Sippycup

Bug Fair 2006

How was the Bug Fair you ask?  Let's just say it was AWESOME!  I don't know if the kids had as much fun as I did, but honestly, who cares?  They owe me at least one day (or two, I went back for seconds) of my thing.  Especially if you add up all the hours of Barney on the Farm they put me through.  Walking through a crowded museum full of bugs was the least they could do for the woman that gave them life (yup, I'm milking it). 

I had so much fun I don't even know where to begin.  Cockroach races, millipedes, tarantulas, butterflies, beetles, stick bugs, caterpillars all were there in large numbers.  "It was rich  my friends, RICH!"

The kids and I could have done without the crowds.  Actually, I could have done without the kids too.  Don't get me wrong, they had fun touching, smelling and seeing everything but they have short little attention spans.  Emma touched a scorpion (I didn't even want to do that-good thing she can't read this).  But that was part of the problem, I wanted to learn how to find stick bug eggs, they wanted lunch.

The day went by all too fast.  Next year (it's always good to plan ahead), I'll go early and maybe by myself.  I know Sarah's in on that (sorry Steve and Kyle, no boys allowed).  I'm also perfectly willing to take the kids back on the second day.  That way we'll all be happy. 

Even Steve, who initially griped about going, bought himself a new friend, Wendel Tickletoes, a black millipede.   He's also planning on buying some of the beautiful butterfly collections next year.

All in all, this was a really cool event for all of us.  We ended the day at the butterfly Pavilion of Wings.   You can never go wrong there.

Upcoming: Babies at L.A. Zoo

Oh, how cute!  How can anyone resist a baby.  The babies at The Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens will be out to please all month long.  The zoo has selected this month to showcase these newest additions.  They have also created a special map that allows you to experience your very own self-guided tour complete with special posters throughout the park giving fun facts and irresistible photos of the babies.  The exhibition is included in the admission price ($10 for adults, $5 for children 2 to 12). 

An annual pass should really be considered because it has saved me many a weekend.  The cost is only $65.00 for the entire family.  You can get two adults in at any time (only one needs to be the card holder).  It includes admission for all your chidren/or grandchildren ages 2-17. Plus, you get 4 guest passes for anyone to use (out of town guests maybe). Hey, surprise your in-laws with a pair (they don't need to know they were free).

Don't forget the zoo is also great for those weekends when money is tight because you get free parking and can always pack your own food. 

And did I mention that the hills are great for you butt, especially when pushing a stroller.  By the way, the stroller is highly recommended since the babies are spread out throughout the entire park. 

Don't forget that it's going on all month so you can see them during the week as well, and with a much lighter crowd.  Go ahead, call in sick, I won't tell. 

If you do go, make sure to visit the baby giraffe a definite crowd pleaser, and don't forget your comfy shoes.  

The zoo is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. everyday.  Have fun!

Featured Link: What's That Bug?

In honor of the Natural History Museum's bug fair, which takes place today and tomorrow, I thought I would feature a bug-related link.

What's That Bug? is a wonderful site that I've used time and time again to identify bugs, spiders, and pupa that the kids and I have found in the garden or around the house.

It's really designed for the layperson because it features large, detailed photographs and common names to help you identify your bug, rather than scientific genus/species names.

I have been able to identify several different species of local bugs just based on my own paltry descriptions of them, "a big brown insect with long antennae," for example.

So check it out, and enjoy the creepy crawly pictures!

Update

The boys and I caught an awesome spider for the bug fair.  It's kind of black and hairy and you can see its fangs.

Upcoming: 20TH ANNUAL BUGFAIR

CALLING ALL BUG LOVERS!

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles  will be hosting its annual Bugfair! Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21 open 10:00 am to 5:00 pm - Both days.

The lineup includes over 60 vendors offering books, artwork, toys, live and dead specimens for sale (ooooooh spooooky).

Patrons (that means you and me) will also be treated to cooking tips from two insect chefs (look out Emeril).

Museum admission for non-members is $9.00 for adults, $6.50 for students and seniors and $2.00  for children (ages 5-12). 

B.Y.O.S. (Bring Your Own Spider).  The museum is also conducting Spider Survey and are asking that we take in any spiders we collect (good thing I didn't dust last week).

See you there!

P.S.
The Museum is not responsible for any one getting bitten so if you want to participate in the survey be careful while spider hunting (and may the force be with you).

Pavilion of Wings @ Museum

What I thought was going to be a really tough day of chasing the kids around a bunch of fragile stuff actually worked out great!

We headed out to The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles to visit their Pavilion of Wings exhibit bright and early.  O.K., so it was 10:30, but that's really early for me since Sundays are my days to sleep in.  Steve, (my dear hubby) is supposed to take over all morning preparation necessary to get us out the door by 9:30.  He gets the kids and himself dressed, he gives them breakfast, he preps snacks and makes sure we have diapers and sweaters ready to go. That gives me until 9:00 to sleep in with half hour left to get myself ready.  Yeah right...I can't believe I just put half hour and myself in the same sentence. 

Well, as I was saying, we left the house at 10:30.  The museum itself is located at 900 Exposition Blvd, near downtown, so it only took about 20 minutes to get there from Santa Monica. 

Once there, we headed straight to the Pavilion (it's outside the museum) trying not to harm any priceless fossils in the journey across the lobby. Luck was on our side.  When we arrived the sun was shining and the butterflies were really active.  I made a mental note to remind Sarah to go when it's sunny since we're both big time bug lovers it would only be a matter of time before she went. Emma and Sean were absolutely LOVING it! 

I was worried we'd spend two minutes in there before we were asked "what's next". Well, the "what's next" never came, we actually got an "I'm not ready go" followed by a "can we come back after lunch".  Yes, we bribed them with food to get out.  But hey, it worked.  Besides, I was hungry. I didn't have breakfast (penance for sleeping in). 

While in the pavilion, the butterflies were landing on Emma's arm and head. She was in heaven.  Sean was busy trying to catch as many butterflies as he could with his grubby little hands.  Most were successful on evading him except for the one poor soul that got tangled up in his hair (he's keeping his curls real).  That guy may never fly the same after his run-in with Sean's hair.

Lunch at the museum was pretty decent.  The food was much more than just chicken strips and french fries for the kids.  I'm the one with the weird kids that actually prefer fruit and veggies to fries.  Which means that I usually get stuck eating all the high calorie leftovers.  Damn those kids. I'll never be a size six again.  Technically, I could throw those food items away, but I don't like to waste food. Oh God, I sound like my mom!

After lunch the clouds had rolled in and it was obvious that butterflies were not as happy as earlier in the day.  Surprisingly, the kids still really enjoyed looking at the butterflies laying around on the flowers.

We left just in time for Sean to have his daily nap and with no need to replace any dinosaur  bones.