Summer vacation continues...

More Cape Cod adventures...

We journeyed to Provincetown, at the very end of the Cape, to visit the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum. Although most people know the Pilgrims sailed to Massachusetts in the year 1620 and settled in Plymouth, fewer people know that the Pilgrims first landed in Provincetown and spent several weeks there before deciding the conditions were to harsh.

The 252-foot tall granite tower was constructed over 100 years ago to memorialize this event. The tower can be climbed in 171 steps plus about 60 ramps (Katie counted).


Hanging and the beach before climbing - Pilgrim tower in the background


It was her idea...


Entering the museum


Katie and Nicholas pose at the base of the tower


At the top!


The very end of the Cape (and the tip of Massachusetts)


Exploring the museum after the climb

Summer Vacation Starts on Cape Cod

School's out as of last Wednesday, so we headed out to Whit's parents house in Wellfleet, Cape Cod.

Gull Pond, Wellfleet:




Marsh at Oyster Cove, Wellfleet:












Hermit Crabs at Sunset:




Fishing with Grampy:






Cahoon Hollow Beach




Ice Cream at Wellfleet Pier:




Duck Harbor, Wellfleet:

This Past Week in Review - June 15, 2008

This past Tuesday was Nicholas' end of school year breakfast.






Saturday was Katie's last softball game of the season. We learned that one of her teammates also was born in Lausanne, Switzerland.

LINX Festival

Today was the LINX Festival - LINX is where Katie and Nicholas take Spanish classes, and Katie also takes a supplemental science course.


Arriving at the LINX Festival


A photo of Katie in her scientist garb


Working on an engineering project...




Nicholas dancing with the LINX girls

Boy's Day 2008

This weekend the girls (Katie and Whitney) are away at Girl Scout Encampment, so Saturday is the second annual "Boy's Day". Essentially Nicholas sets the agenda for the day and we do whatever he wants - within reason, but with a lot of leeway.

So far:
- Breakfast at the Maugus Diner (Frosted Flakes and Gatorade for Nicholas)
- Get haircuts
- Stop at the dry cleaner - Nicholas gets candy for himself and Katie
- Stop home, look for the Mac video game Treasure Mountain on-line
- Go to Little Bits toy store, buy a pin to put in his Crocs
- Go to Staples, buy envelopes to make an army project (I am not sure exactly what he's talking about)
- Tae Kwon Do class
- Lunch
- Stop home for golf clubs
- Go miniature golfing
- Play air hockey in the game room at the miniature golf course
- Go pin bowling
- Stop home, veg while watching an hour of Scooby Do
- Go to Blockbuster, rent a Pokemon movie
- Dinner at Tian Fu - Nicholas ordered for us - dumplings, family style tofu, rice, water and tea
- Stop at Brighams for ice cream
- Bring ice cream home, watch Pokemon movie

What's coming up:
- Sleep over in Nicholas' room, Paul sleeps on a mat
- Go to early church service, buy our rector a cup of coffee after church

Schofield Roadrace and Fun Fair

Today was the annual Schofield Elementary School Roadrace and Fun Fair. Whitney was a volunteer, and both Katie and Nicholas ran the 1K.


Katie with friends Isabel and Cassandra getting ready for the 1K race.


Nicholas approaching the finish line.


Whitney is working the fishing pond, Nicholas is angling for a prize.


"Red Mohawk with blue trim, please..."


Planning our next moves...


Katie and Cassandra on their way to a game

Nighttime Softball

Saturday night was to be Katie's night softball game. Unfortunately lightning and rain put an end to the game after the first inning.


The Pirates are in the outfield first - Katie is playing left field


Getting ready for the first pitch


The clouds come in, the lights go on (Katie is on the left)


First and only time at bat


Return to the dugout after the rain starts

Howtoons

One of my gifts to Katie for her birthday was a book called Howtoons, a comic-book inventing manual. Since Katie is both a big comic book reader (especially Tintin) as well as a prolific builder of projects, it seemed like a perfect gift. I know one of the authors (Joost Bonsen) from MIT.

Link to the book on Amazon here.
Link to the HowToons website here.

One of the easiest projects was a musical instrument made from a turkey baster. Water is put in the turkey baster, then turned upside down. Blowing over the opening makes a sound, and by squeezing the bulb and adjusting the height of the water, the pitch of the sound changes. Rings on the outside of the tube mark different notes. Katie was able to demonstrate playing a scale to her third grade class.



Another project was the PVC Marshmallow Shooter - yes this was demonstrated to the parents by both kids (in our bedroom, no less.)

Flying a Kite at School