FIELD TRIP: Orchestra Hall and Macy's Santa

It's so wonderful to be able to attend child-friendly and pocket-book friendly shows at Orchestra Hall. Tickets for the Young People's Concerts are just $5 each. The conductor takes time out to explain the instruments and music, letting the kids know what to pay attention to. Plus there are dance and theatrical groups joining in to create a visual experience, as well.

This year's holiday show was Peter and the Wolf, and it was brought to life by actors from Theater de la Jeune Lune.

Young listeners will recognize the personality of each character within the music: sprightly strings for the adventurous Peter, a bassoon for his stern Grandfather, and other instruments for the bird, duck, cat, hunters and the stealthy wolf.

Since we were already downtown, the kids ran around Peavey Plaza until they got cold, and then we headed into the skyways to visit Macy's 8th Floor and Santa Claus -- a first for my kiddos.

FIELD TRIP: Cinderella and a park

Pagentry and sparkles steal the show for Cinderella at the Children's Theater. This was our second time seeing this particular show at CTC. It was mostly the same, with a few jokes updated. The kids love the glamour and glitz. The Boy talked for a long time about poor Cinderalla - I hope the show taught them compassion for those who are in rough circumstances.

Afterwards, the day was nice so we ran around in the bowl in the park across the street from the MIA.

FIELD TRIP: Ice Skating at Loring Park

Loring Park was a lovely place to celebrate our winter weather during the Holidazzle festivities. We were there at the tail end, but the ice was still good and the crisp air made us feel alive. We brought our own skates, but they had free rentals, courtesy of Wells Fargo, and a nice warming house -- important if you have kiddos!

FIELD TRIP: The Hub Bike shop

We got a behind-the-scenes tour at The Hub Bike Shop in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities' only cooperatively owned bike shop, and, oh, was it interesting. There are so many bikes stored up in the ceiling in the back, and they kids got the opportunity to bring one down and up. Then they learned a bit about how to take care of their own bikes, including how to check their tire pressure and then fill it up. What a great neighborhood business!

 About the Hub:
The Hub is a worker-owned and democratically-run workplace focused on providing excellent bicycle products and services. All workers have opportunities to vote on different aspects of the business, and have equal access to information.  The Hub is firmly committed to donating labor, money, and merchandise in order to support various community initiatives throughout the year.  The business dedicated 5% of profits to supporting the cycling community, the community at large, and the environment.

• In addition to new products, we also provide 2nd hand bikes at the 3020 Minnehaha location.
• The Hub’s “People and the Planet Fund” donates a portion of profits to supporting the community and helping the environment.

 A Green Business:

• We recycle tires and tubes leftover from our repairs and are now offering this service to you. We will take limited quantities of tires and tubes with any purchase
• Metal is separated and taken to the scrap yard
• Plastics are separated into 5 different types and recycled
• We use and/or offer a selection of plant based chain lubes and bio-degradable grease
• The vast majority of Hubsters bike daily all year round. This includes for work, for getting around town, and for fun
• We use 100% post-consumer, recycled paper products

FIELD TRIP: Textile Center offers felting class for youngsters

Introduce the kiddos to yarn at the Textile Center off University in Minneapolis.

Our homeschool group headed there one day in March for storytime, an art project and a tour. I was quite impressed with the art work in the building, and of course, we wanted everything in the gift shop, being the yarn lovers we are!

Our field trip began with a story... "Wilbur" by Leslie Helakoski, the tale of a crazy sheep that doesn't quite fit in.

Then the kiddos selected fistfuls of fiber and dipped smaller amounts of it in soapy water. They worked the fiber in their hands until...

They had made felted balls!

Next the kids used a needle and thread to sew them together an fashion key chains.

The Weaver's Guild of Minnesota occupies a few rooms in the Textile Center.

The Textile Center's mission is to honor textile traditions, promote excellence and innovation, and inspire widespread participation in fiber art. Admission is free and open to the public. A variety of classes are offered regularly. Explore basketmaking, weaving, beading, crochet, felting, knitting, needlework, embroidery, quilting and sewing.

Since its founding in 1940 by six women, including Hilma Berglund, the Weavers Guild of Minnesota has established itself as a nationally-recognized resource for the arts of weaving, spinning, and dyeing. The Guild offers classes and events year round, serving nearly 700 new and experienced fiber artists each year. It was the catalyst in the formation of the Textile Center, where the Guild currently maintains classroom, retail, and library space.

The artwork on display was simply amazing. What a person can do with lace and dirt...

 The Inside Out Outside In: Domestic Commitments exhibit is by by Sandra Menefee Taylor, and was viewed March 10 – April 30, 2016. The current exhibit, "A Common Thread," is open through Feb. 25.

This "lace" was formed by shaking dirt through a piece of lace to see the lacy pattern on the ground. Breathtakingly beautiful, isn't it?

Because we were so close, we checked out the "Witches Tower" in Prospect Park. What lively play it sparked!

FIELD TRIP: What it is like to be a K9 officer

What's it like to be a K9 dog and its handler?

We learned firsthand from Officer Matt Gliniany and Stryker during our field trip there in October. Then we toured the Plymouth Police Station, crammed into a tiny cell, and hopped inside a squad car.

I think the highlight of the day may have been the park afterwards. The Plymouth Creek Playfield off Fernbrook Lane had some really cool features, including a swinging raft! And a merry go round you can climb and spin on!

What do a retro truck, a hungry snake, a giant gumball machine, chickens, and stars have in common?

They were all part of the artist-designed mini-golf course at the Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis. We took the kiddos there on a gorgeous fall day, gave them balls and putters, and let them have fun.

The course is closed for the season, but it'll be back, with some old and some new art pieces next year.

After we golfed, we checked out the sculpture garden -- what was left of it anyway. They're in the process of updating it, and a chunk of the art had been moved.

IF YOU GO
SINGLE COURSE (9 HOLES): $12 adults, $10 students ($9 Walker members, children ages 6–12). FULL COURSE (18 HOLES): $19 adults, $16 students ($15 Walker members, children ages 6–12). Free for ages 5 and under with paid adult.

Get a little dirty, climb around at Tamarack Nature Center

Crawl, climb and splash at Tamarack Nature Center in White Bear Township. The kiddos loved our visit to this Ramsey County Park, and I just wish it was closer to our home so we could go more often!

Tamarack Nature Center is a 320-acre preserve within Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park. More than four miles of turf trails, paved trails and boardwalks provide year-round access to forests, prairies, ponds and the Discovery Hollow and Garden natural play area. Of course, if you're going with young kids, you won't likely get past the natural play area!

• Build a tree fort in The Wood
• Climb the cliffs to The Overlook
• Make a dam in The Stream
• Get growing in The Garden
• Get muddy in The Mud Table

IF YOU GO
https://parks.co.ramsey.mn.us/tamarack/Pages/tamarack.aspx

Address: 5287 Otter Lake Road, White Bear Township, MN 55110

Phone:(651) 407-5350

Discovery Hollow and Garden Hours​
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Friday-Sunday: 9 a.m.- Dusk (1/2 hour after sunset)