Jake has been getting better and better at reading. It is especially fun to listen to him read from his Bible reader. This video cuts off the story b/c the camera battery died. But hopefully I can get a chance to record his reading of a whole story. :)
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Reading
Jake has been getting better and better at reading. It is especially fun to listen to him read from his Bible reader. This video cuts off the story b/c the camera battery died. But hopefully I can get a chance to record his reading of a whole story. :)
Woody and airplanes...
I want to catch up on the last couple of weeks. It's been full of "stuff".
Starting last Monday...
We drove to Dayton, Ohio, to look at an old Ford flatbed truck (with a snowplow and 4 wheel drive) that Josh can use to plow the driveway and to haul firewood. He's been using the back of the Tahoe for hauling firewood...which the cleaning lady doesn't care for too much!!!
The price was right on this truck...so we took the trip. Either way, we planned to stop at the US National Air Force Museum in Dayton.
Long story short...we bought the truck...which has been named (after great deliberation and a variety of names). How much wood could a wood truck chuck if a wood truck could chuck wood? was also brought up by Jake. Needless to say, we settled on Woody. And as you'll see, it is the same color as most of the other vehicles Josh has purchased!
The Air Force Museum was unbelievable. We couldn't even pretend to scratch the surface of what was in this HUGE museum. (If you'd like to get an idea...go to their website and check out the virtual tour!) So, we will have to make several trips back in order to begin to take it all in. It was a great overview at least!
Starting last Monday...
We drove to Dayton, Ohio, to look at an old Ford flatbed truck (with a snowplow and 4 wheel drive) that Josh can use to plow the driveway and to haul firewood. He's been using the back of the Tahoe for hauling firewood...which the cleaning lady doesn't care for too much!!!
The price was right on this truck...so we took the trip. Either way, we planned to stop at the US National Air Force Museum in Dayton.
Long story short...we bought the truck...which has been named (after great deliberation and a variety of names). How much wood could a wood truck chuck if a wood truck could chuck wood? was also brought up by Jake. Needless to say, we settled on Woody. And as you'll see, it is the same color as most of the other vehicles Josh has purchased!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Post Office and Fire Station
Our friend set up field trips for us to go to the Post Office and the Fire Station. It was a big hit...for the boys and for mom.
At the Post Office, we learned all kinds of things. Some of the most interesting are that there are several postal workers who still walk 10 miles a day to deliver mail by foot.
Our delivery man drives 105 miles daily to deliver mail on our route.
Machines that sort the mail can sort 38,000 pieces of mail in an hour. (Greensburg does it all by hand in their office.)
With the push to keep costs low in the Post Office, the delivery men have to scan their mail before they leave and the machine directs them to how long it should take for them to deliver it. Then, they have to scan mail at points along their route to prove they are on pace.
Those carrying mail for delivery can have 35 lbs of mail in their bag on average. Their shoulder bag can hold 60 lbs (which doesn't include any packages they might also have to carry).
Delivering phone books is a pain! Especially the large sized ones. Sometimes they have to be delivered over the course of 2-3 days.
Our guide was Joe and he took pictures of each of the kids wearing a postal shirt, hat, and bag. When we get those, I'll add the pictures. :)
At the fire station, we were led passed the different trucks. Each feature of the truck was explained to us. And the kids got to climb through 2 of the trucks.
They got to see a fire fighter suit all the way up (mask, tank and all). They got to see where the guys sleep. They got to see how the heat sensor machine works to help identify a person based on their body heat when otherwise not visible.
They got to lounge in the recliners for a video and see the kitchen/eating area where they cook and eat.
Jessi took some pictures. So, I'll forward those when I get them, too.
We learned a lot and enjoyed time with friends, too!
At the Post Office, we learned all kinds of things. Some of the most interesting are that there are several postal workers who still walk 10 miles a day to deliver mail by foot.
Our delivery man drives 105 miles daily to deliver mail on our route.
Machines that sort the mail can sort 38,000 pieces of mail in an hour. (Greensburg does it all by hand in their office.)
With the push to keep costs low in the Post Office, the delivery men have to scan their mail before they leave and the machine directs them to how long it should take for them to deliver it. Then, they have to scan mail at points along their route to prove they are on pace.
