The Creative Forces of Nature at Work

Ever since I saw Bobby and his brothers do it on the Brady Bunch, I have wanted to make a homemade volcano.  But amidst all the chaos that actually happened in our home growing up, a volcano was one of the few things that actually never exploded around our house. My desire was deepened last year when I saw that my friend Mona had taken on the task with her two boys. 

Enter our new science book from the library. Almost from day one this is the experiment that I’ve wanted to do. This is the experiment that would make me the cool-mom-on-the-block. Sadly and unusually we were out of baking soda for the first couple of days. The second problem arose with the weather. Now you will remember that the Brady boys built their volcano in the back yard, which was a good thing considering the velocity of the explosion. By the time we had the baking soda the weather necessitated that the experiment be performed in doors.  But as we all know science and four-year-olds cannot be stopped and so we nervously forged ahead.

The Ingredients

The Scientists

The geological process of volcano building

The overall experiment is unbelievably easy. We got sand from the neighborhood sandbox (completely ignoring the disgusting nature of a neighborhood sandbox). The instructions called for a small plastic bottle, the best I could do was a bottle for an old prescription of Tamaflu that my girls refused to take. After cleaning the bottle we filled it about half full of baking soda, then packed the sand around it. Then we poured red food coloring into the vinegar because we all know that lava is red. Then we poured the vinegar into the bottle. 

Thankfully, explosion would be a little dramatic to describe what happened, but my girls were more than pleased with the eruption and we repeated it over and over again. 

Random Thoughts Thursday

Yesterday before my classes I was meeting with my supervisor. He kindly said, "You were born to teach." Considering, I'm teaching until 10:00 on Wednesdays, Sunday school on Sunday's and this week a Relief Society lesson on top of that, it certainly feels true. That said I think I was born to eat chocolate and read novels, but little around me seems to support that idea.

This morning I went to a viewing for Abbie's preschool teacher's husband. Preschool has been canceled for at least a month. While we miss preschool, it is only because this teacher and her class has been a real blessing for our family. They are in our prayers.

About 45 minutes from our house a man decided to carve/create giant ice castles on the property of a mountain resort. I have heard reports that they are stunning. Now if we can just find a weekend when it is not snowing to go visit them.

Lately Savannah has been really into doing puzzles. The particular puzzles she likes have the same image on the background so it is perfect for a two-year-old to do them by herself. In fact, this morning while I was working on the computer, she kept saying, "I'm good at puzzles. I'm good at puzzles." I hope the self-esteem will stick.

Savannah has been doing really well at not wetting the bed so we decided to nix diapers at night. Sadly it lasted about two nights and then there was a 4:30 am deluge. Thankfully Russ handled it. Not so thankful to be not quite done with the diapers.

In order to survive the cold month sans preschool we got this book from the library. It has been a BIG hit with Abbie. We have sucked oxygen out of the air, made an underwater volcano, studied the thickness of different liquids, planted seeds (yet to see results here) made homemade ice cream, and figured out why sunsets are yellow. I love it first, because it provides me quality time with Abs that does not involve me being Cinderella. Even more important was when her cousin was over and they were doing the projects together they yelled out, "I love science! I want to be a scientist when I grow up!" It is nice to have moments when I really think I nailed it as a parent, because so much of the time I'm not always sure.

The Darnest Things

The girls with my Grandma at Christmas

Savannah

This morning I helped Savannah get dressed. We put on her underwear, shirt, pants, and a light blue tule skirt. After she danced gracefully around the room I reminded her, "Savannah, we need to pick up the books." Library books were scattered everywhere.

She gave me a glare that only a 13-year-old should know how to use.

" Mom, you mean Cinderella."

I stand corrected. Hourly.

Abbie

Today Abbie was watching an old copy of the living scriptures videos about the miracles of Jesus. The Savior had just calmed the storm and turned to his disciples saying, "Where is your faith?"

Abbie turned to me very worried, "Mom they don't know where they put their faith!"

  * * *

This afternoon I finally forced myself to fold the laundry. Amidts the pile sat my bra. Abbie picked it up and asked, "Why do you wear this weird thing?"

To support....

To hide.....

To show....



I don't know kiddo. I don't know.

