I haven't been writing much this fall. I think its because I somehow got it in my head that my blog should mean something, have a point, or a purpose. Something other than me whining about laundry or relating the most recent kids' tale.
Know what? Neener neener. My blog. I keep forgeting this. My point when I started this blog a few years ago was just to give me a chance to reflect and chronocle my life. (And why doesn't blogspot have a spellcheck as I type? hmmm? For that matter, why doesn't it have a spell check at all?)
The point of this blog entry is just for me to brag on my babies.
Every year at Christmas, we drive up to Canton to visit with family and friends up in the frozen north. We stay with the Jedi's parents, and spend the rest of the time squeezing in as many visits with others as we can. This year, the Jedi's father (no, that doesn't make Dad a Sith Lord, thanks for asking), this year Dad went into the hospital right before Thanksgiving. After a worrisome week, he was diagnosed with AFib. After another week or so, they finally got medications to even out his heart. He was sent home on oxygen and with a host of meds. He had just started to regain his strength and begin slowly creeping back up towards a healthy weight when he went back into the ER on Monday, four days before Christmas. He had a kidney infection, but his body just didn't have any reserves left to fight off any kind of illness, and the infection just knocked him flat. When Mom called and first described sequence of events and the symptoms, I was worried he must have had a stroke. The doctors put him on antibiotics, but even standing and making it two steps to a portable potty chair sitting beside his hospital bed was a major accomplishment for him on Tuesday afternoon. He wasn't going to be discharged by Christmas, and likely, not even by the end of our stay in Canton.
On the drive up to Canton on Wednesday the 23rd, we weren't yet aware of how long his hospital stay was going to be. I knew how much it meant to Dad to get to see the kids open their presents on Christmas morning. The thought of him not being there for that made me all choked up and teary eyed. We held a family meeting in the van and it was agreed upon (with just a little strong arming by the Mommy), that Christmas morning was not happening until Bapa was there to share it with us, even if that meant we might have to wait until another weekend when we could drive back up to Canton after Bapa was back home and feeling better.
Christmas Eve morning we went to the hospital to see Bapa. Mom got special clearance for the kids to be permitted to go up to visit him (since normal flu season precautions prohibbited minors under the age of 18 from visiting). The kids each made him a drawing to hang in his room. (At one point during the visit, the kids and I had to leave the room because OT had arrived. We headed to the visitor lobby on that floor and worked a puzzle together. We also shared the lobby with a very large extended Amish family, and so were surrounded by gentle German speech as we put our puzzle together.) We grabbed KFC to eat for lunch back at the house, and a plan was hatched to bring Christmas to Bapa the next morning.
Christmas Eve held a party with Mama Mad's family, which was a great deal of fun. The Brunswick elves and all their kin are kind, generous, and funny, and I feel more and more at home with them every time we get together. I would love to relay the "science" quote of the evening, but have been forbidden to do so by Sweetling. The kids slept in the car on the way home from the party. After the Jedi had carried them each into the house and tucked them in bed, we helped Mom wrap gifts and stuff stockings.
On Christmas morning, both children already knew the plan to take Christmas to Bapa. Neither child once asked about opening presents or checking the stockings. (Though Toa of Boy did go stand by the tree and make a visual survey of the gifts.) We all had breakfast and the kids got dressed and ready for the day and then waited patiently for three grown-ups to get showered, dressed, and ready. We put all four stockings in one bag and we put the kids' gifts in another bag (they each had one gift each from Nana and Bapa, so it wasn't like trying to load their entire Christmas haul.) We put on our Santa hats and headed up to the hospital.
In Bapa's room, Christmas greetings were exchanged, and the kids settled into a chair to check out their stockings first. They had each dug out their treasures, when OT arrived again. Dad was very disappointed. He asked, couldn't he please do his OT later? But no, the therapist was going home for Christmas soon, so it was now or never. I told Dad not to worry, we weren't going anywhere and we'd come right back in the room after OT. So, I took the kids, and we headed out.
Neither child expressed the slightest bit of disappointment whatsoever about the interuption. Out in the hallway, I suggested we go check on the puzzle we started yesterday, to see if anyone else had put more of it together. Both children were excited about this idea, and Toa of Boy had to be reminded not to go running off down the hall. The Jedi joined us, and we sat contentedly in the lobby clicking puzzle pieces together. We finished the puzzle and took a picture, and the Jedi went back to check on how Dad was doing. Dad's lunch tray had arrived, so the Jedi suggested the four of us head down to the cafeteria to get something for us to eat as well.
As we sat at the square table on Christmas day with our plastic trays of hospital cafeteria food and bowed our heads to say grace, both children, without any prompting, gave thanks for "seeing Bapa" and "this wonderful Christmas together". Once again, Mommy was all choked up and teary eyed. We put together a chicken salad from the salad bar for Nana, and headed back up to the room. Bapa had saved two cookie packs from his lunch and yesterday's lunch, so that he would have a treat to give to each of the kids. Cookies were happily consumed, and then presents were opened, thanks said, hugs given. Happy children hung out in an arm chair recliner while grown ups visited for a little while longer.
It meant so much to Dad that we came and shared Christmas with him. It meant so much to me that my children did so with patience, kindness, gratitude and selfliness. I think we all came closer to the heart of Christmas this year than we have on any other year.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Cleaning Truisms
If you read my overly wordy post this weekend, you'll know we've been busy. Another way you might be able to tell we've been busy would have been to walk into my house. After three weeks of non-stop projects and activities, my house was beginning to look like a candidate for a "Clean House" episode.
The only reason we've had clean dishes to eat off of for the past week or more is that the Jedi quietly took over dish duty. The Jedi hates clutter, but he knows the Xuan loves Christmas, so he's been suffering in silence while chaos reigns around him.
Last night I announced that Monday would be a house cleaning day. Nothing else was getting done until the house was clean. I think the Jedi felt like cheering. He didn't. He just calmly affirmed me by reminding the kids that this meant no computer, no ds, and no wii till they helped Mommy get the house clean.
So, last night, I wrote a list for each of us on the whiteboard in the kitchen. It was a simple list that, for the kids, read like this...
1. put away laundry
2. clean bedroom
3. clean living room
4. clean school room
5. dust living room and bedroom
6. sort laundry
7. shower and get dressed
My list was similar and went like this
1. Empty and reload dishwasher and water plants
2. Clean kitchen (table, counters, stove, floor) and hang up new Christmas cards
3. clean living room
4. clean downstairs (schoolroom and master bedroom)
5. vacuum
6. sort laundry and start laundry
7. clean bathroom, scrub tub, shower and get dressed.
This morning, I announced that we would set the kitchen timer for 15 minutes and at the end of each 15 minute segment, I would check on everybody's progress. When the kids got one item done on their list, they could either move on to the next item, or they could have a few minutes of free time until I was ready to move onto the next item on my list. It was a good system. It kept everyone on track and broke the work into bite sized chunks.
We got all the cleaning done by 12:40. As we worked, I discovered a few fundamental truths that I felt worth sharing.
The only reason we've had clean dishes to eat off of for the past week or more is that the Jedi quietly took over dish duty. The Jedi hates clutter, but he knows the Xuan loves Christmas, so he's been suffering in silence while chaos reigns around him.
Last night I announced that Monday would be a house cleaning day. Nothing else was getting done until the house was clean. I think the Jedi felt like cheering. He didn't. He just calmly affirmed me by reminding the kids that this meant no computer, no ds, and no wii till they helped Mommy get the house clean.
So, last night, I wrote a list for each of us on the whiteboard in the kitchen. It was a simple list that, for the kids, read like this...
1. put away laundry
2. clean bedroom
3. clean living room
4. clean school room
5. dust living room and bedroom
6. sort laundry
7. shower and get dressed
My list was similar and went like this
1. Empty and reload dishwasher and water plants
2. Clean kitchen (table, counters, stove, floor) and hang up new Christmas cards
3. clean living room
4. clean downstairs (schoolroom and master bedroom)
5. vacuum
6. sort laundry and start laundry
7. clean bathroom, scrub tub, shower and get dressed.
This morning, I announced that we would set the kitchen timer for 15 minutes and at the end of each 15 minute segment, I would check on everybody's progress. When the kids got one item done on their list, they could either move on to the next item, or they could have a few minutes of free time until I was ready to move onto the next item on my list. It was a good system. It kept everyone on track and broke the work into bite sized chunks.
We got all the cleaning done by 12:40. As we worked, I discovered a few fundamental truths that I felt worth sharing.
- Any product that claims it "cuts through kitchen grease" is a bold face liar. I personally believe that the bricks which hold up the gates of hell are mortared together with kitchen grime because its nigh industructable.
- Extraverted 6 year olds are incapable of working independently for 15 minutes without interrupting their mother at least twice.
- "Put it away or I will throw it away," is a great motivational phrase.
- It is possible for a pre-teen girl to clean her bedroom without turning the proceedure into a soap opera.
- Questioning whether one's mother is in danger of violating child labor laws might just get you assigned to a research report on the history of child labor laws. Just saying.
- An aspiring young artist can quickly accumulate a pile of papers in his bedroom that could be pieced together into enough blankets to supply the entire homeless population of a small city.
- You probably don't want to know what the large clunking object was which your vacuum cleaner just sucked up. The important thing to know is that the machine is still working.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Grown-Ups Make the Rules
It's good to be the grown-up in the house, cause you get to make the rules. (Some of my readers might want to debate the fact that I count as a grown-up. However, by the above definition, I am indeed a grown-up, cause I get to make the rules. Whether the rules that I make represent mature decisions is an entirely different debate.)
We had planned to open our family Christmas presents this morning. We aren't in town on Christmas itself, so we have always had a separate day for a family gift exchange, several days in advance of leaving for Canton so that children had a few days to enjoy and play with their new gifts at home.
The kids have been counting down to this Saturday morning gift exchange for a couple of weeks now. On Wednesday, the Jedi decided Saturday was too far away. Grown-ups make the rules, right? Without telling the children, we decided to bump up the gift exchange to Friday evening and surprise the kids with opening presents a day early.
Let me step back a few days and ramble about all the Christmas preparations that we have been engaged in. First, it was my year to chose how to decorate the tree. (In our family, we take turns chossing the tree decorations each year. The person whose turn it is has complete autonomy and authority in deciding what goes on the tree and how it goes on.) I decided we would have a Jesse tree this year. We've had a Jesse tree before, when it was the Jedi's turn to choose the tree decorations. Our co-op did a Jesse tree ornament exchange last year. Each family picked one day, one ornament, and made enough of that one ornament to give to every other family at the exchange. Each family went home with 24 different homemade ornaments. So, we participated in the Jesse tree ornament exchange this year. There weren't as many participants this year, so each family made two ornaments. We made a whale (from Jonah) and a embroidered heart to represent Ruth's devotion to Naomi.
Twenty-four homemade Jesse tree ornaments, plus a few extra to give to grandparents, was the first extra Christmas project. Additionally, in co-op the sixth grade science teacher had to step out of co-op, and I temporarily took over her class in addition to the 6th grade comp class. And of course, for the last day of co-op, cookies and rice krispie treats needed to be made and goodie bags assembled for the sixth and first grades.
Despite my multiple proclamations that I was NOT doing my usual mass holiday baking, I caved on Wednesday and started baking cookies and treats to go to the adult Tae Kwon Do class and to neighbors. After a baking disaster which had me contemplated throwing away my cookie sheets and buying new ones rather than trying to chisel the ruined mess off of them, I got 10 containers of assorted baked goods ready to go to class with the Jedi Thursday. I still have a batch of snickerdoodles to make today to finish off the containers for neighbors.
While I was baking on Wednesday afternoon, Sweetling put together a cinnamon crumb cake to take to the white elephant exchange at youth group. It was a hot commodity. She was rightly pleased with her efforts and results. The cake went through many hands, despite the ruling that gifts could only be stolen once.
The Saturday before that --last Saturday, time travel with me-- had been the junior high girls' party at Telephone's house. We had a white elephant exchange there as well, where toe socks were present in abundance. The girls also made snowman sugar cookies...which quickly became making sugar cookie representations of the Seasame Street characters.
Because the socks were so popular, Telephone and I went shopping together during the week, after we had spent the morning at church working on one of the dances for the Christmas program. We purchased little gifts to give to each of our junior high girls. The first thing we bought was cool toe socks. Then I found little charm bracelets and earing for my bags and Telephone found lip gloss for her bags and both sets of bags were finished off with candy.
So, Christmas parties, cookies, homemade ornaments, and extra dance practices weren't enough on our holiday plate. I also wanted to do something in place of Christmas cards. So, the kids, Mom, and I made around 90 small Ojo de Dios. We still need to finish coloring the little gift envelopes for each of them so they can all go to church with us tomorrow morning.
Thursday (we're almost back to the proper space-time continuum, hang in there), Thursday we went to Tia Missy's house for a gift exchange. Sweetling got the new Mario Brothers Wii and Toa of Boy got a lego set which builds a oriental dragon, a european red dragon, or a large ogre warrior. He has been busy putting it together since Thursday.
Friday, (see, told you, we are so back on track now), we spent most of the day at church sorting, organizing, and packiing up loads of food for our food pantry to give away. The kids were an amazing help and I am ever so proud of their efforts. We worked from 10 in the morning through lunch till 2 in the afternoon. To reward everyone's efforts, the Jedi got us some Panda Garden for a late lunch, early dinner.
Which brings us all the way back around to the family gift exchange. Let me say that the kids have been counting down the days till present time....but they were JUST AS EXCITED to have others open the presents they bought with their own money as they were to receive presents themselves. As often as they mentioned how many days it was till present time, they also would say things like "You're going to love my present Mommy!" and "I can't wait till (insert name here) opens my present!" So, I'm also very proud of them for being eagr to give gifts, carefully purchased out of their own allowance, for others. (And, in addition to gifts for the family which they bought on their own, they also each bought gifts for our giving tree at church).
So, Friday evening we read the Jesse tree scriptures and put the Jesse tree ornament up, and then the Jedi made the announncement that we would be opening gifts one day early. This news was eagerly received by two children. Mama had told us about an old German custom called "hide the pickle." On Christmas Eve, after children had gone to bed, a green, wooden pickle ornament was hidden on the tree or among the presents. The first person to find the pickle on Christmas morning got to open the first present. We didn't have a pickle ornament, but I had hidden one of our Ojo de Dios ornaments on the tree. Toa found it first, so he got to open the first present.
