Arboretum and Fire Museum

Last month we spent a wonderful day at the Arboretum. The weather was perfect for walking on the trails. The kids spent a long time at the pond, watching turtles and making pretend fishing poles. They have a Discovery Room that is filled with all kinds of interesting stuff. When we first arrived a woman gave us worksheets with pictures of native wildlife to circle as you spot them in the exhibit. Of course, no one pressured them into filling them out. Some of them had a lot of fun searching while others ignored the papers and just concentrated on the exhibit itself. I didn't notice the other half of the Discovery Room until the group I was with came back from the trails. There was a great selection of local skins, bones, feathers, and plant cuttings to feel and smell. The most interesting part were the microscopes available for use. You could look at slides or use the bigger microscopes to look at water samples, and larger items. It was really nice to have the time to explore all the stuff crammed into the room, and since we went in the middle of a weekday, we had the place to ourselves.


Sean looking at snakeskin under a microscope.


Justin searching for an animal in his packet at the Discovery Room at the Arboretum.


Christopher, Kristin, Troy, Jennifer, Sean, and Max exploring the Discovery Room at the Arboretum.


Max, Isaac, Seth, Justin, Evan, and Ripley peering into the pond at the Arboretum.


Justin and Ripley pretending to fish at the Arboretum.


The day before Thanksgiving most kids stayed at home, so a few of us went on an impromptu trip to the Fire Museum. When we walked into the museum the younger kids were in complete awe. Upon seeing a hose attached to a fire hydrant, Diego gave the most excited gasp I have ever heard.


William and Diego run their firetruck into Abba at the Fire Museum.


Wiliam and Diego getting ready to slide down the pole in their firefighter outfits at the Fire Museum.

- Ellie, Staff Member

All Hallows Eve

Happy Halloween!


Jose, Ellie, Judah, Stuart, and Abba pose in their Halloween costumes on the porch.


Isaac, Justin, Abba, and Ellie pjck up the parachute while Ripley crouches underneath.


Abba, EliJah, Ellie, Diego, Isaac, Seth, Justin, William, and Ripley play with the parachute.

Cooler Weather

One of the things Houston is probably best known for is its humidity and heat. There are few respites from the oppressive weather, and our idea of winter would probably be recognizable to most Northerners as autumn. So yesterday afternoon, when the sky started to darken and a rare wind blew the leaves outside our windows, the kids immediately bolted outside. The first cool weather of the season! It was a really joyful afternoon with the kids playing tag, swinging, and climbing in the tree. When the rain began to fall the kids were unfazed, and when it turned into a downpour the drama of "survival" took centerstage.


Evan, Isaac, Abba, Ripley, and Troy playing in the front yard.


Seth, Troy, Abba, Evan, and Ripley pose together on the porch steps.

- Ellie, Staff Member

Quote of the Week and Photos

"We are faced with the paradoxical fact that education has become one of the chief obstacles to intelligence and freedom of thought."
- Bertrand Russell


Brother Kenya came to share music as part of the Jena 6 day of resistance.


Kim explaining what has happened to the Jena 6.


Harley flashing the peace sign.


Sean molding his cornstarch dough.


Evan and Ellie making miniature cornstarch dough creations.

For more pictures please follow this link.

- Ellie, Staff Member

Quote of the Week and Photos

Quote of the Week: "I remember spending the greater part of my childhood wondering about adults. Were they ever children? From their behavior towards children it seemed to me quite clearly that they could never have possibly been children." - Ashley Montagu


Diego running with a sword, Isaac showing off the moves he learned in his martial arts class, and Evan preparing the stuffed animals to watch the movie.


Evan and Amanda requested I take a picture of them with the puppies.


The kids always arrange the most comfortable, lazy position to use the computer. Here Justin is sitting in the armchair that managed to find a semi-permanent home in front of the computer desk, but currently as I type the kids have shoved the entire couch by the desk.


Caleb told me that he would play with the "fancy ones" and "the...cars" were for me to play with.

For more pictures please follow this link.

- Ellie, Staff Member