Chester must be loving this weather. He's a wolf-hybrid (although I think he's almost full wolf) and he is hairy! But so sweet!!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Snow Day - in the desert??
It snowed at Mike and Lauri's house yesterday and Lauri shared these pictures of the snow they got on their property.
Chester must be loving this weather. He's a wolf-hybrid (although I think he's almost full wolf) and he is hairy! But so sweet!!
Chester must be loving this weather. He's a wolf-hybrid (although I think he's almost full wolf) and he is hairy! But so sweet!!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Teddy the Hamster
It was so nice outside, even Teddy was able to get out and enjoy a little sunshine. But I can't tell you how nervous I was that our resident owl would come swoop her off the lawn.
Placerita Canyon
The weather was perfect today, so we decided to ignore the chores, ignore the urge to go holiday shopping and just get outdoors.
We didn't see any wildlife, but definitely saw evidence that it existed. The river (or mabe this is more of a stream) was drying up, but still muddy, and we could see the prints of something a little on the larger side, along with what we're guessing was a baby racoon.
Drew couldn't remember what these are called, but they're full of tiny edible seeds. You just turn them over and spin the seeds out.
At the entrance to one of the trails, they had a replica of an Indian hut.
We didn't see any wildlife, but definitely saw evidence that it existed. The river (or mabe this is more of a stream) was drying up, but still muddy, and we could see the prints of something a little on the larger side, along with what we're guessing was a baby racoon.
Drew couldn't remember what these are called, but they're full of tiny edible seeds. You just turn them over and spin the seeds out.
At the entrance to one of the trails, they had a replica of an Indian hut.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Samantha Turns 5!
Samantha turned 5 on November 25th. She and her family came to Brian's football game and then back to the house, where her grandparents joined us, for cake.
Samantha loves to pose!
Posing with Grandma Doreen and Grandpa Larry.
Samantha loves to pose!
Posing with Grandma Doreen and Grandpa Larry.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Third Place in the Science Fair!
Brian won third place for the Fifth Grade in his school's Science Fair. His project was to test if an egg would break when equal pressure was applied. I thought for sure I was going to have a yolky mess in my kitchen. But guess what? Eggs do not break under equal pressure. Try it for yourself. Interlock your fingers and apply even pressure. I promise, the egg won't break. As hard as I tried, I could not break one.
Brian has a lot of credit to give to his very artistic dad, who practically did the whole thing for him. I was the typist :-)
Cutie Kaitlin helping us with our "eggsperiment."
Brian has a lot of credit to give to his very artistic dad, who practically did the whole thing for him. I was the typist :-)
Cutie Kaitlin helping us with our "eggsperiment."
Monday, November 3, 2008
Why do we vote on Tuesday after the first Monday in November?
Found this info on About.com and thought I'd share:
Since 1845, this has been the day designated for holding U.S. presidential and congressional elections.
Why in November?
Most Americans made their living from agriculture in 1845 and Congress felt that November was the most convenient month for farmers and citizens living in rural areas to get to the polls. Preparing fields and planting crops consumed lots of the public's time in the spring and summer months. But by early November, the harvest was over in most areas, and the weather was still mild and dry enough to allow travel over the dirt and rock roads of the day.
Why on Tuesday?
In 1845, and for many years after that, only the county seats had a polling places. For many voters, this meant at least an overnight trip on horseback or buggy. If the election were held on Monday, people would have to leave on Sunday, which in 1845, was reserved for church.
Why the first Tuesday after the first Monday?
Congress wanted to make sure the election never fell on the first of November. November 1st is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Roman Catholic Church (All Saints Day). In addition, many businesses tallied their sales and expenses and did their books for the previous month on the first of each month. Congress feared that an unusually good or bad economic month might influence the vote if it were held on the 1st.
Now get out there and vote! There are a lot of hot issues on the ballot tomorrow and, if you don't vote, you don't get to complain about the outcomes
Since 1845, this has been the day designated for holding U.S. presidential and congressional elections.
Why in November?
