Thursday, October 30, 2008

Happy 18th Andrew!

I realize that this is not officially Andrew. However, being the family photographer, the photos of a pregnant me are few so since Andrew is the one causing me to look like an Easter egg, I figured, it counted! :-)
I believe I was at the top of the 7th here.




Can you tell I've been awake in labor since a little after midnight? Then had a C. Bummer. But healthy baby PTL!

Since Andrew was born on Oct. 30, the hospital had all the babies as little orange punkin' heads. That I didn't mind but I abhored the paper cut-outs of witches & ghosts which they replaced in his rolling crib every time he went back to the hospital nursery. One would think that they'd figure out that I didn't want them since I threw them away every time he came to me.
Nothing like a big brother to help you grow-up fast. Jacob was disappointed that Andrew wasn't born ready to roughhouse. I told him that when Andrew got bigger he would be able to walk. Jacob replied with a big smile, "And I can push him down!"



Andrew was the limberest (is that a word?) kid I have ever seen. Chewed his toes. Once I watched him laying on his side looking at a book turning pages with his foot. Very talented.


He was also an excellent eater. The best one. And eager to try anything, just bring it on FAST.
Some things never change. :-)

I included this photo as a "before his first haircut" shot. That's probably the bowl that held his first birthday cake batter.



Here's my sweetie after his first haircut. What a cute kid. He'd look up at you & bat those long eyelashes. Spoiled? Of course not. Wrapped around a finger. No way.
Just very loved.

Happy birthday, Andrew!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Centennial Flashback

OK, so it's not 100 years. Blog # 100. Cool beans!

Flashback to blog #1
I was excited about the movie
Expelled:
No Intelligence Allowed
opening at the theater.
Now it is out on DVD.
Haven't taken the time to see it yet? Now's your chance.

Stan picked up a copy at Walmart for the library. Funny thing: He said they were hard to find and only a few copies were available. Now, that doesn't sound like Wallyworld for a typical movie DVD premiere.

The website is still active and offers a petition opportunity and a bobblehead Ben among other things. Too funny! http://www.expelledthemovie.com/
Ben Stein says that Expelled was the #1 documentary in 2008 and has produced change "from the legislature to the classroom." PTL!

Blog # 2 dealt mainly with the county fair (held in the spring) & the Spurs in the playoffs. Spurs lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference finals. Maybe next time!

In blog #3 Rachel was about to get braces. Here are my three sweet braces faces. Rachel's orthodontists are wanting a couple of her teeth which have refused to erupt to be "exposed", cut & stitch open the gum & attach a wire to pull the tooth down. OUCHIE. We are praying that they will move without medical intervention.
Caleb may get his off soon. YEA!
Jacob is dealing with cavities along with the braces. Come on, Boy! Brush & floss that gated community!

Blog #4 began our Mini Saga.
Current update: Dr. Stan is working on putting the engine back together. It's coming right along but slower with him working days at his real job. It would be great to have Mini going before Thanksgiving (and potentially possible) so we might get to visit my mom. Red is prepared to donate exhaust pipes since Mini didn't have any. The surgeon is not expecting any rejection problems.

Blog #5 = more Spurs. Sigh.

In blog # 6, Rachel purchased a kilt for Jacob. I know you've been waiting for this photo for a long time. :-) On the rest of his attire, Maryn painted the shirt in one of her classes. It says "I like cheese" and has a picture of a llama (Jacob's nickname, thank you Jake G.).
Yes. He is also wearing the ugly tattoo arm hose I mentioned before. He insisted. Reading about the painted people in Rosemary Sutcliff's books must have rubbed off. We do have some English, Irish & Scotch ancestry so perhaps he comes by some of this stuff genetically. :-)
JIC you are concerned about my son wearing a SKIRT, check out these manly men http://www.kiltmen.com/photogallery3.htm
Jacob liked the kilted paintball team.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Christmas Cowboy

I don't have any baby pictures to share in honor of 50 years for my dear hubby. This photo was taken Christmas 1965 when Stan was (Quickly do your math!!) 7 years old. He's quite a cutie in his cowboy getup.
In case you ever wonder which of our sons most resembles their dad:

When my mother-in-law gave this pictue to me and I showed it to Jacob, did he ask who it was?
NO.
He immediately said, "When did Andrew get those guns? Where are they?"
Then, he didn't believe me right away when I told him it wasn't Andrew but his dad.

