More photos here (check the link again for videos).

So, after they asked so often and today decided to ask nicely (and I had the materials needed) I finally gave in and let the kids play with—scratch that—experiment with a non-newtonian fluid.

I found a recipe for Oobleck which, if you are a fan of Dr. Seuss, you may be familiar with. The rest of us call this plain old cornstarch and water. Mixed in the correct ratio, you end up with a mixture that behaves like a solid or a liquid, depending on what you do with it.

The kids were inspired by an episode of the show Timewarp. Basically, the show is just about time lapse videography. The hosts of the show filled a trough about 3 feet x maybe 12 feet in size with a mixture of cornstarch and water. Then they filmed themselves as they tried to run across it. It was ok at first, but at the end of the trough, well, they ended up knee-deep in the stuff.

Our version was just a couple of cups of cornstarch in one cup of water. That was interesting to mix up! But the boys whacked it, smooshed it and generally made a mess. It was fun for them and a boon for the dog who was happy to play the part of mop.

Now NM thinks we should buy an inflatable pool and fill it with this stuff. Then dive into it. Ouch!

Clearly, the kids have seen many (too many?) episodes of Mythbusters.

J, staring at our recent purchase: “Mom, what are we going to do with the pineapple? Will you cut it up and turn it into ballistics gel? Adam and Jamie did that on Mythbusters…they went to a, um, a bone store and got bones and they made it all into a test dummy. Can we make our own test dummy?”

And my oldest:

“Mom, can we get C4?”

“No.”

“Mom, can we get a rifle?”

“No.”

“Mom, can we get a shot gun?”

“No.”

“Mom, can we just get that thing at Hobby Lobby to make a Coke and Mentos fountain?”

Do you think I caved? No.

***

Note: I really have to admit, at this point, that this is a by-product of our homeschooling. We are at a point in US history when boys were taught things like how to whittle, how to respect and use guns and things like how to set up a self-sustaining farm (those pioneers were green before it was hip). I guess it can’t be helped. I have yet to knit them ‘coon skin caps. My bad.

Many more photos here.

Yesterday’s celebrations went very well.

Everyone had to get up early because hubby and I had work to do at church. It was neat to see a lot of new faces and some that normally attend different service times. Our pastor spoke of prophecy and tied it to the movie, Knowing, which is in theaters right now. I love listening to studies in eschatology so I did wish the message was longer.

After church, we headed home with the plan of taking in a short hike before lunch. Plans worked out, though we opted for the trail in our neighborhood instead of heading out to the Zilker hike & bike trail. The weather couldn’t be better! The clouds and rain we woke up to gave way to beautiful, cloudless skies, perfect temps and a soft, cool breeze. Plus, we got to finally walk this trail I’ve often seen people exiting it, but never new where it led. Sprocket was happy, of course.

After lunch, hubby hid eggs for the boys. It was at this point that I missed seeing their cousins who we had intended to visit over the holiday. *Sniff* J got a perfect head start since they eventually ended up with roughly the same amount of eggs. It was neat to hear them both (mostly NM) yelling “EGGS!” and running around. They took about 20 minutes to find them all, just enough time for the peanutbutter cups to melt in the eggs hidden in and around the car. Afterwards, the boys went to enjoy their loot. Rather, J enjoyed most of his and NM saved most.

“What’s the most fun part about yesterday?

NM: “Finding the eggs.”

J: “Finding the eggs. I mean eating them because the jelly beans are really good!”

This year, we did boil eggs to decorate but we ended it there. I bought some plastic thingies you use to cover eggs—whodathunkit—they didn’t fit our extra-large eggs from Costco. Oh well. We’ll use the stickers instead.

Egg salad anyone?

Dear NM,

I’m so happy to have another wonderful thing you did to write about. It might not seem like a huge deal to you, but it was such a clear sign to me of how much you are growing in your walk in Christ.

Yesterday, I was very tired after coming home from the retreat but I was more thant pleased about the flowers you, your brother and your Abba had worked so hard to plant.

