Fruit or Vegetable?

We have just spent the last half hour having a very in depth discussion on what defines a fruit or vegetable.  Really it came down to a lot of technicalities, shouting, laughing, arguing and Internet searching.  The boys seem to have the rules figured out, but as for Mike and me we have decided to just call all of them frugtables to simplify things.

Scramble

One of Andrew's favorite games is "Scramble".  We like to make up words and spell and ignore all the rules of the game.  Such fun.  We were playing the other day, and I walked out of the room for a bit.  When I returned this is what I found. Apparently there had been a little fight.  What a laugh 5-year-olds are!

I found paint on sale.  I couldn't help myself.  :)

Liquid Layers

Sometimes living with a science teacher can be an adventure.  Our kitchen regularly doubles as a laboratory - I have had beakers and household chemicals and crystal growing medium on my kitchen counter for two weeks now.

This experiment here is called liquid layers.  Everyone has played around with oil and water and watched the amazing way they separate.  Well, Mike took it a few steps farther.  Nine to be exact.  The layers are honey, corn syrup, maple syrup, milk, dish soap, water, vegetable oil, alcohol, and kerosene.  It is hard to believe, but the entire column is liquid.

I love that our kids are being raised with passion for science, music, and art.  Josh and Drew think it is the neatest thing in the world when Dad brings work home with him.  I have to admit, other than losing a little counter space, I think it is pretty cool too.

Halloween

Halloween 2011

 pirate and ghost at the carnival place
 having a laugh with a pie in the face
of teacher and friend - great Mrs. Hatch
when it comes to pies, she's quite a catch!

 spooky decorations abound
spiders, webs, and ghosts are found
with kids at home is quite a crime
to not decorate at Haloween time.

 Go ahead and be a ghost, vampire, or cat
 wicked witch, zombie king, or rabid spooky bat
but as for me, I don't show up dressed in something scary
I find it much more true to me to be a cute strawberry.

A haloween recital is the perfect time to play your song so spooky.

Its fun to play your scarry song then eat a gravestone cookie!

Sanpete Sunsets

You may think this rural area doesn't offer much by way of interest, but Sanpete has something great going for it :  the most beautiful sunsets in the world.  Since we have lived here there has been a "stop what you are doing and look at this" sunset at least once a week.  It is so amazing and fulfilling to take time to just enjoy the wide clean sky.  We caught this particular sunset last week.  These are not clouds; they are contrails.  Amazing.

Portraits

I love to have a current family portrait hanging in our home.  This year I wanted to add some color to the "family wall" as well as not spend any more money than necessary.  So I ordered our prints from Sams, and used a poster frame we had in the basement.  I already had the leaves and raffia from a fall decoration, so I just put it all together and slapped it up on the wall.  I think when spring comes I will change out the leaves for pressed flowers.

 Large family portrait collage:  $18.00  Woo hoo!