Now you know.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

50 Surprises

Yeppers. Stan turns the big five oh on Friday. He said he didn't want a party so we are not having one. However, we did surprise him at church supper last night.

We started scheming planning on Monday. Jacob would purchase the balloons & put them in Andrew's car. Rachel would practice some of her new cake decorating skills.
These say 50 not "SO"! I think she did a good job. :-)
Here we are, waiting for the man of the hour to arrive. He's working OT the rest of this week (Well, through today since he took tomorrow off. Just cause it's his 50th birthday. Sheesh. You'd think it was a big deal or something.) so we knew he'd be late getting there. I was hoping for between 5:30 & 6 but time passed. Slowly.
We got our drinks.
We got our salads & deserts (Yes, I realize there are cupcakes in the Tupperware. Are you suggesting that 2 tiny deserts are too many? Fah!).
We paid for supper & brought our spaghetti plates with yummy garlic bread to the table to wait.

And waited.
Waiting, my mind wandered into realms of why he had not yet arrived. Ranger broke down? Possible. Traffic accident greatly slowing the drive home? Also possible. Maybe he'd arrive after supper was over? Bummer! Surely not. He's gotta get here soon.

I ate my salad. Mixed complete with cherry tomatoes & carrots & topped with some yummy vidalia onion dressing. Lip smackin' good.

FINALLY about 6:15, Ranger was sighted & the target my dear hubby approached the building.

Jacob stood-up in front of the doors facing the noisy, crowded Fellowship Hall.
He waved his arms over his head and projected well, "Excuse me!"
The room got quiet.
"My Dad is turning 50 and didn't want a party so we thought we'd surprise him here. When he comes in, will you help us sing Happy Birthday to him? Here he comes!"

Stan walked in and:




Then we took a couple more pictures & ate our supper.


I love it when a plan comes together!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

MOPS Memories

Yesterday morning a couple of other church ladies and I helped lead a discussion about childhood fears & answer some questions for our church's MOPS group. I felt honored to be asked and blessed by the bonus of breakfast. Feed them & they will come!

One of the organizers estimated our combined parenting experience as 45 years. We discussed among ourselved & decided we should get credit for each child since each is so different from the others. For me it's 20 + 18 + 15 + 12 = 65 years. No wonder I sometimes feel old, tired & ready for retirement. LOL!

It was fun thinking back to when the kids had what we'd consider silly fears today:
Rachel's "scary" beans (French cut reminded her of worms - it didn't help that Jacob decided to pick one up & act like it was gonna get her).
Caleb freaking out at a loud, moving toy ("Hahahaha, Wipe Out! Nanananananananananananananananan").
Andrew's fear of sitting in a chair that he fell over in (Just don't push your feet against the table & you won't fall).
Jacob's fear of blindfolds & spooky music (The music can't get'cha, Buddy).

It was usually easy to hug those childhood fears away.

Praise the Lord that Our Heavenly Father can cast away all fears with His Perfect Love: a Spiritual hug for all ages, available whenever needed.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

5 Years Ago

As hoped (and prayed - Thank You, Lord!) I did come across Dad's story. Be sure to read it in a masculine voice with a southern accent. Here is how this story came to be.

Well, hello! Good of you to stop by. My name is John Casper Rogers. I'm dealing with dementia and throat cancer or I'd be pleased to shake your hand and visit a spell. We could talk about lots of things.

I spent over 20 years in the military once I convinced my folks to let me join at 17. They wanted me to use my full football scholarship to UT but I hated school. I married my high school sweetheart after basic training then spent four years in the Army at Ft. Gordon in GA and in W. Germany where my girl was born (She has 4 kids & lives in FL now). I took some time off in my native TN where my son was born (He and his daughter don't live too far from my house now). Then I spent over 16 years in the Air Force. I served a tour in Vietnam, and was stationed at Gunter and Maxwell; at Warren in Cheyenne, WY; and at Lackland in San Antonio, TX. I was one of only 17 gunsmiths for the Air Force. Part of my job included designing tools and working on weapons for the CIA, FBI and the USA Olympic Team. I couldn't shoot in the Olympics because I was a "professional". I retired at age 40 as a Master Sergeant.

I was a professional wrestler while stationed in Montgomery. Remember booing the masked Mr. X in the early 70s? That was me!