Then I had to take you to your second game that day. I have no idea where you got the energy, but it’s amazing that you have so much. It was such a joy to see you playing so hard. I know how badly you wanted to be goalie or even striker, but you have let that go and have completely embraced your role as defender. And what an awesome job you do! You are such a great part of the team and you showed it yesterday (even under all that sun and pressure).

But that’s not the best part.

During your break, I heard your teammate T saying some unkind things about your other teammate J. He wouldn’t quit, either. J finally got up and sat under the shade of the tree. You were listening, then watching at their going back and forth—T wasn’t kind at all—and you were silent. But after J walked away, you followed him. You put your ball down next to him and just sat there. J may have been talking still, I don’t remember, but I do remember watching you and how you just comforted him by being near and being a good listener. I’m so proud to be the mom to someone who is full of godly compassion!

My son, if your heart is wise, My heart will rejoice…” Proverbs 23:15

Some women get flowers when they come back from being away for a while. I got FLOWERS.

While I was away at a retreat for two nights, little did I know what the boys were up to.

Hubby had decided, a week before I left, that he would work on the planters in front of our house. He told me he’d be working on his speakers.

Instead, he got the kids to work with him for TWO days on this project. No complaining, no whining, no nothing he said. How’d that happen? He told them that they were doing this for mommy so I would be happy when I got home.

And I thought that the mountaintop experience was at the retreat.

I was wrong, people!

Apparently, God thought I wasn’t blessed enough at the retreat and decided I needed more

Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS and again I say: rejoice!

More photos here.

More pics here but there’s a problem with the hard drive so not all the photos are there yet. You can, however, see NM try walking in stilts.

Last Friday, the kids and enjoyed a field trip to Pioneer Farms here in Austin. It was once a farm and over the years, they’ve added several structures from the 1800s. They also so living history demonstrations and reenactments.

The boys were so excited to get away from the desks so they could see and experience the things we’ve been reading about.

We were also excited to meet friends over there. I finally got to meet my friend MH and her daughter K who I knew from an online forum. We’ve followed each other through our forum posts and blogs for seven or eight years now. That’s a long time!

MH and K drove down from Dallas/Ft. Worth area so they could spend a few days here in Austin and we had the benefit of enjoying some of those hours with them.

When we got there, one of the first things the boys noticed was the fencing. Can you believe it? We were talking about the different ways that pioneers had to build fences. This was difficult considering they didn’t readily have nails or post-hole diggers or ready-mix cement. The boys quickly recognized the zig-zaggy fence that uses simple physics to hold itself up.

At first glance, the facility seemed awfully small because there were maybe six or eight structures around a small “main street.” Once we were there—and I read the all-important map—it got apparent that it was a lot bigger than we thought. The building ran the gamut from teepees (set up to approximate a Tonkawa settlement, one of the many Indian tribes that once lived in the area) to a large, multi-roomed home that had to belong to someone wealthy.

Our first stop was the gift shop. I gave the kids a little bit to spend and J quickly decided on some Jacks and a stone arrowhead. NM and K didn’t find anything right away so we decided to head out and try again later.

In the first home we walked into, NM saw a case full of six shooters, a musket and some other munitions. That got him all excited, of course. I suspect he finally enjoys American History because we’re to the point where we are seeing six shooters and not just flintlock rifles.

We made it into one of the homes that represented a more common frontier dwelling and a reenactor was explaining to us about his family (two parents and thirteen children), how they came from Germany to settle here, a little bit about their chores, how the girls all slept in the loft and the boys slept outdoors on the porch, the sorts of things they did. They were a wealthy family and you could tell because they could afford passage from Germany to America for 15 people and—imagine!—they had FOUR glass windows. If prompted, our reenactor would have been happy to give us his spiel auf Deutsche.

The boys got to see some farm animals—K saw some of these for the first time—and the jury was unanimous: pigs are EW. J, of course, pet the horses and any furry animal that would let him (if he could!). The kids were mostly fascinated by the blacksmith. He explained to us that he was different from a farrier who is responsible for fitting horses with shoes. Our blacksmith was showing us how he made, shaped and sharpened a knife. That was loud, hot and long work!

