Monthly Archives: August 2016

70 Objects That Start with the Letter “V”

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A group of my friends started doing something we are calling Toddler Time and each week we choose a letter to focus on.  I realized that finding objects that start with the letter of the week can be a challenge and I thought it might be helpful to have a long list of “V” letter objects them on hand.  If I’ve missed something drop me a note in the comments, I would be thrilled to add even more letter “V” objects.
  1. Vacation Home: A house or apartment that is used for short-term stays or getaways.
  2. Vaccine: A biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular disease.
  3. Vacuum: A space entirely devoid of matter.
  4. Valentine: A person to whom one sends a greeting card or gift on Valentine’s Day.
  5. Valise: A small piece of luggage, typically used for carrying clothes.
  6. Valley: A low area of land between hills or mountains, typically with a river or stream flowing through it.
  7. Valuables: Items that hold personal or monetary value.
  8. Valve: A device that regulates the flow of fluids or gases by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways.
  9. Van: A large vehicle used for transporting goods or people.
  10. Vane: A blade or sail on a revolving axis used to measure wind direction.
  11. Vanilla: A flavoring derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla.
  12. Vanilla Bean: The seed pod of the vanilla orchid plant, used to flavor food and beverages.
  13. Vanilla Wafers: Thin, crispy cookies flavored with vanilla.
  14. Vapor: A substance diffused or suspended in the air.
  15. Vase: A decorative container used to hold flowers or other items.
  16. Vaudeville Performer: A variety entertainer, typically performing in theaters during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
  17. Vault: A large room or chamber used for storage, typically with strong walls and a heavy door.
  18. Veda: The sacred texts of ancient Hinduism.
  19. Vegan: A person who does not consume or use animal products.
  20. Vegetable: A plant or part of a plant used as food.
  21. Vegetable Garden: A plot of land where vegetables are grown.
  22. Vegetable Oil: A cooking oil derived from plants.
  23. Vegetarian: A person who does not eat meat, fish, or poultry.
  24. Vegetation: Plants considered collectively, typically within a specific area or habitat.
  25. Veil: A piece of fine material worn to cover the head or face.
  26. Vein: A blood vessel carrying blood towards the heart.
  27. Velocipede: An early form of bicycle propelled by pushing the feet against the ground.
  28. Velociraptor: A small, swift carnivorous dinosaur of the late Cretaceous period.
  29. Velvet: A type of fabric with a soft, dense pile.
  30. Vendor: A person or company who sells goods or services.
  31. Venom: A poisonous substance secreted by certain animals, such as snakes or spiders.
  32. Venomous Snake: A snake capable of injecting venom through its bite.
  33. Ventricle: A chamber of the heart or brain containing fluid.
  34. Ventriloquist: A performer who practices ventriloquism.
  35. Venue: A place where an event or activity takes place.
  36. Veranda: A porch or balcony attached to a house.
  37. Vessel: A ship or large boat.
  38. Vest: A sleeveless, close-fitting garment worn over a shirt.
  39. Vestibule: An antechamber, hall, or lobby next to the outer door of a building.
  40. Vet: Short for veterinarian, a person who treats and cares for animals.
  41. Veteran: A person who has served in the military or a particular field for a long time.
  42. Vetiver: A fragrant grass with long, thin leaves used in perfumes and fragrances.
  43. Viaduct: A long bridge-like structure carrying a road or railroad across a valley or other low ground.
  44. Vial: A small container, typically cylindrical, used to hold liquids.
  45. Vicuna: A wild relative of the llama and alpaca, prized for its soft, luxurious wool.
  46. Video: Visual content recorded on a tape or digital format.
  47. Video Cassette: A plastic case containing a rolled-up magnetic tape for video recording.
  48. Villa: A large, luxurious country residence.
  49. Vine: A plant that produces grapes, typically grown for winemaking.
  50. Vinegar: A sour-tasting liquid consisting of dilute acetic acid, used as a condiment or preservative.
  51. Vineyard: A plantation of grapevines, typically grown for winemaking.
  52. Vinyl Record: A disc made of vinyl used for storing music or data.
  53. Viola: A stringed instrument similar to a violin but slightly larger.
  54. Violet: A type of flower, typically purple or blue in color.
  55. Violin: A musical instrument in the string family that is played with a bow.
  56. Violoncello: A large string instrument similar to a cello, often referred to as a ‘cello’.
  57. Viper: A venomous snake known for its sharp fangs and deadly bite.
  58. Virus: A microscopic infectious agent that replicates inside living cells and can cause disease.
  59. Viscera: The internal organs of the body, especially those located in the abdominal cavity.
  60. Vise: A mechanical device used to hold objects firmly in place during work or crafting.
  61. Visor: A shield or brim attached to a cap or helmet to protect the eyes from the sun.
  62. Vitamin: An essential organic compound that is a nutrient required for normal growth and nutrition.
  63. Vocal Cord: A pair of folds of mucous membrane in the larynx (voice box) that vibrate to produce sound.
  64. Volcano: A mountain or hill with a vent or crater through which lava, rock fragments, ash, and gases are ejected.
  65. Volleyball: A team sport in which two teams of six players each use their hands to hit a ball over a net and score points.
  66. Volume: The amount of three-dimensional space occupied by a substance or object.
  67. Volunteer: A person who chooses to work and offer services without being paid.
  68. Vote: A formal indication of choice, opinion, or consent expressed by an individual, typically in an election or decision-making process.
  69. Vowel: A type of speech sound made with an open vocal tract, typically represented by the letters A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y.
  70. Vulture: A large bird of prey known for scavenging on carrion.

