pictures from August

Two pairs of safety goggles

Bob the builder

New bike... made by Dad

Disneyland

Drawing Olaf

While at California Adventure last week, we went to their Animation Studio. This is a series of 20 minute drawing lessons that Disney animators host all day long. It's pretty amazing. The animator leads you through how to draw a character and nearly everyone in the room ends up with a pretty good drawing of that character. The one we happened to go to is "Olaf" which is the snowman from Frozen. Here's my (mommy's) drawing, just to get an idea of what was intended.

The lessons are not really intended for three-year-olds, but Vivi got her own paper and pencil and was ready to try drawing Olaf with the rest of us. To be fair, before we went in she told us "I already know how to draw Olaf" but she was ready to go so that Mommy and Daddy could learn. Here's her drawing. Follow along the numbers to see how she progressed. 

The Dragon

Vivi saw a Daniel Tiger episode where he and his friends made a big cardboard dragon to dance with at school (like a Chinese New Year Dragon). So Vivi decided she needed to make her own. She's been drawing on it off and on for a week now. Look at that face she drew!

Allergies

Conversation with Vivi

Vivi: (sneezes a few times). I think I have allergies
Mom: Oh? What do you think you are allergic to?
Vivi: Oh. Probably kids.
Mom: (tries not to laugh) kids?
Vivi: Well my teacher is, so maybe I am too.

Butterflies, frogs and mud pies.

We have been to the natural history museum three of the last four weekends. Once for a birthday party and two times for a picnic and playing.

There's a butterfly exhibit

Kids can hold frogs in the nature club house

And best of all, there's an area to make MUD. Just a faucet, dirt, and a bunch of old pots and pan.

Who wants a mud pie?

Cardboard Kayaks

A few weekends ago we went to watch the annual Cardboard Kayak Races. Participants got two pieces of cardboard, a roll of duct tape, and a knife.

Vivi's take on potty training

This was a conversation between Vivi and her teacher

Teacher: How is potty training going?
Vivi: Oh, it's not.
Teacher: Why not?
Vivi: I just have too many other things going on
Teacher: What kind of things?
Vivi: Oh, you know, things.

Family portrait

Vivi covered her paper with paint and then "drew" with her finger. As far as I can tell, she figured this out on her own. She drew Mommy, Vivi, and Daddy. I like the spiral bodies.

4th of July weekend

Getting ready to ride a pony

Walking like a robot

Covered in sand

Silk worms at preschool

We got some silk worm eggs in our classroom in April

From the eggs, which were the size of pinheads, tiny little "wormies" emerged and started eating.

And eating

and eating!

They made cocoons 

And now we have moths

Camping with Nana and Boppa

Father's Day

We saw some ostriches

Went to a park

Did some gymnastics

found a sliding pole

Flew a kite. I threw it into the air.

My robot

We built a robot!

Let's see what it does.

It draws!

Maker Faire

This elephant made of cardboard moved when someone rode a bike

GIANT fiery octopus

Big Robot balloon, little Vivi

Interactive floor (changed color when stepped on). This was made by 7th & 8th graders.

Carnival like area demonstrating simple machines

Vivi trying on a big cardboard robot hand.

Giant spiralgraph made of a bicycle wheel

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Building boats out of cork to float down the river.