The Little Nemeceks

We missed this very awesome playdate field trip last year (for reasons I cannot remember), so I was looking forward to today's trip very much. None of us have been to visit the Augusta Canal museum, located in Enterprise Mill downtown, and we were very impressed. The kids got a great explanation of water wheels and producing energy, a talk by a friendly rabbit puppet, two songs - "wheels on the canal" and "me and my energy" (very cute), a tour of the museum with tons of hands on activities, and a pinwheel craft in the classroom. The kids had such a great time, and it was such a beautiful day, that I decided to take them on a boat tour of the canal after the kids time. I got some great history about the canal, Nathan learned the names of all the old mills in the area, and David had a blast looking at the turtles and the birds. It was really a great day!

Hands on activities let the kids turn wheels to make a water wheel run, produce electricity, and send an electric trolley train around a model of various locations in Augusta:


Water wheel demonstration:


Kids working on their pinwheels:


Nathan gets to experiment with a pulley:


Dancing to "me and my energy":



Mill children:


Sibley mill and the old Confederate gunpowder chimney:


The boys checking out the turtles:


All of us on the boat tour:

Nathan's best friend Owen had his birthday party this week at the Grovetown fire station. Nathan had a blast seeing his friend, eating cake, and getting a tour of the fire station. Fire trucks are always awesome for little boys!

The fireman dressed up:


Nathan gets to "drive" the fire truck:


Owen's seriously awesome fire cake:


Nathan gets to slide down the fire pole!

This month at the art museum, the kids got to hear the story Snow Riders, by Constance W. McGeorge, while viewing paintings by Mary Whyte. The illustrations in the book were also done by Mary Whyte, who used salt on her watercolor paintings to create the effect of snow. Afterwards, the kids did their own watercolor paintings and were allowed to use salt on their paper as well - this was tons of fun for David!

One of the paintings by Mary Whyte:


Reading the book:


Hard at work on their own paintings:

One more set of pictures from our visit with Papa and Nana :)

Hugs from Papa:


Playing Quirkle Cubes:


Mommy & Nathan play "Where's my Water?"


Coloring time!


Snuggles with Mommy:


Nathan decides to pack himself:

While in WV, we also got to spend a morning with Grandma and Grandpa Cool (my grandparents, kids great-grandparents) and the rest of my dad's side of the family. David was a bit intimidated by all the strangers, but warmed up to Zach and his wheelchair rides very quickly! Nathan got his first taste of being the official gift hander-outer as he showed off his reading ability. Both boys love all the books they received!

Aunt Paula, could you print these and give them to Grandma? :D

Nathan is busy handing out presents:


One of David's new books:


Nathan on Great-Grandma's lap:


Tickles!


Wheelchair rides with Cousin Zack:


Hugs for Aunt Paula:

Papa took us to the Udvar-Hazy Space Center while we were visiting. Nathan is still very into space things and loved seeing a Space Shuttle up close. David had a blast running around yelling "copter" at everything :)

'copter pictures:


By the space shuttle:


David having a blast :)


The overhead view of the airplane hanger:

After Christmas at home (which was recorded on video and we don't have any pictures), the boys and I drove to WV to visit with Papa and Nana for the week. The hit of the week was the stomp rocket which Nathan received as a present. David's favorite present was the things that go sound puzzle. Both boys loved playing with their papa toy as well :)

Opening presents:


David engrossed in his puzzle:


Fun with lincoln logs!


Outside fun with the stomp rocket:


Yes, both boys have squeezed into the space under the coffee table:

Playing horsey with Papa:


Nana reading to Nathan:


The big train set: