Unbridled Learning

Video gamers: Size of brain structures predicts success.

Well, sort of… we did finally get a counter offer on our first offer (the house by Waller park), but it wasn’t good enough. We put an offer on a different house, Nipomo this time – it’s bigger, newer and cheaper than the first one, and it doesn’t have a wood shake roof which makes Will happy. That offer has been accepted by the seller but it is a short sale so we have to wait for bank approval before it is official. The bank has approved the short sale at the same price with a prior buyer, so we’re hoping it won’t be too complicated a process.

Boo – no counter offer on our offer, so we’re off to look at more houses today, after the Steelers game of course.

Still no pictures – need to get them off Will’s camera. I think Brooks took some last night…

We got home from LA at about 5 or 5:30; in the morning Will went to see Connie and I watched the kids swim at the hotel. We went over to Grandpa’s house for dinner, and then over to Grandpa Roger’s house for New Years Eve.

Amy and Darren and their kids were there; Melanie, Katie and Kevan; dad and Brooks, Timmy, me, Kevan and Ben. Will, William and AJ all came for a while and then left. We played a bunch of games, ate a bunch of junk food, then counted down the new year. Woohoo!

Today I decided to start a new girl tradition since the boys go to grandpa’s to celebrate their boy-ness (Japanese tradition – boys have to come over first on New Years day or you have bad luck). Well, now I have girls around!! I picked up Melanie and Katie and we met Brooks and Amy at Starbucks; then we headed to Kohls to shop. Ok, I do not enjoy clothes shopping on a regular basis, because I’m just picky and it’s annoying and my kids also hate it. But the girls had gift cards they got for Christmas and I needed some shoes so we actually had a lot of fun. Then we came home and watched Ice Age 3. Next year I’ll have a bit more time to plan… I’ll have to figure out what to do on New Years day with the girls next year.

Omw home from Disneyland. We didn’t bring a camera cord so I’ll have to post pics later. It was sprinkling half the day but crowds weren’t too bad and all rides were open.

The night before his birthday (which was May 25th), Pam was here in the midst of her moving chaos and we went and got him a new cage for Fred, his cockatiel.  He got Fred from his aunt Donna and uncle Fred a few weeks ago.

The next morning, on his birthday, Will had set up a giant scavenger hunt with tricky clues (in poem form even).

He went to his closet…

Honey’s crate…

A little internet research…

To the mailbox…

Into the van…

To William’s room… one of his drawers…

To the kitty closet… pee-ew!

On Kevan’s giant ScoobyDoo…

Mommy’s bookshelf in the office…

Mom and Dad’s bedroom…

In the oven!

Finally, on the top bunk in his own bedroom… a l33t new computer!  Best one in the house now.  Whew! That was a lot of work.

That night the grandpas and Nana came over.

The next day Ben and his best bud Parker went to Boomers for a final birthday bash!

He’s still a bit too short to drive by himself… good thing Parker’s tall!

This posted to one of my groups; just passing on the ideas

  1
     Make a scrapbook of everything you do this summer
      The Basics of Scrapbooking
      http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/beginners.html<http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/beginners.html>
      2
     Have a picnic
      Planning a Picnic
      http://www.the-picnic-site.com/<http://www.the-picnic-site.com/>
      3
 
   Learn how to play soccer
      How to Play Soccer
      http://www.ehow.com/PrintArticle.html?id=2044097<http://www.ehow.com/PrintArticle.html?id=2044097>
      4
     Visit another country
      Lonely Planet Destination Guides
      www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/<http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/

