Powder Valley Nature Center Jan 20, 2012

So I had taken several pictures of Hux at this awesome nature center back in November when we came with WUMCHA (I swear, I wouldn't know half of all the awesome kids' stuff to do here in St. Louis without WUMCHA).  However, I somehow lost my camera that day and therefore the initial shots were lost.

Since Hux's friends were all sick or busy, I thought going back to the center would be fun (plus give me a chance to look for the camera).  No such luck on the camera front (of course, I have a lovely new one, but I have so much nostalgia for the camera that went to Spain with me in 2008...) Anyway, here are the awesome shots we got...it truly is a great center!

Bees!!

Notice the quilt squares spell out "Powder Valley."

What healthy water droplets look like...

What unhealthy water looks like-notice the ugly zebra mussel in the middle.

Again investigating healthy versus unhealthy water.

In the treehouse-checking out bats and other birds 'hangin' around.'

 If you open the trapdoor in the treehouse, you see a bird's nest!

Awesome pelts to pet.

There are awesome turtles at the center-HUGE!  Hux and I were both fascinated!

This guy wanted to redecorate- hard to see him as he is digging in the rocks.  He ended up moving the little fake greenery up and out of that corner (I think he wanted his tank a little more fung shui) and then burying himself under rocks on the other side of the big log.

The biggest buck in North America  in terms of points on his antlers (I think) was found in the St. Louis area-beating the one in TX so the sign read (and everything in TX is bigger so WOW!).  

I'm not sure if this buck here is the one in question, but that's a lot of antler!

 Can you spot the three red cardinals in this picture?  There were also three female cardinals and a few bluejays flying around...quite impressive for all my bird-loving relatives (Aunt Mary, we may have to come here when you visit!).

Such lovely landscaping!

Hux loved the puppets area.  Here he is as a fox? poking his head out...

Here he is with a little squirrel in a barrel...

...he also loved the spider and the bat!

The center also had several "look through the eyes of..." displays.  Here is Hux as a deer.

His favorite was the fly though...

So much fun to see what's in side!

He actually became proficient in rubbing crayons on different leaf patterns (he's never before mastered the 'on the side' crayon rub versus the direct 'crayon tip on paper' drawing).  It was a proud moment clearly.

 The huge snails and worms in this display were really attractive (as was the display of two of the most poisonous snakes in the St. Louis area-complete with live snakes! -that I didn't photograph).

The fish pond is built into the outdoor scenery-very cool!

 When Hux put his hand on each of the puzzle pieces, it lit up to discuss the specific specimen. 

I love this shot -this looks down on the first floor of the center and Hux loves to gaze through bubbles.

A few random shots!

So now that I have a fancy new DLR camera (thanks Cindy and Tom!) the blog is going to be even better!  Here are some of the initial shots.

We were putting together the new set of cubes for storing "Baby Trilo's" clothes and toys; Hux thought it was a great hide-and-seek game!

This week, Daddy is gone, so Hux decided that putting on his shoes was more fun if they were Mommy's winter shoes, rather than his own.. Please note his favorite new toy-the Thor hammer!

On Wednesday, Hux became obsessed over these pictures of purple claymation octopuses (or octopi)  in his new Highlights magazine while he was getting his haircut (please note the new 'do).

So when we finished our haircuts and went to the Craft Caboose in Kirkwood (with WUMCHA)  Hux walked in the door and promptly wanted to leave because he did not want to delay going home and making the purple octopus with the anchor.  Luckily, we the ladies at the Craft Caboose came up with a way to create a purple octopus -and even crafted an anchor to hang on him. Thank goodness or there would have been a mutiny I think!

By the way, the Craft Caboose is like a "Paint Your Own Pottery" studio for crafts--you can buy different little crafts to make or go wild with construction paper and various craft supplies to make your own creation.  I was impressed (and glad that WUMCHA picked up our $6 studio fee so we only had to pay $3 for our own creation). Yay WUMCHA!

Gymnastics-Fun too!

So we had a much more normal and fun playdate today-but the exciting part was that Hux was really into it (rather than being shy and hanging back as he has done any other time we attempt gymnastics or group activities).

Thanks to WUMCHA we had our own WUMCHA playdate today and will go back in November and December as well-for free!! (It's definitely been a great week of 'free') :)

Hux likes to "Move it, move it!" (a favorite song, and that's what was playing!).

Hux "feeding" the doggie brightly colored balls (while they played "Who Let the Dogs Out!")

Hux having fun in the foam "pool" with other boys-he's in the far corner.

Hux swinging on the rope (briefly)!

Hux emerging after a skillful crawl through the tunnel.

Hux slid down the slide and into the foam pool!

Hux leaping over "fire" to land successfully on the mat-he did this about 15 times-very fun!

I don't think I wish that Hux were a world class gymnast, and perhaps, neither does Hux.

The best part of childhood!