His first present turned out to be a remote control plane and a remote control helicopter that Mama got for him. The helicopter claims it can be flown indoors. Joy. He also got a couple of DS games, a DS case, a puffle, a loud talking mouse, a Very Monkey Christmsas movie, art supplies, and from Sweetling...a Mario t-shirt and a new bionicle.
Sweetling received a fashion design clothing decorator, a couple ds games, a ds case, a set of hammer bro bling to decorate her ds with, a set of chipmunk jammies, Wii speak, and from Toa she got Merry Madagaskar jammies and Kowalski slipper socks.
Now, for my presents, cause that's what Christmas is all about. Well, that and foot tall lego ogre warriors. I got my netbook from the Jedi the night before the last co-op, so I could take it to co-op with me. My present to the Jedi was to get my hair straightened. Both presents were much appreciated. (The Jedi also appreciated the sweater dress which I received from Smurf.) From Mama I got two more decorated birdhouses to hang in my kitchen and a blokus game, which I've been itching to play again ever since the women's retreat. From Toa, I got a Webkinz guinea pig, which shall be named Giggles. And from Sweetling I got a webkinz reindeer charm AND a fleece penguin blanket which she MADE for me. She bought the fleece with her own money, she brought it home, she measured it and cut it and tied all the tassels and made me this awesome penguin blanket.
Really, this whole long rambling post's sole purpose was for me to say, my Sweetling made me an awesome penguin blanket.
We had planned to open our family Christmas presents this morning. We aren't in town on Christmas itself, so we have always had a separate day for a family gift exchange, several days in advance of leaving for Canton so that children had a few days to enjoy and play with their new gifts at home.
The kids have been counting down to this Saturday morning gift exchange for a couple of weeks now. On Wednesday, the Jedi decided Saturday was too far away. Grown-ups make the rules, right? Without telling the children, we decided to bump up the gift exchange to Friday evening and surprise the kids with opening presents a day early.
Let me step back a few days and ramble about all the Christmas preparations that we have been engaged in. First, it was my year to chose how to decorate the tree. (In our family, we take turns chossing the tree decorations each year. The person whose turn it is has complete autonomy and authority in deciding what goes on the tree and how it goes on.) I decided we would have a Jesse tree this year. We've had a Jesse tree before, when it was the Jedi's turn to choose the tree decorations. Our co-op did a Jesse tree ornament exchange last year. Each family picked one day, one ornament, and made enough of that one ornament to give to every other family at the exchange. Each family went home with 24 different homemade ornaments. So, we participated in the Jesse tree ornament exchange this year. There weren't as many participants this year, so each family made two ornaments. We made a whale (from Jonah) and a embroidered heart to represent Ruth's devotion to Naomi.
Twenty-four homemade Jesse tree ornaments, plus a few extra to give to grandparents, was the first extra Christmas project. Additionally, in co-op the sixth grade science teacher had to step out of co-op, and I temporarily took over her class in addition to the 6th grade comp class. And of course, for the last day of co-op, cookies and rice krispie treats needed to be made and goodie bags assembled for the sixth and first grades.
Despite my multiple proclamations that I was NOT doing my usual mass holiday baking, I caved on Wednesday and started baking cookies and treats to go to the adult Tae Kwon Do class and to neighbors. After a baking disaster which had me contemplated throwing away my cookie sheets and buying new ones rather than trying to chisel the ruined mess off of them, I got 10 containers of assorted baked goods ready to go to class with the Jedi Thursday. I still have a batch of snickerdoodles to make today to finish off the containers for neighbors.
While I was baking on Wednesday afternoon, Sweetling put together a cinnamon crumb cake to take to the white elephant exchange at youth group. It was a hot commodity. She was rightly pleased with her efforts and results. The cake went through many hands, despite the ruling that gifts could only be stolen once.
The Saturday before that --last Saturday, time travel with me-- had been the junior high girls' party at Telephone's house. We had a white elephant exchange there as well, where toe socks were present in abundance. The girls also made snowman sugar cookies...which quickly became making sugar cookie representations of the Seasame Street characters.
Because the socks were so popular, Telephone and I went shopping together during the week, after we had spent the morning at church working on one of the dances for the Christmas program. We purchased little gifts to give to each of our junior high girls. The first thing we bought was cool toe socks. Then I found little charm bracelets and earing for my bags and Telephone found lip gloss for her bags and both sets of bags were finished off with candy.
So, Christmas parties, cookies, homemade ornaments, and extra dance practices weren't enough on our holiday plate. I also wanted to do something in place of Christmas cards. So, the kids, Mom, and I made around 90 small Ojo de Dios. We still need to finish coloring the little gift envelopes for each of them so they can all go to church with us tomorrow morning.
Thursday (we're almost back to the proper space-time continuum, hang in there), Thursday we went to Tia Missy's house for a gift exchange. Sweetling got the new Mario Brothers Wii and Toa of Boy got a lego set which builds a oriental dragon, a european red dragon, or a large ogre warrior. He has been busy putting it together since Thursday.
Friday, (see, told you, we are so back on track now), we spent most of the day at church sorting, organizing, and packiing up loads of food for our food pantry to give away. The kids were an amazing help and I am ever so proud of their efforts. We worked from 10 in the morning through lunch till 2 in the afternoon. To reward everyone's efforts, the Jedi got us some Panda Garden for a late lunch, early dinner.
Which brings us all the way back around to the family gift exchange. Let me say that the kids have been counting down the days till present time....but they were JUST AS EXCITED to have others open the presents they bought with their own money as they were to receive presents themselves. As often as they mentioned how many days it was till present time, they also would say things like "You're going to love my present Mommy!" and "I can't wait till (insert name here) opens my present!" So, I'm also very proud of them for being eagr to give gifts, carefully purchased out of their own allowance, for others. (And, in addition to gifts for the family which they bought on their own, they also each bought gifts for our giving tree at church).
So, Friday evening we read the Jesse tree scriptures and put the Jesse tree ornament up, and then the Jedi made the announncement that we would be opening gifts one day early. This news was eagerly received by two children. Mama had told us about an old German custom called "hide the pickle." On Christmas Eve, after children had gone to bed, a green, wooden pickle ornament was hidden on the tree or among the presents. The first person to find the pickle on Christmas morning got to open the first present. We didn't have a pickle ornament, but I had hidden one of our Ojo de Dios ornaments on the tree. Toa found it first, so he got to open the first present.
His first present turned out to be a remote control plane and a remote control helicopter that Mama got for him. The helicopter claims it can be flown indoors. Joy. He also got a couple of DS games, a DS case, a puffle, a loud talking mouse, a Very Monkey Christmsas movie, art supplies, and from Sweetling...a Mario t-shirt and a new bionicle.
Sweetling received a fashion design clothing decorator, a couple ds games, a ds case, a set of hammer bro bling to decorate her ds with, a set of chipmunk jammies, Wii speak, and from Toa she got Merry Madagaskar jammies and Kowalski slipper socks.
Now, for my presents, cause that's what Christmas is all about. Well, that and foot tall lego ogre warriors. I got my netbook from the Jedi the night before the last co-op, so I could take it to co-op with me. My present to the Jedi was to get my hair straightened. Both presents were much appreciated. (The Jedi also appreciated the sweater dress which I received from Smurf.) From Mama I got two more decorated birdhouses to hang in my kitchen and a blokus game, which I've been itching to play again ever since the women's retreat. From Toa, I got a Webkinz guinea pig, which shall be named Giggles. And from Sweetling I got a webkinz reindeer charm AND a fleece penguin blanket which she MADE for me. She bought the fleece with her own money, she brought it home, she measured it and cut it and tied all the tassels and made me this awesome penguin blanket.
Really, this whole long rambling post's sole purpose was for me to say, my Sweetling made me an awesome penguin blanket.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Algebra and Son of Algebra
As promised on Facebook, here are some of our current algebra problems. Some humor was also promised, but there is little funny about algebra on a Saturday morning. I shall leave it to Mensley to supply the humor.
We have been factoring polynomials, learning the differences of two squares, how to factor a perfect square trinomial, how to factor ax2+bx+c, and how to factor out the greatest possible monomial.
Our strategy for factoring ax2+bx+c was summed up with a King Julien quote, "Now start pulling things out of other things and putting them into new things and it should fix my smoothie maker."
The last lesson we did was titled "factoring completely" and combined lots of factoring techniques. We did the sample problems together, and then attempted the assessment problems independently...which is our standard algebra approach.
Here are the problems, for those of you who'd like to work them. I'd also suggest a 12 step program for those same people, but I really, really need their help with #46. So, don't go looking for a cure for yourselves yet.
#10. 3xy2 - 27x3
#20. 180x2y -108xy2 -75x3
#28. a2 - b2 + ac - bc
#36. 8a3 + 4a2b - 2ab2 - b3
#38. 3x5 + 15x3 - 108x
#46. (x-2)(x2-1)-6x-6
And here are my solutions. My answers line up with the teacher guide answer key, so I know they are correct. (Or the text is also wrong, one of those two outcomes.)
#10. 3xy2 - 27x3
That's easy. we just factor out a 3x and are left with the difference of two squares, which we further factor tp get
3x(y-3x)(y+3x)
#20. 180x2y -108xy2 -75x3
Again, we factor out a -3x and then are left with a perfect square trinomial to factor down for a final
-3x(5x-6y)2
#28. a2 - b2 + ac - bc
The first two terms in this are the difference of two squares, so we factor down those and then factor out a c from the last two terms.
That leaves us with (a-b)(a+b)+c(a-b)
and from that we factor out (a-b) and get
(a-b)(a+b+c)
#36. 8a3 + 4a2b - 2ab2 - b3
I had to make three attempts at this one. Eventually, I rearranged the terms to 8z3 - 2ab2 + 4a2b - b3
Then I factored a 2a from the first two terms and a b from the last two terms. So,
2a(4a2-b2) + b(4a2 - b2)
Which can be written as (2a + b)(4a2 - b2)
And since the second factor is the difference of two squares, our final factoring is (2a+b)(2a-b)(2a+b) or (2a+b)2(2a-b)
#38. 3x5 + 15x3 - 108x
We factor out a 3x and then factor the remaining trinomial to get
3x(x2+9)(x2-4)
The last factor is the difference between two squares, so the final factoring is 3x(x2+9)(x+2)(x-2)
Which leads me to my nemisis. I was rather hoping that the solution would magically occur to me as I was typing in the other problems. Especially since I was using html tags for my superscripts. Using html tags should automatically boost my brain power, right?
Alas, the html brain vitamins failed me.
#46. (x-2)(x2-1)-6x-6
And in a final flashback to highschool, please show your work. (Cause I know what the answer is supposed to be, I just can't figure how to get there.)
We have been factoring polynomials, learning the differences of two squares, how to factor a perfect square trinomial, how to factor ax2+bx+c, and how to factor out the greatest possible monomial.
Our strategy for factoring ax2+bx+c was summed up with a King Julien quote, "Now start pulling things out of other things and putting them into new things and it should fix my smoothie maker."
The last lesson we did was titled "factoring completely" and combined lots of factoring techniques. We did the sample problems together, and then attempted the assessment problems independently...which is our standard algebra approach.
Here are the problems, for those of you who'd like to work them. I'd also suggest a 12 step program for those same people, but I really, really need their help with #46. So, don't go looking for a cure for yourselves yet.
#10. 3xy2 - 27x3
#20. 180x2y -108xy2 -75x3
#28. a2 - b2 + ac - bc
#36. 8a3 + 4a2b - 2ab2 - b3
#38. 3x5 + 15x3 - 108x
#46. (x-2)(x2-1)-6x-6
And here are my solutions. My answers line up with the teacher guide answer key, so I know they are correct. (Or the text is also wrong, one of those two outcomes.)
#10. 3xy2 - 27x3
That's easy. we just factor out a 3x and are left with the difference of two squares, which we further factor tp get
3x(y-3x)(y+3x)
#20. 180x2y -108xy2 -75x3
Again, we factor out a -3x and then are left with a perfect square trinomial to factor down for a final
-3x(5x-6y)2
#28. a2 - b2 + ac - bc
The first two terms in this are the difference of two squares, so we factor down those and then factor out a c from the last two terms.
That leaves us with (a-b)(a+b)+c(a-b)
and from that we factor out (a-b) and get
(a-b)(a+b+c)
#36. 8a3 + 4a2b - 2ab2 - b3
I had to make three attempts at this one. Eventually, I rearranged the terms to 8z3 - 2ab2 + 4a2b - b3
Then I factored a 2a from the first two terms and a b from the last two terms. So,
2a(4a2-b2) + b(4a2 - b2)
Which can be written as (2a + b)(4a2 - b2)
And since the second factor is the difference of two squares, our final factoring is (2a+b)(2a-b)(2a+b) or (2a+b)2(2a-b)
#38. 3x5 + 15x3 - 108x
We factor out a 3x and then factor the remaining trinomial to get
3x(x2+9)(x2-4)
The last factor is the difference between two squares, so the final factoring is 3x(x2+9)(x+2)(x-2)
Which leads me to my nemisis. I was rather hoping that the solution would magically occur to me as I was typing in the other problems. Especially since I was using html tags for my superscripts. Using html tags should automatically boost my brain power, right?
Alas, the html brain vitamins failed me.
#46. (x-2)(x2-1)-6x-6
And in a final flashback to highschool, please show your work. (Cause I know what the answer is supposed to be, I just can't figure how to get there.)
Monday, December 07, 2009
Monday Morning in December
Just a few observations:
--We're on a homeschooling snow delay. This means that although the weather in no way interfers with our schooling, the first dusting of snow is on the ground outside and it must be stomped in before it melts away for the day. There is nowhere near enough snow to make snowballs to throw, yet the children are out there giving that their best efforts. I'm watching through the kitchen window.
--Flatscreens, despite their slim appearance, are surprisingly heavy for their size.
--No, I didn't drop it.
--The actual computer box is even heavier. Plus, my computer box isn't a tower, it lays down. It lays down so flat that it was near impossible to try to wiggle my fingers under it to pick it up.
--Plastic tablecloths, no matter how bright and cheery, are not a good option to use under a computer. Computers get warm, you see, so even when you finally manage to get your fingers under the computer to pick it up, the plastic table cloth will have partially melted and become glued to the bottom of the computer, making it impossible to easily move from one spot on the table to another.
--After putting one edge of the computer down and tearing the tablecloth away from its bottom, you get to repeat the step before last.
