floors another day. Perhaps with another adult along.