The Clark Family - This is Us: October 2011

Molly's field trip to BU nature preserve and greenhouses

Even though budget cuts have eliminated ALL field trips for ALL grades (ugh it stinks) Molly's 1st grade at her school was able to take a field trip to the BU nature preserve and greenhouses thanks to some PTA money. After an uneventful bus ride, we went right into the greenhouses, where plants, trees, flowers and shrubs grow to unbelievable heights and girths. The greenhouses were nice and warm on a pretty wet and chilly day outside, the children thought it smelled weird. There is also a small pond where there are hundreds of goldfish and lilypads, so my guess is that there are some frogs there as well, although we didn't see any.

Through the greenhouse, Molly is in the tie-dye shirt

Goldfish pond

Molly and friends walking around the pond

I have no idea what these orange upside down flowers are, but they tree they are attached to is at least 30 feet tall and these flowers hang down very low. They smelled so wonderful!!!!

Key limes, made me think about a gin and tonic at 10:30 in the morning.....

A most ginormous cactus that has grown into the wall...

Fuzzy red things that looked very cool

A banana tree, but they weren't quite ripe

Part two of the field trip was a hike through the nature preserve. We divided into 6 groups and each group had 2-3 guides, students and volunteers. Our group had three very funny and nice girls helping us see many interesting plants and weeds that we may have otherwise missed.

Here we are looking at pinecones that the squirrels have munched their way through

Opening up a milkweed pod and letting the seeds go in the wind

At the bridge over the pond, Dylan (head of the nature preserve) found a red spotted newt for us to look at

More seed pods

The brown blob in the middle of the grass and weeds is a beaver. She found herself surrounded by 80 first graders who were squealing in excitement at her presence. She was not impressed by us!!!

PS.......

Forgot to add this picture of Molly and Potter during our walk around the grounds (Caleb was at home napping, too much fun having caught up with him) and our stop at Bestor Plaza. After perusing the bookstore, we came out to the fountain, which the kids love to climb. It is empty now, but they still had fun, Molly didn't really want to have her picture taken.

And a final shot of the awesome pumpkins :)

Columbus weekend in Chautauqua

Over Columbus weekend, we spent a few days in Chautauqua with Granddad. We were very fortunate to have terrific weather that weekend, given that it was mid-October. It was extremely sunny, a little breezy and quite warm. After arriving Friday afternoon and spending a couple of hours on Sherwood lawn, bathing the dog, and hanging out together, we ate steaks and potatoes for dinner. The next morning was the big excitement - the kids were going to ride on a grape harvester and help harvest some Concord grapes!!!! Friends of Granddad own their own vineyard and invited us to come and help them out early on Saturday morning. The kids had all sat in the harvester before, but that was during the summer. Grape harvest begins in mid-September and goes through mid-October, a very short season to get all of the crop in. The Barans (the grape friends) sell all of their grapes to the Welch's grape co-op; they harvest about 1200 tons a grape a season. The next time you open some jelly or have some juice, remember it might be from the Baran's vineyard!!!!

Arriving at the vineyard

The harvester was already out picking, we watched it come down a row toward us

The kids are VERY excited

In the cab of the harvester with Mr. Baran

Riding along, pickin' grapes

Me and Molly were sitting together on the seat, looking down, Caleb was on the floor in front of us

The long fingers under the harvester shake the grapes free, they go up a vertical elevator and come out on a conveyor belt, which deposits them into bins. Someone drives the tractor on the next row over and another guy aims the chute down into the bin, picking out any branches or leaves and making sure no grapes spill out.

Happy harvester!!!

Me and Molly in the harvester

Two full bins, one left to go. Each of those bins hold 1 ton of grapes. Gulp!!!

These were the grapes on the vine before I picked them off and ate them!

The harvester is making a turn for the next row

Caleb, me, Helen Baran, Potter and Molly

After returning from harvesting, we headed over to one of the kids favorite playgrounds, the climbing playground. Located right next to the tennis courts, it is a perfect spot to play and to find a dozen 'new' tennis balls to bring home for Crash to play with.

Isn't this the coolest climbing structure??

After lunch and quiet time, I set up the kids for painting their tabletop sized pumpkins we picked up at a local farm. This is always one of their favorite activities while we are in Chautauqua in the fall.

An art project that Caleb gets into!!!

Dave cooking while we are painting

Potter's is a french guy with a moustache

Molly's is a really pretty lady

Caleb used dark colors, I am guessing it might be related to Darth Vader or something along those lines

Patience pays off

Caleb and I spent a nice afternoon after lunch putting another lego set together. I become more and more impressed with his dexterity and patience to complete jobs like this. He is able to follow the lego directions extremely well, although I have to admit they are really good directions. Yay for Caleb!!!

Molly picture day

1st grade picture day!! Really, she looks like she is ready for dance at school. Love her!!

Caleb's birthday and party - what a day!!!!!

My little guy, Caleb, is now 5 years old. I don't know how that happened. All I do know is that he is a loving, funny, curious, handsome joy in my life.

On his birthday morning, Caleb could not WAIT to open presents. I have to say that by far, his favorite three presents were (in no specific order) his penguin pillow pet, his blue light saber that lights up and makes realistic sounds, and all of his Star Wars legos.

Oops, how did that one get in here????

Surprise!! Emma came by on her way back to NYC to wish Caleb happy birthday!!

Caleb's party was in the afternoon and many of his school friends from this year and from last year were able to attend. After playing around for a while, they did a simple art project of making an apple and then we did pin the apple on the apple tree. Potter made the tree and some branches for them to be hung on, I think it was a success!!!