Those carrying mail for delivery can have 35 lbs of mail in their bag on average. Their shoulder bag can hold 60 lbs (which doesn't include any packages they might also have to carry).
Delivering phone books is a pain! Especially the large sized ones. Sometimes they have to be delivered over the course of 2-3 days.
Our guide was Joe and he took pictures of each of the kids wearing a postal shirt, hat, and bag. When we get those, I'll add the pictures. :)
At the fire station, we were led passed the different trucks. Each feature of the truck was explained to us. And the kids got to climb through 2 of the trucks.
They got to see a fire fighter suit all the way up (mask, tank and all). They got to see where the guys sleep. They got to see how the heat sensor machine works to help identify a person based on their body heat when otherwise not visible.
They got to lounge in the recliners for a video and see the kitchen/eating area where they cook and eat.
Jessi took some pictures. So, I'll forward those when I get them, too.
We learned a lot and enjoyed time with friends, too!
Free day
With Monday being a holiday, we took the day off from school (not too hard to do) and were able to go to the Children's Museum. It was free on Monday and I hadn't been there since college (so I couldn't remember what it would be like). So, we set off to take advantage of a day to explore. We quickly discovered a LOT to enjoy.
We went through the dinosaur exhibit on our way to the train stuff. There were several engaging things in the train exhibit...including tv's at the windows of a caboose you could board where the views out the window portrayed true to life views from a train ride. Of course we had to linger at the train displays, but eventually we wandered on...
We learned how glass is blown and did an interactive activity on the computer to mimic and reinforce understanding.
We explored how people search and make underwater discoveries...and how they clean off the shipwrecked items they find.
We LOVED the Hot Wheels exhibit...real big car versions of the smaller cars, plenty of race tracks to test, stencils to make and take, designs to explore, etc.
The area devoted to life in Egypt allowed us to "board" a plane (with tvs in the windows again to give the full effect of taking off and landing as well as views from the air). We exchanged currency and learned how much certain amounts would buy. Then we ventured through the "town" to experience ways of life from homes to the market to the Nile River water source, a coffee shop, and more.
The science area was packed (and we'd bee there for 3-4 hours) so we didn't maximize our time there. But we did enjoy watching the pool table balls go through the self-propelling course. And we investigated some water exhibits (ponds, flood plains, dams in Indiana).
Another big hit was the clock. The clock is in the lobby area and is a completely visual clock where water areas (big and small) represent the hours, minutes, seconds. You can sit for hours and watch the water fill the spaces which all represent the current time. The highlight is at 1pm when all the water drains to restart the second half of the day. Unfortunately, I forgot that part so we didn't see it.
We went through the dinosaur exhibit on our way to the train stuff. There were several engaging things in the train exhibit...including tv's at the windows of a caboose you could board where the views out the window portrayed true to life views from a train ride. Of course we had to linger at the train displays, but eventually we wandered on...
We explored how people search and make underwater discoveries...and how they clean off the shipwrecked items they find.
The area devoted to life in Egypt allowed us to "board" a plane (with tvs in the windows again to give the full effect of taking off and landing as well as views from the air). We exchanged currency and learned how much certain amounts would buy. Then we ventured through the "town" to experience ways of life from homes to the market to the Nile River water source, a coffee shop, and more.
The science area was packed (and we'd bee there for 3-4 hours) so we didn't maximize our time there. But we did enjoy watching the pool table balls go through the self-propelling course. And we investigated some water exhibits (ponds, flood plains, dams in Indiana).
Another big hit was the clock. The clock is in the lobby area and is a completely visual clock where water areas (big and small) represent the hours, minutes, seconds. You can sit for hours and watch the water fill the spaces which all represent the current time. The highlight is at 1pm when all the water drains to restart the second half of the day. Unfortunately, I forgot that part so we didn't see it.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Where does the time go?
I guess another week has passed. We have been doing a lot of stuff this week, but I am not really sure what stuff I can tell you about because nothing really stands out. So, I guess we did nothing! Really? Okay, I'll think some more.
This week...
1. We did school...and felt a little more back in the routine.
Joe is really starting to show interest in learning and can almost say his ABC's without help. And that is a huge accomplishment for this busy bodied boy.
