Since Stan has been home in the evenings, one of the things we have enjoyed doing together is watching Wheel-of-Fortune (glorified hang-man game, but fun) and Jeopardy (the original Trivial Pursuit). We try to figure out the puzzles before the contestants, calling out our answers, sometimes impressed that we know more than those folks actually in the spotlight potentially winning the big bucks.
Yesterday's final jeopardy topic area was "State Capitols".
We were settling back down on our couches after a commercial break ice cream run when Stan announced, "I know ALL the state capitols."
The kids just looked at him.
"Try me," he said. "Ask me any state capitol."
Caleb, trying to pull a fast one, said, "Assyria." (Yes, we home school...)
Stan looked serious. "I SAID state. Come on. Give me any state."
Andrew said, "Rhode Island."
Stan said, "R!" Then he crossed his arms & leaned back with a cheesy grin. We all cracked up.
Yes, we had just lived a blonde joke. Who knew he had it in him?
We are "officially" back to school today, although I wonder if it is really possible for a homeschooler to do much that is officially official. And does it even matter?
Caleb & Rachel have been doing their FLVS classes for close to 2 months but were not considered "officially" promoted at church until yesterday. Yes, Rachel is now in youth. Her brothers have been in training for several months as her protectors. She & I have been discussing the mean-ness that sometimes pervades youth (girls often more than guys) and where her self-worth is (should be!) derrived: She is a child of the King, designed by Him & bought with a high price> so very valuable and precious to Him awa her family. As long as puberty doesn't turn her into a raving lunatic, she should be fine.
And now a moment of silence. I have no kids in the preschool dept. and none on the way. My last child is out of the children's dept. I am torn, half wanting to dance, half wanting to cry. Enjoy those little children!! Enjoy! The days may last forever but the years truly fly.
Now shake yourself off & move onward.
After creating a beautiful "official transcript" to submit to the FL athletic governing body so Andrew can try-out for the basketball team this year, I discovered written in their information that "home schools cannot create official transcripts" so I changed the title to "Student Academic Record" & printed it out anyway. Hopefully they will accept the info and permit him to attempt to make the team.
He didn't make the team when he was a freshman but at the time, I heard certain mutterings about the new coach (who is no longer there) so don't know if maybe he could/should/would have otherwise. Doesn't matter now. He heard about tryouts a couple days too late when he was a sophomore. His college Spanish class was conducted right after high school let out so the time didn't work last year as a junior. This, his senior year, is his last chance at high school basket ball so we'll see (in a couple of months!) if it's a part of God's plan for him this year or not. And, the "official" best part? He has his driver's license so can officially drive himself. :-)
But, I'm not starting with TN. These were made in Atlanta on our drive up. For those enjoying the rural life, I'm memorializing wide highways with High Occupancy Vehicle lanes. I do not miss city driving even a little bit. Here's the Olympic torch from when Atlanta hosted the 5 rings. My guys have enjoyed watching them this year. I started calling all the twisting overpasses "spaghetti" on a trip through Houston. We were pleasantly surprised that most of the time, traffic wasn't bad. One of the places that Stan always has to visit when we go to TN is Smokey Mountain Knife Works http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/eCommerce/main_front.jsp whose store contains everything you can want or need with a blade plus many other outdoorish items (and anything else they think people will buy - great cookware dept and special foods). It is also a knife museum with many taxidermied animals and other cool collectables. There are 3 or 4 floors to explore. I tried to get some photos that would show the depth of the place. I was not expecting us to be able to make this trip since Mini is still not running http://37blessings.blogspot.com/2008/04/mini-saga.html and http://37blessings.blogspot.com/2008/07/mini-saga-continuing-story.html but Stan said that since I REALLY wanted to go that we could look into renting something. It was not as $$$ as we anticipated so we splurged. Kia joined the family for a brief but memorable week complete with 13 cupholders (is anyone ever really that thirsty?), an amazing amount of storage in the back, individual AC vents, and side doors on BOTH sides - but everyone was so used to using the one on the passenger side, I don't know that the other was used except by Jacob who sat beside it. We averaged over 21 MPG & the AC spoiled us. I liked a special mirror in the front that allowed the front-seaters to keep an eye on the mid & back seaters. Sorta like these photos. It was also our first experience with remote locking/unlocking/alarms. I could get used to this. The kids noticed right away that the seats were not as comfortable as Mini's. True. It was still a great alternative, and a blessing to get to go.
Well, I guess you CAN tell, since it's not been a secret since WWII. It even has a cool museum, the American Museum of Science and Energy http://www.amse.org/
Because it had been so long since we visited Oak Ridge (Stan thinks we carried Rachel the last time), we decided to do it again this trip to TN.
