Unbridled Learning

Ben is Ten!

  • June 20, 2009 at 9:36 am

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.

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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…

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Honey’s crate…

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A little internet research…

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To the mailbox…

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Into the van…

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To William’s room… one of his drawers…

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To the kitty closet… pee-ew!

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On Kevan’s giant ScoobyDoo…

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Mommy’s bookshelf in the office…

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Mom and Dad’s bedroom…

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In the oven!

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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.

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That night the grandpas and Nana came over.

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Ben's Birthday by you.

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

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

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101 Things to do this Summer

  • June 18, 2009 at 10:51 am

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

Graduation Announcement

  • June 11, 2009 at 9:23 pm
The Graduating Class of 2009

William Bruce

William Sr. Picture by you.

How does our garden grow?

  • May 25, 2009 at 10:35 pm

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

IMG_9434 by you.

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.

IMG_9921 by you.

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These are after two weeks.

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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!

IMG_0450 by you.

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

IMG_0463 by you.

And our first harvest.

IMG_0459 by you.

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Third Day!

  • May 5, 2009 at 7:16 pm

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.

Picture 242 by you.

Picture 245 by you.

Picture 247 by you.

Picture 248 by you.

Picture 250 by you.

Then we bought some shirts.

Picture 260 by you.

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

Picture 273 by you.

Picture 276 by you.

Third Day!

  • May 5, 2009 at 7:15 pm

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.

Picture 242 by you.

Picture 245 by you.

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Then we bought some shirts.

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

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Mother o’ Mine - Rudyard Kipling (1986-1936)

  • May 5, 2009 at 1:36 pm

Mother o’ Mine

by Rudyard Kipling

(1865-1936)

If I were hanged on the highest hill,

Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!

I know whose love would follow me still,

Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!

If I were drowned in the deepest sea,

Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!

I know whose tears would come down to me,

Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!

If I were damned of body and soul,

I know whose prayers would make me whole,

Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!

via Mother o’ Mine - Rudyard Kipling (1986-1936).

Visiting with Family

  • March 21, 2009 at 4:37 pm

My nieces and nephew came to visit this week with their Grandma.  It was great seeing them!  We went to Dinosaur Park (Shell Beach).

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Check out this dog, lol.

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Katie and Mac

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Team Kevan

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Then we went to the Port San Luis pier.

The mini

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Beautiful girls!

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Loving sisters

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Looking at crabs… or shrimp… or something…

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Here, hold this crab.  Are you sure??

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We went down to the beach… the kids wanted to play.

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Kids on the trampoline

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Is team Kevan giving Doug a headache?
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A belated birthday present for Kevan from his brothers…

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It’s a Dwight bobble-head!

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At the park with the kids… I forgot my real camera, so these are iphone photos.

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Apples to Apples! One of our favorites

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A belated birthday present for Kevan from Grandpa Roger.

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Property of Colbert Nation sweatshirt, and a Demitri Martin t-shirt.  Woohoo.

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Our last day seeing the kids… we went to Montana de Oro.

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Ew… an anemone.

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A trap-door hole.

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Bye!!! Til next time

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Halloween and more in October

  • March 21, 2009 at 4:00 am

Sunset over Lopez Lake - camping, and I didn’t take pictures except for these:

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Football games!  Me and Ben - and the grandpas in the background.

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William’s number 15.

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Halloween night - Ben in his Link costume.

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Doug looking dead.

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Yosemite!!

  • March 16, 2009 at 9:18 am

Ben made waffles for everyone in the morning, and then we set off for Yosemite.  Beautiful view of Half-Dome.

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Cascading Wall? or something like that…  we got out to look and take pictures and the kids ended up climbing all over the place.

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Kids climbing Cascading Falls.

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I loved how they helped each other; Parker came all the way back from where the big boys were to help Ben make it over the water.

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Then Doug helped the little guys slide down the huge rock.

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El Capitan

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On the way to Bridal Veil Falls.
Snowball Fight!

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Not many trees to climb, but lots of rocks.

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We ate lunch in the back of the truck and the kids rode their bikes around.

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Visitor Center

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Indian Village

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Hide and go seek fail

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Thousand year old tree

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Yosemite Falls

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On the way to Tuolomne Grove.  William is after Parker!

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Parker gets Kevan while William is about to spear Parker?

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Giant Sequoias

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There was a lot of whining on that hike - 1 mile downhill in the snow followed by 1 mile uphill in the snow lol.  The kids’ shoes are still soaked.

We made it back and headed for the campsite; the kids took long showers to warm up, we ate dinner and made smores by cooking marshmallows over the stove (fires not allowed).  We played a strange version of Buzzword while Kevan tried unsuccessfully to connect his laptop to the internet for like 2 hours.

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