At Work and Play
We were up and at ‘em this morning to make Riesling’s 9:15 ballet class. The parts for the Nutcracker were posted when we arrived. Riesling was selected to be a Polychinelle and a Page. I don’t think she was quite sure what to make of this as she just expected to be a Polychinelle.
During ballet, Joe took Cashel for a walk around town and they found a really cool playground. Cashel was very excited about it.
When ballet was finished we went on to Joe’s work for Family Day. What a great learning opportunity. We explored laboratories, offices, restrooms and factories. In the labs, the kids found the glassware fascinating and wanted to explore all the drawers. They were interested in what the hoods were for and the emergency showers and blankets. They were excited to see Daddy’s office plastered with their artwork and photos. Cashel drew his first ever face with eyes and a mouth on Joe’s whiteboard. They got a flashlight and a thermometer, made a potty stop and were ready for the factories.
On the way we saw steam pipes that had valves at ground level to release the water that condensed inside. We talked about how the steam is invisible immediately upon exit but quickly condenses enough so that it is visible as water vapor. Riesling measured the temperature of the steam, as well as a stream of water coming out of a pipe that we happened upon. We compared this to the temperature of the air around us. Cashel shined his flashlight at every opportunity, especially at the crystals in a column in a factory. We observed the very beginnings of a product and how an operator was monitoring the many iterations on a computer screen. After 2 hours we were all tired and hungry. We grabbed a bite to eat and then the kids made butterflies using coffee filters, markers, a spray bottle and pipe cleaners. Cashel loved the spray bottle, so while Riesling made 3 butterflies, he quickly finished one and sprayed everything and everyone 
within range!
When we got home Cashel asked for a spray bottle and continued his spree. The kids road bikes. Then Riesling got the spray bottle and relentlessly sprayed Cashel, despite him having a stick bigger than himself that he kept swinging at her. After many trips outside to help them work things out, Cashel decided to come inside. He started to help me get the recycling together, then went outside, took off his shoes and proceeded to attempt to use our little orange cones as foot wear. He wanted to go to the dump with me, so I put him in the car, put his shoes back on and we were off.
Riesling and Cashel helped throw the plastic in its recycling skid while I did the glass and steel. Then we all did the cardboard and aluminum. We talked about how aluminum and steel were made of different metals. We also talked about why I had to retrieve the aluminum can that Cashel had thrown into the plastic recycling skid.
Post recycling trip, they went and played in the sandbox. Riesling came in at one point and donned her blue sequined shorts jumper and attempted to teach me some cheerleading moves, as she had seen some cheerleaders at family day. Her cheers involved the works Hey Ho, Hey Ho, It’s off to work we go! I did my best to keep up while I made dinner and had heated discussions with Cashel as to why he couldn’t bring sticks into the house. Joe provided a much needed diversion by getting the kids’ shovels and involving them in helping him move some mulch around.
After dinner, I read Cashel Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes and Joe read to Riesling. They were so very tired that they had a hard time falling asleep. Cashel wouldn’t put on his PJs or turn off his light. Joe goofed around with him for a bit and he finally settled down and went to sleep. Riesling did the same after a few trips to investigate what was happening on the other side of her door.
