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!