--Not one, but two school buses have gone past with small children longily looking out of bus windows at my children happily playing in the snow.
--Through the kitchen window, I called yellow car on both the first school bus and the yellow salt truck. Sweetling may or may not have been amused, you never can tell with bees.
--I decided, much earlier this morning, that I never want to sit at my school computer to write or work, because I don't have any desk space to the left of my keyboard to put notebooks, snacks, grocery fliers, or other needed items. Now my computer, despite its bond with the tablecloth, sits happily in the middle of the table, leaving me a nice work space on the left to quickly clutter up.
--I think my computer might finally be close to recognizing my authority. When I put the flat screen back on top of the box, the flat screen was very politely displaying a window titled "Help and Support Center". I think it was the machine's deferential way of suggesting I might have sought some help in this tiny relocation project.
--Yes, I moved it when the computer was on. I don't know if that's good for the machine or not, so let's not tell the Jedi. But really, I didn't think it would be that big of a deal to just move the system 18 inches to the right.
--To demonstrate my new dominance over the computer, I uploaded some snow play photos from my camera. Take that technology.
--Lastly, a second cup of hot chocolate is 150 calories. According to CalorieCount, if I weighed 150 lbs, which I don't, I could burn off those calories by vacuuming for 40 minutes. Hmmm... so...if I vacuum my house and switch my loads of laundry, I can totally justify a second cup of hot chocolate? I love the internet.
--We're on a homeschooling snow delay. This means that although the weather in no way interfers with our schooling, the first dusting of snow is on the ground outside and it must be stomped in before it melts away for the day. There is nowhere near enough snow to make snowballs to throw, yet the children are out there giving that their best efforts. I'm watching through the kitchen window.
--Flatscreens, despite their slim appearance, are surprisingly heavy for their size.
--No, I didn't drop it.
--The actual computer box is even heavier. Plus, my computer box isn't a tower, it lays down. It lays down so flat that it was near impossible to try to wiggle my fingers under it to pick it up.
--Plastic tablecloths, no matter how bright and cheery, are not a good option to use under a computer. Computers get warm, you see, so even when you finally manage to get your fingers under the computer to pick it up, the plastic table cloth will have partially melted and become glued to the bottom of the computer, making it impossible to easily move from one spot on the table to another.
--After putting one edge of the computer down and tearing the tablecloth away from its bottom, you get to repeat the step before last.
--Not one, but two school buses have gone past with small children longily looking out of bus windows at my children happily playing in the snow.
--Through the kitchen window, I called yellow car on both the first school bus and the yellow salt truck. Sweetling may or may not have been amused, you never can tell with bees.
--I decided, much earlier this morning, that I never want to sit at my school computer to write or work, because I don't have any desk space to the left of my keyboard to put notebooks, snacks, grocery fliers, or other needed items. Now my computer, despite its bond with the tablecloth, sits happily in the middle of the table, leaving me a nice work space on the left to quickly clutter up.
--I think my computer might finally be close to recognizing my authority. When I put the flat screen back on top of the box, the flat screen was very politely displaying a window titled "Help and Support Center". I think it was the machine's deferential way of suggesting I might have sought some help in this tiny relocation project.
--Yes, I moved it when the computer was on. I don't know if that's good for the machine or not, so let's not tell the Jedi. But really, I didn't think it would be that big of a deal to just move the system 18 inches to the right.
--To demonstrate my new dominance over the computer, I uploaded some snow play photos from my camera. Take that technology.
--Lastly, a second cup of hot chocolate is 150 calories. According to CalorieCount, if I weighed 150 lbs, which I don't, I could burn off those calories by vacuuming for 40 minutes. Hmmm... so...if I vacuum my house and switch my loads of laundry, I can totally justify a second cup of hot chocolate? I love the internet.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Research Paper--Special Option
The next unit we will be working on in 6th grade composition is the research paper. Since over half the class wrote a traditional research paper in co-op last year, I wanted to provide a slightly different option for the research paper unit this year. I tried to make it perfectly clear to the class that they were more than welcome to write a standard research paper if they were more comfortable with that. OR, they could take what was behind door number two, and participate in a special assignment.
Here are the basic instructions for this optional alternative to the basic reseach paper.
Imagine if there were a national family magizine hosting a contest open to junior high students. Imagine if the grand prize of the contest was an all expense paid family vacation of your design and choosing plus the opportunity to have your family vacation chronicled and then featured as a major cover story for the magazine. To enter this contest, the stundent must research, plan, and budget a family vacation and submit a written proposal of the vacation's iternerary and budget.
Here is what each student should do, (if they choose to participate in this option):
Research, plan, and budget a family vacation using the following guidelines--
1. The vacation should have a unique theme or approach, something that sets their proposed vacation apart from other entries in the contest. The theme could be historical, educational, scientific, "all-American," or it could pertain to the family's unique past and history (such as tracing the path and places great-great-grandparents lived when first arriving in America.)
2. The vacation may take place anywhere in the 50 U.S. states (including Washington D.C.). Multiple sites may be visited, or the vacation can center around one locale.
3. The vacation must stay within a budget of $2000 per family member. This budget should include all costs of the trip such as lodging; transportation (including gas money roughly calculated by mileage, cost of rental cars if applicable, plane or train tickets if applicable); food (for every meal and snacks for every person); and any additional fees such as admission to museums or parks, or any special supplies or equipment needed to be rented or purchased, such as camping gear, scrapbooks, cameras, etc, if the family does not already possess the specific items needed.
4. The vacation may be as long or as short as desired, provided that the vacation stays within the budget allowed.
5. The student may research destinations, restaurants, costs, etc on the internet and may receive help from a parent or other older person in determining reasonable cost estimates for food and gas. The student may also write to tourism and travel bureaus and request brochures or pamphlets to help them plan the vacation.
Due Dates:
Dec 10 --Have topic for traditional paper chosen, or have vacation theme and some destinations in mind. (Or at least have topic or vacation narrowed down to one or two possibilites). In class we will be learning about finding infomation, bibliography cards, and note taking (Unit 5: lssns 3-5).
Note, if your student chooses to write a traditional paper, lesson 2 should be completed at home.
During Christmas Break--Be doing research on topic or on vacation. Complete all notecards and bibliography cards.
Jan 14 -- Notecards due!!! Bring completed notecards back to co-op. The bulk of reasearch should now be complete! In class we will be learning about making outlines (Unit 5: lssn 8-9).
Jan 21 -- Outilines due! (just one copy is needed) In class we will be covering Unit 5: lssns 10-12
Jan 28 -- Rough draft of introductory paragraph(s) are due. Just one copy is needed and can be shared aloud with the class. In class we will cover Unit 5: lssns 13-16.
Feb 4--Research Reports Due! Please bring 10 hole-punched copies of the final report to be shared with the class.
Format for the Vacation Proposal
If your student chooses to research and plan a vacation instead of completing a standard research paper, the final paper would look something like this:
The first few paragraphs of the vacation proposal will be introductory paragraphs. These paragraphs will include a hook to grab the readers attention, an brief description of where the student plans to go on vacation, and an explanation of why this vacation was chosen and what makes this vacation unique.
A brief description of day one, which should start with leaving the home. Include where the family will be stopping to eat, or a menu if a picnic lunch and dinner are packed for traveling. Under the description will be a list, with or without bullet points, for the costs of each stop during day one. Include any weblinks where applicable If the family is traveling in the family car, it might look like so:
Follow the same format of a paragraph of description for each day and a cost breakdown for each day.
In the concluding paragraph(s) of the proposal, the student should explain what he or she hopes to learn or gain from the experience. Also, think of and describe a way to record what you experienced. Finally, answer the question of why you think these experiences will make a life long impression, or difference, to you. Will a trip like this matter 10, 20, 30 or more years from now?
Here are the basic instructions for this optional alternative to the basic reseach paper.
Imagine if there were a national family magizine hosting a contest open to junior high students. Imagine if the grand prize of the contest was an all expense paid family vacation of your design and choosing plus the opportunity to have your family vacation chronicled and then featured as a major cover story for the magazine. To enter this contest, the stundent must research, plan, and budget a family vacation and submit a written proposal of the vacation's iternerary and budget.
Here is what each student should do, (if they choose to participate in this option):
Research, plan, and budget a family vacation using the following guidelines--
1. The vacation should have a unique theme or approach, something that sets their proposed vacation apart from other entries in the contest. The theme could be historical, educational, scientific, "all-American," or it could pertain to the family's unique past and history (such as tracing the path and places great-great-grandparents lived when first arriving in America.)
2. The vacation may take place anywhere in the 50 U.S. states (including Washington D.C.). Multiple sites may be visited, or the vacation can center around one locale.
3. The vacation must stay within a budget of $2000 per family member. This budget should include all costs of the trip such as lodging; transportation (including gas money roughly calculated by mileage, cost of rental cars if applicable, plane or train tickets if applicable); food (for every meal and snacks for every person); and any additional fees such as admission to museums or parks, or any special supplies or equipment needed to be rented or purchased, such as camping gear, scrapbooks, cameras, etc, if the family does not already possess the specific items needed.
4. The vacation may be as long or as short as desired, provided that the vacation stays within the budget allowed.
5. The student may research destinations, restaurants, costs, etc on the internet and may receive help from a parent or other older person in determining reasonable cost estimates for food and gas. The student may also write to tourism and travel bureaus and request brochures or pamphlets to help them plan the vacation.
Due Dates:
Dec 10 --Have topic for traditional paper chosen, or have vacation theme and some destinations in mind. (Or at least have topic or vacation narrowed down to one or two possibilites). In class we will be learning about finding infomation, bibliography cards, and note taking (Unit 5: lssns 3-5).
Note, if your student chooses to write a traditional paper, lesson 2 should be completed at home.
During Christmas Break--Be doing research on topic or on vacation. Complete all notecards and bibliography cards.
Jan 14 -- Notecards due!!! Bring completed notecards back to co-op. The bulk of reasearch should now be complete! In class we will be learning about making outlines (Unit 5: lssn 8-9).
Jan 21 -- Outilines due! (just one copy is needed) In class we will be covering Unit 5: lssns 10-12
Jan 28 -- Rough draft of introductory paragraph(s) are due. Just one copy is needed and can be shared aloud with the class. In class we will cover Unit 5: lssns 13-16.
Feb 4--Research Reports Due! Please bring 10 hole-punched copies of the final report to be shared with the class.
Format for the Vacation Proposal
If your student chooses to research and plan a vacation instead of completing a standard research paper, the final paper would look something like this:
Snappy Title of Vacation
The first few paragraphs of the vacation proposal will be introductory paragraphs. These paragraphs will include a hook to grab the readers attention, an brief description of where the student plans to go on vacation, and an explanation of why this vacation was chosen and what makes this vacation unique.
Day One
A brief description of day one, which should start with leaving the home. Include where the family will be stopping to eat, or a menu if a picnic lunch and dinner are packed for traveling. Under the description will be a list, with or without bullet points, for the costs of each stop during day one. Include any weblinks where applicable If the family is traveling in the family car, it might look like so:
- Gas: $x for the day. Car gets n miles per gallon and we will be traveling y miles in the first day.
- Lunch: $x total, with $z per family member at McDonald's or other fast food off highway exit.
- Snacks: $x total: Pillsbury cookies baked ahead of time and apple slices.
- Dinner: $x total, with $z per family member at Mia Pizza Ria in City, State. www.miapizza.com
- Lodging: $0 We are staying with Aunt Pat, who lives in City, State and visiting with our cousins since they are on our way to our final destination.
Day Two
Here will be a brief overview of the vacation day two. A description of any stops the family will be making and why those stops have been chosen should go in here. Again, a cost break down of the day and any relevant weblinks should be included. Like so- Breakfast: $0 We will be having breakfast at Aunt Pat's.
- Gas: $x for the day. Car gets n miles per gallon and we will be traveling y miles in the second day.
- Lunch: $ ....
- State Park/National Monument/Museum/Zoo: $x total, with admission at $ per adult and $ per child. www.website.com
- Snacks: $ total for $ per person spent at Zoo
- Dinner: $.....
- Lodging $ for night stay at Named Hotel.
Day Etc
Follow the same format of a paragraph of description for each day and a cost breakdown for each day.
Back at Home (or whatever you wish to title your conclusion section)
In the concluding paragraph(s) of the proposal, the student should explain what he or she hopes to learn or gain from the experience. Also, think of and describe a way to record what you experienced. Finally, answer the question of why you think these experiences will make a life long impression, or difference, to you. Will a trip like this matter 10, 20, 30 or more years from now?
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Bucket List, or, Watch Me Fail at Tagging People Despite the Built-in Instructions
Bucket ListShare
Place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not, then tag your friends (including me).
And--If you're copying this list from Xuan, you should also delete my comments from the list items.
(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, do the list and tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.) If you don't see the Tag people in the upper right hand corner you are in the wrong place.)
Things you have done during your lifetime:
(X ) Gone on a blind date
(X ) Donated Blood
(X) Skipped school
(X) Watched someone die
(X) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico --technically no, but I flew over Mexico on our way to Guatemala, so I think I should get partial credit.
(X) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
(X) Been on a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter
(X) Been lost --Dude, I should get bonus points.
(X) Gone to Washington, DC
( ) Hugged a homeless person
(X) Swam in the ocean
( ) Swam with Stingrays
( ) Been sailing in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Ran a marathon
(X) Sang Karaoke
(X ) Volunteered at a soup kitchen
( X) Paid for a meal with coins only
(X) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
( ) Seen the Northern Lights
( ) Been Parasailing
( ) Been on TV
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(X) Made prank phone calls
(X ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
( ) Fed an elephant
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Fired a gun
(X ) Danced in the rain
(X ) Been to the Opera
( ) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X ) Serenaded someone --define "serenade". Does it have to be done outside someone's window at night? I sing at people all the time....though annoying jingles left on voice mail might not count as serenading them. Neither do my happy good morning songs I bet. I've *been* serenaded though, so I'm giving myself the point.
( ) Seen a U.S.President in person
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
( X) Watched the sunrise with someone
( ) Driven a race car
(X) Been to a National Museum
( ) Been to a Wax Museum --creepy. I have no desire to go. Of course, I don't really desire to swim with stingrays either, but I'm guessing the original writer of this list meant manta rays on that earlier item.
( ) Eaten caviar
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone to the movies
( ) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
(X ) Lived in more than one country --France when I was three. Now you all know.