Can you think of any other letter “V” words?  If so please comment and let me know, I’d love to get them added to the list.

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Touring Boston – What to Know About Visiting the Plymouth Plantation with Kids

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Recently we headed down to Plymouth to see the Plimouth (original spelling) Plantation.  There they have  recreated the village to mimicked the original one, and they have actors who walk around talking like old English people and answering questions etc.  It sounded cool and we had heard lots of good things about it.

On the plantation you start by visiting the Indian Village and I was a little hesitant about this part, not because I didn’t want to see and learn from the Native Americans, but because I was afraid it would seem… I don’t know, exploitative and wrong somehow. The Native Americans were dressed in traditional garb, but they didn’t speak like actors, instead they told us about what life used to be like for their tribes and it was really cool.

These Native Americans were part of a matriarchal society, the elder women got to decide when someone was old enough to be married, and that was based on their ability to do the chores and other things that needed to be done.  Once they were established as old enough the woman would go out and pick a husband and bring him back to her village.  Food was said to be plentiful and they only needed to work around 3 hours a day to maintain their lifestyle, the rest of the day was for them to do whatever they wanted, which didn’t sound too bad to me…

Then we walked over to the pilgrim village.  The village was fairly big and all of the houses were both open and furnished, so you could walk in and sit on a rough feather bed, and pick up a brass kettle… which meant our son was trying very hard to play with all the ceramic pottery… eek.

We went in early September and the bad part about the village is it was dry and so so hot.  It felt like walking through a dessert.  The baby was hot, we were all sweating, and it was hard to plow along for long periods of time.  We met up with one of the actors and got to ask her some question.  My husband said her expression was priceless when I asked I could take a photo with her, you could see her not knowing how to respond while saying in character.  Anyway, she let me.  The village was cool, and it was a lot of fun to be able to direct the history lesson and experience it in such a hands on way.  

Things to Note: 

1) Price

So if you’re going to make the trip to Plymouth you will probably want to see more than just the plantation.  In a near proximity to the plantation there is also the Mayflower II (patterned after the Original Mayflower that you can climb on and ask actors questions about) and the Gist Mill, where you can see how flour and the like was ground.  You can buy a ticket to see any one of the attractions or a ticket to see any two or even all three of them.  For all three the tickets run about $30/person, two of the three is generally about $20/person.   You can view more specific details here: http://www.plimoth.org/plan-your-visit/hours-prices
2) Parking
Parking is free at the Plantation and there is nice big lot.  They also offer golf cart rids to those with mobility issues, which makes for a pretty fantastic family visit with the old and young.
3) Stroller Friendliness
Yes!  This is mostly an outdoor attraction and there are trails and paths everywhere, as well as lots of walking involved.  Bring a stroller is your child still uses it. 
4) Child Friendliness   
Perfect for children.  Lots of big open spaces, plenty of space to run around in and hands on exploration.  Kids can climb on the beds, sit in the chairs, hold the pots, visit the farm animals and interact with the actors.  My son was only 1.5 years old at the time and he loved it, everyone I’ve talked to with older kids said they also had a fantastic experience.