5      Go to a ballgame       Major League Baseball Team Schedules       mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/schedule/index.jsp<http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/schedule/index.jsp>        6      Get a job (parent permission)       Teens 4 Hire       www.teens4hire.org/<http://www.teens4hire.org/>        7      Become a photographer       BetterPhoto for Kids and Teens       www.betterphoto.com/photography-for-kids.asp<http://www.betterphoto.com/photography-for-kids.asp>        8      Make dinner for your family       Do-It-Yourself Dinner Party Project (PDF)       www.reynoldskitchens.com<http://www.reynoldskitchens.com/ReynoldsKitchens/KitchenConnection/special/dinner_party/DinnerParty.pdf>        9      Compare a book to a movie       Compare and Contrast Essay (PDF)        www.csudh.edu<http://www.csudh.edu/CLASS/services/studyskills/english/webpageworksheets/comparecontrastessay.htm>        10      Write a poem       30 Days of Poetry       www.msrogers.com/English2/poetry/30_days_of_poetry.htm<http://www.msrogers.com/English2/poetry/30_days_of_poetry.htm>        11      Learn about fireworks       How Stuff Works: Fireworks       people.howstuffworks.com/fireworks.htm<http://people.howstuffworks.com/fireworks.htm>        12      Bake some cookies       Science of Cookies       www.bakingandbakingscience.com/cookies.htm<http://www.bakingandbakingscience.com/cookies.htm>        13      Take a boat ride       Boat Safe Kids!       www.boatsafe.com/kids/index.htm<http://www.boatsafe.com/kids/index.htm>        14      Sketch a picture of your house from the outside       Perspective Drawing       www.artyfactory.com/perspective_drawing/perspective_1.htm<http://www.artyfactory.com/perspective_drawing/perspective_1.htm>       15      Go to camp       Smart Start to Business       http://www.youthpreneur.net/camps<http://www.youthpreneur.net/camps>       16      Visit a farm       4-H Virtual Farms       www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/virtualfarm/main.html<http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/virtualfarm/main.html>        17      Take a walk and record the sounds       Listening to Nature       www.museumca.org/naturalsounds/<http://www.museumca.org/naturalsounds/>        18      Embrace Other Cultures       Culture Quest       http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/cquest/<http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/cquest/>       19      Keep a journal of what you do during the Summer       Keepsake Diary       http://kids-indoor-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/keep_a_summer_journal<http://kids-indoor-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/keep_a_summer_journal>       20      Cut up an old greeting card picture and make a puzzle       (parent help)       How to make your own jigsaw puzzle       tn.essortment.com/howtomakeyour_rgzx.htm<http://tn.essortment.com/howtomakeyour_rgzx.htm>        21      Start a band       Make Music! Start a Band       www.mustcreate.org/kid_home/kids3_1.shtml<http://www.mustcreate.org/kid_home/kids3_1.shtml>        22      Learn how to make a movie       Digital Movie Making for Kids       http://www.adobe.com/education/digkids/intro_video/making_of_movie.html<http://www.adobe.com/education/digkids/intro_video/making_of_movie.html>       23      Blow up balloons, put notes inside and hand them       out to friends       Message in a Balloon       www.nmhct.nhs.uk/pharmacy/nmha-activities.html<http://www.nmhct.nhs.uk/pharmacy/nmha-activities.html>        24      Go backpacking       The Beginning Backpacker       www.backpacking.net/beginner.html<http://www.backpacking.net/beginner.html>        25      Learn how to oil paint       Free Art Lessons       http://www.interactiveartschool.com/free-art-lessons.html<http://www.interactiveartschool.com/free-art-lessons.html>       26      Create a web site       Lissa Explains HTML for Kids       www.lissaexplains.com/<http://www.lissaexplains.com/>        27      Go camping       Go Camping America Kids Pages       www.gocampingamerica.com/kidspages/<http://www.gocampingamerica.com/kidspages/>        28      Learn how to use Microsoft Office       Free Tutorials for Microsoft Office       http://www.baycongroup.com/tutorials.htm<http://www.baycongroup.com/tutorials.htm>       29      Help an elderly person with house or yard work       (parent permission)       20 Great Reasons to Volunteer       www.volunteermatch.org/volunteers/resources/tipstricks.jsp<http://www.volunteermatch.org/volunteers/resources/tipstricks.jsp>        