VACATION!

In the absence of Dad, the girls and I have gone on a Grand Christmas Vacation Excursion. (In our Excursion.) First we traveled 10 hours to Grandad's house in time for a Birthday party for Chickadee (10yrs old). We stopped only twice that day, not bad for a car full of girls.

We spent acouple days at GranMary's house, with day trips to Gram and Gramps and our old college town. We saw Aunt Lo and her gang and "Fred, Ethel Merts" and her gang. Unfortunatley we couldnt see everyone we wanted to, but we'll try to stay longer next time.
We are currently up at Gram and Gramps' house for the long weekend and will go to the Barney and Betty Rubble's house for New Years and MU football and another birthday party. (Bam Bams 10th birthday.)

More updates next week, when we return to bedrock. :)
Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year.

A friend forwarded this link to me, it's like a bedtime story on the creation. Very nice.

http://www.kids4truth.com/watchmaker/watch.html


(As to the fort progress, none. In fact, with Christmas and all, I think I'm going to count it as a loss. We're just not going to get to it. "big sigh" Off to the dumpster I go.)

Fort Building Progress

Attempt 1: self supporting, wired together, failed miserably.
Attempt 2: zip-tied to PVC and wire frame, a bit wobbly, stood 4 days, toppled by exuberant 4 year old. She's sorry, and she cried, but we explained that it wasn't really her fault.
Attempt 3 pending: plan to repeat attempt 2 with increased structural supports. All parts are purchased, we're just waiting for a warmer day. It's been down in the 50's, and a bit chilly. :)

Watch out OU! Here come the Tigers!

I've been trying to get youtube to post a video on here for about a half an hour but it isn't working so you'll just have to click on these for now on you're own. Go MIZ-ZOU! What a fun game!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wtHvipp8yw&feature=related

https://secure.pursuantgroup.net/pursuant4/mizzou/muselect/flashstory.asp?tpgid=AAAAAS06E800000054800000281340&sn=1

Apologies to my Jayhawk friends, but this is sorta cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl2ZOpkJVxk

Testing new photoshare. Halloween Mosaic

(Click on a photo to see complete image, then roll over the others)

Baby Dolls

A while back we had a quite afternoon, (don't know how that happened, must have been a Sunday) and decided to make these little blanket baby dolls. The girls had a great time sewing on the hair, and stuffing the little bodies. They did really well! Everyone was pleased. Here are the pics.

Using our resources

When we moved in a year or so ago our palm tree out front looked like this.


Actually, this is the best "before" picture we have. I guess with how overgrown everything was, we didn't consider the palm a priority. However, as we've been tring to improve our 'curb appeal' the palm was looking more and more like a huge lollypop. (The big 12 inchers that you always hope no one gives your kids. ) -but I digress. Five feet from the bottom you can see where the old fronds had been sawed off, but the bases remained against the tree. Those old bases continued up the tree for another 7-10 feet under the dead hanging fronds. Then we had about 3 feet of dead palm fronds to remove before we hit the newer growth. FYI Palms grow pretty slow and only need to be trimmed every 3-5 years. Ours was due.

We borrowed a pruning saw (funnest tool ever, highly recommend one) and set to work.
Fortunately for us it rained very heavily the night before. (Now that I think about it, it hasn't rained since.) But what we found the next day was that the rain had softened the debris and fibers such that after we knocked off the old trimmed stuff with the back of the saw, we were able to PULL off all the fronds that we could reach! Which, though MUCH easier than sawing, was still quite a workout.


We actually did have to saw off the highest ones, 'cause we couldn't reach anymore, and after a couple days working on it, it was starting to dry out and get tough again.


-And now it really looks great. We have a much better view of the mountains.


...The onnly problem is that I couldn't just let the garbage man carry off such a novel resource as the dead fronds. We have a ton of them. We carted them into the back yard and have made an attempt or two at making a fort out of them. So far unsuccessful, but determined. Any design ideas are welcome. I think we are going to have to build a 2X4 frame of some kind and nail them on.

(Also, they make pretty good kindling.)