One Wind Turbine, One Wind Mill, and One Happy Mardi Gras

Last month we trekked over to Rhode Island and saw Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West at the IMAX in Providence. It was Ethan's and Ryan's first time to an IMAX, and they were alternately thrilled and confused. Watching Ethan react to the feel of the buffalo, looking around to try to find what was making that thunderous sound, and then exclaiming "What are those?!" while pointing at the screen was the closest I'll ever come to seeing how non-natives in the Lewis & Clark party reacted to them.

On the way there and on the way back, we were discussing one of Ethan's current favorite topics: alternative energy. On the way home, we took a scenic route down along the coast of Rhode Island (the island on which Newport is located as opposed to the other islands or the mainland). Ethan wanted to know about wind power, and lo and behold it appeared, looming above the horizon: a wind turbine. It was not too far from the road we were on, so, of course, we detoured. We found Portsmouth Abby in Portsmouth, RI. On the grounds there is a wind turbine next a parking lot on a western slope.

It is really massive, but very quiet. Here is a photo of Ethan and the turbine so you can see how big it really is:
Ethan was a little intimidated by it, so he didn't go all the way up to it. I didn't either since I wasn't wearing boots and didn't want cold wet feet for the rest of the drive. Ryan felt the cold wind when the car door opened and announced, "I can see it just fine from here, thanks."

Ethan kept calling the turbine a windmill. We explained to him that they were two different devices, but he just couldn't remember the two terms and used them interchangeably. While we talking about the differences, as if the universe hadn't provided enough adventure for one day, (Is there even such a thing as enough adventure?), we came across a windmill. This one is in Middleton, RI at the Windmill View Cottage.

Ethan was surprised at how small it was when compared to the turbine.


I didn't get to see the actual windmill. I was going to trek across the field even if I would get cold wet feet, but Ryan really didn't want to leave the car even if I carried him. So, I read while Ryan played DS and Ethan and Esther set out to learn about the windmill and get some photos.

I can't end this post without noting that today is Mardi Gras. It may just another Tuesday for most of you, but in our house, it's a holiday. I meant to order a King Cake, but I didn't get to it this year. Next year, though, there's one with cream cheese filling calling my name.

Evidence of Learning (Not what you think)

Three amazing things have happened in the past two days.

Thing one:
Ryan came in the kitchen and asked for tin foil. I gave him the roll we have that is out of the box and therefore doesn't have the serrated cutting edge. He took some and tried to wrap it around his leg. "I'm getting on my armor," he explained.

"That's great. You know," I started to tell him that he'd a need longer piece of foil to get it around his leg, but stopped myself. He crumpled up the piece, put it on the table and began adding more and more and more foil it making a big ball. I thought that he was using a lot of foil. "So, what are you making?" I asked carefully not saying that he had a lot more tin foil than I thought he would use.

"It's a boulder! It's going to fall down and then - wait! Like this see?" He dropped to the floor and pulled the foil ball onto his leg. "It falls on the guy like this and his leg is caught like this." Ryan began to squirm around the floor miming someone with a stuck leg. "But don't panic! He gets out when his friends come and help him." Then he took the ball of tin foil and ran back to his Rescue Hero guys.

Thing two:
Ryan asked me to get the markers so he could draw. (Side note: I can't wait until the craft room is re-arranged and he can get them all by himself. That will make him happy.) I got them and he sat at the table while Ethan, Esther, Jo, and I played Scrabble. I looked up and saw him coloring all over himself with marker. He looked like he had blue snot running down his face. I laughed and told him to go look in the mirror at how cool it was. So did everyone else.

Thing Three:
Ryan and Ethan were in the bathtub tonight getting water everywhere and drinking bathwater and spitting it out toasting anything they could think of toasting. Esther went in and put towels on the floor so the flood waters were somewhat contained. I thought it was great that they were having such a good time.

It occurred to me this evening that none of those things were problems. Tin foil just isn't that expensive and he really can't use "too much". I know where the store is located. Not only that, but I needn't tell anyone the obvious. I can trust my kids to see for themselves when they don't have enough tin foil to wrap around their legs. Non-toxic marker all over Ryan's face and body is just marker and it it doesn't mean people will look at me like there's something wrong with me for letting him draw on himself, and if they do, then that's their issue. Yes, flooding the bathroom will make the floor really wet and someone might trip and get hurt, but if towels get put down, it doesn't matter.

See? I can learn. I have three pieces of evidence.