And, much to my excitement (and a little bit excitement from the kids, too) I had come across some spinning stuff! There was home that had several carders, used to comb wool so that the hairs become parallel, a few spinning wheels, a niddy noddy and a few nostepines and other things used to wind the wool once it was spun. It’s things like that, that make me happy

After another trip to the gift shop we had to go. NM wanted a sling shot but didn’t have enough money for one so he kept his cash instead. We headed out to Wendy’s for lunch and drinks then we all went down to the nature center at Zilker park. The kids enjoyed that, of course, but it wasn’t long before we decided to go. It was hot out and we’re not used to being out in it just yet.

We all had a great time and, again, MH & K, we had such a great time with you and I’m so glad we finally got to meet!

Lately, J has been quite the weaver of tall tales. Here’s one from on the way home from the park, when we had Sprocket with us and we ended up having to open the windows because her digestive system backfired:

“Once, there was this guy…” he started (and he always starts that way).

“There was this guy who had ear drums and he took his ear drums and put them on his nose and made them nose drums. The nose drums still let him breathe but the nose drums made him smell nothing bad.”

Last night, putting the boys to bed.

“NM…”

“Mmmm?”

“NM…”

“Mmhmm?”

“NM…”

“WHAT?”

“Jesus loves you!”

“Oh yeah. Ok. Tomorrow, I’ll clean my room. Then, I’ll clean the LIVING ROOM! Then, I’LL DOMINATE THE WOOOORLD!”

J giggles.

* * *

Thank you, Lord, for boys with big dreams. May they always seek Your guidance and never fear to take big steps to fulfill Your plans for them.

My husband is amused with me because I am very concerned about how the butterflies we have will make it in the wild. “They’ve never experienced life on the outside, ” he teased. I was, however, concerned for a legitimate reason. I don’t think anything is supposed to touch their wings and they’ve been flapping them on their food. Food for now is wadded up tissues soaked with sugar water and slices of mandarin oranges.

They’re cute, you know? When you look up close, they have little eyelashes. And their probosces are so cute when they uncurl them. They’re so delicate, how could they make it in the wild?

Well, it comes right down to a gracious and loving Creator, doesn’t it?

***

The knitting. Well, I just sent my sister a package with two baby sacs, the Baby Grrr! hat and the pea pod. I am hoping they get to her as swiftly as the other package with the blossom hat. What I’m hoping is that she can take really good photos of them. I’m thinking I might try to do a good job of writing out the patterns for Pea Pod and Baby Grrr! and see if Knitty.com will take one or the other. I’ve never, ever tried to do something like this since I’m more of a pattern-follower (I seldom change them up). But lately, our Thursday knitting group has gotten me inspired. These are intrepid ladies!

Okay. So I just realized that I have to re-knit both the pea pod and Baby Grrr! because I forgot to measure them and their stitch gauge. DUH. *face palm*

Righty-o. Here’s another concern, mild for now: I am still waiting for my linen yarn to arrive and it’s one day shy of two weeks since I placed the order and got confirmation. Normally, it’s not an issue but this yarn is going to hopefully end up being a table runner that will be raffled off at our women’s retreat early April. That’s really, really soon! While I do knit quickly, I really prefer having a buffer of time in which to take care of something like this. I’m a little nervous to be honest but we’ll see how it goes.

***

I need to get this done: upload the photos I took of the boys’ frontier farm buildings. I managed to find some notched popsicle sticks and the boys went to town building log cabins out of them. They even drew some plants on green paper to serve as the “farm” and made a stable for oxen or sheep and a coop.  That was fun!

We’re planning on visiting a real Pioneer Farm on Friday. I plan to take lots of pictures! That, and I’m also hoping that they’ll have a demonstration of sheep shearing, wool carding, spinning and dyeing.

***

Our efforts to plan a weekly menu are somewhat in place still. It is a bit difficult to plan things out when a lot of shopping is done at Costco. The budget is blown and smaller things like condiments and such still have to be bought to complete a recipe. I’ve not really planned anything out lately since we have a ton of leftoevers to eat our way through.

