Garden Update
We planted some new seeds about a week ago. Radishes, Peas, Lettuce and Spinich have all sprouted. Yeah!
Trunk or Treat
My favorite think about Trunk or Treat every Halloween is decorating our “Trunk”. We usually decorate a little more than the trunk.
One year we cut large triangles out of white paper and taped them to back of the car (with the door open) giving the illusion our car was a shark (or monster – use your imagination).
Another year we decorated our Expedition as a large dalmation with large 3’ x 4’ ears, a 3’ x 4’ tongue sticking out from under the hood, black random spots and a tail rigged on the back that we could “wagg” by pulling strings inside. The music soundtrack was 101 Dalmations.
Jen as a bat in the cardboard cutout display.
Last year we took the seats out of the SUV and created a funhouse with collapsable collapsible tunnels. The girls created ghosts and other spooky things hanging on strings. We put pillows under for obstacles. We hooked up halloween lights to the power outlet with a laptop inverter. Kids would climb in one side of the car go through the funhouse and come out the other. Our kids also made cutout photo displays on posterboard so adults (and us) could take their child’s picture when they stuck their head through. We also had the iPod playing spooky kids music in the speaker system. More fun than scary.
This year I’m stumped. I really liked how our “trunk” was interactive last year and would like to continue the interactive part. I’ve had a few ideas like setup a little TV with a PS2 and Lego Star Wars (but kids will probably fight over who gets to play).
A second idea would be to create clear tubes (probably out of clear plastic hose), have the kids put their bags at the bottom of the hose and drop the candy through it (so they have to catch it).
Another idea would be to create a mad scientist’s laboratory with gurgling liquids and glowing fog in beakers and test tubes (possibly using glowing liquid like in the Mtn. Dew Glowing Spoof). I’m not sure I have time to get that ready. Where do you get the liquid in glow sticks. I think peroxide could activate it.
A fourth idea would be to expand the “funhouse” with the kids playhouse and/or climber with slide from the backyard.
My last idea (of the moment) would be good to utilize the photo printer Michele’s parents gave us a couple years ago… I would need “D” batteries more ink and a second memory card. That way we could also give out photos of kids as treats.
10/23/2007 | hugh | What should we do? [4]
Laptop vs. Car
This is what happens when a car runs over a 17” Apple Powerbook … the laptop would power up, but we couldn’t get it to boot into Firewire Target Mode and couldn’t connect a video cable to see what was happening.
I had to help a friend attempt to recover the data off the hard drive. Thanks to a usb enclosure and disk warrior he manage to save some of the files.
Somersaults
For our Family Night activity a few weeks ago Quinan showed us that he learned to somersault. Jensen courageously expressed that she had a little trouble with forward rolls. After a little encouragement and a few practice rolls she was saulting like a pro. They we all joined in on the fun. You might even catch me doing the worm.
Is my watermelon
The green is light, the red is dark
the white is in between
The dark seed I spit
the greatest thou hast seen
is my watermelon
grown from vines a certain green
the blossoms an alluring yellow
ready for pollination
by a cerain fellow
is my watermelon
the knife goes through the skin with ease
juice runs down my chin
this eases my every greed
why should I ever sin?
thanks to my watermelon
22 Sep 2007
10/22/2007 | ken | Leave a comment [1]
Winter Garden
Today Ken and I planted lettuce, spinach, radishes, snow peas, carrots and cilantro in our square foot garden.
10/20/2007 | hugh | Predictions of what will grow best? [1]
Ken's Art
You’ll find a collection of Ken’s art that she created at the artsonia website.
10/19/2007 | ken | Leave your (constructive) critique here.
Bell-Ringer
In English today, we opened class with an activity. My English teacher had the painting “Writing to Father” by Eastman Johnson. It was a very cute picture of a little boy writing on a piece of paper next to a window. We had to write a paragraph describing that scene from a story, either from the boy’s point of view or from someone else. I thought I wrote a pretty good paragraph, and volunteered first. Shakily, I read from my notebook:
“I felt sorry, ashamed at what I had said earlier. I waited next to the door, afraid from my own brother, when I heard a chair grind across the floor, the rustle of shuffling paper, and some odd scratches. I peered through the door, staring at Tommy. His face was screwed up in concentration, his pale hair glistening in the sun. He was messily writing something on a fresh sheet of paper, starting to smudge it. I walked over and gently fixed the position of his hand and helped write a ‘D’. ‘I’m sorry.’ I whispered as he wrote an almost perfect ‘e’.”
My teacher just said, “Wow.” as the rest of the class agreed. Someone had raised their hand, but said they couldn’t match it. I was still trembling afterwards, but very proud of myself. To me, my writing sounded just like everyone else’s, maybe even a little inferior to others. It’s interesting to see what my peers think of my writing…
10/16/2007 | ken | Remarks? [3]
Shadow Tricks
Our Family Home Evening lesson a few weeks ago was on Types and Shadows of Christ .
The activity (on shadows) was inspired by Shadow Tricks from Curious George .
Shadow video 1: Watering a flower. (Click the picture to watch)
Shadow video 2: Losing her head.
Shadow video 3: Moses and the fiery flying serpents.
Shadow video 4: Nephi taking care of Laban .
10/14/2007 | hugh | Tell us about your fun FHEs.
Ken Simpson
Tonight we Simponized Ken (instead of doing homework).
10/14/2007 | ken | What have you done (instead of homework)? [1]