(X ) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(X) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
( ) Seen the Grand Canyon
( ) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( ) Been on a cruise
( X) Traveled by train
( ) Traveled by motorcycle--getting a ride around the block on my cousin's motorcycle when I was 13 prolly doesn't count as travel.
(X) Traveled by Greyhound bus
(X) Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco cable car
(X) Been to Disneyland OR Disney World
(X) Truly believe in the power of prayer
( ) Been in a rain forest
(X ) Been to Niagara Falls --booya!
( ) Ridden on an elephant --camel at the Festival of Lights, no elephant.
( ) Swam with dolphins
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) Saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
(X ) Been water-skiing --though I fell off every time I had to try to cross the wake of the boat.
( ) Been snow-skiing
( ) Been to Westminster Abbey
( ) Been to the Louvre --technically, this should be a yes, but I don't remember it at all, so I'm counting it as a no.
( X) Went up on the Eiffel Tower --if the Louvre and the Seattle Space Needle and the St Louis Arch all get spots, so does the Eiffel Tower. And I do remember it, so its going on the list.
( ) Saw the Great Pyramids
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
( ) Been to a Major League Baseball game
( ) Been to a National Football League game
( ) Swam with sharks --no, but I touched them at the Newport Aquarium's touch tank.
( ) Been White Water Rafting
( ) Written a book or screen play--I am a sad and sorry NaNo drop-out.
( ) Ridden on a paddleboat down a river
( ) Gotten a tatoo
( ) Climbed a mountain
Place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not, then tag your friends (including me).
And--If you're copying this list from Xuan, you should also delete my comments from the list items.
(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, do the list and tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.) If you don't see the Tag people in the upper right hand corner you are in the wrong place.)
Things you have done during your lifetime:
(X ) Gone on a blind date
(X ) Donated Blood
(X) Skipped school
(X) Watched someone die
(X) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico --technically no, but I flew over Mexico on our way to Guatemala, so I think I should get partial credit.
(X) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
(X) Been on a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter
(X) Been lost --Dude, I should get bonus points.
(X) Gone to Washington, DC
( ) Hugged a homeless person
(X) Swam in the ocean
( ) Swam with Stingrays
( ) Been sailing in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Ran a marathon
(X) Sang Karaoke
(X ) Volunteered at a soup kitchen
( X) Paid for a meal with coins only
(X) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
( ) Seen the Northern Lights
( ) Been Parasailing
( ) Been on TV
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(X) Made prank phone calls
(X ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
( ) Fed an elephant
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Fired a gun
(X ) Danced in the rain
(X ) Been to the Opera
( ) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X ) Serenaded someone --define "serenade". Does it have to be done outside someone's window at night? I sing at people all the time....though annoying jingles left on voice mail might not count as serenading them. Neither do my happy good morning songs I bet. I've *been* serenaded though, so I'm giving myself the point.
( ) Seen a U.S.President in person
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
( X) Watched the sunrise with someone
( ) Driven a race car
(X) Been to a National Museum
( ) Been to a Wax Museum --creepy. I have no desire to go. Of course, I don't really desire to swim with stingrays either, but I'm guessing the original writer of this list meant manta rays on that earlier item.
( ) Eaten caviar
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone to the movies
( ) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
(X ) Lived in more than one country --France when I was three. Now you all know.
(X ) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(X) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
( ) Seen the Grand Canyon
( ) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( ) Been on a cruise
( X) Traveled by train
( ) Traveled by motorcycle--getting a ride around the block on my cousin's motorcycle when I was 13 prolly doesn't count as travel.
(X) Traveled by Greyhound bus
(X) Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco cable car
(X) Been to Disneyland OR Disney World
(X) Truly believe in the power of prayer
( ) Been in a rain forest
(X ) Been to Niagara Falls --booya!
( ) Ridden on an elephant --camel at the Festival of Lights, no elephant.
( ) Swam with dolphins
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) Saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
(X ) Been water-skiing --though I fell off every time I had to try to cross the wake of the boat.
( ) Been snow-skiing
( ) Been to Westminster Abbey
( ) Been to the Louvre --technically, this should be a yes, but I don't remember it at all, so I'm counting it as a no.
( X) Went up on the Eiffel Tower --if the Louvre and the Seattle Space Needle and the St Louis Arch all get spots, so does the Eiffel Tower. And I do remember it, so its going on the list.
( ) Saw the Great Pyramids
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
( ) Been to a Major League Baseball game
( ) Been to a National Football League game
( ) Swam with sharks --no, but I touched them at the Newport Aquarium's touch tank.
( ) Been White Water Rafting
( ) Written a book or screen play--I am a sad and sorry NaNo drop-out.
( ) Ridden on a paddleboat down a river
( ) Gotten a tatoo
( ) Climbed a mountain
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Squirrel, Balloon Research
Only a six year old boy looks out the van window, sees a squirrel running down a tree truck and asks, "Mommy, how many balloons would it take to lift a squirrel?"
First, we need to know how much a squirrel weighs. I think we have grey squirrels around our house, which Wikipedia says have an average weight between 400 and 600 grams.
Next, we need to know how much a regular helium balloon can lift. How Stuff Works says that a typical amusement style balloon can lift 14 grams, if you ignore the weight of the balloon and the string.
So, for a small squirrel, you would need 400 / 14 = 29 balloons, (plus several balloons to account for the strings). For a large squirrel, you would need 600 / 14 = 43 balloons (plus several more ballooons to account for the strings.)
And now we all know.
First, we need to know how much a squirrel weighs. I think we have grey squirrels around our house, which Wikipedia says have an average weight between 400 and 600 grams.
Next, we need to know how much a regular helium balloon can lift. How Stuff Works says that a typical amusement style balloon can lift 14 grams, if you ignore the weight of the balloon and the string.
So, for a small squirrel, you would need 400 / 14 = 29 balloons, (plus several balloons to account for the strings). For a large squirrel, you would need 600 / 14 = 43 balloons (plus several more ballooons to account for the strings.)
And now we all know.
Simple Woman's Daybook, Monday, November 9th
FOR TODAY
(Monday, November 9th, 9:58 pm)...
Outside my window...once again, it is dark. I can tell you that most, but not all of the leaves have been raked off of the back patio. They were combined with many leaves raked together from the lawn in order to form a big pile for jumping in. The big pile is still sitting out there. It will probably sit there until spring. No, I'm not worried about my lawn. It is not a delicate lawn. Its a wild lawn of any green plant matter that wants to volunteer for duty out there. It's very durable that way.
I am thinking... isn't it about time for another weekend? How can it possibly be only Monday? Plus, why does my cursor jump to the very bottom of my post every time I hit enter, instead of just going down one line?
I am thankful for...the health of my family. As much as I moaned and complained and bellyached about having the flu the week before last, really, we've been very blessed with good health overall. And no one came down with a severe case of the flu either.
From the learning rooms...we have officially lost the head start we had by beginning school in August. Between the days off for the Buffalo/Niagra trip (totally awesome) and the week or more that we missed for illness, we are no longer ahead. I'm not sure that we're behind yet....but I don't think we'll be hitting 50% completion before Christmas, as I was originally hoping for.
On a way cool note, we have started two new traditions. At nine o'clock (or thereabouts), we start the school day with chess puzzles and pawn games. Both children are enjoying this. After lunch, we come back together for a read-aloud chapter book. Its a good way to transition from "recess" back to school.
From the kitchen...I tried two new recipes recently. Both were a "breakfast for dinner" menu. One was for peanut butter french toast, which was very filling and well-liked by the kids, but not so kindly received by the Jedi. (I used what was on hand, which was wheat bread, 2% milk, no yogurt, and Total cereal. I also halved the amount of eggs and milk called for, and the lesser amount worked very well.) The second recipe was for fluffy pancakes, which was one of the best and quickest pancake recipes I've ever made.
From the garden... we planted bulbs on Sunday, raked leaves to jump in, and then piled leaves on each of the kids for photo shoots. (Before we went outside, Toa of Boy was begging, "Please may I rake leaves, Mommy? Please?" I felt like Mrs. Piggle Wiggle.) Then we mulched our flower beds with leaves to protect them from the upcoming winter. Yes, i know I'm supposed to shred the leaves first, but I figured being thoroughly jumped on by my 6 and 11 year olds was almost like shredding them.
I am wearing...the Phillip Island t-shirt which the Jedi gave me as a birthday present, like seventeen years ago or so. I remember I wore it to Gingerbread during my first year or two of teaching. Everyone asked me if I had gone to Australia. I said no, my husband knew I really like penguins, and found a way to order this t-shirt from a gift shop in Australia over the computer. Everyone was amazed that such a thing could be done. It seems strange now to think that on-line shopping was so completely novel not too many years ago. (I think I've just found the topic for the compare/contrast essay I'm writing with the 6th graders at co-op.)
I am creating...or failing to create, choreography for the worship dances in our Christmas Reflections program at church. Normally, I feel pretty good about my contributions to this creative effort. Tonight though, I had zilch. Nada. Nothing.
I am going...to give up on ever being able to breathe through my nose again. My nose's new purpose is simply to hold up my glasses.
I am reading...just finished a Terry Prachett Discworld trilogy, Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, and, Wintersmith. The first two books were outstanding. Many times, I was literally laughing out loud while reading A Hat Full of Sky. The third in the triology was good, but not great. I think perhaps because many of the Mac Freegle stunts that had me laughing so hard in the first two books had already been done by the third book. Plus, I was really hoping to see more done with the character of Roland. The Baron's son started to turn into an interesting character in the last book, rather than just a blank foil for Tiffany, and I would have loved to see more attention on him. (See what a jaded, nitt-picky reader I've become? This is comletely Stephanie Meyer's fault.)
I am hoping...that our Children's Ministry continues to grow and be strong. I cannot keep Toa of Boy home from church without tears. He is broken-hearted if he doesn't get to go to church. Granted, he tells me about the games they played first, but then he also remembers the lessons. He's learning and singing worship songs and memorizing Scriptures...and loving it all.
I am hearing...the dryer buzz. The Jedi is turning in for the night, the children and Mama have long since been in bed. Its just me at my computer.
Around the house...laundry, laundry, laundry.
One of my favorite things...is not laundry.
A few plans for the rest of the week:
School, school, more school. Also Tuesday Tae Kwon Do; Wednesday groceries, Awana, and the Brink; Thursday Co-op, library, and Tae Kwon Do; Friday---hooray for the weekend!
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
(Monday, November 9th, 9:58 pm)...
Outside my window...once again, it is dark. I can tell you that most, but not all of the leaves have been raked off of the back patio. They were combined with many leaves raked together from the lawn in order to form a big pile for jumping in. The big pile is still sitting out there. It will probably sit there until spring. No, I'm not worried about my lawn. It is not a delicate lawn. Its a wild lawn of any green plant matter that wants to volunteer for duty out there. It's very durable that way.
I am thinking... isn't it about time for another weekend? How can it possibly be only Monday? Plus, why does my cursor jump to the very bottom of my post every time I hit enter, instead of just going down one line?
I am thankful for...the health of my family. As much as I moaned and complained and bellyached about having the flu the week before last, really, we've been very blessed with good health overall. And no one came down with a severe case of the flu either.
From the learning rooms...we have officially lost the head start we had by beginning school in August. Between the days off for the Buffalo/Niagra trip (totally awesome) and the week or more that we missed for illness, we are no longer ahead. I'm not sure that we're behind yet....but I don't think we'll be hitting 50% completion before Christmas, as I was originally hoping for.
On a way cool note, we have started two new traditions. At nine o'clock (or thereabouts), we start the school day with chess puzzles and pawn games. Both children are enjoying this. After lunch, we come back together for a read-aloud chapter book. Its a good way to transition from "recess" back to school.
From the kitchen...I tried two new recipes recently. Both were a "breakfast for dinner" menu. One was for peanut butter french toast, which was very filling and well-liked by the kids, but not so kindly received by the Jedi. (I used what was on hand, which was wheat bread, 2% milk, no yogurt, and Total cereal. I also halved the amount of eggs and milk called for, and the lesser amount worked very well.) The second recipe was for fluffy pancakes, which was one of the best and quickest pancake recipes I've ever made.
From the garden... we planted bulbs on Sunday, raked leaves to jump in, and then piled leaves on each of the kids for photo shoots. (Before we went outside, Toa of Boy was begging, "Please may I rake leaves, Mommy? Please?" I felt like Mrs. Piggle Wiggle.) Then we mulched our flower beds with leaves to protect them from the upcoming winter. Yes, i know I'm supposed to shred the leaves first, but I figured being thoroughly jumped on by my 6 and 11 year olds was almost like shredding them.
I am wearing...the Phillip Island t-shirt which the Jedi gave me as a birthday present, like seventeen years ago or so. I remember I wore it to Gingerbread during my first year or two of teaching. Everyone asked me if I had gone to Australia. I said no, my husband knew I really like penguins, and found a way to order this t-shirt from a gift shop in Australia over the computer. Everyone was amazed that such a thing could be done. It seems strange now to think that on-line shopping was so completely novel not too many years ago. (I think I've just found the topic for the compare/contrast essay I'm writing with the 6th graders at co-op.)
I am creating...or failing to create, choreography for the worship dances in our Christmas Reflections program at church. Normally, I feel pretty good about my contributions to this creative effort. Tonight though, I had zilch. Nada. Nothing.
I am going...to give up on ever being able to breathe through my nose again. My nose's new purpose is simply to hold up my glasses.
I am reading...just finished a Terry Prachett Discworld trilogy, Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, and, Wintersmith. The first two books were outstanding. Many times, I was literally laughing out loud while reading A Hat Full of Sky. The third in the triology was good, but not great. I think perhaps because many of the Mac Freegle stunts that had me laughing so hard in the first two books had already been done by the third book. Plus, I was really hoping to see more done with the character of Roland. The Baron's son started to turn into an interesting character in the last book, rather than just a blank foil for Tiffany, and I would have loved to see more attention on him. (See what a jaded, nitt-picky reader I've become? This is comletely Stephanie Meyer's fault.)
I am hoping...that our Children's Ministry continues to grow and be strong. I cannot keep Toa of Boy home from church without tears. He is broken-hearted if he doesn't get to go to church. Granted, he tells me about the games they played first, but then he also remembers the lessons. He's learning and singing worship songs and memorizing Scriptures...and loving it all.
I am hearing...the dryer buzz. The Jedi is turning in for the night, the children and Mama have long since been in bed. Its just me at my computer.
Around the house...laundry, laundry, laundry.
One of my favorite things...is not laundry.
