CHRIS WALKED WITHOUT HIS CRUTCHES!!

He made it about 20 paces to the kitchen and back. That's a pretty major accomplishment for someone who hasn't walked in 3 months.

I'm getting ready to upload some photos and get the blog updated. Stay tuned!

Yes, there was a birthday

I know it's been almost a month since the boys had a birthday, and we really did celebrate! This year Scotty wanted to do a big steam-up, so Chris' dad agreed to steam up the big tractor. Scotty was so excited and really enthusiastic about helping to get the engine clean and ready. When the big day came the first thing was getting his presents. Scotty got a rechargeable electric motorbike and Chris was so thoughtful that he picked up some paint for Eli so she wouldn't feel left out.




Scotty selected the guests for the party and he invited everyone he thought would love to see the steam engine. Most everyone came, but he did miss his Nino, who was home with a bad knee.



Papa Scott operated the steam hoist which is used to hoist a real mine bucket into a 1:1 scale model of a mine shaft head frame which he built several years ago as a demonstration model. Several guests took a ride down the "mine shaft" which is really only an 8 foot deep hole because we'd hit water if we dug it any deeper.




And of course there would be no birthday celebration without firing off the potato cannon, which was built for last year's Mythbusters party. It's always a hit with the crowd!




Several of the kids and the kids-at-heart went out to the landing zone to look for the spuds after they were launched.



We all had a great time and we thank everyone who came so much for helping to make it such a fun day.

Twice tagged

Busy holidays! I'm sure there are lots of photos to share but I haven't found the time to even look at them. We've been gearing up for another farm season and trying to finish the shop.

For now, I must oblige two bloggers who have recently tagged me! Katy wants me to write 8 things about myself that others don't know, and Diana tagged me with the Archive Meme.


First for the 8 things. This is hard because I already did 6 things last year. Let's see:

1. When I worked in the reptile house at the zoo, it was all I could do not to stick my hand into the rattlesnake cage *just because I could*. I'd stand there with the cage open and think "I could just stick my hand in there...." I wasn't suicidal or anything--it was just glaringly obvious how easy it would be to do it. You know, kind of like when you are at the symphony and it's a really slow quiet part and you realize how you could just yell out "SUCK IT" or something equally inappropriate.

2. I used to race bicycles (road--I'm way too tall for mountain biking).

3. I can spin and jump on ice skates.

4. I have a bicornuate uterus. That means it is heart-shaped with a deep septum. Both of my babies grew in the left side of the heart. Marmosets and tamarins (small New World primates) also have bicornuate uteri. They usually give birth to twins, carrying one in each side.

5. I've never seen the movie Gone With the Wind. (ducking and running....)

6. As a kid I used to do those logic problems like they have in the GRE for fun.

An amusement park roller coaster includes five cars, numbered 1 through 5 from front to back. Each car accommodates up to two riders, seated side by side. Six people�Tom, Gwen, Laurie, Mark, Paul and Jack�are riding the coaster at the same time.

* Laurie is sharing a car.
* Mark is not sharing a car and is seated immediately behind an empty car.
* Tom is not sharing a car with either Gwen or Paul.
* Gwen is riding in either the third or fourth car.

Which of the following groups of riders could occupy the second car?
.
(A) Laurie only
(B) Tom and Gwen
(C) Laurie and Mark
(D) Jack and Tom
(E) Jack, Gwen, and Paul

Needless to say I did really well on that section of the GRE.

7. If I sleep on my back I get nightmares.

8. I have a crush on Ewan McGregor (shut up Kevin--not everyone knows this yet!)

And now for the Archive Meme:

1. A link about family. This was a really early post but one of my favorites. I have found out since then that the song I printed there was originally written for Rufus Wainwright.

2. A link about friends just has to be about my local homeschooling tribe. These are women who I know I could call at a moment's notice for anything. In fact, I've done it and they were there. I love you guys!

3. This one is supposed to be about me. I think this one is pretty relevant to what I'm doing now.

4. This one is something I love. I just love watching my kids shine.

5. This one can be about anything I want. Looking back, I just love the story about Hank. I still think about him all the time. Someday I'll get another Aussie.

Thanks Diana and Katy for the tags! I won't tag anyone else with the 8 things, because most everyone I know has already been tagged with this one. But for the Archive Meme, I'm tagging:

Mik & Mac
Kevin
Sylvia (with the hope that she'll post something again soon)
Katy
and Jim


Archive Meme Instructions: Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you've written. ... but there is a catch: Link 1 must be about family. Link 2 must be about friends. Link 3 must be about yourself, who you are... what you're all about. Link 4 must be about something you love. Link 5 can be anything you choose. I think this is a great way to circulate some of the great older posts everyone had written, return to a few great places in our memories and also learn a little something about ourselves and each other that we may not know. Post your five links and then tag five other people. At least TWO of the people you tag must be *newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better....and don't forget to read the archive posts and leave comments!

