Oh yes I DID edit my own code...

...to make this nifty THREE column blog!! I used a tutorial to make my current blogger a 3 column gig.

This totally ROCKS!!

Now what will I do with that 3rd column? I'll be adding some links to our FIAR book studies by name.

What an exciting way to start the day!

And all without my computer husband's expert help. He is self declared hands-off when it comes to my blog. So thank you to all my other online blog consultants. This day belongs to you as well!

I hope to center the header by the end of today...all in good time.

Snowflake Bentley Notebook Pages

R7 worked on some snow similes today. She was delighted to make some snowflakes to go with it.

Wilson Bentley was born in Vermont so she did some Vermont geography. I think we have one more component to add before the week is over.

Title page for the book- the snowflakes are from a small Dover stained glass book.

Here is her first simile- Snow is as white as sugar. The other booklet talks about other famous people who were homeschooled (Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, Beatrix Potter to name a few)

Not showing today, because we haven't put the book in her notebook yet, is the microscope booklet we did last week. I'll be sure to add that one when a new page is done.

Painting the Dollhouse

Now that the new walls are in and the holes filled in and sanded, it is time to paint! I started repainting the house a few days ago and tonight R7 helped me out with some first coatings. She was delighted to try and make nice even strokes. I know she is having a grand time working on this with me- and that's what it's all about!

We decided together on a color change for the homestead. It used to be white and lavender (the purple was on the roof and the outline on the front). Now the roof is fuschia (not too unlike R7's pants up there) and the trim is lime green. She decided she wants the horizontal pieces going across lime green as well. Plus, I will do the side panels in fuschia. I kept painting this evening so we're nearly done. Over the next couple of nights I will be finished the final coats. I used acrylic paints so I'm toying with the idea of coating the whole house in modpodge. If any dollhousers out there have an opinion on this, please let me know. I'm going for less furniture marking which happened easily last time we painted.

We have the backing to the house, so hopefully this weekend we can convince Dan to get to it! This has been a fun project to work on together and it's just cool to see this house, which R7 has had since she was 2, come to life in a new and meaningful way.

Oh Yes I DID Finish That Craft Closet!!

Isn't it a thing of beauty? Last night I did the top shelf and filled a trash bag. Turns out there were some items I didn't need anymore. I found a whole basket labeled dress up that actually had many old purses of mine in it. I visited some fond memories of the days when I couldn't get enough of my Liz Claiborne purse. I kept one- the pink one with the khacki trim.

Today I tackled the middle shelf and I just knew once it was done, I'd zip through the bottom part. And that's just what I did this afternoon! I vacuumed lots of dust, threw more old things away, recycled some papers, found a new place for a few things, and relabeled the containers. Those two little boxes on those papers on the bottom are going too. Guess I thought I'd moved them already.

The best find: A box full of video tapes which undoubtedly include our wedding and some fun things from when we were in high school. Woohoo! I guess a long time ago we must have hoed out and boxed them up and put them there and never thought about them again...until now. I used space behind the boxes on the middle shelf so have a few things that are easy to get at back there. Very nice.

I'm definitely pleased with the outcome. What do you think? One thing I may change as I set up the craft corner on the other side of the house, is using that Elfa shelf over there. then I'd replace this one with a tall drawer set. It's mostly paper on there so I think it would work, but then the banker's box can't go there so I'm not sure.

"Wood" Cut Art

Last week's art lesson for Snowflake Bentley was a wood cut art. The illustrator made pictures using a wood block that was drawn on and then the negative space cut away and the rest was painted. I thought about how we could do this without becoming wood carvers and I decided on Model Magic. It worked well though the modeling compound is a little too flexible for a proper job. After the painting is complete you use it stamp the image on paper. Below are our attempts at wood cut art.

I-5 made his wood cut one of the smaller green truck plows in Katy and the Big Snow. He did a great job!

Well of course I had to make an example and see if it would work, yes? That's my water and sun...I think it turned out really well.

E9 tried a cricket in honor of Cricket in Times Square- not bad at all. I think I have the paper oriented funny, but the shape is there.

R7 worked on a snowflake which ended up a little warped. That happened when cutting away the space outside the drawing. Model Magic is a little too flexible for proper wood cutting, but it made a great medium for trying it out any way.

Usborne Books!

So, I'm entering another blogging contest. This one is an easy task for sure. Right now Valerie, who is an Usborne consultant, is having a book giveaway and all I have to do is provide a link to her Usborne book Site.

