Sprinkler Fun

It's hard to beat a cool sprinkler on a hot day - complete with soccer shorts and Crocs

Practicing Bike Riding

Today we practiced bike riding in the driveway.  Alex has been having trouble balancing and pedaling at the same time.  I read a trick online that I tought might help.  Parents had noted that the balancing is the harder part of that equation to learn, and recommended removing the pedals.  They were easy to remove and now Alex practices by pusing himself along like a scooter.  He can put his feet down for balance whenever he wants, but tries to go farther each time.  I'm hoping this is his year.



Aaron outgrew the trike that they grew up with and can pedal around on Alex old bike with training wheels.  You have to push him to get him started, but he can keep up the momentum, steer, and brake fairly well.  Both boys need more practice, so we'll be out again this summer.

Spiky Reader

Some hair gel, a good book, and a comfy couch. And, as Alex just noticed, an "S" on the wall which stands for Spiky.

Hovercraft Fun

Chris pulled out a fun device that he built - a hovercraft. Seriously. I can't replicate it, but I think I got the general idea.  It is a piece of plywood that he covered in a blue tarp and used measured cuts and duct tape to shape the lower section into a skirt with an opening smaller than the base.  He cut a hole in the board and stuck the output end of an electric leaf blower into it.



When you turn it on it pushes air under the board and out the hole in the tarp, providing lift.  He push the boys around the driveway for a while.  He assured me that it would hold me and so I took a trip down the driveway as well, when I discover a serious design flaw - no brakes.  Chris chased me down and stopped me with a broomstick, that I realized he has used for this purpose before.  I don't think I'll try this at home, but it was cool to ride.

Cincy Zoo and Slip-n-Slide

Yesterday we drove to Cincinnati to spend the weekend with our friends from medical school - Dawn, Chris, and their kids Rachel and Ben. We got up today and decided to go to the Cincinnati Zoo.  They are revamping some of it, but we got to see most of it including a great exhibit of male white lions.  They were pretty and at one point they roared a roar that would make you evacuate your insides if you were out on the savannah.  Some of our favorite moments of the day didn't involve animals.  We rode on the zoo train which the kids loved.



The kids gravitated toward the playground which included a big spider net jungle gym.  We thought we might catch a live bird show that was on the schedule.  It wasn't until we got to the outdoor ampitheater that we realized that the schedule we were given when we entered was for the next day and there was no bird show.



Instead, we were treated to a free concert by Roger Day.  He's a children's music singer/songwriter and we had a great time for this hour-long concert in the zoo.  He got the kids to help him act out some of his favorites, like "Mosquito Burrito" (those are mosquito finger puppets that Aaron is waggling above), "Dream Big", "It's a No No to Kiss a Rhino", and "Ready to Fly".



We did get the three boys to capture and then pose on a stray crocodile before we left.  He wasn't moving very fast, so it was easier than we thought.



To cool off that afternoon, they set up a slip-n-slide up on a hill in their yard.  It was great because of that hill - gravity pulled you so you didn't have to worry about timing the run with the fall on the face.  You could just start out on your face if you wanted. 



We ate grilled meats, helped Dawn with a puzzle she was working on, had fried ice cream-flavored ice cream for dessert.  After we put the kids down, we played Guitar Hero III on their Wii late into the night.  Dawn schooled us by playing "Slow Ride" by Foghat on Expert.  I guess we'll have to get out own and practice.

Sea Turtle Eating a Jellyfish

I asked Aaron what he called this piece displayed as part of the Preschool Spring Concert and Art Show. His answer: "Sea Turtle Eating a Jellyfish".

Blue & Gold Banquet 2008

After his soccer game today, we ran home and Alex changed into his full Cub Scout uniform, including the patch vest that Becky had put together for him, using all of the extra patches that he had accumulated.  Then we all piled in the van and drove to the Pack 90 Blue & Gold Banquet.  Traditionally this is the award ceremony for Scouts that have earned their advancement badges, and is usually done in February or March.  We had been working hard on everyone's achievements and had started a little late in the year with our meetings in October; so this year's Banquet got pushed into May to give everyone time to complete the requirements for their badges. 



The banquet was held at the house of one of the Bear Scout's parents. After the playtime on their massive jungle gym and pizza for the banquet part of the night, we all assembled in the rec room in the basement for the ceremony.  Alex had completed the achievements for the Wolf badge a month ago, but he'd been waiting until tonight.to receive it. Becky went through all of the extra awards the boys had earned first, including Sports and Academics belt loops and pins.  Then Alex received his Wolf badge and the 4 elective arrow points from her and looked very proud.  The other boys got their badges, and then we all got to eat cake.  Not bad for our first awards banquet. 

