A Little Catch-Up

I need to do a photo-blog about our recent trip north.

What? What did you say?

No. Sorry, I'm not going to post more photos from the SPAM Museum. (Was that just a sigh of relief I heard? Stop it.)

No, I have more pictures of fun from our trip.

We celebrated Braden's birthday before we left. It's hard to believe that he's 10. He shows glimpses, but still is very much a little boy. Here's a couple of pictures from the family celebration.





In chemistry we've been studying molecules. We did an experiment last week to demonstrate the effects of heat and cold on the movements of molecules. This was a very fun, simple experiment (food coloring in glasses of icy or boiling water), and we had to repeat it a couple of times just for fun. We both loved the patterns the blue food coloring made as it moved through the icy water.



After doing another chemistry experiment, we ran out of a couple of things we'd need to repeat the experiment. I wasn't sure where to get them, so I called the local university's chemistry department and left a message explaining what I needed. A woman from that department called me back a couple of days later, and was interested in talking with me. She was very excited to share her knowledge with a homeschooler, and wanted to know about our experiments.

The one we'd just done (and ran out of the chemicals for) was one she does with her students, but they do it backwards - in other words, they're given the chemicals already mixed, and have to deduce what they are simply by observing the reaction. ( Mixing methylene blue with dextrose and sodium hydroxide in a test tube, for you chemistry geeks out there. Can you guess what the reaction was?) I loved this idea of working the experiment backwards. It's waaaaaay beyond our level now, but won't be someday. I've already filed this gem of an idea away for the high school years. Anyway, she also put me in touch with a professor who coordinates chemistry programs for younger students. He has his college aged- kids guide smaller children through simple experiments. Very fun! I'm excited about organizing something for this winter.

Here are 2 pictures from our loooong drive. Brogie took a long nap in the car, and at some point his head slipped back into this awkward position.


Colson kept himself occupied by reading. We were surprised how long this book kept him occupied! Yet another testimony to the power of Calvin and Hobbes.


The boys cousins joined us at Grandma and Grandpa's house for the weekend. The kids played a lot at parks and we took them to the local "mini-zoo" to look at the animals. At the petting area, a goat walked over to Colson and stood next to him unashamedly begging to be petted. Colson dropped down to a squat and started this low-voiced, disturbing goat-whispering kind of chanting. In the picture it looks like he's hanging onto a fence, but that's just the shadow. He's really waggling his fingers as he's talking to the goat. We had no idea what he was saying, but he clearly had a purpose. Eventually the goat wandered away to a new group of admirers, and Colson stood up, clearly very proud of himself.

The Goat-Whisperer:


Toward the end of the visit, we drove to the little town where we used to live, nestled in the bluffs along the Mississippi River. It was a beautiful area and as we spent the evening there we realized that we were just a little homesick. We took the kids to our favorite park, along the lake in the center of town (sort of.... it's hard to describe.)

The last time we were here Colson was just 5 months old. He visited the park in a baby carrier or a sling. This time he played on all the equipment, even the giant slide. He's growing up so fast!


Brogan was afraid of the giant 2-story metal slide there. This time he slid down it without hesitation.


Braden, not content with merely sliding down the slides.


Here are shots we took as we walked along the path by the lake. (That is Grandma in the picture with the boys.)