Ever used an Usborne book or seen one? They are fabulous books!! Just yesterday we were using a reference book- The Usborne Science Encyclopedia and E9 was able to make a nice Venn diagram on the differences between bacteria and viruses. He also got a chance to visit a website through the weblinks in the book to see some of them in action.

Today he will be using The Encyclopedia of World Geography to tour Italy and I visited those weblinks last night and they are wonderful!

I have many favorite Usborne books- too many to name, but those are two fine examples of why it pays off to have a few in your home.

If you decided to join the contest that give me another way to win free books. Just put this little promo on your blog and link back to Valerie's site and the person with the most recruits gets free books as well.

The Craft Closet: aka This Week's Focus

So, this is my craft closet. It sits under the stairs in the basement of our split foyer home. So. not the shelves are not the same size. Also, the Elfa shelf set on the floor allows us to take them out and get to a large storage area under the stairs toward the front of the house. I used to have them facing front, but Dan suggested a turn them sideways to allow for even more stuff to be store here. It used to be a little walk in area, but then I put stuff on the floor.

The top shelf is my focus today. Those things were placed there when my oldest two were really little- as in when we first moved in. I still need some of those items, but I am betting that I can hoe out and reorganize and get more things up off of the floor in there. Wish me luck!!

Some other things that need to be tamed are on the floor just outside the closet on the floor next to that chair. One is a basket of books.

Hey- if you have any ideas, shoot them my way. I'm listening!!

The Results Everyone's Been Waiting For!

As promised, I am posting the final results of our National Popcorn Day Popcorn Popoff Extravaganza!!

Though, I would not have realized it until we did this taste test, it turns out that Jiffy Pop store bought popcorn is quite lousy when held up against the gourmet stuff distributed by Wisconsin Gold. We popped up 8 varieties and measured volume and scored taste a 1, 2, 3 for good, ok and bad! The kids had the best time and we got to have a first hand look at developing a fair test aka: an experiment using the scientific method.

When we last left off, E9 was tasked with calculating the volume of a cylinder. Why? Well because we measured the volume of our different types of popcorn in a pitcher. And what better way to accurately determine the volume of the popped corn than to calculate the volume of the cylinder which the popped corn filled?!

Once he understood where the numbers of his equation were coming from and he had worked some of the math by hand, we showed E9 the wonders of the hand held calculator. He worked out the problems (see evidence above) and wrote down his answers to be used in further analysis.

Here are the graphs as done by using an open source graphing software. E9 can make lots of different types of graphs and Dan figured it would be ok for him to learn how to use an Excel type software program to assist them in making the final graphs. E9 jumped at the chance for a new learning opportunity. Oddly enough, just that morning he was fervently lamenting the construction of a simple pictograph. And I quote, "This is going to be a lot of work. Do I have to do it?" Seriously? (Grandma- if you are reading, does this sound like anyone you know??)

One of the things we pondered was whether the size of the unpopped kernel would have any effect on the final volume of the popped corn. By making this graph we were able to practice another step in the scientific process- data analysis. Can we use the raw data we collected and answer any more questions? This graph took some tweaking because we used more of a qualitative approach to the data when it came to kernel size vs the quantitative calculation of volume. Another lesson for the kids- which graph best represents our data? Not all graphs are for all types of data. This information is best served by the all time favorite- bar graph! Kernel sizes were classified as small, medium, or large- extremely precise- absolutely!

So, you tell me...as our unpopped kernel size increased, what happened to the popped volume of corn? Is there a trend?

The Team Sweatshirts

Check out the team sweatshirts! We had a local MOPS mom with an embroidery business make them and they turned out wonderfully!! She added the icons that went with the team names and they were perfect! Thanks Onna Jean!

The kids really loved them and I'll have to add a picture of the coach's sweatshirt when I have a moment.

All the teams come decked out in special team shirts and sometimes hats and the FLL crowd make buttons to share with other teams.

This was a great effort on our part and it paid off. Kids had fun doing science. That's what it's all about!

JFLL Event News!

This was built by The Energy Kids team. They have a model showing a microwave oven in the kitchen connected to it's energy source (through various intermediate steps) the Niagara Power Project. The simple machine is a turbine that generates electricity from the moving energy of the turbines. They did a great job!

The Great LEGO Builders did a project on running water in the kitchen sink. The simple machine was a turbine pumping water from the surface water source.