Most recently, I made chili rellenos casserole which I really enjoyed. Unfortunately, in our youngest the reaction was aversion. He ate a bit but not long afterwards something caused his digestive system to work backwards. Fortunately, that happened when we were already done with our meal.  Honestly, it really is a good casserole in spite of the reaction it causes in five year olds who are opposed to the idea of corn kernels in their meals.

~ I have completed another hat and went on to another. I also finished the back of a sweater today and hope to cast on for the front right and left sides. Last time, I did them separately and I think I got two different gauges. Doing the sleeves at the same time did help, so I’m guessing it will help with the fronts, too.

~ I love being productive in this way. It’s so gratifying to have a finished product that you can hold. Digital stuff is fine and dandy, but I think my SIL is right, I tend to be more kinesthetic.

~ NM’s team won yesterday, 5 to 1! I was thinking at first that it helped that the wind was in their favor and maybe that worked for the first goal. But, really, the boys were in top form, working really hard at team play. They were rewarded with a great score and the first win of the season! So far: one lost, one won.

~ Our caterpillars are huge. I mean, huge in comparison to their original 1mm x 1 cm size. They’re now around 2.5mm x 3.5-4cm in size (just guesstimating…I’m not about to open up the container to look). It looks as if all five of the little guys made it and are growing faster than the proverbial weeds. Last Wednesday, it looked as if they trippled their size between when we checked them at breakfast then again at dinner time. J is wondering when the baby butterflies will grow up. The time when they sit in their pupae will get him really impatient!

~ Yes, my hubby made it home just fine on Friday night. On the trip to London when he had to sit in the worst seat—back row, between two other passengers, noisiest section—because he gave his up so a dad could sit with his son. This time, he got an entire row to himself so in spite of the -96F temps outside radiating cold inside, he slept with his three pillows and three blankets. He didn’t get to do much sightseeing though. He had planned for that on Sunday when he arrived but the hotel didn’t have him set up for early check in. By the time he made it to his room, he’d lost his steam. The rest of his days and nights were taken up by work and after-work functions. He did take the time for a few pictures, though. I’ll link to them when he lets me know what they are.

~ Due to jet lag, we missed out on the pot luck at church as well as the Zilker Kite Festival today. I did think that would be the case so I’m only somewhat disappointed. It is so bright and sunny but that’s deceiving…the wind is very chilly! These last few days have reminded me much more of SoCalif winter Santa Ana winds. Not fun!

~ After last Thursday’s knitting time when JC so generously pulled out her espresso maker and B so kindly made us all some cappuccinos, I got out our espresso maker and hubby made me some. Unfortunately, after at least seven years of being in storage, the gaskets in the machine have gotten bad and it leaks steam. I’m going to see if the cause is water deposits. I might run it with vinegar instead of water and see if that helps. What little we did get out of it tasted good, though.

~ I’ve been walking with a circular needle draped around my neck. It’s writing like this that’s really going to get this blog readership. Oh yeahhhh.

~ So, our pastor has been going through the book of Ephesians on Sunday mornings. I’ve been through that book a total of three times in different women’s groups (not counting the time I joined a women’s group nearing the end of the study or the “big church” study). I do love that book, it’s very RICH (get it? only if you’ve gone through it). However, I have never done an in-depth study of chapter five. Sad, isn’t it? That’s the “rubber meets the road” chapter for me since it deals heavily with both parenting and wife-ing. But for some reason I got sick or my kids did or something would prevent me from being at church for that one. This time, when we get closer, I’m going to make sure I’m prayed up.

~ NM gets to start a new math book soon! Wow. I think we’ll try drills for a bit for math facts first.

~ Sprocket is going on 9 months old! It shows. Since hubby has been gone, she’s mama’s girl and more importantly, she’s bonded with the boys. They have spent a couple of nights chasing each other back and forth (she’s eased up on how strongly she nips them). When I had the boys clean their rooms and shut their doors (keeps from distraction), she laid in front of their doors, patiently waiting for them to be done so they could play. Their play time does more to wear her—and the boys—out than a long walk!