30      Visit the zoo       National Zoo Animal Web cams       nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/default.cfm<http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/default.cfm>        31      Learn a foreign language       Free Online Language Courses       www.word2word.com/coursead.html<http://www.word2word.com/coursead.html>        32      Make an obstacle course in your back yard       How To Set Up An Obstacle Course       www.ehow.com/how_3113_set-obstacle-course.html<http://www.ehow.com/how_3113_set-obstacle-course.html>        33      Make a treasure hunt       The Ultimate Treasure Hunt       www.allthatstuff.net/treasurehunt.htm<http://www.allthatstuff.net/treasurehunt.htm>        34      View and learn about Modern Art       Destination Modern Art       http://www.moma.org/destination/<http://www.moma.org/destination/>       35      Learn about the Animals that live on our planet       A Library of the World’s Animals       http://www.learnanimals.com/<http://www.learnanimals.com/>       36      Recycle bottles and donate the money to a local charity       The Internet Consumer Recycling Guide       www.obviously.com/recycle/<http://www.obviously.com/recycle/>          37      Explore the Universe       A Learning Center for Young Astronomers       http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html<http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html>       38      Build a tree house       The Tree House Guide       www.thetreehouseguide.com/<http://www.thetreehouseguide.com/>        39      Create a new world       World Building       teenwriting.about.com/library/weekly/aa071602a.htm<http://teenwriting.about.com/library/weekly/aa071602a.htm>        40      Set up a lemonade stand       Lemonade Stand Game       www.coolmath-games.com/lemonade/<http://www.coolmath-games.com/lemonade/>        41      Learn how to make ethnic food       Ethnic Recipes       http://www.bhg.com/recipes/food-slide-shows/ethnic-food/<http://www.bhg.com/recipes/food-slide-shows/ethnic-food/>       42      Attend a concert       Buy tickets       http://www.ticketmaster.com/section/concerts<http://www.ticketmaster.com/section/concerts>       43      Have family game nights       What Game Should We Play?       http://www.hasbro.com/familygamenight/en_US/ <http://www.hasbro.com/familygamenight/pl/page.games/dn/default.cfm>        44      Learn about science       Latest Science News       http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/<http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/>       45      Make a collage from magazine words and pictures       Collage       pbskids.org/zoom/activities/do/collage.html<http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/do/collage.html>        46      Create a terrarium       How to Make a Terrarium       www.ehow.com/how_9374_make-terrarium.html<http://www.ehow.com/how_9374_make-terrarium.html>        47      Learn how to help the environment       Environmental Kids Club       http://www.epa.gov/kids/index.htm<http://www.epa.gov/kids/index.htm>       48      Discover new games to play       Nature Games       http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/nature-games.page-1.html<http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/nature-games.page-1.html>       49      Go to a museum       Find a museum in your area       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_museums_in_the_United_States<http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/it/projects/Museums/Teacher_Guide/Hotlist/>       50      Make a fire plan       Home Fire Safety       www.usfa.fema.gov/kids/flash.shtm<http://www.usfa.fema.gov/kids/flash.shtm>        51      Make up bubble solution and have a contest       Casey Carle’s “Secret” Bubble Solutions       www.bubblemania.com/faq/solution.html<http://www.bubblemania.com/faq/solution.html>        52      Find a pen-pal (parent permission)       Pen Pal Directories       www.stonesoup.com/main2/penpal.html<http://www.stonesoup.com/main2/penpal.html>        53      Plant something       Gardens for Beginners       www.geocities.com/mastergardener2k/<http://www.geocities.com/mastergardener2k/>        54      Learn about Plants and our Environment       ThinkQuest       http://library.thinkquest.org/3715/<http://library.thinkquest.org/3715/>       55      Host a yard sale       How to Plan a Yard Sale       www.ehow.com/how_137461_yard-garage-sale.html<http://www.ehow.com/how_137461_yard-garage-sale.html>        56      Build a sandcastle       Sandcastle Tools       