Live Nativity

Every year, the Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary hosts a free live Nativity from 6pm to 9pm during the week before Christmas.  Although we enjoy seeing the Holy Family, the Three Wise Men, and the Shepherds big and small; the biggest attraction for my girls -- especially my 4-year-old -- are the animals.

So, for our science lesson this week, we studied a few of the animals that we knew we would see in a Nativity Scene: camels, oxen, sheep, and donkeys. (The Spirit of the Hills live Nativity also includes turkeys, doves, ducks, chickens, goats, bunnies, horses, llamas, cows, and pot-bellied pigs.)

Here are a few interesting facts we learned before going to the Spirit of the Hills Nativity scene to further observe these species:

• Arabian camels are born with one fatty hump that their bodies can convert to water and nutrients.  There are no more Arabian camels living in the wild. 
• Gnu, or Wildebeest in Afrikaans, (which we decided were more interesting than regular oxen) can go 5 days without water.
• Donkeys are very strong and sure-footed.  Female donkeys are pregnant for a full year before giving birth.
• Female bighorn sheep have horns, but they are smaller and straighter than the horns of the males. The rings on the horns of male bighorn sheep represent one year of life, just like the rings of a tree.

Mag-tastic

In addition to being an archaeologist, a musketeer, and professional royalty, my 6-year-old has decided that she will be an artist.  She spends every spare moment drawing -- and she is getting pretty good.  She is also a mini-fashionista and has dabbled in interior design.

So, for my 33 birthday, I asked Maggie to decorate for the party.  The finished product was stunning: multi-colored crepe paper hung at a 6-year-old's eye level, pink balloons scattered across the table and floor, and yellow post-it notes with names written in "cursive" stuck in the middle of each plate.  

The party was a huge success.  The decor was Mag-tastic.

Reading Fingers

My 6-year-old stubbornly refused to use her finger to follow along in her reading books.  She would half-heartedly brush the text with her finger as she lost her place and, eventually, lost interest, in what she was reading.

My 6-year-old is also especially attracted to things that glitter.  She accessorizes every outfit, raids my jewelry box daily, and has been known to wander off with some of Grandma's more expensive items.

So, it was only logical to give her something shiny and attractive to keep her focused on her reading assignments.  

Enter: The Reading Fingers.  

Now, both nails on Maggie's index fingers (and mine) are painted with chartreuse glitter polish.  Maggie thinks they are fabulous.  And reading has become a lot more interesting for us both.

ABC Yoga

I decided to capitalize on my girls' interest in yoga -- instead of bemoaning the fact that I become a Mommy Slide every morning when I do the Downward Facing Dog -- and borrowed a friend's copy of Gaiam's Yoga Kids ABCs.  My girls adored it.


I thought I would try it out as gross motor activity the kids at my mother's daycare could do when it is too cold to go outside.  They adored it.


The video teaches children simple movements and poses based on plants and animals.  It is structured on the alphabet, so it also reinforces letter names and phonics.  Definitely worth purchasing!

And more music...

I love this time of year.  There are concerts and recitals almost weekly in our town.  This Monday, my girls and I went to a performance by the Black Hills Concert Band.  During the performance, I very quietly pointed out each instrument as it was being played. We identified: trombones, french horns, clarinets, obos, a bassoon, trumpets, saxophones, xylophones, kettle drums, flutes (and even a piccolo -- which Maggie found enchanting).

There could not be a better music class in the world!

Black Friday

I don't normally go shopping on Black Friday.  The crowds, the stress, and the celebration of the materialism for which Americans are now well-known do not appeal to me.

However, this morning, I discovered that National Geographic offers Black Friday specials.  In addition to getting 50% off a very cool birthday present for my sister the professional photographer, I found  the "In the Womb" collection for 58% off and "March of the Penguins" for $1.59!  

Okay, so I had to see what else was out there.  At Hayneedle.com, I found a telescope and microscope kit for 46% off.  And at Amazon.com, I found a sale on National Geographic's "Inside the Living Body" and "Journey to the Edge of the Universe" with Super Saver Shipping.  

While I still don't adhere to the spirit of Black Friday, I suppose I can appreciate it.

Music Lessons

We have designated Monday as our weekly Music Appreciation Day.  We learn very basic music theory like distinguishing pitches, identifying intervals, and reading music notation.  

However, we postponed our music lesson this week.  On Tuesday night, Black Hills State University hosted the 19th Annual Northern Hills Honor Bands Festival.  We discussed proper "concert etiquette" and went to watch.

My 6-year-old Maggie loved the music.  During the car ride home, she requested "band music like the one we just heard." (Four-year-old Elena was less interested in the concert, but proved to be an enthusiastic audience member, applauding everything.)

Of course, the best part of the show was the finale -- an arrangement called "Highlights from Harry Potter."  Even Elena could appreciate that piece.