How To Discard a Trash Can

If you ever wanted to know how to discard a trash can that has seen better days, this is it. The lid had a hole EATEN into it by some desperate creature this winter and the bottom was almost completely worn out by repeated dragging on pavement. This can followed us here from St. Louis. We'll miss it. OK, not really. Good Riddance.

Becky's Semi-Homemade Brownies

One of Becky's favorite TV chefs is Sandra Lee from the TV Food Network. Her show (and books), titled Semi-Homemade Cooking, focus on using store-bought starters for recipes that you then add your own touches to make something even better. Becky used a Kroger brownie mix, but added chocolate chunks and made her own chocolate ganosh to coat the top - much better than frosting-in-a-can. She used left-over frosting packets to write on them for the Maumee Valley Parents Association dinner we went to tonight. The bad news is that these were so popular, that she's been asked to make them for several future MVPA functions. Ah, the price of fame.

Labor Day - Friends, Tangrams and Smoking Butt

We spent the day at home today since there was no work or school (OK, I ran to the office for a couple of hours to get caught up). Alex had a friend over for a playdate and picnic. Aaron has started putting together object to make shapes (lining up blocks to make a triangle, for example). So today we pulled out Alex's tangram shape pieces and they made several patterns. Some on cards like Alex's robot and some self-created like Aaron's organic-line-of circles-with-nearby-triangles. Not his best work, but he was proud of it.

Since we were home all afternoon, I decided to tackle a smoked pork butt (which is really the shoulder) on the grill. They cook by indirect dry heat, which is technically roasting, but every hour I would add fresh wet mesquite chips to a smoker box or in a foil packet. The addition of smoke turned it from roasting to true barbequeing. Ok, I know I watch too much of Alton Brown on the TV Food Network, but I have to bite my tongue when I'm invited to a barbeque and they serve grilled burgers. Keep in mind that I love grilling and most of what I do on the grill is grilling (go figure). But real barbequeing with a rub and wood smoke takes a lot of time, but as Alton always says, "Your patience will be rewarded." It will be. Tomorrow. Turns out I started the day out with the grill heat set @ 250-300 and I think it would have done better closer to 350. After 10 hours on the grill and all of my wood chips later, we brought it in, stuck it in the fridge, and we'll finish it in the oven tomorrow. I can't wait :).

Becky's First Sudoku Puzzle

Today Becky finished her first sudoku puzzle in about 30 minutes. Sudoku is a number puzzle made up a 3x3 grid of 3x3 grids making a large 9x9 grid. The grid is partially filled in with numbers 1-9 and the goal is to complete the puzzle so that each row, column, and 3x3 grid uses each digit once. There's only one solution and she found it, with some helpful proof-checking from Alex.

Is This Even Possible?

We saw this sign on a combine at the fair today. If this could really happen, it would be a fairly horrible way to go.

Fulton County Fair 2006

This year we went to the Fulton County Fair again, which is becoming a Labor Day weekend tradition for us. Right where we walked in, they had set up a large, red combine for display. We all saw it and yelled, "Frank!", because it looked exactly like the angry combine from Disney/Pixar's Cars movie that protected the sleeping tractors from getting "tipped". We bought ride-all-you-want-until-5pm ride tickets and we definitely got our money's worth. If you'll notice the kid on the bottom of the funhouse tube in the second picture, I am stepping OVER him, for the record :). One thing we like about this fair is that, in addition to all the standard fair food, they sell fresh farm food from local farmers. You can get milkshakes (and hamburgers) from local cows, pulled pork from local pigs, BBQ chicken from...you get the idea. It was tasty, but it did make us feel slightly sorry for the animals we saw, knowing their fate. Especially watching Alex talk to the pigs (and watching them respond to his oinks and grunts) gave me a Charlotte's Web moment. They crashed on the way home - a sure sign that much fun was had.

Extreme Science at COSI

Today we went to COSI as a reward for Alex being extra-good lately. The kids got to make bubbles, make faces in a time-lapse camera, balance in the wacky gravity room, and watch a presentation about the extreme science of combustion. They blew up balloons of hydrogen, lit several salts to see what color they are when they burn (copper is green for example), and made dry ice glow by burning magnesium inside it.

Alex's First Day of First Grade

Today was the 1st day of Alex's 1st grade. His teacher is Mrs. Weinberg and she seems very nice. We also found out not to photograph Alex's new backpack with the flash, due to that snazzy reflective stripe. Glad to know it works. Way to go Alex! We're so proud of you.