Defending the Castle

Alex made this for art class, and it also was featured on the back of the Spring Concert program. Alex says it is a "picture of the good guys jumping out of the castle onto the bad guys to sneak up on them." The background sky is watercolor and the rest is crayon.

Alex's Spring Concert

Alex took a larger role in this year's Lower School Spring Concert.  He'd been telling us about a part playing one of the seven dwarves for over a month, but we just found out recently that he had a secret role.



Early in the fairy tale themed concert, several princesses were struggling with what they were looking for in a good man.  Alex came out with a crown and proclaimed that he was a prince and therefore the man of their dreams.  They turned up their noses at him (in song, of course) and he stomped off for a quick costume change.



Soon thereafter he came out as Happy the dwarf.  They had their own song, and the chorus had been echoing through our heads for weeks from impromptu practice sessions at home: (To the tune of Heigh Ho) "Don't mock, Take stock. It's true, we really rock. We're Bashful, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Doc."

Alex promised us that having his shirt half-tucked into his pants was an intentional choice, important to the motivation of his character's personality.

February 2008 Posts

As regular readers of this blog (Hi, Mom!) already know, I am way behind again after just getting caught up. The usual excuses about being very busy and or tired can be inserted here, but it is something I want to catch up on. It's already mid-May which puts me a solid 2 1/2 months behind. My fingers are cramping in anticipation of the typing that I know is coming. As you can imagine, my other blogs (listed somewhere over on the right) are being neglected a bit also. I am pretty caught up on my 101 in 1001 blog. I am still planning on working on the My Disaster Kit blog and there should be a new post up there soon describing a small, personal-sized disaster kit that can be thrown into the bottom of a bag. One thing that has stalled me there is a new blog that I found from someone who took the lessons he learned after fleeing post-Katrina New Orleans and applied them to a new plan to protect him, his family, and his future livelihood (if a devastating catastrophe made us suddenly flee Ohio, could I prove to another state that I am a trained, board-accredited, and licensed physician?). This blog made me change some of the ideas that I have had and will lead to a re-tooling of our disaster preparedness plans and subsequently the blog. One of the key points of that blog is that "Survival is not a kit". He's right, of course, so I've got to make kit building a small part of our preparation plans, and focus on the process. How quickly can we get out of the house in case of fire? What would we grab if we had 1 hour to evacuate? How can we prove who we are if we have to leave quickly? Can we carry and use the kit contents?
Keep an eye on that blog for answers to these questions and in the meantime, enjoy these February posts.

Spring Sensations Cake

For a cake walk at the school carnival, Becky made this Spring Sensations cake.  The inside is a confetti cake with internal sprinkles.  She then frosted it and covered it liberally with more sprinkles and candy flowers.  We hated to give it away.

Recycled T-Rex Puppet

Alex had to make a puppet for class out of found or recycled materials.  The body of this T-Rex is a paper towel tube. The fingernails are, you guessed it, pistachio shells.

Happy Birthday Becky!

Our plans today didn't originally include cake, but we knew the kids would be disappointed. So, Becky got herself a chocolate cake, you know, for the kids. Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Pack 90

This is Alex's Cub Scout Pack from Maumee Valley. Becky has been working with the 3 in the front row, Nicolai, Alex and Cole in the Wolf Den. The 3 in the back row - Jacob, Devin, and another Alex - were in the Bear Den. They are meeting once a week as a group for flag ceremonies and snacks. They separate (usually) in between to work on achievements for their specific badges.

Home Depot Day - Fake Flower Pot

Today was one of the odder crafts.  Here, Aaron is hammering away at a flower pot.  You'd think that perhaps you might fill it with dirt and plant some flowers. You'd be close, but you'd be wrong.



Instead, they made 3 flowers from dowels, tinkertoy-like spools, and wooden petals.



Because of all the details, it was a lot of work compared to other projects.  Maybe they can keep pencils in there also.

Aaron's Life Flight Field Trip

Aaron's class complimented last weeks trip to the fire station with a trip this week to Life Flight - one of the local helicopter rescue outfits.



The highlight, of course, was getting to sit in the helicopter, though it had to stay on the ground.

Spring's Here!