www.sandcastlecentral.com/toolpages/<http://www.sandcastlecentral.com/toolpages/>        57      Donate some of the toys and clothes you no longer use       How To Donate Toys       www.ehow.com/how_10124_donate-toys-children.html<http://www.ehow.com/how_10124_donate-toys-children.html>        58      Research your family tree       Free Genealogy Information       http://genealogy.about.com/cs/free_genealogy/a/free_sites.htm<http://genealogy.about.com/cs/free_genealogy/a/free_sites.htm>       59      Fly a kite       Professor Kite and the Secret of Kites       www.gombergkites.com/howgen.html<http://www.gombergkites.com/howgen.html>        60      Invent your own board game       Design Your Own Board Game       la.essortment.com/boardgamedesig_rxcu.htm<http://la.essortment.com/boardgamedesig_rxcu.htm>        61      Make your own comic book       Comic Creator       http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/comic/<http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/comic/>       62      Create a book cover for your writing projects       Book Cover Creator       http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/bookcover/<http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/bookcover/>       63      Act in a play       So You Want to Put On a Play?       www.writewords.org.uk/articles/theatre1.asp<http://www.writewords.org.uk/articles/theatre1.asp>        64      Learn to Cook       Introductory Cooking Lessons       http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/kids-cooking-lessons-cit-intro.html<http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/kids-cooking-lessons-cit-intro.html>       65      Make a bird feeder       Easy birdfeeders for young children       http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-easy-bird-feeders.html<http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-easy-bird-feeders.html>       66      Organize a bike safety clinic       Bicycle Safety Command Center       www.state.il.us/kids/isp/bikes/<http://www.state.il.us/kids/isp/bikes/>        67      Spend time with your grandparents       10 Great Activities       www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson136.shtml<http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson136.shtml>        68      Learn how the Internet works       Learn the Net       http://www.learnthenet.com/english/section/intbas.html<http://www.learnthenet.com/english/section/intbas.html>       69      Dig for fossils       Dinosaur Dig       www.sdnhm.org/kids/fossils/<http://www.sdnhm.org/kids/fossils/>        70      Write a song       Notes on Songwriting       www.robinfrederick.com/write.html<http://www.robinfrederick.com/write.html>        71      Tie-dye some t-shirts       How to Tie-Dye       iaia.essortment.com/tiedyedyefa_rmel.htm<http://iaia.essortment.com/tiedyedyefa_rmel.htm>        72      Make your own banana split       Yum!       http://parentingteens.about.com/cs/recipesforkids/ht/bananasplit.htm<http://parentingteens.about.com/cs/recipesforkids/ht/bananasplit.htm>       73      Create a themed dinner       Theme Dinner Ideas       http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/theme-dinner-ideas.html<http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/theme-dinner-ideas.html>       74      Tour the World       Google Earth Style       http://earth.google.com/tour.html<http://earth.google.com/tour.html>       75      Throw a pajama party       Make it a success       http://www.ehow.com/how_2047629_plan-pajama-party.html<http://www.ehow.com/how_2047629_plan-pajama-party.html>       76      Learn some new outdoor games       Games Kids Play       www.gameskidsplay.net/<http://www.gameskidsplay.net/>        77      Make something from recyclables       Crafts from Recycled Products       www.makingfriends.com/recycle.htm<http://www.makingfriends.com/recycle.htm>        78      See a movie with a friend       In the theatre or on DVD       http://www.movies.com/<http://www.movies.com/>       79      Make homemade ice cream       Kitchen Theater Science in a Scoop       www.carnegiemuseums.org/cmag/bk_issue/1996/julaug/dept4.htm<http://www.carnegiemuseums.org/cmag/bk_issue/1996/julaug/dept4.htm>        80      Build a time capsule       For the entire family       http://www.ehow.com/how_6637_make-family-time.html<http://www.ehow.com/how_6637_make-family-time.html>       81      Get a magazine subscription (parent permission)       Magazine Listing       www.magsonthenet.com/chilmag.html<http://www.magsonthenet.com/chilmag.html>        82      Organize a scavenger hunt       Outdoor Scavenger Hunts       