Wow, a whole post with lots of writing and no pictures!

New computer, new hair

Things are changing around here! I used my new MacBook to take a photo of myself with my new hair. Because my birthday is this week and we are leaving for the Live and Learn Conference the day before, I decided to do something I've never done and go blonde! I had a great time at the salon with my friend Crystal and her stylist. It was the perfect way to celebrate my birthday.

So here's fair warning to those of you who will see me on the upcoming trip:

Sustainable foods at the BioPark

Last weekend Chris participated in a sustainable foods festival at the BioPark. He designed an exhibit about home aquaculture which featured live fish and some great information. The kids and I, along with Beth, Kevin, Emma, and Nina, all attended and ate great food. Then we wandered the aquarium and botanic gardens at night, which was a treat.

Here's Eli in the gift shop.



Our spread of delicious food.



The kids exploring the pond.



Here's Chris with his exhibit.



I love this photo of Emma.



The girls checking out the fish.



The little girls.



And the big girls.



And the other big girl making trouble.



And the boy.



The girls got to paint flower pots.



And goof off in the aquarium.






This is Terina's little boy Griffin. He's so big already!



Giddyup ant!



Night owls.



The evening ended with a bit of dancing. It was a lovely, warm summer night with good friends and good food. Who could ask for anything more?

Summer recital

Last weekend we had our annual summer flamenco recital at Civic Plaza. It was brutally hot but fun nonetheless. I was truly touched by my friends and family who came out to endure the heat and help watch my kids while I danced. I only get to perform twice a year and it means a lot to me.

Thanks also to the Fullers for taking and sharing some great photos.

I'm OK!

The news is good about my kidney--thanks Schuyler for asking! While they didn't find the exact cause of my problems, they also didn't see anything life threatening and the dilatation of the kidney is gone. I am feeling much better and I'm looking forward to getting back to dance class next month. This past weekend we took Scotty to his first ever engine show where he was the youngest exhibitor, showing his K'NEX engines. I'll get those photos up soon.

May Mom's Night Out

We had another fun MNO this month. More fun conversation and great company, with a little bit of shenanigans thrown in. My camera was doing wierd things with the light which makes the whole thing look kind of psychedelic.

The server was so patient--she took this same photo with four different cameras!


Crystal giving me the booty. Maybe that's where Eliza learned it!


Always on our minds even on Mom's night out, the kids each got a cookie when we got home.


Because of Chris' crazy springtime schedule, Gary and Kevin very generously took the kids this time. Back at Beth and Kevin's house, Eliza and Emma were having a great time. Eli actually stayed awake until after midnight!

Mom's Night Out

OK, all the other gals have got their MNO photos on their blogs already so here are mine too. You will all be disappointed though because I only took four pictures the entire evening and none of them are all that interesting.

Still, we had a really great time. We ate well, laughed, had a million things to talk about, and they even made me dance. I was pleased to see how much fun we had together. We are all different in many ways but we are all homeschoolers, which is a deep and common thread that ties us together. And the real evidence that we like each other is that we didn't just talk about our kids the entire night! Afterwards, Sylvia, Beth, and I went to see Blades of Glory at the theater. What a treat--and who knew Beth had such an infectious laugh? I haven't laughed so much in a long time.






For much better photos see Beth's blog here Sylvia's blog here, or Crystal's blog here

Three nuts visit the museum

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Rue in a game of blogosphere tag.

I'm supposed to list 6 wierd things about me and then tag 6 people. I won't be tagging Crystal because I noticed she's already been tagged twice!

If you get tagged and want to play, make your list and be sure to show who you tag at the bottom.

Here they are:
1. I drink my iced tea plain. Unless I have a straw, in which case I have to pour in about 5 packets of sugar so I can suck the little sugar granules up off the bottom of the glass. If I don't have a straw, I can't stand to drink it with sugar.

2. My maiden name is Yocom.

3. I love the show America's Next Top Model.

4. I love the smell of stinky toddler feet, but I hate adult feet.

5. I have synesthesia.

6. I have stood in the body cavity of a dead elephant.

I'm tagging Sylvia, Mik&Mac, Laureen , Cheryl, Robin, and Christy