Weekly Wrap UP 12/17/21-- Van Gogh interactive exhibition

While my Mother was visiting over the Thanksgiving holiday we went to the Van Gogh interactive exhibit in town.  It was expensive (I thought it was overpriced to be honest).  As a family we have been fortunate to visit the Van Gogh museum while we lived in Europe.  He was one of the painters my kids loved when they were little.  

Luckily it was a pretty nice night to attend as it was held in a very large tent 

First room was filled with various quotes Van Gogh  had said about his paintings to his brother in his many letters

 

Second room was an exhibit called the waterfall of lights.  It was pretty to see all the various colors floating down the walls and floors of the room 

The last room held a 35 minutes interactive show  of Van Gogh paintings.  This was the best part of the show.  If was almost like watching the paintings be done on huge screens it filled up the walls and floors.  (Not somewhere to go if you can't handle flashing colors or lights)

Best part when the paintings changed and the screens would changed ever so slowly or the painting would move (like seeing the birds fly across the sky)

They ended with a starry night and watching the room change as the screen slowly added each piece of the picture.  

Of course after the show you were taken through the very expensive gift shop but there were a few more photo opportunities:)

Everyone thought it was good but way over priced.  However it was nice evening out and not to crowded.  

Weekly Wrap Up 6/19/20-- Virtual Camp and Protest March

 MarioFan participated in a virtual camp this past week.  All summer camps in our areas have been cancelled so they are trying to do things online.  This camp was to visit various jobs in the area and see what kind of education and experience is needed to be a candidate for employment.  Since MarioFan tends to gear more towards STEM so the companies he saw for this week included:

They delivered a backpack filled with all the things they would be using during the week.  Some jobs had activities the kids would be doing while exploring and learning about the job site.  In addition some jobs sent swag for the kids to have from the jobs. 

Seeing all the camp participates online and having a discussion

The last job site they visited was Riot games a local video game developer.  So they worked on writing a script and playing a game.

MarioFan had fun so I decided to sign him up for the next job week in July which is also online and they have lined up all new job sites for the participates to explore.  This camp also kept the parents informed and had several zoom meetings that parents could attend to understand what the kids were learning.  I was quite impressed!

It was been a wild year and the events of the past few weeks have come to our area.  We had some mild rioting but most of the protests were peaceful.  My daughter, Firedrake, very much wanted to participate in the protests.  However due to the virus we wouldn't allow her to go to the larger marches held in the city.  

Last week we heard that a local group of teenagers with the school district's support was trying to organize a local protest.  Since our town is small I agree to take my daughter so long as she follow the social distancing rules and wore a mask the entire time.  

My daughter painting up her signs the night before

She wasn't sure which one she wanted to use so she did two!

My sign

 There was a lot of backlash on the local community page and I was a little worried that there might be some counter protests.  I was very impressed with how the students handled the adults who were absolutely rude to them and their cause. 

The teenagers had planned the route with our local police and the town Mayor. 

This young lady will be a leader one day.  So impressed with her speech and how she conducted herself against the horrendous backlash she had on the local community page.

The town Mayor gave a speech and i was so impressed with how many people turned out to walk.  I honestly didn't think it would be many.  My daughter and I are happy to see their are more people in the community who support the cause than raged against it.

This speaker is raising a biracial son and she is reading his facebook post on what it was like growing up in this community.  I am so sad to hear he has had to deal with racism in my community. 

We walked approx 1.5 miles with some police officers joining us in addition to blocking off roads for us to walk.  It was quite stiffling to walk with a mask on as the temperature was in the high 90's

Someone was able to capture an overhead picture of the protesters walking.

After the walk we kneeled for 9 minutes and then peacefully dispersed.

there was no organized counter protest but we did see a few people walking with blue lives matter flags and while most of the cars who passed us honked in support, there was one that yelled obscenities at the protesters. 

I am very proud of my town, considering we live in a very RED district.  to see this many people come out was very surprising.  My sister is a police officer and I don't lump all police into one group.  I do believe change needs to happen so black men and women are no longer being targeted by police.  

I am also very proud of my daughter for being so socially active in her causes.  She will help change the world one day!

weekly wrap up3/6/2020-- Beethoven symphony and Pierogi making

We attending another symphony this week.  This one was quite different from the others we have been too as it was for school  children.  I must have missed that in the description but it was fun anyway.  This time there was an host that explained the music and got more audience involvement. 

They did an interesting segment playing Beethoven 5th symphony and Hall of the Mountain King n various musical styles such as Jazz, Rock, and Latin.  It was very interesting to hear the music change based on the beat it was emphasizing.  The Boys were quite impressed with this knowledge.

 We also attended a field trip to learn how to make Pierogi's.  I will be honest I have never made these before or think I have ever eaten them before.  However when I showed MarioFan the list for field trips at the beginning of the year this was one he was interested in.  Probably because it was food related:)

It was held at a Polish store called Siostra which means Sister in Polish. 

It was a big group of 13 kids and they all took turns to make the dough

We used a pierogi press to make the dumplings.

The first batch each of the kids made was a savory pierogi and they could add potato, cheese, mushroom bacon or broccoli

The second batch they made was a desert Pierogi

First you have to boil them

Then they are fried until golden brown

Then they got to eat them.  Delicious

MarioFan even let me taste one or two:)  While they were delicious it is probably not something we will ever make at home.  However if I ever see it on a menu  I would definitely order it. 

Weekly Wrap Up 2/28/2020 -- College visits

We visited 2 colleges over the past several weeks.  First we went to the STEM night at the local community college for MarioFan.  He has expressed interest in computers and/or electrical engineering. 

There was a robotics team there, I have tried to find one that is local and allows homeschoolers but haven't had any luck.  I will keep looking though as MarioFan loves it

EMT's were there and this is a new to me CPR machine that is now used

Learning about how the Missouri River is cleaned for people to drink

Lots of slides in the biology department to look at

We spent alot of time with the engineering professor and seeing all their projects and getting some ideas for projects that MarioFan can work on at home.

Lots of science anatomy models

Something MarioFan is working on at home with his Biology textbook

Model of a virus

Lots of evolution items and skulls showing the progression of mankind

Lots of experiments to be done.  Looking at PH levels

Chromatography

MarioFan never gets tried of doing science experiments, even one we have done a million times at home:)

Lecture on Dinosaurs.

There was lots to do that evening and MarioFan got to see the Community college that Firedrake goes too.  We are hoping MarioFan can take classes there his senior year as well:)

Next we took a trip to Truman State University, where Firedrake was accepted for early admission for the 2020-2021 year! 

We met the school Mascot-- the Bull dog, also heard from the college president and there were several student panels that we sat in on.

Boys choir for entertainment

We went to several departments to ask questions and Firedrake sat in on two classes to observe what it would be like.  We also toured the dorms and had lunch in one of the many cafeteria's on campus. 

It was a full day and we were exhausted by the end of the day.  Firedrake is still pretty happy with her decision about attending.

It is great to see her enthusiasm for college although occasionally she admits she is nervous too.  All part of growing up.  I am a mess just thinking about her going off to college on her own, sniff sniff.