Davis is getting older

Davis is really getting older. In a month and a half he'll be a teenager. He has definite pre-teen attitude and even though he's not getting much taller (just a little) he is getting more muscular. Chris says he is just prepping to shoot up. For the first time in his life he has outgrown the waist band on his pants before they became too short. He's in no way chubby.
He has really enjoyed scouts and is advancing quickly. He plans to have his eagle before he is 14. Its possible, but we'll have to see what project he chooses. Here is a picture where he is presenting the activities and awards of his troop at the Court of Honor in March.
He did a great job and behaved with dignity.

See all the boys in our troop? This is such a change from last year when Davis was the only 11 year old scout attending regularly. He loves the games they play after their planned activity on scout night, and that part was missing when he was by himself.

Here is Davis being recognized for his Star Scout rank. He has 15 merit badges on his sash, has another one signed off since then, is done with the requirements of one, and working on 5 more at this time. He'd like to get all 40 something merit badges. I'll make sure he gets the 21 for eagle, and he can be responsible for the rest. I'm very proud of Davis and his efforts.

Two trips to the California Science Center

We went to the California Science Center twice in three days recently. Once because there was a Pupil-free day at school and we went with a few friends, and another time with Nathaniel's third grade class field trip. There are always fun attractions there. Here are a few pics.
The kids are in a hurricane chamber waiting for the wind to start.

Hurricane force winds are blowing around in the chamber in this shot. See how all the boys are watching our little girl friend's hair.

This is showing how boring an MRI can be. All the kids wanted to try it.

Of course this is the display showing how drugs and alcohol disrupt your physical abilities. They look through the glasses while they try to make a basket. So, do we call them beer goggles?

Ooooh, fascinating. An old fashioned phone. You know. I guess I took the most pictures of the boring stuff. The other things were fun enough that I forgot about my camera.

Nathaniel's third grade class had a great time there. We saw an Imax movie first, had lunch, and then had time to explore the museum after most other school groups had gone home.

Nathaniel and his class mates are watching the effects of the "earthquake" they are creating by jumping on the monitor.

Five third graders in a helicopter bubble

This Wright Brothers' simulation is a popular activity. There is a large screen in front so they can watch where to steer their little plane.

It was a lovely day for a field trip so we ate lunch outside in the sunshine.

Everyone was feeling groovy with the 3D glasses in the Imax theater.

It's a fun place. Come visit!

Garden work

March is the time for heavy labor in the garden. First thing I did was try to avoid all the problems with the weed creeping up the hill into my vegetables. I put down water-permeable black plastic over the weed hill and covered it with mulch. I think the mulch has had the neighbors talking about how crazy I must be. I contacted a tree-trimming company about getting the wood chips they have after a job. They were pleased to come and dump a truck load for me. There was no way to get the truck around to the back so I just figured I'd move the mulch one cart-load at a time. When they came to dump the wood chips, it was about 3 or 4 times bigger than I had imagined. Chris couldn't even pull his car into the driveway. He couldn't imagine how we were going to move it and where it would go. I must admit I felt discouraged and foolish.

I started moving it back to the garden a few cartloads at a time whenever I had a little time. Chris was able to get the car into the garage after a few days. Its taken a few weeks and I'd guess I've moved about 3 quarters of it so far. But I think it will make a big difference with the weeds and the hill looks great.

Saturday was rototilling day. We got up early and rented a rototiller. Chris does this for me each spring. Here is a "before" shot.

And this is the "after" shot. Doesn't it look great! Chris tills it all until it is an even texture like cake crumbs and the sculpts it like frosting so the water won't just run down long rows and off the hill.

I hung around the garden in case he needed me for something. I weeded the hill above the garden and found some cool mushrooms growing on my "sitting stump."

This is a pic of Chris rototilling. It makes the whole garden possible. The amount of work turning the soil by hand and raking out the weeds would be much more than I'd be willing to do. He ends up sore from his fingers to his heels after this. I love the garden after it is tilled. It is such a nice thing to do for me. Thanks Chris.

Next - planting.

Groovy Peace and Love School Program

Nathaniel's school had their Winter Program on Friday. It was a very tie-dyed affair. Two years ago they stopped having the winter program right before Christmas break. It was supposed to be a scheduling thing, but I guess it was a convenient way to avoid the hassle of balancing Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanza songs with the non-denominational groovy songs of which the powers that be at our school are so fond. So we were treated to the timeless philosophies of Peter, Paul, and Mary and The Beetles (I guess 40 year old counter-culture jargon has become appropriate fodder for children) along with the songs prepared by each grade level. Here is Nathaniel in orange jamming to "Brand New Day". Forgive the follicle-shot of the lady in front of me. She needed to mess with her hair after taking off her hat.

sorry - video wouldn't upload. I'll try again tomorrow.

At the end of the program, they played music while the children wait to file off the risers. It must have been a song Nathaniel particularly enjoyed because he played air guitar and danced the whole time.

So, now that the winter program is over, I am declaring an official end to winter. I have firewood in the playroom that will have to go back out to the wood pile and wait until next fall. I'm done with winter. I'm almost done with my winter vegetables from the garden. Next week Daylight Savings Time starts. (It was in the announcement-program at church. Are we that centered on church that we need them to tell us when to change our clocks? I might be.) Let us move on to Spring! If the weather at your house makes it difficult to make that declaration, you should have made plans to visit my house. There's still time you know...