A few plans for the rest of the week:
School, school, more school. Also Tuesday Tae Kwon Do; Wednesday groceries, Awana, and the Brink; Thursday Co-op, library, and Tae Kwon Do; Friday---hooray for the weekend!
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Cold and Flu Kits
I'll come up with a title later. (or not)
Here's my situation. Its a Saturday night. I'm really tired. The Jedi is watching the Bearcats on TV. The Bearcats on TV hold no interest to me at the moment.
I have nothing to write about and YET, here I am, inflicting my ramblings upon the entire internet.
College football doesn't even have entertaining commercials. What's up with that?
Guess what I'm NOT doing? I'm not doing this. Aren't you proud of me?
We went to the park today, the Jedi, the kids, and me. It was a beautiful, warm day...one of the last we will see in a while. The Jedi said we should take advantage of it. He also suggested visiting Loveland Castle, which I was all about. But neither of the kids were very interested in going out to the castle. Toa of Boy wanted to go to Parky's Farm, so to Parky's Farm we went. Sadly the brief game of tag they played on and around the equipment got Sweetling coughing again, and she wound up reclining against her Daddy on a bench.
Which reminds me:
Flu and Cold Kit for Kids:
Things to keep on hand through the cold and flu season....generated after the plague swept through our household last week.
1. Chicken noodle or cream of tomato soup (of course)
2. Tissues and an empty tissue box, save one when you use up all the tissues. Set this beside sick child to use as a little garbage pail for all the used tissues they'll be generating.
3. A couple of cheap, new puzzles, coloring books, or activity books. Grab these at the dollar store or at a discount and then put them aside for those sick days in the winter. (I had only one puzzle that was new. This was an error on my part. I shall be hitting the dollar store and looking for a 500 piece puzzle. This was a good number for two sick children and one sick Mommy to complete over the course of a day or two.)
4. A friend with an awesome home movie library who is willing to make home deliveries.
5. Some rules for new, but very, very easy card games. No one will be able to really concentrate on a serious or competitive game. So the game needs to be low-key. Look for these rules ahead of time, because if you are also either sick, or just exhausted from lack of sleep, on-line directions such as this become completely indecipherable. Still, Go Fish and War will only get you so much mileage.
6. Sippy cups. Yes, even if your children are well past the age when they need them. You need to get fluids in them, and they'll be laying on the couch. Juice boxes and such will still spill.
7. A fun, easy to follow chapter book....provided that you are not also sick. If you are not sick, reading aloud is a wonderful way to keep a sick child resting and entertained. If you are also sick, this might not be a viable option.
8. Friends who will text you, IM you, or post on your Facebook wall. You'll need these little notes of encouragement when your house is under quarantine. (Ok, we technically weren't quarantined, but after over a week stuck at home, it was sure feeling that way.)
9. Plus, lots of standard medicine cabinet stuff. I'm not about to tell you what sort of drugs to give your children. But whatever cures or symptom relievers you use, have some. Have lots.
10. Individual chapsticks or lip balms. A strange thing to find on this list? Maybe. But we all three had serously chapped lips.
Here's my situation. Its a Saturday night. I'm really tired. The Jedi is watching the Bearcats on TV. The Bearcats on TV hold no interest to me at the moment.
I have nothing to write about and YET, here I am, inflicting my ramblings upon the entire internet.
College football doesn't even have entertaining commercials. What's up with that?
Guess what I'm NOT doing? I'm not doing this. Aren't you proud of me?
We went to the park today, the Jedi, the kids, and me. It was a beautiful, warm day...one of the last we will see in a while. The Jedi said we should take advantage of it. He also suggested visiting Loveland Castle, which I was all about. But neither of the kids were very interested in going out to the castle. Toa of Boy wanted to go to Parky's Farm, so to Parky's Farm we went. Sadly the brief game of tag they played on and around the equipment got Sweetling coughing again, and she wound up reclining against her Daddy on a bench.
Which reminds me:
Flu and Cold Kit for Kids:
Things to keep on hand through the cold and flu season....generated after the plague swept through our household last week.
1. Chicken noodle or cream of tomato soup (of course)
2. Tissues and an empty tissue box, save one when you use up all the tissues. Set this beside sick child to use as a little garbage pail for all the used tissues they'll be generating.
3. A couple of cheap, new puzzles, coloring books, or activity books. Grab these at the dollar store or at a discount and then put them aside for those sick days in the winter. (I had only one puzzle that was new. This was an error on my part. I shall be hitting the dollar store and looking for a 500 piece puzzle. This was a good number for two sick children and one sick Mommy to complete over the course of a day or two.)
4. A friend with an awesome home movie library who is willing to make home deliveries.
5. Some rules for new, but very, very easy card games. No one will be able to really concentrate on a serious or competitive game. So the game needs to be low-key. Look for these rules ahead of time, because if you are also either sick, or just exhausted from lack of sleep, on-line directions such as this become completely indecipherable. Still, Go Fish and War will only get you so much mileage.
6. Sippy cups. Yes, even if your children are well past the age when they need them. You need to get fluids in them, and they'll be laying on the couch. Juice boxes and such will still spill.
7. A fun, easy to follow chapter book....provided that you are not also sick. If you are not sick, reading aloud is a wonderful way to keep a sick child resting and entertained. If you are also sick, this might not be a viable option.
8. Friends who will text you, IM you, or post on your Facebook wall. You'll need these little notes of encouragement when your house is under quarantine. (Ok, we technically weren't quarantined, but after over a week stuck at home, it was sure feeling that way.)
9. Plus, lots of standard medicine cabinet stuff. I'm not about to tell you what sort of drugs to give your children. But whatever cures or symptom relievers you use, have some. Have lots.
10. Individual chapsticks or lip balms. A strange thing to find on this list? Maybe. But we all three had serously chapped lips.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Art and Facebook
Toa of Boy likes to look at artwork produced by other young children. When he finds a piece he especially likes, he loves to sit and paint something similar. I figure that for centuries, art students have been learning by making copies of the works of other artists, so Toa of Boy is following along a time-honored tradition.
Yesterday we found this awesome gallery of elementary art. Its produced by the Bellevue School District, and Toa of Boy really liked several of their pieces. Here's the painting he made inspired by some of the gallery pieces.
Yesterday we found this awesome gallery of elementary art. Its produced by the Bellevue School District, and Toa of Boy really liked several of their pieces. Here's the painting he made inspired by some of the gallery pieces.
Before we did K-12, and I was teaching my brother the dude, I always struggled with what to do for art on a regular basis. (And I personally love art). So, I thought I'd share the gallery so that other homeschooling moms could look through the projects and maybe get inspired.
In other news, its been a month of Sundays since I've put up a Facebook Friday. Its not Friday, its Tuesday, but you know I'm not going to let that stop me. On second thought, I think I'll do my Facebook in a separate post, so that I can submit this one to Works for Me Wednesday.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Amish B&B
Researching beds and breakfasts in NE Ohio Amish Country.
Here's the first few links I've found. I'm just going to make a list, then start narrowing it down to real possibilities.
Holmes County, Ohio, Charm Countryview Inn offers more than comfortable lodging. Come in, take your shoes off and make yourself at home. Many folks have made Charm Countryview Inn their second home. This Amish Country bed and breakfast is a place to relax, refresh your spirit, rejuvenate your mind and breathe in some pure Amish country air. Welcome to our home. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Furnished with late 1800 antique furniture, the Hasseman House Bed & Breakfast is indeed a step back into a bygone era. Each room is a visual delight, and you will fall in love with the intricate woodwork and original stained glass. The entire Bed & Breakfast surrounds you with charm and beauty from the kitchen, parlor, and dining room on the first floor, to the Attic (Honeymoon Suite) at the top of the house featuring soaring ceilings, a sitting area, and private bath. The Hasseman House features four cozy guest rooms, each with private baths. Two of the rooms offer Jacuzzis. After a restful nights sleep, enjoy a hearty breakfast in the dining room.
Enjoy a truly unique lodging experience in this relocated and resurrected c. 1820 log house and c. 1840 addition. Hisrich Hills House Bed & Breakfast and ArtFarm, moved from Coshocton County, Ohio to our location in Tuscarawas County, the main structure recreates a pioneer atmosphere with authentic period furnishings and a romantic cooking fireplace. The adaptive reuse of the timber frame addition combines historic and contemporary aesthetics with modern conveniences.
Our Berlin, Ohio Bed & Breakfast offers some of the most peaceful Ohio Amish Country lodging available. Visit Bluebird Haven Bed and Breakfast to relax and be refreshed. We are back in a quarter-mile lane and surrounded by woods. At our Amish owned and operated bed and breakfast, you will find a clean, comfortable place to relax. Experience a peaceful, quiet country retreat without the intrusion of TV or phone. Enjoy our perennial gardens, a lawn swing under the trees, many varieties of birds and wildlife, and a grassy path through the woods. You may wish to sit on the back deck outside the private entrance to the bed and breakfast to watch the birds or just to enjoy the view.
Here's the first few links I've found. I'm just going to make a list, then start narrowing it down to real possibilities.
Holmes County, Ohio, Charm Countryview Inn offers more than comfortable lodging. Come in, take your shoes off and make yourself at home. Many folks have made Charm Countryview Inn their second home. This Amish Country bed and breakfast is a place to relax, refresh your spirit, rejuvenate your mind and breathe in some pure Amish country air. Welcome to our home. We look forward to seeing you soon.
~ Paul & Naomi, Inn Keepers
Enjoy a truly unique lodging experience in this relocated and resurrected c. 1820 log house and c. 1840 addition. Hisrich Hills House Bed & Breakfast and ArtFarm, moved from Coshocton County, Ohio to our location in Tuscarawas County, the main structure recreates a pioneer atmosphere with authentic period furnishings and a romantic cooking fireplace. The adaptive reuse of the timber frame addition combines historic and contemporary aesthetics with modern conveniences.
Our Berlin, Ohio Bed & Breakfast offers some of the most peaceful Ohio Amish Country lodging available. Visit Bluebird Haven Bed and Breakfast to relax and be refreshed. We are back in a quarter-mile lane and surrounded by woods. At our Amish owned and operated bed and breakfast, you will find a clean, comfortable place to relax. Experience a peaceful, quiet country retreat without the intrusion of TV or phone. Enjoy our perennial gardens, a lawn swing under the trees, many varieties of birds and wildlife, and a grassy path through the woods. You may wish to sit on the back deck outside the private entrance to the bed and breakfast to watch the birds or just to enjoy the view.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Monday Night Blogging
Simple Woman's Daybook....cause I need to get back into blogging. A handy dandy format works well for that.
FOR TODAY, Monday, October 12th
Outside my window...it's night. My living room windows are like giant mirrors. When it gets closer to Christmas, I'll use them to work out dances and practice dances.
I am thinking...I'm not a true football fan. I sit here with my laptop and look up to watch the replay whenever the Jedi becomes vocal about what just happened.
I am thankful for...the safety and stability of my family.
From the learning rooms...Toa of Boy is prepping for a chess tournament this Saturday. He is brand new to the game. Brand new. But he really really wanted to participate in the tournament. Sweetling has had a cold, and has been struggling to gather enough energy to get her schoolwork accomplished. I can totally sympathize. I did absolutely nothing two days last week cause this cold just knocked me on my butt.
From the kitchen...chocolate zucchini cake and cinnamon zucchini cake. This was made from Zucchini, King of Zucchinis, which we pulled out of our garden last week and which weighed in at 5 1/2 lbs and measured 24 inches. I figure I can have as many pieces of chocolate zucchini cake as I want, cause it's like a vegetable, right?
I am wearing...jeans and a short sleeve red sweater. This fashion statement is made complete by the small pile of used tissues crumpled up on the arm of my chair. Yes, you needed that word picture.
I am creating...I painted a toucan on a wooden shelf for a woman in our church this weekend. It was a pretty easy process. I'm considering writing a "works for me wednesday" post about it.
I am going...to a pumpkin patch on Wednesday and to Telephone's house tomorrow to take her some zucchini cake. "Zake", says Ms Ria.
I am reading...just finished "The Secret" by Beverly Lewis. Have a bag of library books awaiting me as well as some choice picks from Nora. (and some cool exerpts from the manuscript she's currently working on!)
I am hoping...that this cold goes away. Go away cold. I want my nose back.
I am hearing...Football and football commercials. Ah look, a replay for me to watch.
Around the house...Sweetling is sleeping. Toa of Boy is sleeping. Mamma is dozing in her chair. There is laundry I should be folding, but its not all over the bed, so as long as I can still go to sleep, I can worry about it tomorrow.
One of my favorite things...Iris flowers. I love irises. I now have a happy pot of them ready to go in the ground out front. Hooray for Ria :)
A few plans for the rest of the week:
Tomorrow I am the Zake fairy.
Wednesday is pumpkin patch and then game night up in youth.
Thursday is co-op. Do I have my homework done? No, I do not. Bad writing instructor, bad.
Friday: Pleasantly unscheduled.
Saturday: Chess tournament at the library.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...Behold....Zucchini, King of Zucchinis
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FOR TODAY, Monday, October 12th
Outside my window...it's night. My living room windows are like giant mirrors. When it gets closer to Christmas, I'll use them to work out dances and practice dances.
I am thinking...I'm not a true football fan. I sit here with my laptop and look up to watch the replay whenever the Jedi becomes vocal about what just happened.
I am thankful for...the safety and stability of my family.
From the learning rooms...Toa of Boy is prepping for a chess tournament this Saturday. He is brand new to the game. Brand new. But he really really wanted to participate in the tournament. Sweetling has had a cold, and has been struggling to gather enough energy to get her schoolwork accomplished. I can totally sympathize. I did absolutely nothing two days last week cause this cold just knocked me on my butt.
From the kitchen...chocolate zucchini cake and cinnamon zucchini cake. This was made from Zucchini, King of Zucchinis, which we pulled out of our garden last week and which weighed in at 5 1/2 lbs and measured 24 inches. I figure I can have as many pieces of chocolate zucchini cake as I want, cause it's like a vegetable, right?
I am wearing...jeans and a short sleeve red sweater. This fashion statement is made complete by the small pile of used tissues crumpled up on the arm of my chair. Yes, you needed that word picture.
I am creating...I painted a toucan on a wooden shelf for a woman in our church this weekend. It was a pretty easy process. I'm considering writing a "works for me wednesday" post about it.
I am going...to a pumpkin patch on Wednesday and to Telephone's house tomorrow to take her some zucchini cake. "Zake", says Ms Ria.