www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/kids/scavengerhunt.htm<http://www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/kids/scavengerhunt.htm>       83      Go swimming       Video Clips of the Swimming Strokes       wellness.lattc.cc.ca.us/real/strokes.html<http://wellness.lattc.cc.ca.us/real/strokes.html>        84      Paint a portrait of your best friend       Draw Your Friend       www.arts.ufl.edu/art/rt_room/sparkers/friend_portrait/       portrait_friend.html<http://www.arts.ufl.edu/art/rt_room/sparkers/friend_portrait/portrait_friend.html>        85      Start a collection       How to Start a Collection       www.ehow.com/how_10563_start-collection.html<http://www.ehow.com/how_10563_start-collection.html>        86      Write a fairy tale       Fractured Fairy Tales       http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/fairytales/<http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/fairytales/>       87      Travel in time       Odyssey Online       carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/MidElem_Home.html<http://carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/MidElem_Home.html>        88      Stargaze and track the moon phases       Moon information       http://www.moonconnection.com/<http://www.moonconnection.com/>       89      Learn how to sew       Learn to Sew       http://cyberseams.com/<http://cyberseams.com/>       90      Visit a National Park       National Park Service Guide       www.nps.gov/parks.html<http://www.nps.gov/parks.html>        91      Rent a video of a ballet       Easy to Read Profiles of the Histories of Ballets       classicalmusic.about.com/od/historyofballet/<http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/historyofballet/>        92      Roast marshmallows       How to Roast a Marshmallow       www.ehow.com/how_1164_roast-marshmallow.html<http://www.ehow.com/how_1164_roast-marshmallow.html>        93      Watch the birds       Tips on Getting Started with Bird Watching       www.birdwatching.com/tips/kids_birding.html<http://www.birdwatching.com/tips/kids_birding.html>        94      Arrange a bouquet of flowers       Learn how to make a beautiful display       http://interiordec.about.com/library/weekly/aa021403b2.htm<http://interiordec.about.com/library/weekly/aa021403b2.htm>       95      Learn to blog (parents’ permission)       How-to       http://learn2blog.pitas.com/<http://learn2blog.pitas.com/>       96      Re-decorate your room       Decorating Gallery       http://www.hgtv.com/topics/bedrooms/index.html<http://www.hgtv.com/topics/bedrooms/index.html>       97      Learn to play chess       Chess is Fun       http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/chess/chess.html<http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/chess/chess.html>       98      Adopt a pet (parent permission)       http://www.petfinder.com/<http://www.petfinder.com/>       99      Keep your brain going       Brain Teasers       www.brainconnection.com/teasers/<http://www.brainconnection.com/teasers/>        100      Teach someone to use email       How eMail Works       www.learnthenet.com/english/html/20how.htm<http://www.learnthenet.com/english/html/20how.htm>        101      Create your own holiday       A Month With No Holidays? Make Up Your Own!       www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson018.shtml<http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson018.shtml>

We started in early March by building a box.  We decided to try the square-foot gardening method by Mel Bartholomew.

We planted lettuce, spinach, broccoli, carrots, lavender, sugar snap peas, onions and garlic.  And potatoes, though we had to move those to their own container later because they got too big.  These pictures were taken after 1 week.

These are after two weeks.

We’ve had snail problems, so we lost all but one broccoli plant, some of the lettuce and spinach, and the catnip we planted never really got going; neither did the lavender.  A couple weeks ago we planted some tomatoes, strawberries and moved the potatoes and those are all doing well.

Here’s our first sugar snap pea that we picked.  IT was delicious!

Last week we had a whole (mini) salad made from our garden!  Here it is now after about 8 weeks.

And our first harvest.

Well, it ended up being me, William, Kevan, Ben, Doug, and Heather who went to Third Day.  We got to do the VIP thing and meet the band.  A cd (Revelation) came with the tickets so that is what they are signing for us.

Then we bought some shirts.

And had some nice seats!  It was a great concert, and Ben’s first.