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Trust me this is the best sugar cookie recipe for soft cookies. I got it from my brother's girlfriend. She claims she has one that is even better, but I don't know how that could be possible. These are amazing. One note, it says to chill the dough for 20 minutes. I've made the cookies twice and if you only want to chill the dough for 20 minutes it has to be in the freezer to get hard enough to be rolled out. I'm sure the fridge could work but it would need to be for much longer than 20 minutes.

1 cup sour cream
2 cups white sugar
1 cup butter
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract
6 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine sour cream, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla. Mix well.

Add dry ingredients until everything is mixed together. Let the dough chill in fridge for 20 minutes or until firm.

Roll it out and use cookie cutters or whatever you want.

Bake until LIGHT golden brown-no more than 10 minutes. When you take them out they will seem underdone but aren't. Let them cool on the pan and they will be perfect and moist. It you like them harder and more crunchy just bake them a little longer.

Sick Kids Haiku

Fever wakes us up

Medicine tastes of gum, Yuck!

No rest, take a nap.

Four-year-old is sick.

Two-year-old wants her sister.

Germs, stay where you are!

Work eight-hour shift?

Not moms, twenty-four seven.

Overtime means less pay, sigh.

Random Thoughts Thursday

We just spent the morning making Valentine's cookies for the preschool Valentine's Party later today. I really hope the preschoolers will be fine with Valentine butterflies and stars along with the hearts, because that is what they are getting. I would say that little kids will be fine with anything then I look at my two picky eaters and sigh. 

I have 54 papers to grade. Maybe I should give them all Bs and call it good. Then I can read my novel.

Last week I stocked up on art supplies to get us through the rest of winter. All of the water colors have already been used.

I need to post the recipe for the cookies we made. They are the. best. sugar. cookies. EVER! Trust me I'll get it done.

I've realized this week that while I have some concerns about where I am in life right now, as far as what I am doing, I am doing exactly what I want to be doing. It is a nice thing to know about your life. 

Except for grading papers, I don't want to do that, but I think I mentioned that already. 

Talk in Church

Abbie has been asked to give a talk in primary next week. So this morning with our loooonng Sunday morning before one o'clock church, I decided to have her help me write her talk. She chose the topic of why the scriptures are important. Here is what we wrote.

If it was the first time you went to the zoo, and you didn’t know where to go. You could ask the man nicely for a map. The map could tell you where to go and how to get to the elephants.

Heavenly Father has a map for us. Which is the scriptures. Scriptures help you learn about Jesus. If you did not know what to do, you could read the scriptures and it would tell you what to do. If you do bad things, it will make Jesus sad. If you do nice things it will make Jesus happy. My favorite scripture story is the Savior in America and journey to the promise land.

I like the scriptures. I believe the scriptures tell the truth. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

It 90% Abbie helped by a few leading questions by mom. Overall I'm pretty proud of my little girl.

(We'll see how the actual talk goes next week.)

(Update: Abbie is now telling me that she doesn't want to speak in primary next week. So who knows what will happen.)

Random Thoughts Thursday

What is the advantage of tile and hardwood? The second you have to sweep or Swiffer almost daily, and the first you have to do what I have spent my morning doing, scrubbing the grout with every muscle in your arm to get it clean. Give me carpet any day.

I've been listening to the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes while cleaning this morning. They are more enjoyable in  many aspects than I would have guessed, and much more enjoyable than a 1,000th relistening to The Magic Treehouse series which my girls love.

I had to stock up our household art supplies this week. With a six more weeks of winter predicted this week, we need more in-house entertainment to pull us through the homestretch.

I've been listening to interviews of the author of the new book, Cinderella Ate my Daughter, wherein she (the author) writes and researches on her concern of the over-sexualizing of young girls, and regarding princesses, the over-concern with girls of the need to be "fairest of them all". While I don't agree with everything I have heard, I am intrigued, and thing it is valuable reading for mothers of young girls.  I have the book on hold at the library, and will let you know what I think.

The other day while the girls were napping I decided to lay down and take a nap myself. The house was a mess but I was exhausted and thought I would just clean it up afterward. Unfortunately, that is when our Relief Society president decided to drop by for a visit. No nap, and a horrific house. The fates are against me.

I switched the meat on the roast that I had made a few weeks ago to a less expensive cut. While still incredibly good, the more expensive meat was better. BLAST!

Savannah has started calling Abbie by her household nickname of "Abs". Abbie calls Savannah her (Savannah's) self-entitled name of Sannah. I find it all adorable.


I desperately wish we had more little kids that lived close by.