I am reading...just finished "The Secret" by Beverly Lewis. Have a bag of library books awaiting me as well as some choice picks from Nora. (and some cool exerpts from the manuscript she's currently working on!)
I am hoping...that this cold goes away. Go away cold. I want my nose back.
I am hearing...Football and football commercials. Ah look, a replay for me to watch.
Around the house...Sweetling is sleeping. Toa of Boy is sleeping. Mamma is dozing in her chair. There is laundry I should be folding, but its not all over the bed, so as long as I can still go to sleep, I can worry about it tomorrow.
One of my favorite things...Iris flowers. I love irises. I now have a happy pot of them ready to go in the ground out front. Hooray for Ria :)
A few plans for the rest of the week:
Tomorrow I am the Zake fairy.
Wednesday is pumpkin patch and then game night up in youth.
Thursday is co-op. Do I have my homework done? No, I do not. Bad writing instructor, bad.
Friday: Pleasantly unscheduled.
Saturday: Chess tournament at the library.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...Behold....Zucchini, King of Zucchinis
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Froggy Algebra
"A 2000L tank containing 550L of water is being filled with water at the rae of 75L per minute from a full 1600L tank. How long will it be before both tanks have the same amount of water?"
I set up my equation: 1600 - 75 / m = 550 + 75 / m
This is wrong. Why is it wrong? This is also frustrating, because this is a simple rate problem, and I used to do physic problems way more complicated than this. But the key phrase there is "used to do". Now I'm going to go see if the July frog would like to share another cup of hot chocolate with me.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Fabulous Five
One more day in Buffalo, one more night at the hotel.
So far, here are our top five picks of the trip.
Toa of Boy:
1. Lunch on Friday at the Indian food place. It was so yummy. I could eat 18 mango lassies.
2. Dinner last night. The chicken was good and the mild and honey good.
3. Rainbow. Good. I wish I wish I was going over the rainbow.
4. The stuff I buyed. I did like the chick. The chickie chickie.
5. The beach. It was fun. I like getting wet!
Sweetling:
1. I liked the Maid of the Mist. It was fun and wet.
2. The hotel is really nice It looks really homey, the beds are comfy, and it has a cool indoor swimming pool.
3. The Journey behind the Falls was neat. It was really cool to walk down the tunnel and look at the waterfalls from the other side.
4. I like spending time with family.
5. The pizza place that we went to is an amazing restaurant. It makes good pizza.
Mommy:
1. This has been an awesome and amazing family vacation. I have loved loved loved all the things we've seen and done, but most of all, I've loved doing them together. I've loved the car games we've played. I've loved watching Sweetling and the Jedi walk hand in hand along Niagra Falls. I've loved listening to Toa of Boy say, "This is the best vacation ever," even if he has said it again and again and again, in his best Dash voice and often while flopping himself backward. I love how patient the Jedi has been with two very exciteable personalies (and no, Sweetling isn't one of them.) I love being a family together.
2. The Maid of the Mist. This was by far the most awesome, most unforgetable activity of the trip so far....and I can't imagine anything else will be able to top it. I'm really glad we started our day in Niagra off with this boat ride. It far surpassed all my expectations for it.
3. I liked Sarah's restaurant. It was a fun throw back to a 50's diner and really encapsulated the spirit of the family road trip.
4. I got a kick out of driving over all the bridges. I love the marvels of engineering that they represent, I love the view from the middle of them, and I love the sounds the wheels make on them. Bridges...awesome. I'm even considering driving over the Buffalo skyway again today just to do it. I have a Tom Tom, how hard could it be?
5. Niagra Falls was breathtaking in its beauty and majesty.
So far, here are our top five picks of the trip.
Toa of Boy:
1. Lunch on Friday at the Indian food place. It was so yummy. I could eat 18 mango lassies.
2. Dinner last night. The chicken was good and the mild and honey good.
3. Rainbow. Good. I wish I wish I was going over the rainbow.
4. The stuff I buyed. I did like the chick. The chickie chickie.
5. The beach. It was fun. I like getting wet!
Sweetling:
1. I liked the Maid of the Mist. It was fun and wet.
2. The hotel is really nice It looks really homey, the beds are comfy, and it has a cool indoor swimming pool.
3. The Journey behind the Falls was neat. It was really cool to walk down the tunnel and look at the waterfalls from the other side.
4. I like spending time with family.
5. The pizza place that we went to is an amazing restaurant. It makes good pizza.
Mommy:
1. This has been an awesome and amazing family vacation. I have loved loved loved all the things we've seen and done, but most of all, I've loved doing them together. I've loved the car games we've played. I've loved watching Sweetling and the Jedi walk hand in hand along Niagra Falls. I've loved listening to Toa of Boy say, "This is the best vacation ever," even if he has said it again and again and again, in his best Dash voice and often while flopping himself backward. I love how patient the Jedi has been with two very exciteable personalies (and no, Sweetling isn't one of them.) I love being a family together.
2. The Maid of the Mist. This was by far the most awesome, most unforgetable activity of the trip so far....and I can't imagine anything else will be able to top it. I'm really glad we started our day in Niagra off with this boat ride. It far surpassed all my expectations for it.
3. I liked Sarah's restaurant. It was a fun throw back to a 50's diner and really encapsulated the spirit of the family road trip.
4. I got a kick out of driving over all the bridges. I love the marvels of engineering that they represent, I love the view from the middle of them, and I love the sounds the wheels make on them. Bridges...awesome. I'm even considering driving over the Buffalo skyway again today just to do it. I have a Tom Tom, how hard could it be?
5. Niagra Falls was breathtaking in its beauty and majesty.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Rocking Like Peanuts
On the way back from the pool this evening, Toa of Boy asked, "Whose idea was this? This was a good idea!"
"This is all Daddy's idea," I said. "Daddy got on the internet and did all the research and planned all the activities and found all the places we could go and all the things we could do."
"That's because," added Sweetling, "Daddy rocks."
To which Toa of Boy exclaimed, "Daddy rocks like peanuts!"
Now, I am sitting in the hotel room waiting for the Jedi to get back from his certification class. The children are in bed, but not asleep. If I were in bed, I would surely be asleep.
Brief highlights of how our trip has rocked like peanuts--
German food is very filling. German buffets consist of multiple types of meat (four different sausages, meatloaf, and two different meaty stews) with sides of mashed potatoes, two kinds of hot potato salads, cabbage, sourkraut, and mac and cheese. Over in the corner there was a lonely pan of green beans...with potato pieces and crumbled bacon.
The Fudge Haus across the street had their hours posted in German and the "push" and "pull" signs on their door in German as well. The Jedi got a kick out of that. We all got a kick out of the delicious samples we were treated too....including penache fudge, for which I must now find some recipes. The Jedi spent an unmentionable sum of money treating us to all kids of wonderful fudge goodness. He made sure each of us got to pick a few favorite items and candies from each of the tempting displays....though we did draw the line at the $28 dollar lollipop that was bigger than Toa of Boy's head. (Toa of Boy very kindly offered to share it with the whole family. Mommy still said no.)
And we spent half an hour or so wondering around the old neighborhood around the restaurant with its brick streets and brick sidewalks and neat and tiny gardens. Toa of Boy collected several leaves, which he stuffed in the largest pocket of his seat organizer. Sweetling and I browsed through the art and craft shop together and oooed and awed over many lovely items.
The Yellow Car Game and the state lisence plate search are going wonderfully. Both of the kids are excited and into the games. We took a break from them today while driving on the toll highway between Erie and Buffalo and did round robin story telling instead....featuring the penguins of madagascar in our tale of course.
Today was packed full of activities. ....but the Jedi is back (and I munched on the awesome food he brought home from class. I asked him if that was his homework, and then I chowed down.) So, I'm off to bed. I'm only a day behind with my updates. For me, that's almost like being on time.
"This is all Daddy's idea," I said. "Daddy got on the internet and did all the research and planned all the activities and found all the places we could go and all the things we could do."
"That's because," added Sweetling, "Daddy rocks."
To which Toa of Boy exclaimed, "Daddy rocks like peanuts!"
Now, I am sitting in the hotel room waiting for the Jedi to get back from his certification class. The children are in bed, but not asleep. If I were in bed, I would surely be asleep.
Brief highlights of how our trip has rocked like peanuts--
German food is very filling. German buffets consist of multiple types of meat (four different sausages, meatloaf, and two different meaty stews) with sides of mashed potatoes, two kinds of hot potato salads, cabbage, sourkraut, and mac and cheese. Over in the corner there was a lonely pan of green beans...with potato pieces and crumbled bacon.
The Fudge Haus across the street had their hours posted in German and the "push" and "pull" signs on their door in German as well. The Jedi got a kick out of that. We all got a kick out of the delicious samples we were treated too....including penache fudge, for which I must now find some recipes. The Jedi spent an unmentionable sum of money treating us to all kids of wonderful fudge goodness. He made sure each of us got to pick a few favorite items and candies from each of the tempting displays....though we did draw the line at the $28 dollar lollipop that was bigger than Toa of Boy's head. (Toa of Boy very kindly offered to share it with the whole family. Mommy still said no.)
And we spent half an hour or so wondering around the old neighborhood around the restaurant with its brick streets and brick sidewalks and neat and tiny gardens. Toa of Boy collected several leaves, which he stuffed in the largest pocket of his seat organizer. Sweetling and I browsed through the art and craft shop together and oooed and awed over many lovely items.
The Yellow Car Game and the state lisence plate search are going wonderfully. Both of the kids are excited and into the games. We took a break from them today while driving on the toll highway between Erie and Buffalo and did round robin story telling instead....featuring the penguins of madagascar in our tale of course.
Today was packed full of activities. ....but the Jedi is back (and I munched on the awesome food he brought home from class. I asked him if that was his homework, and then I chowed down.) So, I'm off to bed. I'm only a day behind with my updates. For me, that's almost like being on time.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Hi Ho, Hi Ho...To Buffalo We Go!!!
(March 19, 2011--edit to add. A friend asked for some travel tips for her family vacation to Buffalo. I wanted to just send her the link to this post, but I have some post travel comments and observations to add. So, look for the italicized edit to add comments for the scoop on what we thought of each stop. I'm also throwing in one or two of my favorite photos from some of the stops.)
The laundry is almost done...though I think the monster under the bed must be eating Toa's underwear. I need to buy him another pack before we leave.
The Jedi is printing google map after google map.
The house shall remain occupied during our vacation. (Hear that, creepy people? The house isn't empty. Swiper no swiping!)
So, as the creepy people are snapping their fingers and saying "oh man!", I am safe in posting our trip itinerary. Wow. I even spelled that correctly on the first try. Will wonders never cease.
We're leaving on Wednesday, and stopping in Columbus to eat at a Schmidt's Sausage Haus, highlighted on Man Vs Food. (edit to add: The Jedi liked this restaurant. The kids and I aren't as big of sausage fans, so not so much. Walking around the German section of Columbus was very cool and the fudge shop was super yummy.)
We're stopping for a sleepover at Nana and Bapa's house in Canton, Ohio...then leaving early Thursday morning.
Thursday late morning should bring us to Presque Isle Park in Erie, Pennsylvania. After an hour or so of exploring the beach, we're having lunch in a little restaurant close the park....hot dogs, chicken fingers, onion rings, and vanilla-orange swirl ice cream served in a little red and beach side diner.
(edit to add: WELL WORTH THE STOP. The kids loved playing in the sand on the beach. The little road side 50's style hamburger stand was a real treat. This was old-school family road trip all the way.)
Back on the road, and hopefully we'll hit Buffalo early enough to visit the Buffalo & Erie Canal Military and Naval Park. Can you say, Battleship? I knew you could. I think there's a submarine there too.
(edit to add: If you are in Buffalo, take an hour or two to do the self -guided tour of these three naval vessels. It is really interesting and well done. Many thumbs up for this one.)
Then, Thursday evening, the Jedi is going to his barbeque judge certification class, which was the imputus for the trip. (Hey, I spelled impuptus on the first try too!) While the Jedi is learning the fine art of being a bbq judge, the kids and I are going swimming in our hotel's indoor pool.
Friday morning kicks off with a brief visit to the Iron Island Museum, of Ghosthunters fame.(edit to add: We decided to skip this in favor of more time at the falls. We didn't think the kids would really be interested, and honestly, the day we spent at the falls was busy enough without adding something extra.)
Then we are on to Niagara Falls, where we will begin our visit with a ride on the Maid of the Mist. After a change of clothes and shoes, we'll grab lunch somewhere.
(edit to add: If you do NOTHING ELSE in Buffalo, YOU MUST RIDE ON THE MAID OF THE MIST. This was by far the coolest experience of Niagara Falls. DO NOT buy your tickets at the jacked-up prices at the info desks inside the tourist trap buildings by the parking lots. Instead, walk into the park...we got ours on the America side...and find the departure site for the Maid of the Mist. Buy your tickets there. The tourist trap info desk wanted ~$30 for an adult ticket rather than the ~$12 the park was selling them for. ALSO, a change of shoes is a must, especially if you are going in cooler weather. Be prepared to get drenched. Soaked. Imagine getting into a multi-directional shower in a wind tunnel fully clothed. It's like that. We don't have as many pictures, for fear of water damage to the camera. Of note though is that Maid of the Mist also gets you access to a section of trail at the foot of the American falls which was really neat and not open to the general public.)
Then its on to the platform viewing and Journey Behind the Falls.
Another change of clothes and shoes (I don't know where I think I'm getting all these extra pairs of shoes from,) and then perhaps a snack. Well fed children are happier children. A kind soul gave us a big bag of Canadian coins to split between the children, so we're hitting some souvenir shops on the Canadian side.
(edit to add: The viewing platform of Journey Behind the Falls was really cool. This photo was taken there, despite the 'maid of the mist' information plaque beside Sweetling. The tunnel behind the falls was not so cool. It was worth it for us, for the viewing platform under the falls. Again, a change of shoes and socks. We got soaked. BUT if we had gone in the height of tourist season and had to stand in a narrow, long, boring tunnel in a huge slowly shuffling line of people, it would have been a waste. In the middle of a weekday in September, we just strolled through the empty tunnels and spent most of our time on the viewing platform. But it would have been a totally different, and unpleasant, experience in a crowd. IF YOU MUST GO IN THE SUMMER, go on a weekday. I was given a tip, from the elevator operator in the tunnel, that the crowds on summer weekends are so thick most people can't even get close to the railings at the park overlooks to even see the falls for the sheer mass of people.)
