Sun and Moon

We've been learning about solar energy.  In addition to our nightlights, we built a little solar car, boat and windmill.  We tried our hand at solar cooking.

Veggie dogs, a rare treat, tasted especially good when cooked under the sun.  

We tested various sunscreens on UV beads (they change color in sunlight).  XX found her hypothesis was wrong.  She'd thought the higher the SPF number, the better it would block UV rays.  Not necessarily so.

We tried this a few times and it turned out that one of the lower SPF numbers blocked the UV rays best.  Our methods were highly UNscientific.  Sometimes more sunblock slathered on, but we tried a few times, wiped off excesses, added more, let beads dry ... and each time, the winner was the same: a kids' sunblock of 30 SPF.  I wasn't happy to see the two I use seemed fairly useless.

And as for lunar energy, we're coming up to Mid-Autumn Festival.  There was a Chinese Cultural Festival downtown this weekend.  XX heard there was singing, dancing, crafts and Chinese food.  She was in!

As were most of her friends from Chinese school.  Fun seeing everyone and even some of the older kids from school onstage in musical performances (flute and violin duets).  XiaoXiao and one of her friends were mesmerized watching a magician.  XX came back to tell Daddy that there was a man who made birds from a scarf.  Pure magic in her eyes.

XX seemed especially to enjoy the classical Chinese orchestra.  She walked up fairly close to study the erhu and other instruments.  

We were happy to get mooncakes (one did not make it home in the package but rather in XX's stomach), so we are prepared for the upcoming holiday.  

中秋节

Sun Jars

We made some sun lamps this week. We started off with Aunt Suzie's blog. There are tons of imaginative, useful, and nearly always inexpensive projects - in terms of both time and money. XX and I went to the sun lamp post.

I'm afraid we veered from these careful directions.

We mixed Mod Podge, some paint and definitely some sparkle glue, then applied with a brush.  It's a lot, and I mean a lot, less even coverage than spray paint applied carefully with taped edges, but better for our purposes (not wanting a 7 year old to apply spray paint).

We decided to take apart our solar light units before attaching them to the jar lids. We wanted to look at the circuitry. Unscrewing anything is always interesting.

Neglected to read the part about silicone adhesive so our lids are much messier, especially since we have square jars, not round. But once applied, we set the lids out to charge.

The jars needed faces.  

And they were ready for testing.

They lasted until morning, wonderful nightlights!

And just as we were nearing completion, what did we hear, but the ice cream man.  We ran out to the front and chased him around the neighborhood. It's still warm, 95 or so, so catching up to him was a real treat.

Popsicles never tasted so good!

This and That

It seems there is very little down time in a house with a child, so I am forever playing catchup on the blog.

XX and I tried our hands at painting on large canvases, splattering, pouring and using palette knives to spread wads of color.

Great sensory fun and finally, art we can touch!

We again attended the celebration of the Gold Rush Days.  It's fantastic every year and we always learn about something new.  This year, for XiaoXiao, one highlight was pop rocks.

We saw a one room schoolhouse and found out some of the rather frightening punishments for misbehaving children in the 1850s.  There were also dancers (even cloggers, so now XX expects to see Aunty Kimba demonstrate on our next get-together) and crafts. XX carved soap and made a simple doll.

We've been grocery shopping.  XX thinks even this seemingly mundane task is reason to kick up her heels.

This past weekend, there was a first for all of us: an air show.

There were planes of all sizes and abilities.  As always, XiaoXiao had questions. She asked about the cargo of a Galaxy C-5, listened to the answer and then, ever XX, she had a few suggestions for more efficient loading.

We got to go up into the cockpit and talk to one of the men who flew this gigantic aircraft that can fly for 24 hours non-stop.

She sat inside a Cobra attack helicopter.

There was rock climbing and XX thought that once again, she would be too short, too young, or too lightweight. She was surprised and pleased to find that her 35.1 pounds (had weighed herself the day before at the pet store!) just made the cut of a 35 pound minimum.

 She sat in a 1/5 size model of an F-16, just as one flew overhead.  I think I ducked when I heard the sound.

There were some fantastic aerial displays.

There was a performance by the USAF Thunderbirds. The sound of an F-16 or even a military helicopter always makes my heart catch and my stomach turn, especially when I hear it near 9/11, but on this day, it was awe-inspiring.

XX was asleep in the car just after we pulled out of our space in the parking lot.

Classes have started, so it's gotten even busier.

Bring on the fun!

A Little More Birthday

Some time in early July, XX said that her birthday was coming up and she had an idea of what to do for the big day:  she wanted to make toys for kids.

After many discussions, she decided on a shape and a size. XX wanted the toy to be huggable, but also portable -- not too big, not too small. Something that anyone, child or parent, with or without family, could love.  She wanted to take these toys to the local adoption/foster agency.

Then she started production:  a few at a time, each with a slightly different face, though all are happy.

I had wanted to work on a book with XiaoXiao over summer and this was a perfect opportunity. We hashed out an idea.  This took quite a few idea sessions, both on dog walks, and, more seriously, at a table with paper and pencil.

Finally, we sat down at the computer and worked out a more complete story.  Then the rewriting. The whole process was invigorating for XX: she loved it, rolling words around in her mouth to find the best way to express her thoughts.

And then, she was ready for the illustrations.  Again, a few at a time, until she had 14 pages -- a complete "book."

At last, she was ready to take everything in to the local adoption agency.  They were thrilled to have XX come in and share her birthday with them.

To our surprise, about 15 people from the agency had gathered to throw XX a surprise party!  She was stunned into silence -- unbelievable, really. She actually turned in toward me to hide her face for a moment, before turning back, then laughing and running joyously to see everyone.  She immediately unpacked her bag, nearly as large as she, to show what she'd brought in.

When they asked if she'd read the book to them, she happily obliged, sitting in the middle of a rapt audience, her favorite place.

There were balloons and cupcakes (her favorite flavor even) and a card signed by everyone at the agency.  

In her own words, "A great birthday!"