Robotics

The boys have been involved in a robotics program through 4H.  They spent several weeks learning how to build and program lego robots.  They presented what they had learned through a retelling of The Gruffalo, as they had created all the animals in the story as robots!  

A very cool learning experience, which Anna has every intention of participating in next year.  ("Mom, I wish I was in it.  I didn't know it would be like this.")



Also, because the instructor's best photo of the kids working was of Andrew and Jacob, they've become "famous," as Jacob puts it!  They've been featured in several news articles like this one.

Creative Genius, or...

Andrew needed a headlamp and couldn't find one...which is apparently not a trouble if you have bendaroos, flexees, a water bottle holder, and a small flashlight!

Family Snowshoeing

 One of the things we love about our new place is the easy access to the power line trails for skiing and snowshoeing.  And when you're blessed with a warm, sunny Sunday in April, it's the perfect day to get out!

Boone is doing incredibly well with pulling his own weight and then some...he can pull both girls in the sled (and occasionally helps with hauling firewood, too).  He's one of those dogs that takes to it naturally and loves every minute of it.





















The boys spent more time OFF the trail then they do ON it. 




















 Anna started off on snowshoes and then soon resorted to being pulled on the sled...but she really enjoys walking Sophie, too!










Karis hates strongly dislikes being pulled in the sled...I think it leaves her feeling less "in control" than she's comfortable with.  So rather than deal with a two-year-old who whines, cries, complains, and generally sabotages what would otherwise be a fun family outing (not that we, ahem, have learned that from experience), I packed her on my back.  Happy baby + good workout for me = a long, fun day had by all!

Lazy Saturday

 Mark thought this day was remarkable enough to capture "on film" (ha!  Sound better than "in digital"). 

All four kids spent all morning poring over books and games...in relative peace and quiet!  It's just so rare for them to all be so still!

Easter, 2013

 We enjoyed an uneventful, relaxing Easter Sunday.  Easter service at New Beginnings Baptist was a blessing, and we fellowshipped after over a delightful potluck brunch.  Then we headed to my parents' for dinner.

Though we still have plenty of snow, it was a beautiful, sunny day!

The line-up of best-dressed kiddos at Sunday School!  (Andrew felt "too old" to be included)!

Andrew's Mole

Andrew had a large mole on his back that had been growing slowly but steadily.
To be on the safe side, we had it removed and checked.  Thankfully, it came back all clear, and he had just 8 stitches to show for his trouble.
We learned the hard way that Andrew has an allergy to neosporin, and thus it was soon an itchy, inflamed mess.  Poor kid.  Because of the allergic reaction, it didn't heal up quite as scar-free as we hoped...but boys like scars, right?

Vegas Vacation!

 Mark and I aren't exactly the "Vegas" type.  In fact, if you were to create a list of the top 5 least likely couples to go to Vegas, I'd bet we'd be on it.

BUT, when you can travel for free because one spouse has to be there for a 2-day work conference and the other can use miles, AND it's over the weekend of one's 40th birthday (need I say whose?), AND you have friends and family that are willing to parcel out your kids and pets, AND it's the first time you've gotten away for more than one night together in the nearly 11 years it's been since you started having kids, you just don't care where you go, as long as you're together.  And alone.  It's enough to make you say, "Hey, Baby, let's go to Vegas!"  Which we did say.  Numerous times.  Numerous times a day, for the whole month leading up to our trip.  The trip did not disappoint...to say that we had a fabulous time is the understatement of the century.  We soaked in every minute of it...and except for the 2 days Mark had to be there for work, we hoofed it right out of the city!

The botanical gardens at the Bellagio. 

Exploring the Bellagio...Wendy's hang-out of choie while Mark was in meetings.

Lake Meade Recreational area. 

Hoover Dam...fascinating!

Headed toward Red Rock Canyon

We didn't have time to go all the way to Red Rock...but close enough!  The beauty here is vastly different than home's!

4H Cooking Class

Over the course of January and February, the three older kids were all involved in a 6-week cooking class for 4H.  It would be an understatement to say they loved it!  The instructor did a fabulous job (and SO MUCH prep work),  and each week they focused on a different meal course.  The culmination was a dinner for their families, and we were delighted that Nana and Papa could also join us. 

One of the long-term benefits I've noticed is that they all want to do more in the kitchen, and are more able to actually be of help!

Skiing

Like penguins sliding on the ice!

She looks happy now, but give her 15 minutes and it will be a different story...

 Just across the street and down a short bit from our house, we have easy access to the lake!  We spent many hours this winter playing snow baseball on the lake, and did a little skiing, too!

Even Abby likes making snow angels!

Headed across the lake because, well, they can.

Firewood

Andrew's getting pretty strong, splitting wood by hand!

 We have many modifications to an old adage, this one being
The Family that splits wood together stays warm together.

Jacob and Anna running the borrowed wood splitter.

Boone waits patiently for Mark to load.

I do actually do more than take pictures...I'm the dog-handler and unloader at the woodpile!

A job well done!

Wood Splitting

This is what happens when a little girl doesn't wait for permission or instruction from her daddy to try her hand at splitting wood, and thus holds the mallet right at its head and tries to swing and hit the wedge and crushes her finger between the two in the process.  *cringe*

Goldfish

 For our unit on fish for science this year, we bought some goldfish.  I foolishly proposed that "Oh, they're only twenty-nine cents each!  Let's get one for everyone!" 
Why do I do these things to myself?
The kids were delighted with the fish.  We were able to conduct our experiments on changes in a fish's respiration rate according to the water temperature.* 

Fortunately for me and unfortunately for the kids, this was shortly before Mark and I were to head out on our vacation...so of course we had to find a new home for the fish. The end.

*In case you're wondering:  Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water.  Therefore, a fish must take more breaths in warm water to get the same amount of oxygen it gets from fewer breaths in cool water.  Their rate of breathing is evidenced by watching the operculum movements (the flap over the gills).  You're welcome.