huh?

I'm not exactlly sure what to say.  Kate likes to dress up and some times she is more "creative" than other times. We happened to capture a moment here.

11/11/11

It was one of those momentous days that happen in our life and often pass by unnoticed. Never for one hundred years would the date be 11/11/11- I know I won't be around to see it again.

So how do we celebrate something so random and yet so unique?

We decided to have an 11 dinner.  Stay with me here :)

We went to the store in search of 11 items that could (with some imagination) be used to make an 11.

You wouldn't believe how many "options" there are.

What did we end up with?

1. A rectangular homemade pizza strategically sliced into an 11

2. Ditto on the cheese bread

3. Mozzarella sticks

4. Little Smokies

5. Asparagus

6. Stick Pretzels

7. Carrot Sticks

8. Shoe String French Fries

9. Braided snack sticks

10. Rigatoni Pasta

11. Pirouette (a straw like cookie with frosting filling)

Of course we ate with chopsticks and had 2 straws in our cups.

Most of the family took all 11 11s, but some chickened out and passed on a couple (especially the asparagus). But whether we ate all 11 of the 11s a good time was had by all- after all this is a once in a lifetime event :)

Hero Reports

This year Kate and Dallin participated in our homeschool co-op and both of them put together a presentation on their favorite hero for one of their classes.

Kate chose to share information about Annie Oakley.  She had the most fun finding interesting stickers to decorate her visual aid, but it was a good introduction to being in front of people and putting her ideas into an orderly presentation.

Dallin chose to research and present about Neil Armstrong.  Dallin has always been fascinated by space so that was a natural choice for him.  He's getting pretty good at putting together a report and did a great job.

Halloween 2011

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  I don't love this holiday.  Typically I am okay with one Halloweenish event, but some how we end up with a co-op activity, a ward trunk or treat, a couple of friend parties, and then of course trick or treating.  In the past I've managed to combine or eliminate some of these events and it's good. This year my kids were not having any of it.  They insisted on going trick or treating, and because we haven't really trick or treated for years- and maybe never if your definition of trick or treating is more than just every kid choosing one house to visit :).  This year I let them go up the street and back down.  They all agreed it wasn't all that great and I think we agreed that once in a lifetime is about all they need and now we will find another option each year.

That doesn't mean we won't dress up and participate in a Halloween party or two, but the less candy we bring into our home the better.  So here they are the photos to prove that I actually let the kids go trick or treating.

Clavinova Festival

The kids had a chance to participate in a fun piano festival this year.  Their teacher had a loaner Clavinova piano that she let the kids use.  They learned how to program multiple tracks and sound effects into a song they played and then dressed up and performed for a festival in Dallas.

Dallin played the Waltz of the Vampires.

Lauren played the Toy Makers Dance.

Smarty Pants

Lauren's Halloween costume this year-  Get it? Get it?

The Texas State Fair 2011

Lauren turn 12

"Blowing" Up at the Science Fair

 
Giant Bubbles are Dallin's new interest.  It all started when Grandma and Grandpa Clarke gave him a gift card to Home Depot for his birthday.  He debated what to do with the gift and remembered seeing someone at Central Park making giant bubbles. He did a little research on the Internet and figured out how to build giant bubble wands and a super strong bubble solution.



So when it came time to come up with a project for the science fair Dallin decided to experiment with techniques to make bigger and better bubbles.  First we controlled for wind, sun and such by setting up a bubble station in the garage and using a fan set on low to create enough of a breeze to make bubbles.  He laid out a tape measure to assess the length of the bubbles. The experiment involved testing different types of string to see which would make the longest bubbles.

After all his efforts his record was about 15 ft which was the length of the entire garage where the wind/sun became a limiting factor.  He presented the results of his project at the homeschool science fair and even demonstrated the most successful string.

Dallin did a great job and all of the kids LOVED his giant bubbles.

New Paths to Explore

Ben decided he wants to go where few Clarke's have gone before- public school.  After much fretting and searching we decided to enroll him at a local charter school where some of our friends attend and a member of our ward teaches. 

I was so worried. Why is it that these "hard" times are so much harder on mom's? 
Well he survived, and so did I. In fact he's done very well this year and we are so proud of him!

3 Little Monkeys

Dallin's Art

Dallin is good at all kinds of art, even etch a sketch.  It's one of those unusual art forms rarely expressed.

 He's been working on his Webelos Art Activity Badge and this is his "sculpture."

Daddy Daughter sock hop

It's Lauren's last year in Activity Days, and so it is her last year to attend the Stake Daddy Daughter Dance. This year it was a sock hop theme.  I actually got crafty enough to sew her a poodle skirt- wonders never cease.
The invitations and place mats were made from old records- I had to explain to the girls what records were and how they worked.  I guess that means they truly are "antiques" now, sad that I remember using records as  little girl- I guess that puts me in the antique category too.
Everything was decorated like a 50's diner and they had hamburgers for dinner.  The girls made cute picture frames and after dinner they had a bubble gum blowing contest and hula hooping contest.  Each person brought home a glass mug with the year and sock hop engraved, as well as a commemorative picture of the girl and her father for their frames.

The Great Chew-dini

 Announcing the new, incredible, astounding Chewdini.

Originally Ben named him Chewbaca, Chewy for short, but after several successful escapes he was renamed Chewdini after the great escape artist Houdini. 

 Chewy is a cute teddy bear hamster and is much more playful and fun than our other hamster.  He doesn't bite, unless you are the nurse vet and have to poke, pull, and squeeze him. 

Benny can't stop loving him.  He has the cage open and is constantly petting and cuddling him.

What Boys Do

 Most of the time I really don't want to know what the boys do.....
Oh sure I hear them up there when dad's tucking them in. How can you not hear them?  I hear the war cries and bed jumping and wall crashing.  But I've long since accepted that this is a part of being a boy and I will relinquish my opinion.  Frankly I'm just glad it's Rusty in there being the pillow Ninja, not me. 

Every night the boys get a look and ask dad if they are going to have a pillow fight or not.  It doesn't happen every night, but it does happen a couple of times a week.  I see the joy in their faces when I tuck their sweaty little bodies in afterwards and hear their approval in the simple words, "I Love Dad."  How is that he beats them senseless and they love him all the more :)  It must be a boy thing.

Well this is a rare glimpse into the madness.  Rusty took the camera to Father's and Son's campout and when I was loading the pictures I came across these beauties.

 I think it is obvious that any sense of humor my boys exhibit comes from their father- it's a good thing he's around or we would all be oppressively sober.

It's a strange phenomena that happens when I see my husband pillow fighting with my boys or dancing with my girls.  I love him more than I can imagine.  I feel so blessed to have such an amazing husband who loves me and my children. Who keeps life fun. Who guides us and inspires us. Who strengthens and lifts us. I can't imagine life without him!!

Look at the joy on Ben's face- it says it all!