Littleton History Museum

About a month ago, before there was snow on the ground, Sparkle had her preschool's annual field trip to the Littleton Historic Museum. For the first time in several years, the weather was actually not rainy or snowy. The last several years the field trip has gotten postponed until the spring. I guess I should explain that it is a largely OUTSIDE museum, with two working farms from the 1800's. They have volunteers dressed as pioneers who are farming, weaving, and blacksmithing. They have various farm animals: turkeys, cows, pigs, sheep. It is a charming place...although I admit to being slightly less enamored with it after having gone at least 10 times in the last 5 years. However, it is particularly beautiful in the fall with the harvest in and the leaves changing.

Sparkle and her class - Look Geese!

Sugar and I tagged along for this field trip. The kids climbed on wagons, used hay bales for a jungle gym, and generally ran around and had a good time. Usually, my favorite part is seeing the blacksmith transform a lump of metal into a crude nail, but this time around he wasn't on duty. We did get to see two women spinning the wool (from the sheep on the farm) into thread on an old-fashioned spinning wheel. I am really glad I can just go buy a wool sweater at Kohl's. Know what I mean? Fascinating how much work it took to do....well, EVERYTHING.

Sisters.

A day well spent.

Sugar & Dora

Ok...This makes me laugh on a regular basis.

Sugar has developed a clear love for "Dora the Explorer". This love began with her sister's 4th birthday party (a Dora party), and has continued to grow for the last 6 months. In the store, she notices everything, and I do mean everything, with a Dora logo on it. She currently has a Dora towel, toothbrush, and sippy cup. "My Dora" coming from her mouth could reference any of these items.

For all of you who are ignorant of the "Dora" age... here are the basics: On each show, Dora (who speaks both Spanish and English) and her monkey sidekick, Boots, set off on an adventure, following a three-step map through various entanglements, until they reach their final destination, in which case they do a little dance to celebrate. Inevitably, along the way, Swiper the Fox, tries to swipe something important to completing their adventure. The only way to stop Swiper the Fox from "swiping" is to say "Swiper, NO swiping!" (usually a couple of times). If his sneaky swiping is foiled, he cries out "Oh, man!". Somewhere along the way, Sugar has picked this little phrase up. Cracks me up every time. So, for your viewing enjoyment: (Sorry, I took it sideways and can't figure out how to turn it!)