School Orientation 2006

This evening we met at Alex's school to see his classroom for the next year. His class is made of 1st and 2nd graders and their are 3 of these classes - the primary grades. Their classrooms are actually lined up along one wall of an enormous room, with each teacher's space marked apart from the others by filing cabinets and other dividers. Another wall houses the 3rd and 4th graders - Lower Intermediate - and another wall contains the 5th and 6th graders - Upper Intermediate. The 4th wall is the area where the whole school meets for a weekly meeting. The middle houses a library/resource center/computer lab. Like I said, a huge room. The top picture is the kids in a covered wagon and near several western facades that have been recycled from the Western-themed auction earlier this year. After a couple of hours of hard orientating, we unwound at Chuck E. Cheese's and beat things with padded hammers.

Back to School Pool Party 2006

Today we went out to the Sylvania Country Club for Alex's Back to School party. One of Alex's classmate's dad is the executive chef there. As you can see it was a pool and ice cream party. Alex is getting to be a better swimmer, though one of his classmates has been taking lessons at our gym and was swimming great today. We may have to sign up. It was fun to see some of his classmates and his teacher even showed up to say "Hi!"

Hoop Dreams

Mark and Melinda got Alex this OU basketball outfit. It's reportedly very comfortable. He wanted to get a shot in it near the only goal he can dunk on. He is eating his vegetables (Ok, one carrot a week) and is growing taller everyday.

The Butterfly House

Today we hauled the troops out to the Butterfly House of Whitehouse, OH. This is the first time we've been here as a family, despite it being so close. The Butterfly House is home to over 100 species of butterfly, depending on the time of year. They had several Monarchs that were raised locally, but will be released for their migration to Mexico in September. The kids were great in there, being very careful not to step on or touch the butterflies. It was a real joy to see them enjoying the butterflies. I know it won't last forever, but for now we can spend a lazy summer afternoon watching pretty butterflies.

Rib-Off 2006

This has been a nearly annual local event for us since we discovered it. This year, they moved this benefit for the United Health Services to the Lucas County Rec Center where they usually have the county fair. There was more room than the usual venue down by the river so we didn't feel very crowded. We went early and had lunch there. We packed the boys' lunch and we had ribs from a couple of different local vendors - very tasty. We spent the next 3 1/2 hours in the expanded kids area they had this year. It was run by Hero's Toledo and was full of inflated bouncing obstacle courses. Alex also stood patiently in line for a painting of a heart on his arm. We topped it off with ice cream and called it a day before the crowds came in for JoDee Messina performing that night. We hope they have it here next year and expand the kids area even more. As you can tell from the last picture, it really wore them out.

Spring Break 2006 revisited

I was way behind on blogging and just finished my Spring Break in Oklahoma entries. In case you missed any, here they are.

Spring Break - We're Late!
Wrestlemania
Baby Manning
Blustery Day in the Backyard
Papa!! Hockey!!
Precious Chunky Doll Baby
Peep Eggs
Nana and the Little Man
Spot the Real Monkeys
Climbing on the Animals
Manning's First Zoo Trip
The Playful Sea Lion
Aaron's a Real Swinger
My Favorite Manning Photo (So Far)
Making Girly Sandals
Marcus's Scarf
Impromptu Family Reunion
Bedtime Stories
Sam Noble Museum of Natural History
Pentaceratops
Posing by Dinosaur Bones
Paleontologists in the Making
Hornhead
Marli's Scarf
Curls and Air Hockey
The Evans Clan - March 2006
Showing the Boys the Duck Pond
The Oklahoma Aquarium
Fishing Equipment for Giants

Evan's Hot Wheels Party

Alex's best friend, Evan, had the whole family over with bunches of other kids to his house for a Hot Wheels-themed birthday party. They had hot dogs for the kids and pulled pork for the grown-ups. They got another inflatable "moon bounce" like they did last year and everyone seemed to enjoy it. It was a hot day, but buckets of iced drinks kept us cool. It was our pleasure to celebrate the 6th birthday of such a great kid.

August Adventures

Alex finished another week of Maumee Valley Day Camp today. This week was a little more active than his week at Hob Haven and was part of their August Adventures week. On Monday he found some fossils in the local fossil park, then spent the afternoon swimming at a local park. Tuesday they went on a nature walk on the school grounds and spent the afternoon swimming at a local pool. On Wednesday he went hiking at Oak Openings and then more swimming at the local quarry. Yesterday was spent at a local farm and today was spent canoeing. This was one of the hottest weeks all year, so we worried about his ability to keep hydrated and reapply sunscreen, but he survived the week (with 35 bug bites). This may become a tradition.