Rutgers Gardens

Today several families met with Mary Ann at Rutgers Gardens for a nature walk. The weather was a little chilly, but the sky was clear and the air was crisp....it was a perfect day to explore!Almost immediately the kids spotted something that caught their eye.......a huge sculpture made from a real tree branch.Next we found the giant lawn chairs, and attempted a group shot!Yes Henry, my thoughts exactly...The kids were much more anxious to take off and explore, so off they went! The first area we walked through was lush and expansive......and appears to have suffered some pretty severe damage from recent storms.The kids started climbing and soon the tree had become a huge dinosaur, a horse, a dolphin and I think even an octopus!It wasn't long before one of the dads joined in on the fun...And look! We even managed to get an almost decent group shot! :)(note: you can click on any of the pictures to bring up the full size image)

More Rutgers Gardens Pics

Next we walked through a small area of beautiful and fragrant lilacs, where there were lots of nooks and crannies for the kids to make their way through!Finally we made our way to the bamboo forest... It was really amazing!It was a great turn out today, and the kids all had a blast. Hopefully we can do this again, soon!

A Quick Video

Had to share this quick little video from the kids playing outside during one of the gorgeous days last week. Enjoy!

UMS Book Fair

This weekend we enjoyed the 3rd annual UMS Book Fair, hosted by Barnes and Noble. A quick glimpse around the kids section and you'd see little clusters of UMS kids and families reading some of their favorite stories:
The kids also got down to business at the craft table, creating handfuls of bookmarks!

UMS Book Fair Special Guest

The teachers gave a wish list of books for the classroom to the staff at B&N, who set up this special table for the parents and children to browse. By the end of the afternoon it looked like many of the books had been purchased, so the kids and teachers will enjoy some great new additions to their libraries!
While everyone was busy reading and crafting, someone spotted a very special guest making his way to the kids section. The Storybook Mouse! From If You Give a Mouse a Cookie!A crowd quickly gathered...It's safe to say the kids were thrilled!!A quick group pic was snapped......and the Storybook Mouse surprised the kids with a plate full of cookies.Lee called everyone over for a group story......but it was hard work competing with a giant mouse and a plate full of cookies. The kids were still watching him and giggling and trying their hardest to figure out who was inside the costume!It was a great day, and everyone had a blast. Thanks to PTO President Henry Shih for organizing the event with the B&N staff, and for making such a memorable appearance. :)