extra credit...

Extra credit should be easy right?  After all it is EXTRA work......so when Katie suggested we do extra credit for her chemistry class I thought, sure why not? 

Well the why not reasons were definitely not in the directions.

#1.     if your daughter doesn't immediately clean the pan the rock candy was created in it leaves a big job for mom

{no photo of mom repeatedly wasting scalding hot water by melting said candy out of the pan}

#2.     if your daughter spills the rock candy liquid concoction onto the white stove top and still leaves the stove on, it burns into an unappetizing black mess that has yet to be cleaned up.

{ big sigh, you do NOT want to see a photo of this, it will scare you off of future chemistry extra credit assignments for life}

#3.     if directions aren't followed exactly, the rock candy will fail to form on your stick and will instead crust over an entire drinking glass

{see exhibit A}

{exhibit A}

#4.     It will look really pretty, but will not be removed from the glass

{see exhibit B}

{exhibit B}

#5.     After much swishing, swirling and other scientific terms not to be named.  This is all the edible candy there is to show for the experiment.

{see exhibit C}

{exhibit C}

So to actually get the extra-credit you have to submit a photo of yourself eating the candy.  I am still trying to figure out how to make this little chunk look like it is on a stick with my daughter eating it, or if since I did so much of the actual work if I should submit my own photo.....

An "A" is so in my future.....

wishes.....

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Another year older and wiser too.....

metamorphosis......

metamorphosis: 

change of appearance or character: a complete or marked change in appearance, character, or condition                                                  Microsoft® Encarta® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved         

 
My baby is growing up.  My little girl is little no more.  I no longer rock and sing her to sleep while she is curled into my body.  She doesn't fit herself into my lap with her thumb creeping into her mouth when tired.  I can't carry her.  We don't hold hands while crossing the street (although sometimes we do hold hands).  She isn't afraid of the dark anymore and will sleep with the bedroom door CLOSED.  She is adept at using a sharp knife and can feed herself when hungry.  When she stands next to me she looks me in the eye.  She can plan her work and work her plan.  She is on the way to becoming a woman.

How can I be happy and sad at the same time?  Where have all the years gone?  I miss the smell of baby powder and shampoo on her skin, her needing the boo-boo bunny for an owie.  I miss her sitting patiently, and sometimes not, in her chair waiting for lunch.  I miss her going to bed while it was still light out.  I love that little girl and miss her dearly, but I love this young woman I currently spend my days with. 

I love her independence & confidence.  Her strength & fearlessness.  Her high standards & work ethic.  Her good grades & book smarts.  Her athleticism & talents.  Her sweet spirit & faith.

So Katie, my darling daughter, this is for you. 
I can't believe you are 15! 

 Right now I have a prayer deep within my heart,

a prayer for each of you there is a special part.

That you remember who you are and he who lives above.

Please seek for him and live his way; you'll feel his love.

 

Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God.
Be strong and remember who you are;
try to understand,
you're part of his great plan.
He's closer than you know.
Reach up; he'll take your hand.

Long before the time you can remember,

our Father held you in his arms so tender.

Those loving arms released you as he sent you down to earth.

He said, "My child I love you. Don't forget your great worth."

 

Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God.

Be strong and remember who you are;

try to understand, you're part of His great plan.

He's closer than you know.

Reach up;  he'll take your hand.

 

This life on earth we knew would not be easy

at times we lose our way his path we may not see.

But remember always that you are not alone.

He'll take your hand.

He loves you;  He will guide you home.

 

Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God.

Be strong and remember who you are;

try to understand, you're part of His great plan.

He's closer than you know.

Reach up; he'll take your hand.

*words & music by Jamie Glen and Janice Kapp Perry

2009 Body Surfing......

It's that time of year again - end of August (i know i am late posting this, but better late, then never), the annual bodysurfing competition. Two fun filled days of sun, sand, surf, and friends.

This year we were greated with rain on Saturday morning. It was so cold, at least for August, and stormy I didn't even wear or take my bathing suit. Just packed up extra towels and a sweat-shirt! Of course by 10 am the sun was out and it was blazing hot. We were searching for shade!

There was definitely a big storm somewhere off Mexico - the surf was crazy storm surf, all choppy with a crazy rip current (notice the concerned looks in the above picture). The boys started off on the south side, with the rip being so strong they entered the water about 300 yards down the beach and drifted to the pier by the time they'd swum out.....