We always try to get a picture of the boys in front of the spring flowers.  This year we had our blooming weeping cherry tree that we planted last year in the shot also.



After today's soccer game we scooted to Sidecut Metropark where we let Alex practice baiting his own hook and he caught the only fish of the day, a little bluegill sunfish.  Alex needed to finish this step to complete his fishing elective as part of the Wildlife Conservation award.  (Yes, we conserved the wildlife by letting him swim free.)

Aaron's Firehouse Field Trip

Aaron's preschool class got to tour the Sylvania fire station today.  They learned about the special equipment that they use.  They also learned how to keep themselves safe from fire, including practicing an escape plan to get out of the house if they had to.



He loved touring the pumper trucks and the ambulances they use to respond to emergencies.  Becky got to drive and chaperone, so she got these great pictures.

Building Bat Houses

Becky and the Cub Scouts of Pack 90 built bat house kits as an Earth Day service project.  They are going to be put up all over campus to encourage bats to move in, which will eat mosquitos which will require less pesticide to control - in theory.  They even presented their work in front of the rest of the school during the weekly town meeting.  Alex used this as part of the requirement for his Wildlife Conservation Award.

Dad & Lad 2008

This year's Dad & Lad campout at Camp Miakonda had the theme of Science and technology.  This time our cabin was near the front of the camp.  We were in the Einstein group and, like last year, our group rotated amongst various events and stations around the camp.  Here we did several science experiements using baking soda and vinegar - such as inflating a balloon over a bottle with the mixture producing carbon dioxide gas.



This year in the fort the Scout Leader demonstrated how to clean your hands in the field with bins of soapy water, then bleach water.  The boys then took turns dumping ingredients into yet another bin until it made a thick cornmeal batter.  Then he showed us how to stack cast iron dutch ovens with charcoal briquets to bake up Dutch Oven Cornbread.

1	cup butter; melted	2	cups cornmeal
4	eggs; beaten	3	cups all-purpose flour
3	cups milk	4	tsp. baking powder
2	cups sugar	1	tsp. salt

In a large bowl mix together butter, eggs, and milk. In a separate bowl sift together sugar, cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients 1 cup at a time until well blended. Spoon cornbread mixture into a lightly greased 12" Dutch oven and spread evenly. Cover Dutch oven and bake using 8-10 briquettes bottom and 14-16 briquettes top for 45 minutes or until cornbread turns golden brown. NOTE: For even browning make sure to turn the oven and lid 1/4 turn in opposite directions every 10 minutes. Serve warm with honey butter. Serves: 10-12

We participated in the father & son obstacle course which had rope swings, balance beams, concrete culverts, hopping stumps, climbing walls, and this tire wall at the end.  There was also a BMX track, though this year I helped Alex around the track.  By next year's Dad & Lad, he'll be a pro. 



We had some scheduled free time that we used to find items on our scavenger hunt list.  Our team found all the items, though actually all the teams found all their items also.  We practiced our campfire routine which included a song and a skit. We also found Alex a walking stick.  Other kids would try to nab it if he laid it down somewhere, so I carved his name in it, which helped in its recovery a couple of times.





Once again this year, Alex had practice with archery and BB gun shooting.  He already earned a Sports belt loop award for these from last year's Dad & Lad.  Our campfire skit was threatened by rain so we had it in the Council Lodge again.  I can't reveal the punchline of the skit, but it turned our very brave scouts and dads into scaredy-cats just because someone showed up with cookies. I can however, share our song:

Tom the Toad

Oh, Tom the toad, Oh, Tom the toad,

Why are you lying on the road?

Oh, Tom the toad, Oh, Tom the toad,

Why are you lying on the road?

You did not see the car ahead;

Now you're all marked with tire tread.

Oh, Tom the toad, Oh, Tom the toad,

Why are you lying on the road?

The next morning we packed up our gear and had a Paul Bunyan breakfast.  We lined up outside the mess cabin and as we went through they gave us a napkin, then a pancake dipped in cinnamon sugar, then a sausage link.  We folded it like a taco and ate it in line for our next one (with a cup of milk from a side table).  I made it through 4 times, and Alex made it 5.  We are really looking forward to next year's adventure, hopefully with more kids from our pack.

Look Out - Monkey Jumping

Our daredevil boy...
...has no fear.
Look out world,..
The Monkey Jumper is here!

