Lighthouse for the Blind

Today, we learned that not all blind people are totally blind. Many legally blind people can see, just not perfectly. We also learned that it's hard for blind people to find places where they get a chance to have a job. But Lighthouse for the Blind is a place where many blind people work, doing all kinds of jobs from office work to public relations to making parts for airplanes!

We also got to sniff plants in the smelling garden, translate a song into braille, meet guide dogs, and see a talking computer.

It was a great week, and this was a great day to end on. Thanks everybody!

Eb.

Here's the last song:

Lighthouse for the Blind

The blind are just like everyone else
Except that they can't see
Some use canes, some use guide dogs
They work and play just like you and me

At the Lighthouse for the Blind there are plenty of helpful people
They taught us things we didn't know
Like how they read Braille
And that they deserve a chance to plant a seed and help the world grow

Don't be discouraged if your eyesight hasn't flourished
Because you're still a part of our world
Everybody is unique including you
Everyone has something special they can do. It's true!

At the Lighthouse for the Blind there are plenty of helpful people
They taught us things we didn't know
Like how they read Braille
And that they deserve a chance to plant a seed and help the world grow

At the Lighthouse for the Blind there are plenty of helpful people
They taught us things we didn't know
Like how they read Braille
And that they deserve a chance to light a candle and help the world glow

University District Food Bank

We had a great day putting together packages for people to get food at the food bank! We packaged rice, beans, corn, oats, doughnuts, milk, fruit, and all kinds of other foods.

The kids were having so much fun, they worked an extra hour! There are so many fun things to do at the food bank. I would recommend a trip for any family. The grownups feel good and the kids have fun, and it doesn't cost a cent!

Joe, our leader for the day, was great at explaining how and why the food bank runs, and making it really exciting for everybody.

We worked so long, we didn't have time to write a song, but I have included a link to the song we recorded on Monday, called Many Kinds of People, which is very appropriate for today's great adventure.

Parents, I am having a great time with this group. Everybody is getting along great, has a great attitude about trying new things and having fun, and I feel like I'm on vacation!

To hear the song, go to www.simplefunmusic.com and click on Many Kinds of People on the upper right side of the home page.

Hiking to Carkeek Park

Today was the day everybody got a workout as we hiked the Carkeek Park trail down to the Puget Sound. It was an adventure in every way, from vanquishing the evil giant Mosquitos in the forest to counting train cars as they raced by on the tracks, to watching the guy snowboarding on the water - and that wasn't even the best part!

We found all kinds of cool crabs - big ones, little ones, hermit crabs, and a bunch of other critters under the rocks and seaweed by the sea!

Here's the song!!!!

In The Sea

Crabs, Crabs, Crabs!
Really big old crabs. That's what we found at the beach!
You might find them under rocks.
The boys have a lighthouse, the girls have a dome.
Sideways is the way they roam in the sea.

Rocks, Rocks, Rocks!
Really big old rocks. That's what we found at the beach!
You might find them under seaweed.
Barnacles grow on them. Sometimes they look like a gem.
They come in different shapes and sizes in the sea.

In the sea, in the sea, every thing we sing about is from the sea.
From the sea, from the sea, everything we sing about is from the sea.

Seaweed, seaweed.
Really big old seaweed. That's what we found at the beach!
You might it near the water, washed up by the tide.
Or stuck to a crab pot line.
It's really good in sushi from the sea.

In the sea, in the sea, every thing we sing about is from the sea.
From the sea, from the sea, everything we sing about is from the sea.

Hip Hop Dancing with Mary Kirkpatrick at Sound Mind and Body Gym

We went to Sound Mind and Body Gym (www.smbgym.com) and learned some "tough" hip hop moves from Mary Kirkpatrick.

At first, the girls were complaining a bit about how HARD it was, but after awhile, they realized they love to dance like that. They got so good, that they learned a whole dance routine in an hour! Thanks Mary!

After the dancing, we played at the park for a little while, then caught the bus. The kids were wondering what we would do if we missed the bus, and we talked about it for awhile. Our what ifs turned into a song:

What If.....

What if we miss our bus?
We'll wait until it comes around again.

What if the steering wheel breaks?
We'll use the radio to call a plane.

The crazier and crazier what ifs get,
The harder it is to have a plan,
But someday it might pay off.

What if the bus runs out of gas?
We'll have a towtruck come by.
What if the bus explodes?
We'll walk home and have chocolate pecan pie.

The crazier and crazier what ifs get,
The harder it is to have a plan,
But someday it might pay off.

What if a huge meteor hits the bus?
We'll pick it up and throw it back in space.
What if martians take over the bus?
We'll ask them to take us to Eb's place.

The crazier and crazier what ifs get,
The harder it is to have a plan,
But someday it might pay off.

What if everything goes right?
........I don't know what we would do!

Chroma Sound Recording Studio

Today, we wrote a song about waiting for the bus. We waited for the bus six times today, because we took six different buses to get to and from our destination.

Why did we go so far? Because we had the excellent opportunity to record a song in a professional recording studio!

The girls laughed when Eb sang without the guitar music out loud, but they held it together long enough to lay down some spicy vocal tracks of their own!!! Who knows, you might be driving in your car, and hear "Many Kinds of People" by Ebenezer's Posse on the radio someday!!

Keep checking back to hear the song soon!!

Here are the lyrics to "Waiting for the Bus":

When will the bus come? We've been waiting for hours and hours.
When will the bus come? It seems like forever and ever.

Sitting against the wall with nothing to do.
I think I see a bus, but it's not for me and you.

When will the bus come? We're starving here without any food.
When will the bus come? I'm in a really grumpy mood.

Sitting against the wall with nothing to do.
I think I see a bus, but it's not for me and you.

When will the bus come? I hope we don't wait here all night.
When will the bus come? We're being brave with all of our might.

Bus, bus, bus, bus, bus, bus! When will you come for us?