Sunset that night is around 7. We're debating whether we should stay until sunset to see the falls with lights OR hit dinner first and come back for the falls after dark. Either way, dinner is going to be at LaNova Wings. (edit to add: We didn't go back at night. We were wet and cold and tired. Also, I recommend a different restaurant. We picked this one so we could grab some Buffalo wings and go back to our hotel room with them, but the prep was slow, and the wings not that great.)
Are you tired yet? We are. Something calm and quiet at the hotel that night. Maybe a couple of Penguins of Madagaskar cartoons.
After breakfast on Saturday, we drop the Jedi off at Oinktoberfest, where he will be judging in the big barbeque contest. Then the kids and I are heading to the Buffalo Museum of Science.We'll explore and play and eat lunch at the Brown Bear Bistro inside the museum. (edit to add: The kids were still young enough to really love this museum. It has a lot of hands on activities geared for elementary, and young elementary, aged children. Several favorite family quotes came from our time there. The staff, one worker in particular, really made our time there super-fun. Adults and older youth would be bored and not very impressed. Hands-on younger learners will be totally in their element here. If you have museum membership to your local museum, this museum is on a reciprocal list...so you can likely get in free with your membership. )
Sometime that afternoon, we'll head back to Oinktoberfest and meet up with the Jedi. We'll wonder around Oinktoberfest together and dine on many delicious foods sold at the various vendors and competitors.
Another dip in the hotel pool will wrap up Saturday.
Sunday will see our departure from Buffalo. Our last stop before heading home will be Letchworth State Park, home of the "Grand Canyon of the East". After a nice hike along the scenic gorge, lunch at some nearby restuarant, we'll turn the van towards the long drive home. We're planning on driving strait through, stopping only for dinner. When it gets late, the kids can bunk down in the van.
(edit to add: Totally worth the extra drive time. After Niagara Falls, we thought any other state park would be anticlimatic. It wasn't. It was beautiful, it was scenic, it was full of breath-taking views and lovely trails.)
Monday....home sweet home! (and the long process of unpacking and doing all the laundry we generated!)
The laundry is almost done...though I think the monster under the bed must be eating Toa's underwear. I need to buy him another pack before we leave.
The Jedi is printing google map after google map.
The house shall remain occupied during our vacation. (Hear that, creepy people? The house isn't empty. Swiper no swiping!)
So, as the creepy people are snapping their fingers and saying "oh man!", I am safe in posting our trip itinerary. Wow. I even spelled that correctly on the first try. Will wonders never cease.
We're leaving on Wednesday, and stopping in Columbus to eat at a Schmidt's Sausage Haus, highlighted on Man Vs Food. (edit to add: The Jedi liked this restaurant. The kids and I aren't as big of sausage fans, so not so much. Walking around the German section of Columbus was very cool and the fudge shop was super yummy.)
We're stopping for a sleepover at Nana and Bapa's house in Canton, Ohio...then leaving early Thursday morning.
(edit to add: If you are in Buffalo, take an hour or two to do the self -guided tour of these three naval vessels. It is really interesting and well done. Many thumbs up for this one.)
Then, Thursday evening, the Jedi is going to his barbeque judge certification class, which was the imputus for the trip. (Hey, I spelled impuptus on the first try too!) While the Jedi is learning the fine art of being a bbq judge, the kids and I are going swimming in our hotel's indoor pool.
Friday morning kicks off with a brief visit to the Iron Island Museum, of Ghosthunters fame.(edit to add: We decided to skip this in favor of more time at the falls. We didn't think the kids would really be interested, and honestly, the day we spent at the falls was busy enough without adding something extra.)
Then its on to the platform viewing and Journey Behind the Falls.
Another change of clothes and shoes (I don't know where I think I'm getting all these extra pairs of shoes from,) and then perhaps a snack. Well fed children are happier children. A kind soul gave us a big bag of Canadian coins to split between the children, so we're hitting some souvenir shops on the Canadian side.
Sunset that night is around 7. We're debating whether we should stay until sunset to see the falls with lights OR hit dinner first and come back for the falls after dark. Either way, dinner is going to be at LaNova Wings. (edit to add: We didn't go back at night. We were wet and cold and tired. Also, I recommend a different restaurant. We picked this one so we could grab some Buffalo wings and go back to our hotel room with them, but the prep was slow, and the wings not that great.)
Are you tired yet? We are. Something calm and quiet at the hotel that night. Maybe a couple of Penguins of Madagaskar cartoons.
Sometime that afternoon, we'll head back to Oinktoberfest and meet up with the Jedi. We'll wonder around Oinktoberfest together and dine on many delicious foods sold at the various vendors and competitors.
Another dip in the hotel pool will wrap up Saturday.
Sunday will see our departure from Buffalo. Our last stop before heading home will be Letchworth State Park, home of the "Grand Canyon of the East". After a nice hike along the scenic gorge, lunch at some nearby restuarant, we'll turn the van towards the long drive home. We're planning on driving strait through, stopping only for dinner. When it gets late, the kids can bunk down in the van.
Monday....home sweet home! (and the long process of unpacking and doing all the laundry we generated!)
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Facebook...um...Sunday?
If you're already on Facebook with me, don't read this. There, you have been warned.
This is for me, so that when I'm rereading my blogs, I get the snippets of my week otherwise lost on Facebook.
This is for my sister, who is too much of a smurfen smurf to visit me on Facebook.
This is two weeks worth of Facebook updates, cause I didn't do this on 9-11.
September 5 at 10:27am
woo hoo! The Jedi showed me how to get cameras off my camera and onto my computer! Happy day!
Pinkie's Mom:
you had cameras on your camera? No wonder you needed his help!
September 5 at 11:51pm
The Jellicle Moon is shining bright--Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball!
September 6 at 4:35pm
Thought I had a can of manwich, but I don't. Now I'm googling for a sloppy joe sauce from scratch.
September 6 at 4:43pm
It just occured to me, next Sunday, at this EXACT time, we need to be heading back to church. How's that going to work? Plus, there is such a thing as eating too many donut holes in one day. Thanks, Tracie. ;)
September 7 at 8:26pm
I haven't gotten any personal email all weekend. But my inbox has been full of junk spam mail multiple times a day :(
September 8 at 2:27am
sign that you *might* have a problem: At 2:30 am, you're up and using a flashlight to find a book on the bookshelf (you can't turn on a light of course, because that would wake your husband.)
September 8 at 12:08pm
There are no children here. Only guinea pigs.
September 9 at 8:48am
Sweetling: This is Susan, not Xuan's results. Xuan would not get these results, oh no no no. Which Gilligan's Island Character are you? The Professor
September 9 at 9:01am
This is Xuan's result. Let it never be said, "like mother like daughter". Plus I just dripped hot chocolate on my white sweater :( Which Gilligan's Island Character are you? Gilligan
September 9 at 10:38am
Just got finished having an algebra lesson with Susan and "Eggy". It gives a whole new meaning to the term, "egg-head".
September 9 at 1:04pm
Toa of Boy's favorite time of the day is "food". To go along with this, we just got back from meijer with 12 big brown bags of groceries and a 10lb bag of potatoes for $94 :)
September 10 at 7:49am
First day of co-op calls for penguin earrings, n'est-ce pas?
September 10 at 3:53pm
so, I lied on my blog last night. I said the house was clean. In good faith, I thought it was. But no, no, I realized this morning that the sink was absolutely overflowing with dirty dishes. Yes, I am just this fascinating, thank you. Now that the ki...tchen is *actually* clean, I'm debating between chocolate, a nap, and mariokart. Decisions, decisions....
September 11 at 8:19am
can't find my devotion notebook. :(
September 11 at 1:44pm
I want cookies, therefore, we shall make some. It's good to be the Mommy.
September 11 at 1:48pm
The flip side to this is, while the cookies are in the oven, I got to scrub out and scrub down the disgusting kitchen trash can. The moral? With great kitchen power comes great kitchen responsibility.
September 11 at 3:37pm
I found my devotion notebook, but I lost my van key.
September 11 at 4:01pm
Good news, I found the van key. Bad news, its inside the locked van.
September 14 at 9:36am
I hate computers. I don't know how many times a day I say that, but I'm pretty sure I mean it every time.
September 14 at 9:46am
It is fun to have fun but you have to know how....
Xuan took the Dr. Seuss Personality Test quiz and the result is Cat in the Hat
September 14 at 5:21pm
i filled a pint blood bag in 8 minutes...but they forgot to give me a sticker:(
September 16 at 4:46am
Being up since 4am with a stuffed up nose is not on my list of favorite things to do. The universe should know this by now and stop putting this activity in my weekly agenda.
September 16 at 5:08am
So, someone explain to me why I can log into facebook from the laptop that's mounted to my kitchen wall, but not from the laptop that's sitting on my kitchen table. I hate computers. And I can't login to school from either place.
September 16 at 5:39am
Ha! The computer has met its match now! The Jedi is awake and he rescued me! Though, considering the only computer thing I've been able to do is update Facebook, and I've been up and unhappy for at least an hour now, I think the fact that ...I restrained myself to only three updates shows remarkable self-control.
September 16 at 6:40am
building a fort out of couch cushions in a friend's family room should count as school. what subject can I log that under? What about chess? Chess should totally count for school. What subject does that go under?
September 16 at 2:46pm
Toa of Boy's rubber lizard is now down to just one foot. Tape is not an effective surgical tool in this case.
Thursday at 2:25pm via Mobile Texts
Dear co-op leadership, I am sitting in class being well-behaved, but I'm out of chocolate, so I can't promise this will last long.
Thursday at 5:56pm
Toa of Boy's learing about matter. We've been going through the list of what is made out of matter. Trees? Yes. Skin? Yes. Bubbles? Yes. "Everything is made out of matter," say I. "How about electricity?" counters Toa of Boy.
Thursday at 7:51pm
zuan, Youlook so nice today! Sorry I didn't tell you before now, and Please tell Toa of Boy thank you, thank you, thank you, for his wonderful hug!
Friday at 11:58am
hooray! I'm remembering to put dinner in the crock pot early enough in the day for it to cook! Sadly, now I no longer want the ham. I want fried chicken and waffles.
This is for me, so that when I'm rereading my blogs, I get the snippets of my week otherwise lost on Facebook.
This is for my sister, who is too much of a smurfen smurf to visit me on Facebook.
This is two weeks worth of Facebook updates, cause I didn't do this on 9-11.
September 5 at 10:27am
woo hoo! The Jedi showed me how to get cameras off my camera and onto my computer! Happy day!
Pinkie's Mom:
you had cameras on your camera? No wonder you needed his help!
September 5 at 11:51pm
The Jellicle Moon is shining bright--Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball!
September 6 at 4:35pm
Thought I had a can of manwich, but I don't. Now I'm googling for a sloppy joe sauce from scratch.
September 6 at 4:43pm
It just occured to me, next Sunday, at this EXACT time, we need to be heading back to church. How's that going to work? Plus, there is such a thing as eating too many donut holes in one day. Thanks, Tracie. ;)
September 7 at 8:26pm
I haven't gotten any personal email all weekend. But my inbox has been full of junk spam mail multiple times a day :(
September 8 at 2:27am
sign that you *might* have a problem: At 2:30 am, you're up and using a flashlight to find a book on the bookshelf (you can't turn on a light of course, because that would wake your husband.)
September 8 at 12:08pm
There are no children here. Only guinea pigs.
September 9 at 8:48am
Sweetling: This is Susan, not Xuan's results. Xuan would not get these results, oh no no no. Which Gilligan's Island Character are you? The Professor
September 9 at 9:01am
This is Xuan's result. Let it never be said, "like mother like daughter". Plus I just dripped hot chocolate on my white sweater :( Which Gilligan's Island Character are you? Gilligan
September 9 at 10:38am
Just got finished having an algebra lesson with Susan and "Eggy". It gives a whole new meaning to the term, "egg-head".
September 9 at 1:04pm
Toa of Boy's favorite time of the day is "food". To go along with this, we just got back from meijer with 12 big brown bags of groceries and a 10lb bag of potatoes for $94 :)
September 10 at 7:49am
First day of co-op calls for penguin earrings, n'est-ce pas?
September 10 at 3:53pm
so, I lied on my blog last night. I said the house was clean. In good faith, I thought it was. But no, no, I realized this morning that the sink was absolutely overflowing with dirty dishes. Yes, I am just this fascinating, thank you. Now that the ki...tchen is *actually* clean, I'm debating between chocolate, a nap, and mariokart. Decisions, decisions....
September 11 at 8:19am
can't find my devotion notebook. :(
September 11 at 1:44pm
I want cookies, therefore, we shall make some. It's good to be the Mommy.
September 11 at 1:48pm
The flip side to this is, while the cookies are in the oven, I got to scrub out and scrub down the disgusting kitchen trash can. The moral? With great kitchen power comes great kitchen responsibility.
September 11 at 3:37pm
I found my devotion notebook, but I lost my van key.
September 11 at 4:01pm
Good news, I found the van key. Bad news, its inside the locked van.
September 14 at 9:36am
I hate computers. I don't know how many times a day I say that, but I'm pretty sure I mean it every time.
September 14 at 9:46am
It is fun to have fun but you have to know how....
Xuan took the Dr. Seuss Personality Test quiz and the result is Cat in the Hat
September 14 at 5:21pm
i filled a pint blood bag in 8 minutes...but they forgot to give me a sticker:(
September 16 at 4:46am
Being up since 4am with a stuffed up nose is not on my list of favorite things to do. The universe should know this by now and stop putting this activity in my weekly agenda.
September 16 at 5:08am
So, someone explain to me why I can log into facebook from the laptop that's mounted to my kitchen wall, but not from the laptop that's sitting on my kitchen table. I hate computers. And I can't login to school from either place.
September 16 at 5:39am
Ha! The computer has met its match now! The Jedi is awake and he rescued me! Though, considering the only computer thing I've been able to do is update Facebook, and I've been up and unhappy for at least an hour now, I think the fact that ...I restrained myself to only three updates shows remarkable self-control.
September 16 at 6:40am
building a fort out of couch cushions in a friend's family room should count as school. what subject can I log that under? What about chess? Chess should totally count for school. What subject does that go under?
September 16 at 2:46pm
Toa of Boy's rubber lizard is now down to just one foot. Tape is not an effective surgical tool in this case.
