Sunsense

SUNWISE: A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon the Environmental Protection Agency's SunWise Web site. The site is chock full o' information about the importance of being sun smart when it comes to your skin.

I ordered a small stack of printed materials from the EPA, including posters, a storybook, various brochures, info sheets and even a SunWise video. The package arrived yesterday, so today we decided to up our IQ when it comes to UV rays. (Truth be told, when I ordered it, I had hoped it would arrive before Florida, but that didn't happen. But it turned out OK, because while in Florida I insisted the kids wear hats, sunglasses, protective swimsuits and huge amounts of sunscreen. And none of us got the least bit burned, so they know that what we did worked. Today, they got to learn more about WHY we did it.)

I started by posting one of the posters we'd received. The kids were engaged by its bacon imagery (they love their bacon!), and we read the bullet points together. Next, we read a storybook called "Mission: SunWise." Via colorful illustrations, relatable characters and engaging dialogue, the book presented lots of important information about being safe in the sun, including the "Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap" approach (slip on skin-covering clothing, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat and wrap your eyes in sunglasses). They also learned that they should be aware of the UV index (which ranges from 0 to 11+) and, when possible, to play in the shade.

After the book, we hopped on the SunWise Web site to check out the educational activities and games. One of the things the kids learned while playing is that bees can actually see ultraviolet rays. Fascinating! This, predictably, prompted CJ the aspiring Entrepreneur/Inventor to declare that when he grows up he's going to make "the bee eyes, so you can see the sunlight's UV rays!" He demonstrated by holding his hands up to show me goggles.
While CJ was still computing, Annabelle moved to the table. "I'm doing a little homework for myself," she explained. "I'm drawing what this girl needs to have to be sunwise. Don't forget shoes and long pants," she reminded herself while drawing. "She needs sunglasses, a wide brimmed hat, a long sleeved dress or shirt, pants and shoes and shade to be sunwise."

MORE MEMORIES: As another piece in the Florida scrapbook puzzle, I had the kids write about what we did immediately after the launch - which was boarding a bus for a long slow haul back to the rendezvous spot where we'd left our rental car. The good news was that once back at the lot, I spied a nearby bowling alley where we used the restroom, grabbed a snack and took advantage of their arcade (the kids were thrilled, of course!). No surprise, the recollections they shared today were about the arcade games they played.

DANKE: First thing this morning the kids crafted thank you notes to Nonnie and Bops for gifts received during their visit. Bee's took awhile as it included lots of 'bling.' ;)

SPANISH LESSONS IN GEORGIA: Via some Internet detour, I would up on the site of Georgia Public Broadcasting today. There, I found the expected Public Broadcasting System (PBS) kids' content, but I also spied some special stuff not seen on the national or Pacific NW public broadcasting sites, including the show "Salsa," which is "a comprehensive Spanish program for young children featuring puppets, state-of-the-art graphics, animation and a good dose of humor."

I tried to find the show on the GPBS site, and on YouTube and elsewhere, but no dice, darn it. So, we had to settle for playing some Salsa-related games online, including a fun one where the player has to make a pizza per instructions in Spanish.

FREEBIES: "Never pay retail" = words to live by. But what's even better than that? Free Stuff!!! I dedicate a fair amount of time to finding cheap and free stuff. To be honest, I can't even remember how I wound up there, but at one point this afternoon, I found myself on the Web site of Kids Bowl Free. It's a nationwide program whereby kids can get two free games of bowling every day, all summer long. So, clearly we will be crossing everything off our calendars and doing nothing but bowling all day, every day. ;)

But seriously, the kids have been begging to bowl (they've never tried it, other than via the Wii or an arcade game). So we'll definitely sign 'em up and give it a go at least a couple of times. (The catch on this promo, by the way, is an adult must purchase a Family Pass, which costs $24.95 and includes 2 games per person per day. The Family Pass covers up to 4 adult family members, and a person can have 1, 2, 3, or 4 adults on the family pass. For us that's cool cause we can include Rick and Ken.)

I also learned today of an upcoming noontime concert by Caspar Babypants (a major side project by Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America). It's Thursday, June 3, at Seattle's City Hall. We'll be there, for sure. (On his Web site, you can listen to some of his music by clicking the play button in the bottom lefthand corner.)

And the day after, there's free ice skating at Key Arena - which is all of 6 minutes from our house. Cool! You know we'll be there, too.

THEY'RE COMING HOME: Wednesday morning at the Kennedy Space Center, 5:48 Pacific Time, the Space Shuttle Atlantis will touch down for the final time.

I'm sure coming home will be bittersweet for the astronauts. After seeing firsthand their tiny crew quarters, I have no doubt they'll be glad to be out in the great wide open of Planet Earth. However, I'm also certain they'll be wondering when, if ever, will they will have the extraordinary opportunity to be aboard another manned spacecraft.

Just today, NASA posted a kick ass 10-minute video of highlights of STS-132's ascent. Annabelle kept saying, "Ohmygodohmygodohmygod" as she watched it. ;) It even shows the solid rocket boosters plunging into the sea. Amazing stuff. Do yourself a favor - watch it fullscreen and make sure your speakers are turned up ...



REJECTED: Today, while looking for something else, I came across "The Complete Book of Maps & Geography," a workbook I'd purchased at a Goodwill months ago. It's for grades 3-6, so it's more of a challenge than the way-too-easy K-2 workbooks we have around here.

Today, I gave them each a sheet about floor plans - something they should know a little about having lived amidst remodeling projects their entire lives.

CJ's sheet was "A Picture from Above" of a bedroom. A couple dozen questions asked him to locate features in the floor plan. For instance, "Between the closet and the TV is a _____." Annabelle's assignment was to cut out several pieces of furniture and arrange them in a living room. She did quickly cut them out and color them, and they were placed in the room, but I outright rejected her floorplan.

Yes, I realize that Annabelle is only 5 years old, but let me tell you, the girl has seen enough HGTV to know that you NEVER put a chair with its back to the fireplace, nor do you put chairs facing the back of the television. Oh, and it's called an END table for a reason. Back to the drawing board, Annabelle. (Her second version was much improved, BTW.)

SWEET LULLABY: MPA will sing you away with this sweet song that tells the story of why the sun and the moon, though the best of friends, don't get to enjoy each other's company very often.

After the song ended, I could sense that CJ was affected by it and I said, "That was a kind of sad, wasn't it?"

"But it couldn't make me cry," countered a misty eyed CJ, trying to steel himself. :)