"I Spy" Kids' Adventures

Maya decorated little boxes with her drawings and international stamps. We made necklaces with flower-shaped pendants on suede cords to put into the boxes, and Maya gave these gifts to her teachers.

Nathan has had so much fun reading the Manga Cookbook which is easy enough for children to follow. (There are better Japanese cookbooks out there, but this one is kid-friendly with lots of graphics.) We pressed rice into these cute molds and then froze them for easy side dishes during the week. In addition to experimenting to concoct the perfect teriyaki sauce (still searching), we made our own udon noodles. We put the dough in two zipped plastic bags and then stepped all over for it for a while (the book advises removing shoes first). After resting in the fridge overnight, the dough was ready to be rolled out, sliced thinly, and cooked. Very tasty!

A box of cornstarch and two cups of warm water (adding more as needed) made for a happy activity for Maya.

The Wadsworth Atheneum's current special exhibit is accompanied by a mystery activity created by Walter Wick. This is "I Spy" on a large scale, and Nathan could not resist the challenge. Here, he is carrying the pamphlet with the riddles, drawings, and hints that would lead us to find all the clues to discover the identity of "the thief." (He is also holding onto the toddler leash which Maya happily wore while pretending to be a puppy. No need for it though, she stayed close by, and the museum was not busy.)

After racing through several centuries of art, learning how to spell "renaissance," and finding the thief, Nathan and Maya proudly walked out with their rewards: museum pencils. We were greeted by a beautiful, sunny day, the sight of a colorful motorcycle caravan, and the lure of vibrant music streaming from the Puerto Rican celebration in the park.