DMPL's Harry Potter World Extravaganza!

For Christmas, Andrew gave Oliver a copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I have to admit that I never could get into the books, but I think the movies and characters are kind of cute. Andrew's a big fan, though, and now Oliver is, too!

So, when I saw that the Des Moines Public Library was hosting a Harry Potter World Extravaganza, I knew we had to go! I sent Andrew the library announcement:

Attention Muggles! Celebrate the opening of the exhibit, "Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic and Medicine," at the library! Families can make wands, learn about owls and snakes from the Blank Park Zoo, learn about science and medicine from the Drake Chemistry Club and Drake University’s medical fraternity, Phi Delta Epsilon, participate in a scavenger hunt and more!

Andrew responded, "Uh, I am not a muggle, thanks." Thankfully, he's a trooper and came anyway.

The first thing we did after picking up Oliver's scavenger hunt checklist was meet some of the animals from the Blank Park Zoo. We saw an owl and a tarantula, and Jo was brave enough to touch a snake! The kids painted their new wands, and I, apparently, was holding them upside-down. I guess I'm the muggle in the family.

The kids enjoyed the Harry Potter photo booth:

The played an anatomy game using the skeleton of a cat with Drake pre-med students. Joanna correctly located the cat's skull, and Oliver correctly located the cat's spine! Then they played pin the scar on Harry Potter (Oliver rocked that game).

Oliver played the trivia game. He let them know that he's read the first book so far, and they asked him who was the villain in that book. Oliver said Voldemort and got a bookmark! Then we wandered over to a meeting room where Drake chemistry students did a few demonstrations, including burning fire in different colors.

The kids then ate cookies, and they each got a glass of "butterbeer" that they refused to try. We had a great time at the free event! And Oliver made sure to turn in his scavenger hunt sheet for a chance to win an illustrated copy of Harry Potter!

The Kids Meet Curious George at the Des Moines Public Library

The library regularly has characters come visit for meet & greets with kids, like Clifford the Big, Red Dog. Today, they had the opportunity for kids to meet Curious George. Our kids were stoked. They went all out and drew pictures for Curious George (Jo later lost one of her drawings and refused to leave for the library without it).

I'd hurt my foot and couldn't go, but Andrew took the kids and said the kids were shy but thrilled! Oliver brought his well-loved monkey to show Curious George :)

Swan Soirée

The Trumpeter Swan Society hosted a "swan soirée" at Walnut Woods State Park in West Des Moines today.  They promised hands-on activities, crafts, hot dogs, and presentations from the county. It sounded promising, so we had to go check it out!

The first thing I noticed was how beautiful the woods are. We've been in Des Moines for almost two years now, and I never knew there was such a great state park this close to us. I made a mental note to check it out for camping later this year. Here's a link to more information on the park and campground.

When we arrived at the lodge, the parking lot was full. We continued on and found a spot in a tiny lot about a block down. We happened to park next to a man who was taking a trumpeter swan out of a crate. We got to meet and pet the swan! Notice its black beak.

We hiked the short distance to the lodge, which looked modern from the exterior. I was surprised (pleasantly so) on how "natural" and rustic it really was. There was an outdoor shelter attached with a fire burning in the outdoor fireplace (free firewood). Considering we were having an unseasonably warm day, about 50 degrees, it felt good to stand out there by the fire. Inside was packed! There were a few families there with kids, and the rest of the audience was older. We migrated to the craft table, where the kids got to create their own swans out of pipe cleaners, pine cones, and feathers.

                                                  

I got to hear a little of the presentation on the trumpeter swans. The director of the Trumpeter Swan Society explained how our grandparents and great-grandparents never got to see a trumpeter swan because they were so close to extinction. 

In the United States, there were fewer than 70 left earlier in the 20th century. Thanks to an Alaskan population of trumpeter swans, there has been a huge effort to re-introduce the animals to more of their native habitat. Iowa is currently the only state that has had trumpeter swan sightings in all parts of the state. Here's a map from Wikipedia that shows their current range: 

                   

After the kids finished their craft, we decided to take them outside to eat their hot dogs. I didn't expect them to sit through the presentations very well. They enjoyed the fire and the food, and then we hiked over to the nearby playground. My friend just so happened to be at the event, too, so we got to hang out while the kids ran around and played in the good weather.

The day's events didn't end there. A bald eagle flew overhead! Sorry for being a poor photographer, but I was actually so quick with my camera! This isn't the first time I got to see one in the area. When Jo and I were driving through Raccoon River Park one day, we saw bald eagles soaring over the water there.

In just a couple weeks, Des Moines Parks & Rec will be hosting "Bald Eagle Day." Attendees will have a chance to view bald eagles, and there will be activities for kids there as well. As long as the weather isn't bitterly cold, we plan on checking that event out, too. The details for that can be found on their Facebook event page here.

Gingerbread House Decorating at DMPL

We love the library! It's such a great place to find fun and free events for the family. We pre-registered for a free gingerbread decorating event at the Franklin Avenue library! They had pre-assembled little gingerbread houses made from graham crackers, and each family got frosting and candy to decorate their homes. The kids had a great time, and I didn't even have to make a big mess at home! Easy-peasy. Thanks, DMPL!

Star Wars Reads Day at the Library

It was Star Wars Reads Day at the library, so Darth and Obi Wan insisted we take them to the big event. The first thing we did upon our arrival was figure out our jedi names, and then the kids made lightsabers out of paper and tape. They got to practice their lightsaber skills against a bunch of balloons!

There were plenty of opportunities for photo ops:

And then the kids discovered the "trash compactor." I'm still cracking up over this. There was a giant box filled with crumpled up paper and empty plastic bottles. The kids climbed in and rolled around, pretending they were in the famous Star Wars scene. Apparently, it was a lot of fun. Our kids had so much fun in the box that other kids started to line up for their turn in the trash compactor. Oh, geez, that's funny.

After surviving the trash compactor, Oliver dodged lasers.

Thankfully, he survived the lasers, too. We played a few trivia games, and the kids won prizes (candy and cards). It was a big hit! The library offers some amazing programs, and nearly all of them are free! To find current events at the Des Moines Public Library, check out this link here.