Hibernation, a very busy time

Where has January gone? It has been a very, very busy month. We visited the Amherst area twice. Maya and Nathan love the dinosaur museum on Amherst College's campus. On our earlier visit we ate lunch at Crazy Noodle (above) which looked promising with its international menu. It was just okay; Peter said his teriyaki noodles were slimy, and Nathan nibbled at his butter and cheese pasta (a rich dish which tasted better later for some reason). On a recent visit we tried Bub's BBQ which offers affordable entrees, but its all-you-can-eat hot and cold sides buffet make the meal a great deal. I think we even liked the sides most: baked beans, collard greens, veggie soup, etc. Nathan and Maya asked for the fried gator tail appetizer and both eagerly tried it. Nathan liked it, Maya indifferent. I could not convince either child to eat one tiny, delicious, sweet baked bean though.

It is always a joy to visit Old Sturbridge Village. We caught the running of the sheep this time. We heard them bleating and were walking towards them anyway. Then we noticed a man (a shepherd?) releasing them into the center of the village, and those sheep dashed off to another barn at the other end of the green. I remarked that I wish we had been closer to see the sheep run, and ever-cautious Peter said, "Why? To be trampled by sheep?"

Thanks to recipes from the One Crafty Mumma blog, we have been keeping busy with homemade glitter play dough and puffy flour paint. Maya loves glitter and has played with this dough, which keeps well, for a couple of weeks now. Nathan marveled at the self-rising paint which puffs in the microwave.

Uncle Leland flew out here for work and was able to join us for dinner. Despite his exhaustion from flying in on red-eye, working all day, and then leaving the next morning, he played with the kids and indulged Nathan's request to play a Pokemon game together. Maya was delighted by the visit and said: "I hop like a bunny" which translates into: "It's great to see you!" Nathan was very happy to find that Uncle Leland had fresh, attentive ears to learn all about Pokemon.

A quiet morning for my darling girl and me. We made purple oatmeal play dough which entertained her for almost an hour. Then she put the entire blob in her purse and had to persuaded that play dough, especially one containing perishable ingredients, should not be kept in purses. She makes us smile often.

Our seasonal decorations: Paper hearts made by modifying a craft blog's pattern, a chipboard sign which we glittered, and some branches decked out in colorful shapes and kept upright by blue glass marbles selected by a discerning Nathan who likes bright colors.

On a cold winter's morning: Nathan is usually with his Pokedex and a Pokemon book. He has become a remarkable database of Pokemon information. How long will this phase last? Katie recently reminded me that we played with Thomas trains for at least two years. Yikes!

Miss Sunshine Maya likes to accessorize and wear dresses with maximum twirling diameter.

We finished making Valentine's cards and treats for classmates and today worked on "mugs" of tea for our other friends and teachers.