Super Cool Science Party

Hunter has such a great time planning his ninth birthday party with me. We talked about the budget we had, and then found things that would fit within it together. He also helped make the cake which was decorated with a beaker of red liquid and M&M bubbles coming out of it. When the boys arrived yesterday we had a bowl of beads and a string of yarn in a bowl waiting for them. These were not just ordinary beads though. They were UV beads! They’re white until they hit the sunlight, then they instantly turn colors. When the kids finished making their necklaces, we put some extra beads on a paper plate and sprayed them good with sunscreen. We observed that they did change color, but it was a much lighter color, and that led to a short discussion on the importance of sunscreen.

Then there was the lemon experiment. There’s a double meaning in that because it involved lemons and because it didn’t turn out so well. We cut small slits into a lemon for each child. One slit held a penny and the other a paper clip. If you touch your tongue to the metal it is supposed to give a mini zap of electricity. It didn’t work for all of us, but some figured it out.

Following that we had the muscle memory experiment. Each of the boys stood in the narrowest doorway we have and put there arms straight and pushed with the backs of their hands against the doorway as hard as they could for 30 seconds. Then they stepped forward and tried to put their arms at their side and couldn’t! They described it as feeling like they had wings.

Next was the bottle rockets. I found a kit online for making water rockets and vinegar/baking soda rockets. We walked to the park behind our house and set them off on the large lawn there. The kids had a blast, and Rob was such a good sport being totally soaked with both water and vinegar paste by the time we finished. I even heard one of the kids say, “this is the best party I’ve ever been to!”

After this, we walked back home and watched Flubber while the kids ate candy, cake, and ice cream. What fun they had, and to top it off they all left for home with their Biohazard goody bags filled with: a growing body part, latex gloves, a face mask, Fizzy Color Tablets, Rainbow glasses, and Safetyglasses! Thanks again Nana for donating the biohazard bags, face masks, safety glasses and gloves! I don’t know how we will top this party next year. It was perfect!

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Before and After

Emma Before Braces

 

 

Emma With Braces

 

 

Emma Before Haircut

 

Emma After Haircut

 

Hunter Before Haircut

 

Hunter After Haircut

 

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Happy Birthday To Hunter!

Hunter is 9 years old today! For breakfast Hunter wanted pigs in a blanket (sausages wrapped in a biscuit). He helped me make them and it was delicious. Hunter is a wonderful big brother and has a lot of fun with his little sisters. We love the way he can make them laugh and his great sense of humor. Hunter has always liked to tell jokes and has several joke books that he still loves to read through. Not only does he love a good joke, but he also loves to learn all about science, especially space. We all love you buddy! Although he is getting taller and older, he will always be my “Hunter Bear.” Just don’t call him that in front of the guys 🙂

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Ceramics and Clay

Hunter and Emma just finished a ceramics class that was offered through the community. They went every week for 6 weeks and made some really fun things! They still have some projects curing on the shelves at the studio, and we’ll add those to the gallery too when they’re ready. (Also in the gallery are pictures of Emma’s projects from her after-school class where she painted ceramics. Hunter took a “Mad Science” class and it was a blast, but there weren’t any projects to include in the gallery.) It was great fun for them and the little girls loved it too because we would play at the park next door during the class and watch the ducks on the pond there. We even fed the ducks sometimes which Hannah and Sabrina especially loved.

Now that this class is over, it’s on to bowling class, and although the kids were super late to their first class because we got stuck at an orthodontist appointment for Emma, it looks to be great fun as well. I just may need to bring a roll of quarters to keep Hannah busy at the video games because she would love to bowl right along with the big kids.

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Pinewood Derby Champ

Hunter worked hard on his pinewood derby car for the big Cub Scout event! He and Rob went online and found plans for the perfect car. They ordered the pattern, got all of their tools and set to work. Hunter did most of the work, while Dad supervised. Mom supervised the painting, but Hunter did that too. The car is called Inferno, and it was super hot last night! Check out the gallery to see it in action. There were twenty cars entered in the race, and after all seven rounds were finished, Hunter came in third place! He took first place in every race he was in except the two he came in second! He was also awarded with a certificate for “Most Artistic” entry. Great work Hunter! We are so impressed!!

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But That’s Not Fun!

Recently it has come to my attention that our older children have little concept of what it means to work. On Saturday, they were asking what fun thing we would do that day, and when I answered that today we were catching up on work around the house- I was met with moans and whines, “but Mom, Saturday is supposed to be a fun family day!” How did this happen? How is it that my children are expecting to be entertained all of the time, and have to be lectured and prodded and bribed every time there is work to be done? I suppose a certain amount of that is typical, and don’t get me wrong, they are good kids, but I had reached a point of serious frustration. How are these kids going to grow up and make their own way in the world? Isn’t that one of my principle jobs as a parent? I tried to explain that my job is to teach them how to work so they can grow up and live on their own. To which I get the answer: “you’re mean.”

Shortly after this conversation with the kids I went and vented to my sweet husband. He told me he would take care of things and I went to take a shower. As I was gathering my things I heard him sit the kids down and start logically explaining why it’s important to help out and that today would be a work day. He was about twenty seconds in when one child, who shall remain nameless, interrupted and said with a sigh, “Is your speech over yet?” Well, that was the end of nice, logical Daddy, and I had to laugh because he was taking over so I wouldn’t lose my temper. I heard in a very loud voice, “Your day is over!” followed by tears from all of the kids. And then it really became a workday. They did one job after another all day long until dinner time.

I tried to start a chore chart and it hasn’t gone well. After school there just isn’t much time after homework and classes to do much else. I feel a little guilty too because I want them to have some free time to just play. I have found myself being more of a nag than before, and the kids are still resisting. Please, if you have any ideas for chore solutions tell me! I want them to have regular responsibilities and feel that they not only contribute, but are a necessary part of the family.

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