I have always loved the outdoors; camping, hunting, fishing, canoeing, frog gigging, collecting the Indian rocks and other stuff I found laying around. I've had all sorts of pets including a skunk and baby possums. Always had dogs & cats. I started doing taxidermy work when I was in high school. I fooled around with that professionally and otherwise for over 20 years. I built my own home in the country after retiring in '85. I helped friends with their houses too. I've designed and built furniture, gun stocks and knives. I had a side business selling things I designed and built: one-handed clocks, bird feeders and houses, and adjustable quilting frames. I was part owner of a hunting guide co-op. I worked as a jailer in Lee and Tallapoosa Counties for about four years. I taught the weapons portion of the hunters safety course.

If we had gotten together a few years ago I could have helped you with any gun problem or sharpened your knives. You'd have to be careful or you might get caught in one of my practical jokes. You wouldn't catch me though! You might could have attended one of my fish fries (no, you may not have my recipe!) or wiener roasts. You would have heard stories, I know. I could have told you about the day I caught a 10, 11 and 12 lb. bass within 10 minutes or the day I shot an angry bull elk in WY using a bullet that had misfired in a friend's gun. You'd've met my wife of 41 years, "the hatchet" (she's not big enough to be a battle axe) and listened to me sing with my good dog, Toad. You might have laughed at how I strung-out my son-in-law by playing with a .45 while he was trying to ask to marry my daughter. You could have tried my deer jerky - now the hot is REALLY HOT. We would've fed the fish in the pond and walked up to the barn or down to the creek.

But this is now. Thanks for taking the time to read and for stopping by.

I had to track down & scan some photos. They were not put away for safe keeping. They were put away to keep from reminding me what a horrible job I'm doing keeping track of family momentoes. I'm not a scrapbooker, just a shutterbug pack rat. I love digital!

The pictures look much better in person but maybe you'll enjoy them anyhow, or you can come see them & have a little visit with me while you're at it. If awful looking photos give you the heebie jeebies, RUN! Or quickly click to another page.

1964 My parents and their sweet little bundle of joy: ME!
Mom said that I cried a lot. Sorry.
She also told me that well before I was born, Dad had chosen my name, Patricia Ann & said that I would not have a nickname. Guess who shortened it? Yeppers, it was him.
Hm. Sure glad I grew some hair. :-)



This is a military photo taken just before he shipped off to Vietnam. As you can see, he was not at all happy about it.
It was life changing for him both for the memories (I heard some of the horrible stories) and the agent orange effects> probably the reason Alzheimer's hit so early. Mom said he came back a different person.

This was taken much later, early 80s I would guess.
What do you get the person who has EVERYTHING when you have a very limited budget? Banjo strings - just what he needed. That plus some creative packaging put that smile on his face. :-)

BTW, the banjo was easier to make than it was to wrap!


1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, TN
Notice my graduation hair has grown a little. When I met Stan just a few months later, my hair was shorter than his. :-)


This is one of my favorite family photos. Stan is in the picture now so I'm guessing '84. This is in front of my parent's home in TX.





The faces look blurry to me, but I'm the one in the white dress. Carrying the flowers. On the left.

Right before we walked through the door Dad said, "If you want to run (away), I'll go with you." What a trooper.
I had stressed so much before the wedding that I lost weight & had to pin my garters. As I felt them slipping down my legs I whispered to Dad that they were falling down.
He whispered back, "That's okay. My pants are falling down."


He left the day after my wedding to start building a retirement home in Alabama. These were taken there.











This is either his office or den. He is sitting at the desk. Trust me, he's there. On the wall are his taxidermied animals including the elk from WY and the 3 large largemouth bass. He added an 8 pounder and always hoped to get a 9 lb. for an inside straight.

In the fall of 1985 I took a trip to AL & TN so the family could see I was really alive after my horrible car accident. Dad was still working-on the house while I was in the hospital & asked if he should come to TX. I said no. He went to the only store for miles, bought one of every get-well card they had & sent me one every day. He later said that he didn't want to come but that truck of his sure wanted to.

I included this photo because he told me, "Here, hold these (sugar cane) a minute," then walked away down the road. What a joker.

Dad with Jacob, his oldest grandchild in 1988/89.







Dad with Rachel, his youngest grandchild. In case you can't tell, she is brushing his beard. He was already having Alzheimer's issues in 1999. He was 54.

