Hale's Happenings in February

We had fun making frozen bananas in honor of our FIAR-rowing of  Caps for Sale.    Mmm, those things are really good!  Plus we (Brianne, Liam and I) had fun reading, acting out, and doing other fun activities based off this whimsical book.

Arrggghhh.......

It's happened again....two years ago our dishwasher died...and now it's died again.   I suppose that after washing 2 to 3 loads per day for 2 years a low grade quality machine will just wear out.    We didn't get the lowest priced one....but 2nd lowest isn't so great either.  So now we're back to hand washing and nobody is liking it!  Can't wait till we can get a new one :)

Science with Delaney and Liam....  We're continuing our learning of fossils and dinosaurs.
These cookies are "fossil cookies".  The fork imprint on shortbread cookies.

Liam continues to love his "Skittles School"--funny kid :)
Since he can't seem to learn the letters at home, we'll just go over what is being taught in his class with Amber, Marshall and Sister Mattson.

Cailin--  The pictures show her pulling together the last bits of her science fair presentation.

"Um...February was...February. It was cold and boring. That pretty much sums of winter in general. I finalized my science fair project (gag) but the science fair itself was in March...I'm going on the Trek because of my grade. I'm going into 9th but I'm 13. I don't know, what else happened? Play auditions for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I got Mrs. Gloop. Yeah, I know, don't laugh, but it is a step up from my pathetic past roles. That's all I can think of right now...yeah. That was February. "


Connor--  For the month of February, I have, of course, been doing schoolwork. There isn't much to tell about that though. For scouts, we have had a court of honor. It was at this time that I was awarded several required merit badges (my sash now holds thirty merit badges). Once I obtain my eagle( which is not far off) I will only need three more merit badges and I'll have all three eagle palms. I have also begun playing the role-playing game Pathfinder (I believe Ryan described it a while ago). Those are this month's highlights.

Beulah's been battleing various illness which all seem to converge together and knock her our flat in the hospital.  She's doing better and is now in a short term care facility.  We hope she'll be home soon.

Cotton Jr. the III (considering Liam looks just like his Daddy as a child too)

Saturday, February 22nd was one exceptionally nice day.
 It was sandwiched by two snow days...but we took advantage of the warm spring like weather and had an impromptu pizza picnic.  Oh how we long for more days like this.

 While we picnicked on pizza, Cailin and Connor were spending the afternoon at a youth stake activity preparing for the pioneer trek they will be attending in July.

Connor is teaching Liam how to play chess....another budding logic minded soul!

For History group this month Delaney gave a presentation on the Berlin Candy Bombers.  She loved the story about Mercedes that was read to her during writer's workshop.  While working on Easy Peasy for history she and I read again about the Berlin Airlift and she recalled the story of the candy bombers so we just had to find out some more.
Come to find out it was Brother Gail Halverson....a Mormon who started it all.  We loved that his favorite saying was "From small things come big things".....humm, I wonder where he got that.  We loved looking for those scriptures in the Book of Mormon that talked about   Out of small things come that which is great.

Although I was sick and didn't go...so was Brianne for that matter, Connor who met up with his siblings after his Latin class at the Brame's home decided to give an impromptu presentation on solubility and the chemical explanation of solutions.

Delaney couldn't talk about a Candy Bomber without simulating one....so we made lots of little parachutes with candy attached and she threw them into the air for all the kids to find.



Ryan-- The great month of February. A month full of work and fun. I was able to play so many things of pathfinder and my brother Connor got into it. Things are great. I also went to institute and learned more about the Word of Wisdom and other Church history events. Unfortunately it seems that my family got hit by sickness or at least my Mother did for a week. And it seemed to coincide with one of my forum friends getting sick who hasn't been on in the past two weeks. I've also had many tests within the month and I still have many more to come. I've diligently been working at my schoolwork and I haven't fallen behind once yet. Me and Connor do your Cardfights every day even though he has to push me to do them. He wants to train to be able to participate in a card shop tournament.

Westward Ho!! in 2013 style

On December 17, 2013 at about 7:30 pm we started out on our quest to see the west. We left amid a wind and rain storm, but we really had no idea about what "Cold" meant in western terms. Traveling across the flat lands of mid west, we came to the conclusion that we have it pretty good in the Old Dominion.

We stopped at a rest stop in Minnesota. This area is fairly close to where the Mayo clinic is. We had been on the road for almost 15 hours and it was nice to take a break in this small play ground. I should point out though, that the subfreezing temperatures made the play date rather short. The temperatures were below zero, I believe around -5*.

