Doodle Camp

See that new link over there? No, over there <---- on the side. It's for Doodle Camp and you should check it out. Here, I'll make it even easier. I'll put it right here (just click on the picture and off you'll go):

Bug got the book, Doodle Diary: Art Journaling for Girls by Dawn DeVries Sokol for Christmas. I recently came across her website and wanted to share this with you. It looks like fun!

Stockholm Art Fair

We spent the day in Stockholm WI at their annual art fair: http://www.stockholmartfair.org/ Lots of art, music and food. Even better, for Bug, is the play equipment that is right next to the stage so that she can play all day while her dad & I enjoy the music. I didn't bring my camera (other than my phone camera) but we ran into some friends who took this shot.

 

When Bug was little this guy and his friend played regularly at a coffee shop that we would go to. They even played at her 1st birthday party. One of her favorite songs of theirs was "Cocoa Butter". I took this pic while they were playing that today. 

Her FAVORITE thing at the fair. What I (lovingly) refer to as The 4-Tiered Spinning Tower of Death!!!

Sewing School

I got this book for Bug a few weeks ago.

We finally found/made time today to sit down with it and get started. She sewed on her first button today while making a needle holder out of felt.

Next she'll be making a small pillow for her stuffed animals. Keep watching!

Farewell to Small Mouse

 When Bug's dad got home from work today,  he got some pine out and made a coffin for Small Mouse. 

We wrapped him in his favorite piece of flannel. 

Bug put this note in with him. She had decided that "Prosper" was a good name for Small Mouse. (she's been reading The Thief Lord...) She and her friends added some clover, as well.

 Her dad helped her hammer in the final nails.

I dug the hole and she placed the coffin inside.

She then filled the hole. We are all a bit sad, but happy that Small Mouse/Prosper was comfortable and happy while in our home. 

Small Mouse has died.

Small Mouse has died. I went to feed him and he didn't run up my hand. He was moving a bit and ate a little, but died in my hand, wrapped in his bit of flannel. We only had him 3 1/2 days, but we'll remember him much longer.

Small Mouse has a bath.

Small Mouse is a messy eater. (S)he's had 2 baths today. The 2nd went better than the first. They're very tiring and one must rest and warm up afterwards. Looks cozy, don't you think?

Small Mouse trying to walk.

We haven't come up with a name for the mouse yet, so I've been referring to it as "Small Mouse" lately. I put it in a shoebox to let it stretch it's legs a bit today. Things didn't go so well...

A tiny mouse.

Bug and some friends found this little guy all alone in the alley yesterday. She ran for her dad and they brought him home. I did a quick google search and sent him to the pet store for kitten formula. We think it's a little over a week old. The eyes are not yet open. We made it through the first night, so are a bit more optimistic today.

Bug met Tommy Shaw (Styx)

Bug got to meet Tommy Shaw from Styx today. He's a really nice guy and chatted with us a bit. When he heard her name he told Bug that he had a grandma with the same name which Bug thought was pretty cool.

Doris Mae is on the move!

Doris Mae is our geocaching travel bug. See that teddy bear up there? If you click it, it will take you to a page that will show you where she's been. We dropped her in a cache in Washington state when we were on vacation last fall. She spent some time in Canada and is now in Ketchikan, Alaska!

Zoo!

Bug & I went to the zoo yesterday with our neighbors. Bug was thrilled to find out that there was a baby (5 months old) lion cub named Leo Pold. Here's a short video clip of him playing with his mother.

Big tree!

The three of us went for a walk on the marsh trails yesterday. What beautiful weather! Bug remembered that there was a big tree that she liked to climb on. She was excited to find it and see how high she could get.



Bug is 9!

 Bug turned 9 yesterday. How did that happen so quickly?!

 She started the day by opening a few cards while still in bed:

Since she was going to go with her dad while he donated blood, I asked her if she'd like to take the ipod Touch with her. She turned it on and saw Capt. Jack Sparrow...this was her reaction:

Then she went to the next screen where it said, along the top, Happy birthday, Bug! She was stunned.

...and very happy!

This thing seems a bit dangerous...

 After she got up she opened some more cards. This one from her aunt made her laugh. A lot.

 While reading this one, she's trying to figure out who it's from.

 She couldn't figure it out. Apparently when the children's librarian signs her name without the "Miss" at the front, it means nothing to Bug.

She seemed to enjoy opening cards more than presents this year...pretty funny. This is the one from me & her dad. I think she likes it!

 

 She's usually quite good at crossing her eyes. She was just too giggly to do it this time.

 Every.single.time. that Bug sees these little Moleskine notebooks she pesters me to get some. Finally...I did.

 I made 2 cakes. They each had the Chinese character for "9" on them. This one was for her Chinese class.

We took this one to the Chinese buffet to share with the kids there. 

Make way for ducklings!

 Bug came running into the house yesterday, yelling something about ducks. I followed her outside. There was a mother mallard and 10 ducklings in the neighbors yard. We got to watch them for a bit, then it was obvious that she was ready to get them back to the river. We followed along, knowing that half a block away is a very busy street...which must be crossed if you want to get to the river. I ended up standing in the middle of the road (glad that it was a one-way street) stopping traffic so that they could get across. It was nice to disrupt traffic and get smiles & waves (all five fingers!) in return.

                                 

Piano recital.

Bug had a piano recital last Friday. She played Young Hunter along with her teacher. She was very excited and did a great job!







We were just out feeding the ducks...

Bug & I were just finishing lunch at the park when I spotted this guy who looked rather familiar. Know that Elton John is in town, I was pretty sure that this was his guitarist, Davey Johnstone. We fed a few ducks, then got back on our bike. Before long, I spotted him and we rolled up and asked if he was Davey. We chatted briefly, he asked Bug her name & age...told her that his youngest is 6 1/2. He was kind enough to post for a pic with Bug. When we got home and did some research we found out that it's his birthday on Friday. If we'd only known...Bug was thrilled when I told her that he'd played with Alice Cooper at one time.



Easter pics...finally.

Better late than never, right? Bug was quited excited on Easter morning. The hunt was on for the basket. Where could it be?

Success! She was thrilled to find the 2 birds from the movie Rio.

 This looks like a tasty carrot!

E.B.!

 Toe socks? It might not look like it in the pic, but she was VERY happy to get these.



Bug & her dad made the paper!

We went to an Earth Day event on Saturday. Bug very much liked learning about raptors. We were surprised when we got our paper the next day and saw this: 

Japan

Our friend, Takeshi, lives in Japan. He was on a plane at the Narita airport, ready to come to the U.S. to play so Irish music when the first earthquake hit. Here's an article/interview about his experience: http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2011/03/13/r_wg7iruous84x7vwrdqo3q/index.xml

Dinosaurs!

Bug & I headed down to the Children's Museum the other day. We hadn't been there since September! I'm not sure why it took us so long to go back, but we will be making it a regular stop again. Bug was excited because there was a new dinosaur exhibit. We'd seen the footprints on the sidewalk...


She practiced flying...


She made some new friends...


She did some construction work...



I left the museum with a Very Happy Bug!