Random Fun & Happiness

Morgan was chosen to advance to the District level of the Science Fair! Her project was "Does Color Affect Memory?" Here is a pic of Morgan with her display at the District Science Fair:

 A month ago we went to a BYU basketball game with the Farmers. Grandpa Ross was in town that weekend, so he also got to join us. Our seats were literally in the back two rows of the stadium! I have never sat that far up before! The nice thing is that there was lots of room to spread out and stretch our legs. I took several pictures, but from the looks of them you'd think we were watching a chess tournament. Seriously - check out how excited everyone looks in these pictures; and don't forget to look in the background too. (Kudos to Drew and Cayden for trying to liven things up in the last pic!) :)

On a totally unrelated topic, look at my beautiful Brynne!!

 This next picture is our new family chore chart - I LOVE IT!!!! I was getting so frustrated trying to get our kids more involved in cleaning and taking care of our house, so I finally posted a request for ideas on my neighborhood facebook page. I got lots of great ideas about what various families have their children do, along with how and when they have them do the things. One of my biggest problems is remembering what it is I want/need the kids to do each day, so I needed a visual to help me with whatever I decided to do. I considered all the great ideas and then opted to copy the chore chart one of my neighbor's (Angela Jenkins) uses for her kids. The tasks/chores the kids have to accomplish are a bit different, but the chart is very similar. I was very happy that one of the awesome ladies I visit teach had a bright pink poster board she was willing to give me. (Thank you, Karin!!!!!) My friend Denise came over one morning and helped me get the chart put together. Here is the final result:

I was prepared for a fight, since kids always put up a fight when something new is introduced. Sure enough, the kids complained straight through the first day. I was quite please, though, because at least they were working through the complaining - I had prepared myself for an all-out revolt!! By day four I watched with my jaw half way to the floor as both girls actually got started on their things before they even left for school! I seriously consider this a miracle. This chart has taken a lot of stress off my shoulders. Our house has been a lot cleaner, and I finally feel like my kids are learning the things they need to know to function when life takes them outside of our home. I am a happy Momma!!! :)

February -- Science Fair and Valentines

As most of you know, creating is not my thing. I am not creative AT ALL (although I have other talents...), and even the thought of having to create something stresses me out! So you can imagine my excitement when it came time for the 5th Grade Science Fair. Remember those other talents I mentioned? Well, one of my talents is weaseling out of things. Knowing the science fair was coming, last December(ish) I put Lee in charge of helping Morgan. Whew! All done with that stress! But wait... it turns out February has been a super stressful month for Lee. He is taking his final master's course, which has required all of his time. Although he was awesome to make sure Morgan completed her project, I was still given the task of helping with the display board. Thankfully, everything turned out well. Do you think it's too early to start on the 6th Grade Science Fair project?

Melissa was Morgan's helper at the science fair:

Morgan wanted to do her project on how magnets and radio cross to make metal detectors somehow (at least, I think it was something like that). In the end, though, the project became a study on how radar and metal detectors work. Morgan's conclusion was "That we can make metal detectors and radar very easily!" ('Very' was underlined twice, but there's not a button for that...) :)

Here is a picture of Morgan with the final display:

 Just as we were putting the finishing touches on Morgan's display board, I realized that Valentine's was the following week, which meant the girls needed to make Valentine boxes for school. Thankfully, they both did their boxes almost completely on their own!

The theme for 2nd Grade was "I love bugs," so Brynne set to work making a super duper cute lady bug and finding a way to attach her to a box. That kid totally amazes me. She sees the finished product and makes it happen. That's where my brain has a disconnect, I can't envision a thing until it's right in front of me. Anyway, check out Brynne's box:

 Morgan's theme was something like "I love the USA." She got really creative with her box and made a pulley system that would open and close the lid on the 'drop in' part of the box. I did help with the logistics of making that happen and with getting the 'drop in' box to fit into the bigger box, but Morgan and her friend Aspen did everything else.

I am so grateful for creative daughters! And just think -- they'll both be around to help Melissa when the time comes!! :)