She Blinded Me With Science

Three weeks and six science classes later, who knows what my ten first and second graders learned but they seemed to have fun. Our PTA organized an after school enrichment program and needed an extra class. Maxwell stepped up to the plate and took a pitch, agreeing to give it the ole college try.

Week one we made slime, explored the characteristics of solids and liquids, and took a core sample of a cupcake to demonstrate the earth's layers.

Week two we paper machied volcanoes and experimented with air pressure by flying paper airplanes and blowing ping pong balls out of dixie cups. Can you get a ping pong ball out of a dixie cup taped to a table using a straw and without touching the ball????? Huh? Huh? Can you? Take the Ping Pong Puzzler challenge and let me know the results.

Then in week three we refracted light and created rainbows, performed egg experiments (bouncing egg, stacked 11 books on top of three eggs and they still didn't break!), and exploded our volcanoes with baking soda and vinegar.

WHEW. It was busy.

Perhaps now the dining room table can be reclaimed and I can clear a path through the living room, which has been completely neglected. All in the name of science!

Blueberries, Sore Throats and Migraines

Well, I survived it. The worst sore throat of my life, mixed with a serious headache to the point I thought I was going to be sick. BUT knock on wood, I am feeling better, though a bit jumpy due to caffeine in Excedrin. Whoho. Look at all I am accomplishing while doped up!

Will cheered me up this morning devouring frozen blueberries and smiling for the camera. It's the little things that get you through sometimes. :)

s....i....c....k.....

We will return to our regularly scheduled programming once I am able to leave the fetal position and then only in the event that I regain the use of my extremities. Poor me.

Etc

And brake pads...... And brake rotors...... And alternator failing....... Calgon take me away!

You Picked a Fine Time...

Do you know the country song....."You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille"? Today we are singing the same tune, but have altered the words to "You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel." Apparently K's car has a faulty wheel bearing. Yes, it's true. So some $400 dollars later K. can now drive down the rode without the risk of losing his left back tire. Old cars never die....they just require a lot of expensive maintenance work to stay on the road. If we can ever afford it we hope to buy some small groovy gas-savvy car for K.'s 45 minute commute to work. We've been eyeing the Prius and yesterday I saw some cool looking Honda car. The Fit? I can't remember the name. Gas efficient, compact and ready to turn corners on a dime. Until then, we will repair our bearings one wheel at a time.

Wishes, Moods and the Sort

It feels like it has been a long week. Ben is battling a cold, and it appears as though the cold is winning. Tissues are being needed right and left. Will has a double ear infection with a side of pneumonia. K. and I have been taking turns sleeping with him since he is so miserable. For the last few mornings he has declared at 4:30 am that he is "readytogetout" and wants a "cold drink and waffles". It is hard to negotiate with a 2 year old. "No no the sun is STILL sleeping. The moon is STILL out." Needless to say, we are a bit tired over here under the Sycamore. A lovely friend of mine with 3 children under 5 (Ages 4, 2 and 4 months) coined the new mantra for me, "I wish I were a better tired person." So true! Though as sweet as she is I can only imagine that her tired person is not as grouchy as my tired person. It seems so bizarre to me that I can take life in stride and be calm and patient one day and then bark out orders and demands with little to no patience the next. All the players are the same, but somehow the tide has turned. Not that the bad mood isn't enough, I then beat myself up for being in a bad mood at all and feel guilty because I can't be happy go lucky all the time. My question is this: Is anyone really happy go lucky ALL the time?????? Please say no so that I can feel normal and move on.

Best Thing

Ethan made this racetrack the other day and declared it "The Best Thing I Ever Built". It was indeed pretty cool, until it was destroyed by an unnamed party.