The poster for the Energy Kids- we ended up making a game that allows participants to put in order the route that the electricity takes from the river to the kitchen microwave.

This one is from The Great LEGO Builders- it includes the water source, the filtration plant, the water tower and finally our kitchen sink!

The School Boxes

One of the tasks I really wanted to complete was helping the kids to sort through their school boxes. This one is E9's and it's pretty full. It has his math workbook, dictation notebook, spelling notebook, handwriting notebook, Presidents notebook, his current Beyond notebook (Cricket in Times Square) which is a three-pronged folder, his binder, and his scrapbook notebook along with the spelling dictionary shown here.

This one is a look down on I-5's school box. He has all the things a successful homeschooled kindergartner would need. These are portable file boxes without lids that sit on the floor at their chairs at the school table.

It's not terribly sophisticated but it works for us for now. So, how do you keep the things your kids need daily for school?

At the microscope like Snowflake Bentley

Does this thing rock or what??? I LOVE it! Best $25 I've spent in a loonnngg time! We looked at a piece of Kix Cereal, a broom straw, and later today we'll check out a potato that's been rubbed with washed hands and one without. Won't that be neat. And informative. E9 is studying some germs today.

Before FIAR Plans January 21st

J2 The Snowy Day

He was delighted with the first reading of the book today. It was so fun to see the big smile on his face when the snow plopped on the boy's head.

He will join his older siblings for snow crafts this week. I'd like to try the art project which calls for gluing tissue paper to a page and then using a wet brush to go over them and spread the color around. J2 will get into this for sure!

We'll gently talk about snowflake shapes and probably make some tracks in the snow.

Before Five in a Row is a learning readiness volume written for 2-4 yr olds.

Popcorn Pop off Extravaganza Methods!

The data chart I made for the day's experiment. I've got it in a pdf file and as soon as I learn how to upload it and link it, I'll update this post! I had a scary night trying to use a new random 3 column blogskin and I thought this look was gone until I rebuilt the whole thing. One thing at a time...

We weighed out 40 grams of kernels for each type on the kitchen scale. You have to get one of these and a conversion chart. Flour mesaures out in like record time!

Here are all the varieties unpopped.

And all the labeled bowls of unpopped corn.

I-5 is recording his data (with a little help from me he could trace his findings- small spaces and all that)

Dan's the official popper. 1 tbsp of oil was used in the "pop it on the stove in a metal bowl" method. Don't ask. It's all about Alton.

E9 carefully pours the popped corn into a pitcher for official volume measurements. The younger kids recorded how many quarts from the side of the pitcher. However, E9 measured the height of the popcorn in cm and now is tasked with...are you ready for this sports fans?...finding the area of a cylinder!!

A shot of all the popped varieties.

This is a visual representation of our experiment. The results were calculated and I will tell you this much. Though you may not realize it, the store brand isn't the best popcorn out there.

Tomorrow the kids will be graphing some of the results. We will share a graph portraying the winning brand and type AND we'll share some correlations. For example, does kernel size affect how big the corn pops up?

I know. You can hardly wait.

In the Way: January 21-February 2 , 2008

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
Backyard Birds of Winter by Carol Lerner
Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer
Grandmother Winter by Phyllis Root
Tracks in the Snow by Wong Herbert Yee
Winter Barn by Peter Parnall
In the Snow: Who's Been Here? by Lindsay Barrett George
North Country Night by Daniel SanSouci
The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
The Very Last First Time by Jan Andrews
Usborne-The Snowy Day by Anna Milbourne and Elena Temporin
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Snow by Marion Dane Bauer
Magic School Bus Sleeps for the Winter Scholastic Level 2 Reader
Magic School Bus Arctic Adventure Scholastic Level 2 Reader
The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll
Winter Poems compiled by Barbara Rogasky
Stranger in the Woods by Carl Sams II and Jean Stoick
Magic School Bus Lost in the Snow Scholastic Level 2 Reader
The Snow Storm by Heather Amery
All You Need for a Snowman by Alice Schertle
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

Dollhouse Renovation

R7 helps to mark the wood.

R7 learns how to use a speed square.

Measuring the height between the floors

The new walls are in!

Dan in his "workshop".

National Popcorn Day!

Is today folks! And today at our house we are having a HUGE Popcorn Pop Off Extravaganza!! We recently ordered 7 types of gourmet-ish popcorn (mainly because Alton Brown of Good Eats convinced Dan it was the best thing to do for popcorn!) and we've been saying that we need to do a taste test each time we try out a new kind.