I have to say that all the kids did great on the trip. But Brianne really did great. For her to be so little, she kept her self entertained most of the time. She was a real trooper.

This windy land is a really great place for a windmill farm....guess someone else thought of that too.

We had two  portable DVD players that became worth their weight in gold. Travelling across the prairie can be pretty boring. It makes me wonder what the children in the covered wagons did for a laugh.

These picture's blue appearance is due I think to the fact that Vicki took them through the wind shield.

V-  These signs remind me fondly of my dear Grandpa Grant.  He use to drive for Cenex.  I sure miss that guy!
Loved the sayings of the signs.....Next Rest Stop, Anyone Guess.    and    Gas now.  Or gas can later.

Roadside signs were the only thing that kept the drive through South Dakota amusing or interesting...there were soooo many of them!

Our first leg of the trip was about 22 hours in the car.  We found a place to stay in Chamberlain, South Dakota.  finding a hotel  with a swimming pool was our biggest desire...and we did.  It was a great way to relax and gear up for the next few days of traveling.

A Snowy Valentine's Day

After the wonderful cozy, warm, stay-at-home day on Thursday the kids were ready to get out and play with their friends.  Originally, we were suppose to have our next kick-off and Valentine's party today, but all we really wanted to do was PLAY in the Snow!!!......so that is what we did!!

Hello, it is Cailin. 

Yesterday (as in Valentine's Day) we went to the  Mattson's house with the Brame's to go sledding. It was awesome. We sledded for a little bit, but then someone (it was me) threw a snowball at Connor's head and the fight was on. At first there was an every-man-for-himself battle, then we decided to do it more organized with teams and snow forts. 

So we went down to the fire pit area where most of the snow was untouched to do this. The team captains were Beryl and Jared, but Connor pretty much took over Beryl's team captain-ship. On Beryl/Connor's team was Clarissa, Delaney, Beryl, Connor, and Liam. On Jared's team was Janet, Krystal, Jared, Amber, and me. The Beryl/Connor team was called the Yeti's and Jared's team was the Abominable Snowmen. Both teams had the idea to make one central fort at the back and two smaller snow forts off to the side. I did NOT steal Connor's idea, despite what Liam or Delaney or someone from that team might tell you. They just got started on their other forts first. 

Once our fortresses of ice and snow were ready, the Cold War began.

Snow was flying, people were getting hit in the face and in the stomach, forts were being taken--it was crazy awesome. 

After a long fight, the two armies called a truce and went back up to the house for lunch. 

The Cold War has paused, but not stopped... It is paused until the next snowfall, whenever that may be. 

Connor: Salvete (hello in Latin)! So we had a snow day, three actually. Wednesday was, at least for me, half school and half snow. Thursday, Cailin and I attempted to make a quick buck with snow shoveling, and succeeded too. We each made sixty dollars, so I'd have to say we made off like bandits. Friday came and we had exhausted all shoveling ventures so it was time to have fun before all the snow melted. We packed up and headed off to the Mattson's for sledding. I had also promised Liam a snowball fight which would be taken care of while we were there. After a bit of sledding, we moved up to an area to begin construction of a new track. While someone was working on this track, either I or Cailin dropped (by accident or with maliciousness, I do not recall) snow on the other. This was retaliated with pile of snow, which was replied with another, and another until actual snowballs were being hurled. People quickly were drawn into the conflict as the snow flew. People were slammed, alliances made, and backs stabbed. Finally, Jared turned to me and asked if I wanted to take the fight down to the bottom of the hill and begin a more organized fight. That was fine with me, I was without a single ally and therefore losing badly. So down we went, and that fight took place ultimately as Cailin depicted. We had to leave the fight (deemed the 'Cold War') as a draw. The team I was on was the more aggressive, leading several attacks into enemy territory, while they took advantage of our lesser numbers and assaulted our base while we were away.

 

Brianne also had fun.  By Friday afternoon, the temperature was quite warm for a snowy day (~45*) and so she played with the urns and took a round our two on the sled being pulled by Jen.

Team "Abominable Snowman"

Team "Yeti"  minus Delaney who had a boot problem and had to get it fixed.

Team Yeti and Team Abominable Snowman...ready for the next Cold War.

 

 As this day was also Valentine's Day they shared a few Valentine's and decorated cupcakes.

 To quote Delaney  "This was the best Valentine's Day ever!!"

Back home, for dinner, Barry and I shared our bottle of sparkling cider with the kids, using champagne classes and all, as we feasted on chili burgers.  This was one of our first meals while on a "date" when we both lived in the DC area before we were married....plus we had the ingredients on hand!  No need to purchase anything :)