Today at church, Bro. Scott read an Operation Christmas Child letter he'd received from a girl in India who lives in an orphanage because her dad died when she was three. I'm thankful that I had a dad around until I was 39. Thank you, Father in Heaven, for the blessings of good memories.

Somber Anniversary

I've been wanting to enter the Guideposts Author Workshop contest for years but just never seemed to get around to writing for it. This year, I took the time to write about some things close to my heart then had pc issues so once again, didn't get anything in. I thought I'd share it with you.

My father sat in what looked like a large school desk, his hospital blue shirt piled - as if laying where tossed - on the floor in front of him. His blue eyes stared intently and unwaveringly down the corridor at something only he could see, oblivious to the bustle that was normal for the VA hospital, oblivious even to the approach of my mother and myself on Labor Day weekend in 2003.

My husband & I, sometimes with our four children, had been making the seven hour trip to my parent's home in Alabama from our home in Florida as often as we could to help my mom with my dad ever since Dad's health began to deteriorate just a few months before. This was my first visit to see him in the VA. After 4 years of early-onset Alzheimer's then the cancer, his care had become more than my mother could handle alone. His behavior erratic. His communication ability almost non-existent. His ability to function dramatically degenerating.

I could see that he had continued to shrink physically. He looked much older than his 58 years. His hair had been cropped short. It hurt to look at him; he had changed so much in so short a time. I pressed down my tears.

Mom gently touched his arm. Finding it cool, she asked a nurse if it was okay to put Dad's shirt back on. As he passed by, the nurse replied that Dad would just take if off again in a few minutes. He sounded exasperated with the repetitions of the shirt: Pick it up. Put it on. Take it off. Throw it on the floor. Pick it up.

Still Dad stared fixedly down the hall. Lifting a finger, he pointed down the corridor at... nothing.

The "desk" kept him out of his room; out as he wanted to be, yet in sight of the nursing staff, unable to wander around and maybe get into trouble. I watched the employees busily doing their work. Efficient. No one else even seemed to look his way. He was just another patient and by the looks of things more difficult than most.

Mom picked up the shirt and re-dressed Dad. He grabbed the "desk" top and shook it with all the strength still in his arms but it was locked down, effectively containing him. Mom calmed him down. I hugged and kissed him and he responded in kind as well as he could. Mom told him that my family was visiting for the weekend then began reading to him from the Gospel of John. He nodded his head in time to her words and stared down the hall, lifting a finger to point.

Hospital staff walked by, speaking quietly, now and then glancing in our direction. I paced the hall as Mom read, still determined not to give into the tears lumping in my throat. Dad looked so old, so frail. So unlike himself.

I wondered about his caregivers. Could they even imagine Dad as I pictured him? To me he was still a multi-talented craftsman with a full life whose creative mind was continually pondering about how to improve something old or invent something new, who was always busy working his land or tinkering in his workshop, seeing a need and meeting it, or coming up with a clever practical joke. Did they see in him a husband, a father and grandfather, a friend?

The answer, of course, was no. How could they? How could they possibly see who was no longer there? They could not turn back time. All they could see was someone who needed their help to make it through each day. Bones wrapped in skin, staring and pointing and pulling off his shirt again, rattling the "desk" top. It bothered me almost as much as Dad's condition, this knowing that none of those caring for him, however skillfully and gently, truly knew him. They were caring for the wasted man, not the whole man.
I wanted to shout, "This is not who he really is!"

As we drove back to Mom's, troubled by feelings of helplessness about his current situation, I thought about my father's life. Was there anything I could do? Was it possible to make difference when we didn't even live in the area? I prayed for direction & comfort.

Back at the house, I sat down at Mom's computer, overwhelmed with feelings of loss and filled with memories. I began to write Dad's life story as if he were telling it. I asked Mom for help with some of the details from Dad's early life: Where was he stationed first? What was the order of changes and moves in his military career and their marriage? When finished, I read over the highlights of Dad's life condensed to one sheet of paper.
One conversation.
I could hear his voice in the words.

Now my question was, would his caretakers? Would they have any interest in knowing him? Were they curious enough to take the time to find out about this man sitting in the hall?

I printed-out the mini-biography and asked my mother to post it by Dad's bed the next time she visited him. The next day, Stan, the kids and I went back to Florida.

