Ancient China at the MIA

Not long ago we began to notice the billboards "TERRACOTTA WARRIORS; MIA."  Beneath the headline were groups of stern and intriguing clay men--from China, ancient China.   Solomon wanted to go, so did I.  When I found out that the museum's next family day was China themed, and that the exhibit was free that day, well, we had to go.  Charlotte's friend Ivy came with us (she had also noticed the billboards).   We spent the morning looking through the website for the exhibit, and got a bit of the history on China's first emperor, Qin Shihuang, the man who was buried with all this treasure.  It is intriguing to look back on these larger-than-life men.  They are often both terrible and incredibly influential.  A reformer, uniter, and mass murderer,  Qin Shihuang was both brilliant and cruel.  

Here we are outside the exhibit.  Behind the kids is a replica of some of the statuary found buried near emperor Qin Shihuang's tomb.  

Best friends, holding hands through the museum.  Both of these preschool cuties did a great job holding my hand in the Terracotta Warriors exhibit (even though our hands got sweaty--not their favorite).  I held them up to see the things that were displayed to high up, so it was a great workout for me.  Charlotte was happy to find the gold tiger we'd seen online in the preview section of the website.  It was tiny!  Ivy liked the bells.  They were beautiful green copper and very decorative.  The shape was nothing like a western bell.  A couple of them are also in the online preview.  The coins were interesting too.  Some of them looked like little swords.  Others looked much like modern coins.  They were round with a square hole in the middle.  

Solomon was interested by the fact that three dimensional triangular arrowheads were better than flat arrowheads.  There were about twenty such arrowheads on display, about the length of a pencil.  He and I also marveled at the stone armor.  Much like a mail shirt, they were made of many squares of precisely cut stone sewn together with copper.  He was also impressed by an excellently preserved swords.

Nova found the metal birds intriguing.  Held up by clear plastic stands and with a few modern pieces linking together what was left of the original metal, the cranes and ducks reminded me of dinosaur skeletons wired together.  They were all a beautiful verdigris and very life-like.      

Of course the warriors were the main event.  There were about seven warriors and two horses (the saddled horse was Nova's favorite).  They are  all carved in three dimensions with details all around.  Each face is unique.  Standing life size (or slightly larger), they are imposing statues.  The glass barriers around them allowed Charlotte and Ivy to see them easily.   

Another replica, right at the entrance of the museum.  These two replicas were the only things we could photograph from the traveling exhibit, though there are many pictures on the MIA's website. 

Nova took the camera and snapped shots of interesting artwork.  She captured one of my favorites, the Jade Mountain.  It depicts an ancient Chinese poetry conference.  (Unless Nova is in the photo, she took it).     

Ivy made a point of showing us the fountain.  Of course, we had to throw some coins in the fountain and make a wish or two.   Wishing you a wonderful week! 

P.S.  If you wish to see the Terracotta Warriors for free, there are two more Target Family Days before they depart.  Though they are not China themed, the exhibit is still free those days.       

Election 2012

Watching the Vice Presidential Debate without a TV--we got the last one on the 'big screen.'

Election education began with the debates.  The kids quickly dubbed the candidates "Mr. Red" and "Mr. Blue" (because of the color of their ties).  In a country so uncomfortably aware of race, I find it interesting that the kids found the candidates' tie color more notable.  At first they were leaning Republican, but by the end, they were all for Obama.  Nova and Charlotte made campaign signs, hung them around their necks and marched around the house.  Obama had very big ears in Nova's depiction.  Solomon watched more debates than any of the other kids.  By the end all the kids' appetite for political debate was gone.  Nova did try to engage me and Charles in a "Paredential Debate" which was to lead up to an election for parent in charge.  We mostly agreed, so sadly, it wasn't much fun.  

BrianPop Civics

The weekend before the election and that Monday and Tuesday, we read from Nancy Gill's The Presidential Election curriculum.  We also watched a tone of BrainPop videos on the subject.  We covered voting, the election, the origin of the two major political parties, the three branches of our government, origins of democracy, and suffrage.  One of the videos also discussed the 2000 election and we talked a bit about that afterwards.  Solomon was very upset about the electoral college.  He found it very unfair and kept insisting that it meant that our votes didn't really count.  

I got out my reproduction US Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence for effect.  The kids had trouble reading them, and so did I (despite the foot note stating that they'd been slightly altered for legibility!).

 Nova and Solomon both tried their hands at the online computer game "Win the White House."  They both lost the first time.  Nova was determined to win, so had a second go at it.  She won by a landslide.

There were plenty of yard signs, pro and con, in our neighborhood for the state amendments on the ballot this year.  Below are a two of our friends who both showed up to a Halloween party decked out in "VOTE NO" attire.  Our church had also been very active in the marriage amendment.

  

On election day Nova, Solomon and Charlotte all 'voted' via http://www.nationalmockelection.org/results/.  They also went with me to vote.  The lines were longer than normal, but it still took us less than half an hour.  We went over to the Spindler election party around 7:00.  It was fun to watch the results as a group.  I brought along electoral college maps to color in as we went.  They also saw Your Not Elected Charlie Brown (thanks Brynn--it was a bonus feature on The Great Pumpkin DVD you got us so long ago).   In 2008, I spent election night as a reporter, covering the Democratic headquarters.  That was a whole different kind of fun, exciting, but also grueling.  That was the year that Minnesota's senate race went to a recount (and kept everybody up forever on election night).   

By the time they called the election, half our crew was asleep, and we'd all had plenty of dessert.  All in all it was a very good evening, and an educational election.  Now if only I can convince Charles to become a citizen so he can vote next time around!       

Halloween 2012

Leaving for Trick-or-Treating

Charlotte and Nova at Charlotte's Preschool Halloween Party

The annual Halloween Bonfire, a few blocks from our house (yes, it's  that  big!)

The Fire Demon by the Bonfire

On the Way Home

Boys Can Sew

Solomon decided to be a fire demon for Halloween this year.  He had very clear ideas on how he should look.  The initial description involved lots of red and orange sequins, hair, hair spray and claws. It evolved to include fangs, possibly face paint, and a slippery iridescent fabric that resembles snakeskin.  A floor length cape was a must.  

While I had intended to make the cape for him, Ariadne, his baby sister, had other ideas.  And so, Solomon made most of it himself!  It was a slippery, difficult fabric for a beginner, but the pattern was forgiving.  He fared very well on my mid-century Bernina.  The results were just what he was after.  

Trick-Or-Treating

The 'Fire Demon' at the annual Halloween Bonfire put on by our fire department