Firefighters Museum Tour

Today Alex's Wolf den met at the Toledo Firefighter's Museum.  We took a tour first, with a former firefighter showing us all of the old equipment that they used to use decades ago.  The oldest piece of equipment was a manual pumper wagon that was pulled by the firefighters to the fire, then one hose was snaked to the nearest pond, river, or swimming hole while the other hose was used to spray the fire under the force of a pump operated by 10 men on each side of the wagon pumping a huge lever back and forth.  They saw old firetrucks, protective gear, and call boxes.



Then we all went upstairs to Jed's Room.  Jed's room is a house fire simulator that they used to teach the kids to crawl low under the (fake) smoke, to call 911 and what to say to the operator, and even how to slide down a short pole at the "firehouse" as the firefighters came to the rescue.  All of the roles were played by the kids - Aaron volunteered to be the first "Jed" in the picture above.



Then they let anyone who wanted to try on the gear that the firefighters have to wear, including the pants and coat, the helmet, and an oxygen tank.  Alex thought it was very heavy.



This helped the Wolf scouts fulfill requirements for visiting a historic building (it was a former firehouse) and learning about fire safety. 

Disney Vacation 2008 - Day 7 - Missed It/Repeat It Day

We had planned all along to save our last day to do the things we missed the first time around or repeat the things we loved.  We felt we had done all we wanted to do at the Magic Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom, so we crossed those off.  We knew we missed a few things at Epcot and we had so much fun at the Studios the day before that we decided to tackle what we could there - no rushing or killing ourselves with the pace today.



When we got to Epcot, Becky, Alex, and I immediately got in line for Test Track as it was up and running today. It put us in the role of test dummies while a car was put through its paces.  After nearly missing the final crash wall (see the look on our faces above), the car sends us racing around a track at over 60mph pulling some G's.  Becky then got her chance to ride Soarin' with Alex and I, which she loved. We all got back together and watched our 3rd 3D movie, Honey I Shrunk the Audience.  We walked counter-clockwise around the start of World showcase, featuring Canada and Great Britain. There we were able to take a ferry from there to a dock in front of Disney Hollywood Studios.



When we got there, we made our way to the ABC Commissary for lunch where we had cafeteria items named after ABC shows (Dancing With The Stars Mambo Combo Cuban Sandwich, Grey's Anatomy The McSteamy Chicken Curry, etc.) which was edible but not amazing.  We split up again so that Grammy, Grandpa, and Alex could do the Animation Academy a couple more times while Becky and I took Aaron to his second day of the Playhouse Disney show which was a montage of the various Disney Channel kids' shows (Handy Manny, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger and Pooh, Little Einsteins) but acted out on a stage with large puppets.



Alex and I broke away after that and did the Star Tours ride for our third time and Alex declared it his favorite ride at Disney World.  Aaron got in a little more of the Honey I Shrunk...playground before we hustled to the Backlot Express burger joint to wait out the rain storm that popped up and to have a little dinner.  When the rain cleared for a bit, the boys posed in front of the water shooting AT-AT from the Star Wars: The Empire Stirkes Back Hoth invasion scene.



We had not gotten to see one of Disney's amazing fireworks shows yet. We hadn't wanted to deal with the after-fireworks crowds getting back to the buses. We had heard that the Studios show, Fantasmic, was amazing so we stayed for the 8:30 show.  We got there over an hour early which was recommended for good seating in a stadium surrounded a lagoon which encircled an island.  The show was wonderful, combining live action Disney characters on the island and on boats in the lagoon with scenes from Disney movies and cartoons projected onto sheets of water sprayed vertically in front of us.  There were also water effects that were timed with the projected movies to look like water was shooting out of the cartoon toward us. And of course there were fireworks.  The show told of a battle between the good Disney characters, led by Mickey in his sorcerer's apprentice hat, and the evil characters including this large snake with highbeam eyes.  I won't spoil it by telling you which side won, but hey, this is Disney. 



The rain that had slowed us down earlier started up again during the show.  We whipped out the ponchos we'd been carrying all week and we were relatively comfortable.  After the show, when we were filing out of the stadium, the rain poured down even harder, prompting us to whip out the umbrellas.  Aaron had had enough by then and let us know it.  He conked out waiting for our bus, exhausted from having so much fun.



All in all this was a dream trip.  Thanks again to Grammy and Grandpa Hardage for inviting us and making this possible.  We resolved that this would not be our last trip as a family.  Besides, they're opening a new Toy Story ride this summer.