Books

We enjoy our library so much.  It's close enough to walk to, but we rarely do that because it's not worth packing 25 lbs of books.  I think I learned after my second visit that there is no limit to the number of books you can borrow!  So, I just fill up our bags to what I can carry. We read a lot!  Since Trevor was a baby I read to him because it was something that was both engaging and restful.  We have easily checked out a thousand books since we moved here. Mostly from the children's section : ).  It has only taken 7 years, but the boys are now better able to control their parkour urges at library and so I've been able to pick up books with fewer pictures.  Last time, for instance,  I picked up this book:

It's totally fascinating.  Each chapter talks about a scientist's dangerous self -experiments with things like yellow fever, heat, digestion, radioactive materials and nitrous oxide.  I like it because it's both true and crazy and these are scientists that pioneered and made it possible for us all to get fillings without crying like a baby.

And, since my niece Makayla has recently started her own blog with book reviews, I think I better join in the conversation... So Makayla, thanks for inspiring me ; )

Also, from the local public library we have recently listened to:  Silas Marner - Focus on the Family Radio Theatre.  This is a well done audio drama.  Audio dramas use music/a cast of actors/sound effects and leave out the he said/she said in the book.  The story had some things beyond Trevor's understanding, but he still liked it.  Silas Marner is betrayed by people he should be able to trust, so he instead lives alone and hoards money until one day a little girl is suddenly in his care.  He raises her and she is a beautiful gift to him.  

The author of Silas Marner  is George Eliot.  She wrote the book with a man's pen name and is attributed many famous quotes like these two:

Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another.

&

I'm not denyin' the women are foolish. God Almighty made 'em to match the men.

We are currently listening to The Tales of Desperaux.  This was made into a movie a while ago and I don't remember loving it, but this audio cd is so so so good.  The narrator is wonderful and it's a very emotional storytelling.  Kate DeCamillo is a wonderful author. 

Another well done audio book is one called Half Magic.  It's about a group of kids and their mom who end up with a magical token that only grants half a wish.  It was funny and would make a great Disney movie.  It's by Edward Eager.

I'm not denyin' the women are foolish. God Almighty made 'em to match the men.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_eliot_2.html#LdvTxRvS7i41fPG3.99

I'm not denyin' the women are foolish. God Almighty made 'em to match the men.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_eliot_2.html#LdvTxRvS7i41fPG3.99

I'm not denyin' the women are foolish. God Almighty made 'em to match the men.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_eliot_2.html#LdvTxRvS7i41fPG3.99

 

 

Science Club Psyche Out

My sister and I get to be Science Club Teachers  Wranglers for about a dozen 6-8 year-old-boys and 1 sweet girl.

We have done odor decoder experiments, float/sink tests, and today we brought in a some super special legless, mucus covered guests: earthworms.

Wendi and I conspired to trick them right at the beginning of class.  I made some jell-o worms following this recipe   (However, I did use Black Cherry flavored Jell-o instead.  I think it gives it a more realistic dark color.)   Then,  I put them in a bowl of microwave brownie  mix which looked exactly like the soil they put in those worms in the fishing department.  I may have crushed some Oreos in there too adhere to the jell-o.  It was a beautiful mess and I was pretty pleased with my workmanship. 

These are the worms without the brownie part.

We started class by telling the students that we were going to blindfold Wendi and let her guess what today's experiment was going to be about using all her  senses except sight.  We let her listen to the worms, then touch, then taste. 

I had so much fun listening to them.  Here's a clip of it.  After Wendi tries second jell-o worm, Trevor told me, " Okay, you better stop now, Mom."  Whew...  glad we have someone willing to stop me! 

I can't think of a title. There is too much in this post.

Our summer zip zoomed by.  We took more of a break from school than I had planned and it was okay.  We forgot sunscreen way more times than my dermatologist would approve.  We listened to Joel repeat a line from Despicable Me 2 over and over.  We had waterfights with 4 generations.  We welcomed two little pets into the house. We rode new rides at Roaring Springs, played in the river, and took weekend trips to mountains and to a demolition derby.  In other words, it was awesome.



First, lots of circus practice.  It wouldn't be home without it. * sigh *
 

 
The boys made up games like "Bounce the children"  which they ask us to play with them all of the time.  This is a workout folks.  The object is to bounce as hard as you can to launch a 30 and 40 pound giggling monkey-boy. I could enter myself right into the American Ninja contest if I could just play their bounce the children "game"  for an hour a day. 
 

Trevor bounced his knee into his eye socket and got a shiner to show the pain a trampoline can bring.  They have the whole MMA pose nailed, but not the concept of when it should be used.  I asked for Trevor to smile in front of the ride at the fair with Zeesa and I got a UFC pose. I asked them to pose in front of the pancakes they made themselves and I got the same thing.  

We took down a plant shelf in our kitchen.  It was super beefy.  It took a whole Saturday, my green toolbelt and several separate cuts to get it down.   We've got some updating going on and I'll have to post the 'after' pics when it's totally done.

 

Before we officially started school we had an impromptu Craftapalooza! It is finally an activity the boys can do for more than 30 seconds.  Here are some of their creations.  

I know.  Not every craft book has a mustache instructions in it, so when you want to make your own facial hair (which is very likely) just ask Trevor for some of his supplies.  He covertly snatched some of his hair off the floor of Great Clips so he could make his own mustache.  The one pictured here is made from a costume beard.  You were probably thinking I let him borrow my hair, right?

We spent a weekend in McCall.

We played Trouble until midnight.  When you're winning bedtime becomes less important ; )

Scott raced the Payette Lake 8 mile race.  My husband pushed hard and told me about how he was able to better endure mentally at the end.  I know he gave it all because there was some puking at the finish line : (
I'm so happy for him-- he nabbed a 2nd place medal for his age group and 6th overall.  YAAAYYY!! 

We spent the rest of that day at Ponderosa Park beach.

Larry and Wendy

Trevor paddled on his own!  He loved it.

We biked Ponderosa with the boys.  Joel pedaled roughly twice as much as the rest of us on his 16in tires, but he was a trooper!  I will not be able to keep up when he has a regular sized bike!

Fishing at Scout pond was successful. These fish were really jumping high out of the water.  An osprey came by early to show off his skills and then the boys reeled them in after bait was switched.

Trevor explained one fish which swallowed a hook but was able to swim away a bit, but after a while  "convinced itself to die."  I thought this was  funny AND profound, actually.
After that story I'm convinced to just keep swimming!  Do not give up!

Joel took this for us when we stopped by Idaho State.

Trevor said he didn't want to go to Idaho State because it's too far from home.  Scott and I didn't even explain or argue as we are barely adjusting emotionally to the fact that Trevor can turn on the sink without a stool.

Beautiful sky at the Eastern Idaho State Fair. 

We watched the Pari-Mutuel races and got to see Nakia race.  She is Wendi and Jason's niece. 

Indian Relay races are probably my favorite.  Running start, 1 rider, 4 horses, bareback and CRAZY.  This picture doesn't do this race justice.

Pretty.

Demo Derby night

They added a trucks division and a figure 8 race to the night. I love the demo derby.  Strong smoke, dirt, beer, mixed with hot scone smells make me feel at home : )  Seriously, though. It's really entertaining.  

Here comes the Boom

I'm trying to find a way to reduce, sort and store all my videos and it's overwhelming me.  One category I had so much footage of was boxing/wrestling.  I just squeezed the best of 20 minutes into a highlights reel.  Enjoy!

I'll call it Boxing / Bedtime Routine / What to do at Papa's house / Joel's fierce side /