There was much that seemed new to us including the Twin Towers Memorial greeting visitors entering from the parking lot. In the patio area beyond the towers, in opposing corners facing each other like prize fighters are two large whisper dishes. They look like huge satellite dishes with four metal arms extending outward and meeting in the center as a small circle in which you speak quietly to the person listening waaaaaaay over there at the other dish. Cool. The kids played with them each time we passed by. I did discover ACCIDENTALLY that when one stood in the middle of the patio, midpoint between the two dishes, the conversation could be overheard.
Jacob: "Hay, Caleb..." Caleb: "What?" Jacob: "You're a NOOB." Caleb: "YOU'RE the noob."
Ah, the sweet nothings siblings whisper to each other.
There were lots of great activities in the museum including a MUSEUM detailing the history of Oak Ridge complete with timeline. On the bottom floor were many mind bending puzzles plus an area where some science fair winning displays were, well, displayed. I had the kids look at them to oooh & ahhhh and see how impressive was this work of 4th & 5th graders. The hands-on portions of the museum were the biggest hits. These were made on the second floor.
Here we reflect on everyone's super powers. One of the museum's new offerings is a bus tour of the old nuclear facilities. We had to sign wavers and agree to be searched & to take photos only when allowed. We should stop glowing in the dark before Christmas arrives. JJ! Here's the first graphite reactor, fueled by natural uranium, where radioisotopes were produced and nuclear research was done. Our tour guide used to work & still lives here and provided excellent eyewitness tales.
A to scale model of the facility. This part of the tour featured their newest research facility. They are very proud of how 6 different universities are working together. We returned from the tour in time for a special program in the auditorium. Who did the show feature? Your favorite tourists!
It's my understanding that these little units do basically the same thing as the big guy described above.
Our hair (yes, I did it too!) slowly began to rise once the machine started hummmming & making sparking sounds.
Us up on box shaking our heads: shake, shake, shake & the hair starts waving
Our hair stayed friendly even when we weren't touching the little sizzler until we stepped off the box.
Us stepping down: hop! Our hair: flop!
Audience: Oooooooh, Ahhhhhhh. Cool science! It takes so little to entertain.
We volunteered Jacob & Andrew when the MC asked for a couple of "strong guys". Who better than our weight lifters? The static electrical charges were passed along in a shocking manner - we could see the light flashes. Bzzzzt! Bzzztbzzzt! We laughed because the guys KEPT shocking each other instead of stopping once they found out that's what happened. Then they switched spots & did it some more. Bzzzzzzt! I guess the secret is now out.
My cousins Danna & Jacque - amazing how much D looks like Uncle Jack. Thanks Jacque, for all your hard work making this day happen - and you are still smilling. We appreciate you!
Cousins Ian & Jenny (with her hubby Asif) and 3 of my kiddos Busy, busy!
I believe the last time we were with Karen & Rick was in 1983, before Stan & I were engaged & just after Rick got out of basic training when we all climbed Clingman's Dome. It was so great to visit with them.
I wish I could get these guys together more often. Maybe Lucas could round up enough players for a game of rugby. I hear he's quite good. Kevin says "no way" is he playing.
My famous Aunt Betty Jean
Family Tree, sorta Don't know why these guys tried so hard to keep me from taking their picture. Looks like Kevin's mouth is open. And Jacob's. Anyone surprised? This looks like a serious conversation between Jody, Uncle Jack & Danna. Aunt Dee, Aunt June, Karen & Uncle Jimmy - All seated are my dad's living siblings.
4 kiddos squeeze onto the couch with Grandma R. And they all have their eyes open. This time. Now, why are the two tallest doing the standing here? But too many nice smiles to exclude. This is much better. Presenting 4 kids with their Great Grandma. Beautiful hair, Grandma! Since he wouldn't pose, I caught Uncle Gary playing waiter. He & Aunt Elaine blessed us with PIZZA plus Grandma D made her yummy banana pudding. There was much rejoicing among the kids. Of all ages. Cool T Uncle G. Jacob talking to his sweetie. She couldn't come on our trip due to a gallary opening Friday night. She was bummed & said "I miss the whole trip just because I have to spend 2 hours as the featured artist. I better sell something!" He kept saying, "I miss Maryn." Poor kid. Two sisters and their mama. Say "cheese" everyone! You can thank me for not posting the other ones - you know what I'm talkin' about. :-) "Noogie, noogie, noogie!" Jacob shops for Christmas gifts from the "store" Avon Lady Grandma brought with her! Rachel pretends to be a bucking horse for Maurice as we watch the Olympics. Thank you, Grandma, for inviting this invasion of your space. We love you!
I am a very blessed wife and mother who homeschools, leads a homeschooling support group and is our church librarian. I want to always remember to "taste and see that the Lord is good".