Summary and Rating ★★★★☆

Four stars.  It was a little bit expensive, but I thought this place was a blast.  We went during the off season, but I’ve heard that there is even more to do during the on-season… and probably a few more actors populating the villages, when we went there were only five or six and the village is quite big.  There is a lot of open space for kids and it’s really fun to be able to talk to the actors, ask them questions, learn about why they did the things they did etc.  I also thought it was really fascinating to be able to compare the lifestyles of the early pilgrims to those of the Native Americans, it would have been nice if they could have picked up a few tips from the Natives who seemed to have life pretty well figured out.   I would highly recommend this trip, it was one of the most engaging and interesting history lessons I’ve ever gotten to experience.

Have you been here before?  If so I’d love to know more about your experience and any tips or tricks you have in the comments section below. 

Plimoth Plantation 
137 Warren Avenue
Plymouth, MA 02360

Phone: (508) 746-1622
Website: https://www.plimoth.org/
Hours: 9am-5pm 7 days a week

Big list of Objects and Things That Start with the Letter “U”

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A group of my friends started doing something we are calling Toddler Time and each week we choose a letter to focus on.  I realized that finding objects that start with the letter of the week can be a challenge and I thought it might be helpful to have a long list of “U” letter objects them on hand.  If I’ve missed something drop me a note in the comments, I would be thrilled to add even more letter “U” objects.
  1. UFO: Unidentified Flying Object
  2. Uganda: Country in East Africa
  3. Ugli Fruit: Citrus fruit hybrid of grapefruit, orange, and tangerine
  4. Ukulele: Small string instrument from Hawaii
  5. Ukulele player: Person who plays the ukulele
  6. Ultra Violet: High-frequency light beyond the violet end of the spectrum
  7. Ultrasound: Sound waves with frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing
  8. Umbrella: Device used to protect from rain or sun
  9. Umpire: Sports official who enforces the rules
  10. Uncle: Brother of one’s parent
  11. Uncrustables (Sandwich Brand): a brand that sells pre-made, crustless sandwiches
  12. Underarm: Area of the body between the arm and chest
  13. Undercover agent: Secret investigator who works in disguise
  14. Underground: Beneath the surface of the ground
  15. Underwater: Located or occurring beneath the surface of the water
  16. Underwear: Clothing worn under outer clothing
  17. Uneven Bars: Gymnastics apparatus for women
  18. Unicorn: Mythical creature with a single horn on its forehead
  19. Unicycle: Single-wheeled transportation device
  20. Uniform: Clothing worn by members of a group to show common identity
  21. Union: Association of workers for the protection of common interests
  22. Unitard: One-piece garment similar to a leotard but covering the legs
  23. United Nations: Intergovernmental organization to promote international cooperation
  24. Universal remote: Device that can operate multiple electronic devices
  25. University: Institution of higher education and research
  26. Unopened package: Container that has not been opened
  27. Upholsterer: Person who specializes in making and repairing furniture
  28. Upside-down Cake: Cake where the toppings are placed on the bottom before baking
  29. Upstairs: Upper floor of a building
  30. Uranium: Radioactive chemical element with the symbol U
  31. Urchin: Small, mischievous child
  32. URL: Uniform Resource Locator, web address
  33. Urn: Container for holding cremated remains
  34. Ursa Major: Constellation in the northern sky
  35. Ursa Minor: Constellation in the northern sky
  36. USA: United States of America
  37. Usher: Person who shows people to their seats at a venue
  38. Utah: State in the western United States
  39. Utensils: Tools used for eating or cooking
  40. Utility worker: Person who handles the infrastructure of public services.