Thursday at 2:25pm via Mobile Texts
Dear co-op leadership, I am sitting in class being well-behaved, but I'm out of chocolate, so I can't promise this will last long.
Thursday at 5:56pm
Toa of Boy's learing about matter. We've been going through the list of what is made out of matter. Trees? Yes. Skin? Yes. Bubbles? Yes. "Everything is made out of matter," say I. "How about electricity?" counters Toa of Boy.
Thursday at 7:51pm
zuan, Youlook so nice today! Sorry I didn't tell you before now, and Please tell Toa of Boy thank you, thank you, thank you, for his wonderful hug!
Friday at 11:58am
hooray! I'm remembering to put dinner in the crock pot early enough in the day for it to cook! Sadly, now I no longer want the ham. I want fried chicken and waffles.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Chuck Cluck's Home Alone Rules
I've been awake since 4am. Therefore, I am completely justified in a list of home alone rules for a chicken. (As dictated to me by said chicken, of course.)
1. Don't stop anybody from doing the chicken dance.
2. Be good.
3. Don't dance on the table if you've got mud on your feet.
4. Don't feed the stray chizzpurfles. (WHAT??? says Chuck Cluck.)
4. (for real)-- Try to keep Sweetling on track.
5. Don't mess with the eggs. They want to be snuggled, but they are frag-ile. And messy.
6. Always eat your chicken feed.
7. Don't try to fly away.
In other news, I've been up since 4am (have I mentioned that?) And we didn't start school till 11:45. Why, cause someone loaned us the 5th Harry Potter book, that's why. And cause someone else started blogging. And cause webkinz world released a new activity today and club penguin had the sensai's scavenger hunt going. We are a house of school-dodgers is what we are today.
Sweetling says I'd make a good Beater if schoolwork was a bludger.
1. Don't stop anybody from doing the chicken dance.
2. Be good.
3. Don't dance on the table if you've got mud on your feet.
4. Don't feed the stray chizzpurfles. (WHAT??? says Chuck Cluck.)
4. (for real)-- Try to keep Sweetling on track.
5. Don't mess with the eggs. They want to be snuggled, but they are frag-ile. And messy.
6. Always eat your chicken feed.
7. Don't try to fly away.
In other news, I've been up since 4am (have I mentioned that?) And we didn't start school till 11:45. Why, cause someone loaned us the 5th Harry Potter book, that's why. And cause someone else started blogging. And cause webkinz world released a new activity today and club penguin had the sensai's scavenger hunt going. We are a house of school-dodgers is what we are today.
Sweetling says I'd make a good Beater if schoolwork was a bludger.
Quick Quotes
From a greeting card cousin Charlotte shared--
"My cookbook says I can substitute three egg whites for two eggs.....I don't think my cookbook understands my problem."
From Monday night dinner--
Me: Please keep the lizard out of your spaghetti.
Toa of Boy: The lizard is Spaghetti!
Sweetling: Please keep the green lizard named spaghetti out of you plate of red, real spaghetti.
From Saturday's trip to McD's with Grandma:
Getting stung
On the tongue
By a bee
Is no fun.
(Toa of Boy's assessment of Mommy's poetry: "It's not funny, Mommy. It's sad." And since Toa of boy was the victem of said bee sting, he was very qualified to judge the emotional content of the verse. The bee climbed in the straw of his strawberry milkshake. Poor Toa of Boy.)
From yesterday's Target Trip:
Sweetling: I think you have trained Toa of Boy to be a "P".
Me: Mais oui, Jean-Claude, mais oui.
Sweetling: Not that kind of pea. A "P" from that personality index thing. [the Meyers-Briggs index]
Me: Not so fast tomatoe. Won't you join me in my irrating little song?
Sweetling: Nevermind.
"My cookbook says I can substitute three egg whites for two eggs.....I don't think my cookbook understands my problem."
From Monday night dinner--
Me: Please keep the lizard out of your spaghetti.
Toa of Boy: The lizard is Spaghetti!
Sweetling: Please keep the green lizard named spaghetti out of you plate of red, real spaghetti.
From Saturday's trip to McD's with Grandma:
Getting stung
On the tongue
By a bee
Is no fun.
(Toa of Boy's assessment of Mommy's poetry: "It's not funny, Mommy. It's sad." And since Toa of boy was the victem of said bee sting, he was very qualified to judge the emotional content of the verse. The bee climbed in the straw of his strawberry milkshake. Poor Toa of Boy.)
From yesterday's Target Trip:
Sweetling: I think you have trained Toa of Boy to be a "P".
Me: Mais oui, Jean-Claude, mais oui.
Sweetling: Not that kind of pea. A "P" from that personality index thing. [the Meyers-Briggs index]
Me: Not so fast tomatoe. Won't you join me in my irrating little song?
Sweetling: Nevermind.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
My Challenge to You: Please read!
If you were one of the many people who helped fill Facebook and the Blogworld with rememberences about 9-11 last Friday, my compliments to you. Thank you. Thank you for helping us all remember for a day not only the lives that were lost, but the heroism of the men and women who served our country then, and are still serving our country now. Those who are overseas in harms way; those who regularly run into burning buildings when the everyone else is running out; those who daily leave a spouse and children at home while they patrol the streets to protect and defend and never know when a situation will turn violent; those who daily race against time and fate trying to save a life threatened by accident or illness. If you posted and helped us remember these heros, thank you.
But I have one further challenge for you. Please keep reading.
The same day that we were all busy typing up a few words of rememberence, I got a phone call from our local blood bank. The blood supplies are critically low. They need all bloodtypes, and they need them soon. At the time, the magnitude of the date on which I received the call didn't occur to me. I simply scheduled an appointment to donate for the following Monday, and went on about my day.
I arrived at the neighborhood Hoxworth Blood Center branch in the afternoon. Two elderly men were just finishing their juice and crackers and preparing to leave as I walked in. I took time settling my little boy in a chair and approached the desk. To be honest, I can't remember if it was something I heard the men say, or if (as I strongly suspect) I caught a glimpse of a patch or a pin worn on a ball cap donned before the men walked out the door, but I firmly believe the two older, grandpa looking, likely retired men were military veterans. In other words, men who had already given blood, sweat, and tears for their country. There they were, in the twilight of their lives, still willing to bleed to save the lives of others.
And that's when I remembered it was 9-11 when I received the call to give blood.
Do you remember eight years ago when people lined up for hours to donate blood after the tragedy? Do you remember how local blood banks had to start turning people away because they had filled to capacity their blood storage facilities?
Here's my challenge to all my Facebook and Blog friends. If you wrote anything at all about 9-11, and if your eligible to be a blood donor....call your local hospital or blood bank TODAY and set up an appointment to give blood sometime in the month of September. And pass the word along.
What if America could fill her blood banks to capacity every September? How much more meaningful would our words be, if we would back them up with something that each of us can do that would actually save a life. Even if medically you cannot give your own blood, you can help save lives by raising awareness.
Thank you for reading this far. You know that I don't often use my blog as a soap box, so thank you for indulging me this one time. Regardless of your political stand in the current debates, please help save a life by donating blood and by inspiring others to do so.
If you'd like to learn more about donating blood, including how to find a donation center near you, please visit https://www.givelife.org/index_flash.cfm?thisHB=09/15/2009%2005:14:31
If you live in the Cincinnati area, you can also call or visit the Hoxworth Blood Center
Is giving blood easy? No, not really. I've done it twice now, and neither time was it a walk in the park.
Is giving blood painless? No, not really. You get stuck with needles twice. Once as a finger prick to test for anemia before donating and then the actual draw itself (which hurts a little both when the needle goes in and when the needle comes out, but can't be felt at all in the few minutes that the blood is flowing.)
Is giving blood convenient? No, not really. We all have busy schedules and sometimes adding one more thing into our list seems crazy. But, you can make an appointment that fits your schedule and works around your other activities and obligations.
Is giving blood quick? No, not really. You should probably block 45 minutes to an hour for the entire process of filling out the paper work, being screened (blood pressure, temperature, and finger prick), doing the actual draw, and then eating a light snackand resting for a few minutes afterward.
Is giving blood worth all the other issues? You bet.
But I have one further challenge for you. Please keep reading.
The same day that we were all busy typing up a few words of rememberence, I got a phone call from our local blood bank. The blood supplies are critically low. They need all bloodtypes, and they need them soon. At the time, the magnitude of the date on which I received the call didn't occur to me. I simply scheduled an appointment to donate for the following Monday, and went on about my day.
I arrived at the neighborhood Hoxworth Blood Center branch in the afternoon. Two elderly men were just finishing their juice and crackers and preparing to leave as I walked in. I took time settling my little boy in a chair and approached the desk. To be honest, I can't remember if it was something I heard the men say, or if (as I strongly suspect) I caught a glimpse of a patch or a pin worn on a ball cap donned before the men walked out the door, but I firmly believe the two older, grandpa looking, likely retired men were military veterans. In other words, men who had already given blood, sweat, and tears for their country. There they were, in the twilight of their lives, still willing to bleed to save the lives of others.
And that's when I remembered it was 9-11 when I received the call to give blood.
Do you remember eight years ago when people lined up for hours to donate blood after the tragedy? Do you remember how local blood banks had to start turning people away because they had filled to capacity their blood storage facilities?
Here's my challenge to all my Facebook and Blog friends. If you wrote anything at all about 9-11, and if your eligible to be a blood donor....call your local hospital or blood bank TODAY and set up an appointment to give blood sometime in the month of September. And pass the word along.
What if America could fill her blood banks to capacity every September? How much more meaningful would our words be, if we would back them up with something that each of us can do that would actually save a life. Even if medically you cannot give your own blood, you can help save lives by raising awareness.
Thank you for reading this far. You know that I don't often use my blog as a soap box, so thank you for indulging me this one time. Regardless of your political stand in the current debates, please help save a life by donating blood and by inspiring others to do so.
If you'd like to learn more about donating blood, including how to find a donation center near you, please visit https://www.givelife.org/index_flash.cfm?thisHB=09/15/2009%2005:14:31
If you live in the Cincinnati area, you can also call or visit the Hoxworth Blood Center
Is giving blood easy? No, not really. I've done it twice now, and neither time was it a walk in the park.
Is giving blood painless? No, not really. You get stuck with needles twice. Once as a finger prick to test for anemia before donating and then the actual draw itself (which hurts a little both when the needle goes in and when the needle comes out, but can't be felt at all in the few minutes that the blood is flowing.)
Is giving blood convenient? No, not really. We all have busy schedules and sometimes adding one more thing into our list seems crazy. But, you can make an appointment that fits your schedule and works around your other activities and obligations.
Is giving blood quick? No, not really. You should probably block 45 minutes to an hour for the entire process of filling out the paper work, being screened (blood pressure, temperature, and finger prick), doing the actual draw, and then eating a light snackand resting for a few minutes afterward.
Is giving blood worth all the other issues? You bet.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Road Trip
We're heading to Buffalo NY in less than two weeks. The Jedi has put together an awesome iternary for us, and I'm super excited about the trip. I'll share links of the places we'll be seeing later, but first...
I want to talk about the trip itself. Granted, our van has a DVD player and a Gameboy Advanced AND both the kids have a DS (well, Sweetling has a DSi)....AND Sweetling loves to read and has her own laptop. So, we could sail through the trip relying on electronics to keep everyone happy. But, I don't want to.
I want to have a family road trip.
Here are my ideas for car games. Some are my own, and some are the Jedi's, and some are borrowed from various places.
First, we are going to have The Ultimate Yellow Car Marathon Championship.
We play yellow car all the time....though not in its "SlugBug" version. So, why not an ultimate yellow car show down? Normally, the game of yellow car lasts only from the time we leave the house until the car is parked at our destination, or, conversly, from the time we leave whatever location until we arrive back home at our house. The first person to see and call a yellow car gets a point. Whoever has the most points when we reach our destination wins. The game starts over again when we get back in the car to go home. But for this road trip, I'll be keeping a clipboard with a running score for each family member. The game is on from the time we leave our driveway until we get back five days later. At the bottom of the clipboard, I'll make a note of any other unusual yellow objects we see during the trip. We haven't decided yet what the victor should claim as a prize.
Second, we will also be playing a State License Plate Game.
This one isn't a competition, but a co-operative game. Each of the kids will have a map of the US on their clipboard. We're going to color in a state when we spot a car sporting its license plate. The goal is to see how many states we can find and fill in. We'll bring along some field glasses for this one.
Third, I want to play some form of Landscape I Spy, or I Spy...Along the Road.
I haven't quite worked out the details yet. One possibility it to make a list from A to Z of things we think we might see....and then trade lists. Or, we could work cooperatively to spot interesting things, and then keep one master list where we jot down objects next to the appropriate letter. Hmmm....
Last, I want to print out Trip Maps for each of the kids so they can mark our journey as we move along.
I want to talk about the trip itself. Granted, our van has a DVD player and a Gameboy Advanced AND both the kids have a DS (well, Sweetling has a DSi)....AND Sweetling loves to read and has her own laptop. So, we could sail through the trip relying on electronics to keep everyone happy. But, I don't want to.
I want to have a family road trip.
Here are my ideas for car games. Some are my own, and some are the Jedi's, and some are borrowed from various places.
First, we are going to have The Ultimate Yellow Car Marathon Championship.We play yellow car all the time....though not in its "SlugBug" version. So, why not an ultimate yellow car show down? Normally, the game of yellow car lasts only from the time we leave the house until the car is parked at our destination, or, conversly, from the time we leave whatever location until we arrive back home at our house. The first person to see and call a yellow car gets a point. Whoever has the most points when we reach our destination wins. The game starts over again when we get back in the car to go home. But for this road trip, I'll be keeping a clipboard with a running score for each family member. The game is on from the time we leave our driveway until we get back five days later. At the bottom of the clipboard, I'll make a note of any other unusual yellow objects we see during the trip. We haven't decided yet what the victor should claim as a prize.
This one isn't a competition, but a co-operative game. Each of the kids will have a map of the US on their clipboard. We're going to color in a state when we spot a car sporting its license plate. The goal is to see how many states we can find and fill in. We'll bring along some field glasses for this one.
I haven't quite worked out the details yet. One possibility it to make a list from A to Z of things we think we might see....and then trade lists. Or, we could work cooperatively to spot interesting things, and then keep one master list where we jot down objects next to the appropriate letter. Hmmm....
Last, I want to print out Trip Maps for each of the kids so they can mark our journey as we move along.
Friday, September 11, 2009
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