So I'm getting ready to go to a conference (its called the Public Library Association Conference, and its country-wide) and leave my family for a while. In some ways its fun and exciting (especially when you have some freedom for a little while) but in other ways ...
Preparing for a trip always seems to be like taking a test. It's not just tossing random clothes in a plastic bag and saying see you later alligator. No. You have to make sure that you have looked at the weather every five minutes to make sure that you have the proper clothes to wear. Plus, since its a professional conference, you have to make sure that you dress professionally, but also comfortably.
Then there's the "other stuff". The notebooks, pens, books, and other random things that you think you might need, but in reality, never comes out of your suitcase.
Then there's the whole anticipation of the event that you put into the suitcase. What's it going to be like? What will you do? Will it be comfortable? Will it be too crowded? This is my first country-wide conference so I'm definitely a little anxious to be out in the "big blue world" all by myself (you know you want to sing along) because I'm guessing (correctly) that there are going to be tons of people and I will know about three (me, myself and I). I don't know about you, but I get a little nervous (okay, a lot nervous) in big crowds.
So that's me. How-about you? Any suggestions with packing or going on big trips all by yourself? Any fun stories to tell me? Hopefully I'll have some fun stories to tell everyone and some new ideas to share by the end of next week when I get home!

I just assumed that she would always be there to support all that she does. So I never told her all the things that I wanted to. Therefor, I'm insisting you to tell those you love that you love them. End every discussion with I love you and a hug. Not only will it make them feel good, it will make you feel good. Because you never know when you will lose them.

I love when I fall upon neat articles that encourage me to let my kids explore science and math more.
Kids can be citizen scientists too
In this article in the magazine Popular Science, they encourage kids (and adults) to be "citizen scientists". They say that just because you don't have a science background, you don't have to say no to playing and exploring. For example there is an app where people are studying birds and sending information to the Audubon Society, and the 1 millionth person to send information? ... A twelve year old!
This is where the library comes in! We have tons of science toys that you can learn new science things without even realizing that you're learning something! And this is NOT just for the kids. There is plenty of things for the teens and parents to play with too. We want you to let your citizen scientist mind to flourish as well!
On the second and fourth Tuesday from 2-3pm and the second and fourth Wednesday from 6-7pm we have an open house where you can play with all the goodies in our new makerspace!
On Thursdays from 5:45-6:45pm we explore our imagination in a more condensed format: 1st Legos, 2nd Engineering, 3rd Art, 4th Technology and 5th is a mystery (even to us sometimes)!