Can you think of any other letter “U” words?  If so please comment and let me know, I’d love to get them added to the list.

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Toddler Letters – “P” is for “Pom Pom”

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Supplies Needed:

  • Colored Craft Paper
  • Letter “P” Cutout
  • Elmer’s Glue
  • Scissors
  • Colored Pom Poms
  • Markers

Set Up:

We stared by adding glue to our letter “P”. I let my son add his own glue and he was very careful to trace his P, then he grabbed handfuls of Pom Poms to cover his glue.  Since we were running out of Pom Poms by the time was son was done I ended up being a little more conservative and just doing dots of glue where I wanted Pom Poms added.  If you want to control or limit the amount of Pom Poms being used I would suggest going the glue dot route and letting your child add one Pom Pom per glue dot.  We let our glue dry then shook our P a little to dislodge any loose Pom Poms before gluing our P down to our craft paper.

We finished by talking about different things that are circle. (Balls, cups, clocks, apples, pizza, wheels, etc.)

Tracing Letters:

*Courtesy of http://bogglesworldesl.com/

Have you made this craft?  What was your experience like and do you have an suggestions to make it better?  I’d love to hear about them in the comments section below.

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Touring Boston – What to Know About Visiting Mount Auburn Cemetery with Kids

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Mount Auburn Cemetery was the first Rural Cemetery in the United States and it has been designated as a national landmark.  It also seems to be one of those places that shows up frequently on the “Must See/Things to Do in Boston” lists.

We decided to check it out and see what all the hype was about.  We went in early May, it was still jacket weather but the flowers were out and the greenery was gorgeous.

This cemetery is huge and it’s a very green a peaceful place to be.  Flowers and attractive bushes are everywhere and there are plenty of paths to walk along and interesting headstones to see.  As far as bringing kids along I thought it was great.  There was lots of space for them to move about, lots to explore and we weren’t getting in anyone’s way as we toured the area.  The chapel was gorgeous and we loved being able to walk around and enjoy so many amazing flowers.

We were also surprised to see some velociraptors there. We stumble unto a herd of 3, then realized they were calling to the rest of the herd a few paces over. Turns out there were around 10 of the beasties… alright they might just have been wild turkeys, but those suckers were giant, and the way they moved and called to each other… well they seem to be direct descendants!  We had to keep the kids from getting to close because I was sure they would end up getting their eyes plucked out or something. In any case, there is also a lot of wild life to be seen in the area.  We saw a flock of wild turkeys, chipmunks, bunnies, squirrels and the like.

Things to Note:

1) Parking/Admission
Free.  This area is really large and you can park just about anywhere along the trails, stopping when you find something you’re interested in exploring more.

2) Stroller Friendliness
There are paths that go every which way through the cemetery and if you wanted to bring a stroller you would be able to get around easily with it, but if you’re bring a toddler with you it might be easier just to let them run free and follow them through the headstones without trying to drag a stroller up and down the hilly paths.

3) Kid Friendliness
Totally kid friendly.  It mostly a nature walk that you can do at your own pace and you don’t have to worry about running into other people, though I believe Mount Auburn also offers a guided tour of the cemetery if you are interested.

4) Wildlife
We were able to spot a lot of interesting creatures while walking around the park, most notably a decent sized flock of wild turkeys, along with bunnies, chipmunks, squirrels and birds.

5) Plant Life
The greenery everywhere is amazing.  There are so many flowers, flowering bushes, trees, sweeping weeping willows, scenic ponds etc. that you can’t help but to enjoy nature as you explore the area.

Summary and Rating: ★★★★★

Five Stars.  I thought this place was beautiful and it was so nice to have so much green spaces after living in the city.  I loved that my son could explore and I could enjoy the quiet piece of the area as we walked around together.  If you’re looking for a nice outing, near the city, with free parking that you can do last minute this might be just the ticket.

Have you been here before?  If so I’d love to know more about your experience and any tips or tricks you have in the comments section below. 

Mount Auburn Cemetery
580 Mount Auburn Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Phone: 617-547-7105
Website: http://mountauburn.org/

Hours: Gates open: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm;
Saturday 8:30 am – 12:00 pm for business, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm for information