Cloud Day

In keeping with our August sky theme, today we talked about clouds. But the most cloudy thing in our house at the moment is my poor Amelie's disposition. I'll say its mostly because she is teething that my precious one can turn into a screaming lunatic on a dime. And I can't blame her. If I had jagged enamel breaking through my gums, I'd be pissed too.

So here is how it plays out. Things are la-tee-da fine and I say to my bundle of smiles who is smacking her lips at my feet, "Are you thirsty, Amie?"

Love at the Lake

We love the water. My parents generously invited us to play in it with them at Green River Lake - one of Kentucky's best kept secrets.

We swam, played in the sand, rode in the boat, ate  ice cream (Ami didn't share too much of that with me), fed ducks and fish, tracked birds, and gazed at stars. 

There was even a meteor shower... as though the universe itself celebrated in our joyful pleasures - splintering through  the night sky with glowing comet bits.

I had wicked fun.

Bernheim, You Free and Faithful Friend

Our day at Bernheim Forest began by exploring Patrick Dougherty's fascinating installation, Snake Hollow.

First Time Star Gazer

I somewhat arbitrarily decided the learning theme for August would be "What is in the sky?"  Content would include birds, clouds, weather, the solar system, stars, the sun, airplanes, hot air balloons, the rapture - you know, topics fitting for a one and three year old.

While visiting my parents at the lake, I took advantage of the opportunity to be away from city lights to introduce Sequoia to the stars.  Since her bedtime is way before dark this time of the year, I don't know how much she really had noticed stars.  I imagine that apart from those oddly beckoning stars Dora the Explorer catches and that nightlight turtle, her exposure was minimal.

Pouk, The Abandoned Dragon

Sequoia wrote a book.  Originally, "Pouk, the Dragon who Bumped his Head,"  opened with a promising title, but failed to deliver the central theme of the promised plot.

Instead, the story developed into a king who had a princess he cared for and wanted to give her a magical ring.  Unfortunately, he happened upon a dragon who ate him.  Princess Sally (who we later learn is a little mean) goes to fight the dragon and defeats him with a really long stick in the neck.  Then, the animals of the forrest are freed and they run over Sally.  (At this time in the creative process, Coy stood up and said, "like this" and proceeded to run around the basement so that I could visualize the animals' frenzy.)