When I found out that today was National Popcorn Day I knew today would be the pop off! We talked to the kids about how to test the popcorn types fairly. What things would need to be the same and what could change if we wanted only to find out how the popcorn measures up to the other types. The kids unanimously decided that the amount of kernels we start with must be the same along with the amount of butter and salt. That way the only thing different is the kernels we start with.

They decided that we'd measure the size once popped (by how much it fills the same bowl), taste, and color. Each type of popcorn will receive its own score between 1 and 4 and we'll do some data analysis to determine the winner. Should there be a tie, we will do a taste off between them and you must pick one as better than the rest. If there is still a tie after the taste off, well then there will be a tie (this isn't college football after all).

The kids are very excited. I'm off to make data charts and we will be sure to report back in later on after the official event. Can you tell these are children of an engineer and science teacher? Nah....

Introducing, "In the Way"

Otherwise known as our learning table aka: the coffee table. I have noticed that R7 really reads a ton when I lay out themed books on our coffee table. So, that's what I do. This week we've got books related to The Giraffe that Walked to Paris and Cricket in Times Square. There are books on NY, books on crickets, Egypt, Mediterranean Sea, and of course giraffes.

So, this will be a new category and possibly and item in the sidebar. I recently found a blog where she does just that. I like the idea so I'll snag it, but I feel guilty stealing the name "On the coffee Table". When I said this to Dan he said we should call it, "In the Way of My Husband's Feet" Well because of course the books are in his way when he watches TV and he wants to put his feet up!

So, I'm going to shorten it to ... In the Way. If you have a better, more clever name feel free to share it here in the comment section.

So, In the Way this week is:

New York, New York The Big Apple from A to Z by Laura Krauss Melmed
New York The Empire State by Margery Facklam and Peggy Thomas
Chirping Crickets by Melvin Berger
Cricketology
A Historical Album of NY by Monique Avakin
Scholastic World Atlas
My Visit to the Zoo by Aliki
Egypt by tom Streissguth
Egypt Faces and Places by Patrick Ryan
Children of the World Egypt by Valerie Weber (senior editor)
Usborne First Encyclopedia of Animals by Paul Dowswell
The M World Book Encyclopedia

Sometimes He Makes Me Laugh...

"Apparently they estimate that everyone should know where New Haven is."

-E9 while working on this mapping activity of NY and CT.

His frustration was mounting while he was following sequential directions and he didn't find the land marks on the printed map that came with the activity. He ended his tirade with, "These people have issues." He did finish the activity. Pictures coming soon.

Soup's On!

Buttermilk Biscuits made from this Hot Roll No Rise Dough recipe

1 tbsp yeast
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup oil
2 cups sour milk, buttermilk, or yogurt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
7 cups flour (you can do half whole wheat half white flour if desired)

Dissolve yeast in the water with the sugar. Add remaining ingredients. Mix and knead well.

This dough will keep in the frig for two weeks. You can freeze it too and it defrosts nicely. I like to keep some on hand all the time though it takes no time at all to mix up and bake.

It's really versatile dough. I've made pizza roll ups, pizza crust, biscuits (the favorite by far), cinammon rolls, bread sticks, or even donut holes.

I bake at 425 for about 10 to 12 minutes for the biscuits. I made tons last night and brought them out this morning for breakfast with honey or jam on top. Yummo!

Hardy Turkey Vegetable Soup (from my friend Susan)

1 lb lean ground turkey (I've also used mild italian turkey sausage as pictured here)
1 can great northern beans (or pintos)
1 medium onion (I leave almost all onions out of everything- this batch turned out great without them)
2 small zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced
1 can Italian diced tomatoes, undrained
1 large carrot cut julienne strips
3 cans reduced sodium beef broth
1 tbsp dried parsley flakes
1 jar garden-style or any meatless pasta sauce
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp pepper
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 tsp hot pepper sauce (I skip it when using the sausage)
1 cup uncooked small shell pasta

In a Dutch oven coated with non-stick cooking spray, cook turkey and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add zucchini, carrot: cook and stir one minute longer. Stir in the broth, pasta sauce, beans, tomatoes, parsley, oregano, pepper, and pepper sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Just before serving, stir in pasta. Makes ten servings.

I love this soup! The kids eat it pretty well and it is fantastic reheated for lunch. I freeze it in small one cup containers to have for lunch. Again, yummo!