Most Americans made their living from agriculture in 1845 and Congress felt that November was the most convenient month for farmers and citizens living in rural areas to get to the polls. Preparing fields and planting crops consumed lots of the public's time in the spring and summer months. But by early November, the harvest was over in most areas, and the weather was still mild and dry enough to allow travel over the dirt and rock roads of the day.
Why on Tuesday?
In 1845, and for many years after that, only the county seats had a polling places. For many voters, this meant at least an overnight trip on horseback or buggy. If the election were held on Monday, people would have to leave on Sunday, which in 1845, was reserved for church.
Why the first Tuesday after the first Monday?
Congress wanted to make sure the election never fell on the first of November. November 1st is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Roman Catholic Church (All Saints Day). In addition, many businesses tallied their sales and expenses and did their books for the previous month on the first of each month. Congress feared that an unusually good or bad economic month might influence the vote if it were held on the 1st.
Now get out there and vote! There are a lot of hot issues on the ballot tomorrow and, if you don't vote, you don't get to complain about the outcomes
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Outlaws Football
Poor Brian woke up this morning with the flu. We needed to be ready to go at 6:30 am for his football game, which was in Ventura, but he was running a fever and complaining of a severe stomach ache. So obviously we decided he needed to skip the game. Well Drew is the water boy so he was obligated to go (and he's the unofficial photographer). When he got to the coffee shop where we all meet to caravan to the out-of-town games, we found out that one of the other kids was in the hospital (terrible Halloween/Inflatable story, but he'll be okay) and that if Brian didn't show up, we'd have to forfeit the game. So . . . being the team player that he is, he got dressed and made the trek out to Ventura.
He had only expected to dress in his uniform to make it appear that we had a full team, but decided to go ahead and warm up. We told him to try and if he felt sick, he could sit out. Brian dug deep and somehow found the energy to play the whole game - we were really short - had only one extra boy to sub out for both offense and defense. I think the notion that the team was relying on him to play spurred him on.
Despite the fact he was sick, he had his best game ever. He had three tackles and two flat backs (Brandon says flat backs are good). He also got to run the ball twice - they try to let one defensemen run the ball at each game. And he did all this in the pouring rain. A storm had blown in before we left and the thunder was so loud that Ginger refused to go outside. I couldn't blame her. By the time we got to Ventura, the field was flooded and we mom's sat huddled under blankets and umbrellas. Although I had a huge umbrella and a water-resistant blanket, I was soaked.
But we won 38 - 8 and that's all that matters. Oh, by the way, last week's game cinched the PYFL South Central Conference Championship for our team. This was the last of the regular season games and next week starts the playoffs.
Watching the cheer leaders.
He had only expected to dress in his uniform to make it appear that we had a full team, but decided to go ahead and warm up. We told him to try and if he felt sick, he could sit out. Brian dug deep and somehow found the energy to play the whole game - we were really short - had only one extra boy to sub out for both offense and defense. I think the notion that the team was relying on him to play spurred him on.
Despite the fact he was sick, he had his best game ever. He had three tackles and two flat backs (Brandon says flat backs are good). He also got to run the ball twice - they try to let one defensemen run the ball at each game. And he did all this in the pouring rain. A storm had blown in before we left and the thunder was so loud that Ginger refused to go outside. I couldn't blame her. By the time we got to Ventura, the field was flooded and we mom's sat huddled under blankets and umbrellas. Although I had a huge umbrella and a water-resistant blanket, I was soaked.
But we won 38 - 8 and that's all that matters. Oh, by the way, last week's game cinched the PYFL South Central Conference Championship for our team. This was the last of the regular season games and next week starts the playoffs.
Watching the cheer leaders.
Halloween 2008
Brandon could not decide whether or not he was going trick-or-treating. He finally decided he was going and chose to wear the cheer leader outfit I made for him 3 years ago. Here he is skating boarding with the skirt. I don't know why he decided to put part of the costume on and ride his skate board around the neighborhood like that. But I've stopped trying to understand the mind of a 15-year-old. I am happy, though, that he wore the outfit again, because that skirt took me 6 hours - 6 HOURS! - to make. And that time did not include the matching top.
This year, Brian went trick-or-treating with a bunch of football buddies - they'rell all dressed in black! That's Brian with the glowing red eyes. 
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