Mom told me that she put a couple of copies of Dad's story beside his bed. They disappeared. She printed, copied and posted a few more in a plastic sleeve, making them available for whoever wanted them. Hospital staff asked her if she would bring some more because not everyone had a copy yet and some family members of some of the other patients also wanted one. They wanted to know him!

It was incredible to realize that I had been able to show my father to them. I was able to make a difference. The pouring out of my heart onto paper that was a healing catharsis for me also became a blessing for others. How amazing was that? What a gift from the Lord!

Dad turned 59 on October 6 then passed away on October 19 after several days in a coma-like state. His story was read at his memorial service in Alabama as well as at his funeral in Tennessee. Mom had copies available for those in attendance. Friends and family shook their heads and grinned at the memories then told me some Dad stories that I hadn't heard before.
"He was quite a character."
"We got into some great messes together."
"He was the best friend I ever had."

It was almost like Dad was there. In my mind, I could hear him laughing.

I expect that Guideposts would have rejected this anyhow since they are all about positive thoughts and feeling good. I'm still glad I wrote it. Maybe it will be a blessing for you.

Dad's story?
I put it away for safe-keeping and let me tell you, it is very safe. If I relocate that safe place while cleaning today, I plan to post it tomorrow.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Just a Little Hogwash with Rainbow Pancakes

We had pancakes & bacon for supper last night before church.
Scurring around, doing the finishing up stuff before beginning the meal this conversation took place.

Caleb teasingly announces as he eyeballs the bacon: "Rachel doesn't want any bacon."
Rachel sassing back from kitchen where she's washing her hands: "How do you know?"
Mom (ME!): "It's fish bacon."
Rachel with disappointment in her voice: "Oh. Never mind."
Silence for about 3 seconds.
Everyone at the table: ROFL!
Rachel sits down & starts trying to save face: "I knew you were joking. Really! Really I did. I was just playing along. Really!"

LOL!

Caleb didn't even have to ask if Rachel wanted pancakes. Know why? My pancakes are so good, they attract rainbows!


Here's the recipe for Rainbow Pancakes. I came across one that used leftover oatmeal in the batter & changed it up a bit.


Put 1.5 C of oatmeal in a 2 C measuring cup & add lukewarm water to 2 C.

In a large bowl combine:
1 C whole wheat flour
3 C all purpose flour
1 heaping T flax meal
1 C unpacked brown sugar
2 T baking powder
1 t salt

Add & mix well
4 eggs
3/4 C oil
2 C milk (I use skim)

Add the soaked oatmeal & mix well.

Cook on hot griddle. I use one that doesn't require oil. Makes 24 - 30 when poured from a 1/3 C measuring cup (not scrapped out).

I believe that the oatmeal helps these to stick to the ribs longer.

Now, I can't guarantee that yours will attract rainbows, but you never know.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Science Rocks!

Yesterday we enjoyed finishing up the experiments in the Gems, Geodes & Cave Drippings kit. I had hoped to link you to where you could purchase it but it wasn't on the publisher's site so I'm guessing it's no longer be available. SORRY! You can look for yourself if you like: Loose in the Lab

Instead of dealing with the mess yourself, you can just enjoy more of watching us do it. :-)
We did the mineral I.D. tests last week.

We discussed that minerals are the building blocks of rocks: every rock has at least one mineral; most have more.

Here the kids are working to identify & count four different minerals in a small piece of quartz monzonite which has black, white, opaque & shiny crystals of hornblende, quartz, mica & feldspar.

After that, they got to play with fire. Don't tell anyone, but our boy scout was unable to light a match. I know he'd have done better with flint...

What they are doing here is heating caffine to make sublimated crystals.

Sublimation is a term chemists give to chemicals and compounds that are likely to change directly from a solid to a gas without passing through the liquid phase.



Our caffine actually did become liquid first (NO, I did not let anyone taste it. Anyhow, the only one who might have wanted to is Jacob & he wasn't home.)


The caffine crystals were like white needles. We looked at them under the microscope later. They appeared downright dangerous. And to think we drink this stuff!



Caleb enjoys the eye loupes. Thanks, Mom!

In an effort to simulate geode formation, Rachel adds copper sulfate to hot water.
Geode: a deposit of mineral matter that has crystallized in a pocket. The outside (rind) us usually an ugly darker material, but the inside can be very beautiful.