Jake enjoyed learning about rainbows the last couple of weeks and we finally had sunlight coming through the window so he could experiment with the light, a mirror, and a glass of water. Both boys enjoyed "making rainbows" all over the kitchen walls and floor.
We enjoyed a LOT of great books from the library. I am so thankful for the library!!!!! And Jake enjoyed using his library card to check out some books from the Bookmobile, too!
2. Swim practice...Jake is officially entered to swim in his first swim meet on Feb 19. He has been working hard on his start off the block. And Josh says that Jake did half a length of "legal butterfly" the other day. Jake is motivated to improve.
Joe continues to enjoy his "swim practice" (his chance to swim while the divers practice at the other end of the pool). He is watching Jake's progress and plotting his accomplishments in the future already!
3. Joe helped run the log splitter on Thursday as Josh and Jack cut some wood. Joe was also excited that he got to drive the tractor all by himself (with Jack on it, of course) and back it into the barn all by himself. Personally, I wish I could say I could do that! :)
That's about it. I won't bore you with the laundry, cleaning, cooking, disciplining, and sleeping! But maybe next week will hold an exciting event or two! :)
Oh yeah...I had the boys help get the tree out of the house. It proved convenient that we located it right near a door. I pushed it out while the boys pulled it (Josh was at a swim meet). Then I figured I would let the boys have fun towing it to the burn pile. They got creative. I think they even managed to roll it down the dirt pile hill to get it on the pile somehow?!?!?!!
I figured I would try to burn it while it was dry-er. So, the boys learned a little about how forest fires spread in the west...as they watched it burn so easily. :) But despite the "fun" of it all, they were sad the tree was no longer in the house.
This week...
1. We did school...and felt a little more back in the routine.
Joe is really starting to show interest in learning and can almost say his ABC's without help. And that is a huge accomplishment for this busy bodied boy.
Jake enjoyed learning about rainbows the last couple of weeks and we finally had sunlight coming through the window so he could experiment with the light, a mirror, and a glass of water. Both boys enjoyed "making rainbows" all over the kitchen walls and floor.
We enjoyed a LOT of great books from the library. I am so thankful for the library!!!!! And Jake enjoyed using his library card to check out some books from the Bookmobile, too!
2. Swim practice...Jake is officially entered to swim in his first swim meet on Feb 19. He has been working hard on his start off the block. And Josh says that Jake did half a length of "legal butterfly" the other day. Jake is motivated to improve.
Joe continues to enjoy his "swim practice" (his chance to swim while the divers practice at the other end of the pool). He is watching Jake's progress and plotting his accomplishments in the future already!
3. Joe helped run the log splitter on Thursday as Josh and Jack cut some wood. Joe was also excited that he got to drive the tractor all by himself (with Jack on it, of course) and back it into the barn all by himself. Personally, I wish I could say I could do that! :)
That's about it. I won't bore you with the laundry, cleaning, cooking, disciplining, and sleeping! But maybe next week will hold an exciting event or two! :)
Oh yeah...I had the boys help get the tree out of the house. It proved convenient that we located it right near a door. I pushed it out while the boys pulled it (Josh was at a swim meet). Then I figured I would let the boys have fun towing it to the burn pile. They got creative. I think they even managed to roll it down the dirt pile hill to get it on the pile somehow?!?!?!!
I figured I would try to burn it while it was dry-er. So, the boys learned a little about how forest fires spread in the west...as they watched it burn so easily. :) But despite the "fun" of it all, they were sad the tree was no longer in the house.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Snowmen and Snow Biking
It has actually been good snow to play in each day for a different reason. This day was good for making snow men. So, that's what Joe and Grammie and Jake did...a family creation.
Then, the boys wanted to ride bikes in the snow (ice) on the driveway.
Then, the boys wanted to ride bikes in the snow (ice) on the driveway.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
FINALLY, we can use those sleds...
We got to use the sleds...
and
we got to test the snowboards, too.
The boys and I even pulled out the tobaggon to test it out. And that was fun...brought back childhood memories of my own (and we found out that Grandpa bought it when he was 10 ... with money he earned shoveling snow. It was delivered to his house in a big delivery truck!)
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