Pancakes at the Library

The library continues to encourage the children to read with fun activities.  I mentioned in an earlier post that we were participating in a Family Reading Program.  This month we have been asked to read Pippi Longstocking.  If you have never read this book to your children, it is a MUST read.  I encourage you to read them aloud as a family as hearing Pippi quotes is even funnier when heard out loud!

Earlier this month, we became "Thing Finders" for the day (and beyond!) with a geocaching event.  Our friendly park ranger came to teach the use of a GPS device to find caches scattered around the library grounds.  Normally, when we go to caches we sign a log book and often find small prizes.  This time we found "Pippi"-type items in the caches!  The children loved finding screws, feathers, bubble gum, and other such treasures.  However, the best cache was the one with the sodas!  It was an awesome find on such a hot day!  We ended the event with more refreshments and a craft (making Pippi stockings)!

This morning we arrived at the library early!  We were supposed to arrive in our pajamas (more on the reason that did not happen at the end of the post!) but we came in day time clothes.   The children were so excited to have a pancake breakfast and watch the Pippi movie.  We had already read the original book and have started on the second one, so we knew the story well.  The children laughed all the way home thinking about how much the movie was different than the book!  However, they still loved the movie regardless of the changes!

What I enjoyed most about the event was seeing all the children love a great story!  AND...seeing how much the librarians worked to make the event special.  They must have made about 200 pancakes this morning and smiled the entire time!  I told them they needed to have a tip jar set because I had never had such amazing service!  We love our librarians!

We ended the day with the children trying to lift a horse over their heads like Pippi!  She was one strong girl!

The Pippi adventures continue through the entire summer.  We look forward to more family fun!

DUCKLING UPDATE:

While I was on my flower walk yesterday morning, Michael took the boys on a walk also.  They decided to check on our little ducklings, Night and Day.  They found the ducklings...but they were along again.  They decided to watch from a distance and left after watching the ducklings for a short time.

When I arrived home, they told me about the ducklings.  I was a little concerned but we raced off to another event.  When we got home, we realized the forecasted rain was actually going to make it our way!  I could not help but think about the ducklings out in the storm alone.  I had Henry go out to check on them.  He found them alone and brought them home.  We now had ducklings again!

We called the local wildlife rescue group and they offered to take care of them.  So, we set up a "nest" for them in our bathtub.  They were so cute cuddled up together.  Brendan and Zaira got in the tub with them.  I had to remind them that the ducklings were just babies and they needed rest.  Sure enough...as soon as we left them alone they were asleep!  However, we found out quickly that Day and Night are NOT quiet little sleepers!  They would chirp from time to time, even in their sleep.  Day was especially chirpy, but still so cute!

SO...this morning we woke up a little early and took the ducklings to the rescue location.  We did not think going in our pajamas was a good idea.  They were gladly taken in and I am sure they will be out on their own when they are ready!  SO we did save the ducklings...just not like we thought we had.  AND...the temperatures dropped so quickly last night...I am not sure if they would have been able to stay warm on their own.  I am glad we were able to help them.

Fall Flowers at the Park

Today...I did something I rarely get a chance to do...I went on an adventure by MYSELF!  That's right, I left the children with Michael and headed out early this morning.

Now, a lot of moms would run out and have a shopping spree or find a quiet place to enjoy an over priced coffee and a treat.  Not me!  I took a drive out to our local state park to enjoy a wild flower talk!

I had such a great time!  My only disappointment...I forgot to charge my camera batteries and had to resort to my phone camera half way through my adventure!  However, that did not stop me from enjoying the morning!  I had a great time as I went around with Ranger Craig and a group of nature lovers like myself!

Here are a few of my favorite flowers from A to Z:

Antelope Horn

Clammy weed with solitary bee

Blazing Star (gayfeather)

Drummond Petunia

Frogfruit

Golden Dalia

We pray that it will rain so this little Rain Lily will fully bloom!

Mullen

Passion flower (yellow bracted)

For an added bonus, we were able to see a pipe vine caterpillar as well as a flutter of pipe vine butterflies!  Even though we did not see the flowers they love to eat, we saw the results of their feasting!

Look closely to see it dangle from the plant

Female and male butterflies looking for a yummy meal among the flowers!

Queen's Delight

Rattlebox

Sida

Snow on the Mountains

Texas Bindweed

Verbena

White Milkwort

Zexmenia

The programs at the Guadalupe River State Park have been awesome!  Many of you know that we down-sized when it came to the land portion of our home when we moved to the "city."  To be able to attend these programs, it is like having our big back yard again!  It is such a great feeling to know that we can spread our wings just like those beautiful butterflies!  I hope you do not get tired of hearing about our outdoor adventures because there are going to be many more in the future!

Summer at the Library

We have had a lot of fun this summer.  We have traveled around to different sites and the children have gone to their camps and contests.  However, one of the big things we love to do every year is spend time at our library.  This year we were able to enjoy several programs and participate in the summer reading incentive program.

We have participated in two separate programs this year.  Last night the children went to the San Antonio library and picked up their prize and certificate.  Michael said the librarians made a big deal about the children reaching their goal.  She made an announcement over the loud speaker and presented them with their certificates.  Everyone in the library stopped to clap for the children.  That was a very nice surprise!  Then the children were each allowed to pick out a hard bound book of their choice.  It seemed as if the books were chosen special for them.  Zaira has a board book about boats (water!)... Brendan got a new "genius" book... Edward has a new Ron Roy book about October (his birthday month)... Henry has a samurai book and Sean has a mystery book.  All great choices that will be enjoyed in these last few days before school starts.

We also enjoyed the Singing Wildlife Biologist concert at this library.  I blogged about this earlier in the summer.  We really love to listen to Lucas Miller sing about wildlife, so this was a special treat for the entire family.  I just love that the library helped make this experience for us!

We also enjoyed events at our main library this summer.  We read books (Yes...adults also!) to earn tickets for prizes.  We also went to a program almost every week (sometimes even more often!) throughout the summer.  Here are some of the highlights from our time at the library:

arts and crafts in the science LIBRAtory

 LEGOS!

Stories in the Skies with our Ranger friend

Science Lab

puppets

 Doctor Who

 Dinosaurs

 Reptiles

 Fire Dancers

 Bubbles!

Hands on Science

Ice Cream!

It was so much fun...we hated to see it go away!  AND THEN...we found out it is no over yet!  Our awesome library has a Family Reading Program that starts in September....we are going to read Pippi Longstocking and have activities at the library throughout the month!  I love our library!