(you really can't even see Matthew in this picture)

Matthew's first heat he place 2nd....so on to another round

that's Katie in the tourquoise cap....not even out and already fighting the current

For the girls heat there were hardly any waves, and the current was so strong they were drifting north about the distance of two lifeguard towers. Katie wound up 5th in her heat, so she didn't advance to the semi-finals. The girls that did advance would catch a wave, ride it in to the shore, then run back down the beach and do it over and over. Later for the girls semi-final we would learn one of the girls dropped out because the surf was so rough. Katie was pretty dissapointed because that would have been her spot. There is always next year.....

what are friends for?

Matthew's second heat (green cap) he placed first.....so on to the semi-finals!

the six semi-finalists ready to go.....

Matthew is in the orange cap 2nd from left

cool shirt this year!

over all Matthew gets a 5th place finish! great job!!!

It's about time!

The last end of July, beginning of August we went with Katies waterpolo team to the National Junior Olympics which was hosted by Stanford University. Our sorta vacation which included four intense days of waterpolo, eight games, one injury, day trip to San Francisco, lots of fun with friends.......

SMHS - Go, Fight, SWIM!

"swim said the momma fishy"

I was getting ready to post a swim video/collage I have yet to create and it started me thinking about years ago when I worked at the elementary school in a special ed class.

All the kids were pre-school to first grade age and had severe autism. They were unable to make eye contact, would grind their teeth, would refuse to speak, hit, bite you name it. We used to "teach" them buy offering fruit loops for tasks we would as them to do that they completed well. There was this little girl Ashley. I just loved her. I still remember her, it's hard to imagine she is a 20something young woman now. She was so cute, long curly brown hair and just a doll. During good moments she would sit in my lap and pet my face. During bad moments she made you wish you were somewhere else. She was the one that made me really want a daughter.
She loved this song:

down in the meadow in the itty bitty pool

lived three little fishies and a momma fishy too

swim said the momma fishy fast as you can

and they swam, and they swam, all over the dam.

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

and they swam, and they swam, all over the dam.

STOP! said the momma fishy or you will get lost

but the three little fishies didn't wanna be bossed

so the three little fishies went off on a spree

and they swam, and they swam, right into the sea!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

and they swam, and they swam, right into the sea!

WHEE! yelled the fishies this is lots of fun

we'll swim in the sea 'til the day is done

so they swam, and they swam, and it was a lark

'till all of a sudden here comes a shark!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

all of a sudden here comes a shark!

HELP! cried the fishies, look at the wales

quick as they could they turned on their tails

back to the pool in the meadow they swam

and they swam, and they swam, right back over the dam!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

and they swam, and they swam, right back over the dam!

I used to sing this song to Katie when she was little. Maybe it had an influence on her with her love of all things related to water! All the time I have spent at the pool over the years between three kids learning to swim, high school swimming and water polo, watching Michael, Matthew and Katie, how strong and healthy they are made me think of that little girl I knew almost 20 years ago. I am so grateful to have healthy children! Funny how my brain works.

Happy Birthday Matthew!

It's hard for me to believe that Matthew is 16! It doesn't seem that long ago he was just a chunky baby crawling around. Now he is a teenager and will be getting his license in just a few weeks. Time goes by so quickly!

For his special birthday dinner, Matthew didn't want to go out. He requested his, and everyone elses' favorite dinner of carne asada with all the fixings, El Torito sweet corn cake, and his favorite chocolate peanut butter cake for dessert! While Matthew helped finish bar-b-que'ing Katie and Michael had a mini Wii challenge going in the living room.....

then dinner was ready.....and so was Matthew!

Once we managed to eat all that food, it was time for presents. Before he got started Matthew had to check to see if his beard had grown any.....

then it was time to check out the gifts....

He has a favorite web site he likes to "wish/dream shop" on, so we ordered him a couple t-shirts he has been wanting for a while.

looks like it fits!

After all that food we needed to take a walk before cake, so Katie and I got out our bikes, got Sam on the leash, Matthew on his skateboard and headed down to the duck pond to feed the ducks and geese. A lot of the ducks were gone, but the geese had nests and were sitting on their eggs. They ended up eating almost a whole loaf of bread!

mmm....our favorite cake!

make a wish Matthew!

Matthew you are a great son. You are smart, talented, kind and sweet. I love you lots and hope that your 16th birthday was great and all your wishes come true this year!

love~mom