Caleb prepares his simutated gas pocket found in certain lava flows aka an empty egg shell or snowman head, whatever.

Earlier Mom forsees "That's mine." "No, THATS yours." and says: "Write your name on your egg shells."
Kids ask, "Mom, can we decorate them?"
Mom thinks, "Whatever for? It's not Easter."
Mom says, "If you want to." :-)

Andrew stirs and stirs, checking for saturation.
And stirs.

And stirs.



Finally, he's ready to add the mineral laden "ground water" to the decorated shells. Instructions state that "when the water evaporates, a genuine simulated geode lined with beautiful robin egg blue crystals will remain. Guaranteed better than dime store jewelry."


Then we head outside to crack open a real geode.

Instructions tell us to place it in an old sock (which you provide) & smash it with a hammer.
No problemo - especially with providing the sock. With all the guys in this house we have plenty of those. Just let me know if you ever have need of an old sock. I gotcha covered.

Wouldn't it be funny if they had provided the old sock? Can you imagine?

After poor results from tenative hammering of the ugly white rock inside the old, holey sock, tactics changed.




The kids did a great job sharing the smashing responsibilities and soon...





they conqured the geode! The ugly white rock that reminded me of dry white playdough revealed the shining crystals within. Very beautiful for a rock with gas.









I expect that somewhere someone has written a beautiful composition comparing geodes to Christians. I recall reading one about pumpkins, how God takes all the yucky stuff out then puts His light inside and gives us a smile on our face.
Geodes as a Christian metaphore? Plain on the outside but Light reflecting crystals inside. PTL that God looks on the inside.

They kept playing with fire even after that experiment was over. I lost count how many times the kit candle was relit.

I could put a better spin on that. They kept wanting to let their light shine? They wanted to share the light?

We know the truth. They wanted to play with the fire. PTL No one got burned. The house is still standing. They enjoy SCIENCE.

Then we all looked at a bunch of the different crystals & rock pieces under the scope. Even my adopted boy, Keifer.









Rachel.



Caleb. Yes, he has a rash. Don't ask.









& Andrew. We set the timer for 30 seconds to keep everyone moving. Isn't God amazing in how He has placed designs of such complexity all around us. >>That's a major problem for evolutionists.





These bowls contain rocks sitting in vinegar. At the top is dolomite which grows aragonite crystals which resemble popcorn, only much smaller.

At the bottom is limestone in which the calcium carbonate is dissolving, as it is supposed to, but also growing crystals, an unexpected but cool to see result. They started out spiky but now look like white broccoli standing on end. Cool science!

The pink cups are for growing cave stalactites ("c" for ceiling, hold on "tight") and stalagmites ("g" for ground, "mighty" large), Rachel added Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate powder) to warm water and stirred until it was saturated. The liquid is supposed to climb the cotton string & form the crystal cave creatures between the string & the lid. So far though, nothings happening. As you can see from their faces, they have high hopes.

This activity's purpose was to produce crystals by evaporation. A bottle of crystal growing solution (yellow like the sponge) was poured over the provided sponge into the provided pie tin. We did not realize that the pie tin came with at least one tiny hole. By the time we noticed, there was a bit of a mess on top of the microwave
which we sopped up with this old cloth diaper rag.

Here's the GG&CD recipe to make your own:
50 ml table salt
10 ml ammonia
100 ml water
50 ml laundry bluing

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour onto a large sponge (or any porous material - as we experienced!) To add some color, put drops of food coloring on whatever you pour the liquid on, after adding the solution.

A caution from the kit: "Avoid snorting fumes from the ammonia directly. They do nothing to improve your personality."

If you look closely you'll see crystals growing on the sponge, in the pie plate, all over the rag and on the surrounding area of the microwave. I neglected to photograph Stan's glasses which had some crystallization from sitting in the fluid. Had I realized we'd have white crystals on a white rag on a white microwave, I'd have added some food color!



The kids still had to do some other stuff. Here's Rachel in her favorite spot working on her math.
Note: Every time I uploaded this photo it turned sideways. Yes, I tried several times because it bugs me when things are not right. I'm sure that somehow it is my fault, I just haven't yet figured out how!



I believe Caleb is working on his online school, so that's either Spanish (thus the headphones with microphone) or Computing for College & Career, in which case he's jammin' while workin'.