Zach's First Science Fair...

Or should I say Justin's first Science Fair, because let's just be honest here, what First Grader is actually going explain how his beyblades, which are the modern day version of a spinning top toy, can be explained by the laws of Gyroscope physics? I can guarantee that if you are reading this you are already scratching your head wondering what is Gyroscope Physics.

Although Zach would have never come up with this idea on his own, I do applaud Justin for finding a way to engage Zach's attention and interest in science and applying it to his absolute most favorite toy...BEYBLADES!

Zach's Science Fair Project was about the Physics Principles in a Spinning Top(beyblades). Ready for your science lesson? I should know because just an hour before the Science Fair started I was explaining to Zach what the 5 physics principles to a spinning top are...seriously me? The one with a dance ed degree and a minor in business? I couldn't be further from what I claim to know! But he had to know, he was going to have reviewers coming and asking him questions. Justin said he went over it with Zach as they were putting the poster together the night before, when I spoke to him the morning of,telling him he better plan on coming home from work early to help his son understand and be able to explain his science project, but come on really? Gyroscope Physics, Beyblades, First Grade, Zach? You've got to be kidding me!

Really Zach should have planned to tell them, "Ask my Dad, it was his idea!", but no protective me couldn't let that happen, he had to have something to say for this.

SO here's the skinny! Because this is turning into a novel. Really!
The 5 Principles are:
1. Friction
2. Gravity
3. Moment of Inertia
4. Torque
5. Angular Momentum

Picture me up in Zach's room, beyblade in hand, launcher in the other, the beyblade stadium below pointing out the 5 principles and trying to get Zach to understand and repeat the process back to me. He would get it, and then I would ask him two minutes later about one of the principles and then he would look at me like well mom aren't you going to give me the answer? Panic? Yes!

So here we are at the school and did I really need to panic? Because, honestly, I am sure every adult in the gym knew that this was NOT a first graders' idea, that a parent obviously helped in this situation. But, I listened in while the 2 reviewers interviewed Zach about his science project and I have to say, I was pleasantly impressed with how confidently Zach presented himself and his project. He even explained 3 out of the 5 principles, Gravity, Friction and Angular Momentum (Insert proud mom here!) He either learned something in our crash course or he is the best "B.S.er"!

Of course he was way more interested in showing the reviewers how the beyblades actually work, and when they asked him what he would have done anything differently the next time, his reply was, "I would have brought L Drago(a different beyblade)to show everyone. (Insert me dying!)

Zach/Justin's project was a success and I think most people were impressed that science can be applied to beyblades, and it was an obvious hit with the kids. For the record, I am almost positive that most to the projects were suggestions from an adult, but I think next year I will be making sure Zach does most of the work!




Here he is with one of the reviewers. He really was so confident and I think felt he sort of knew what he was talking about. I hope he remembers these moments, because I know I will.

Basketball 2012...

Zach pretty much hot dogged his way through his 8 game basketball season, convincing his teammates that he would be their best friend if they passed the ball to him, dribbling the ball with his signature under the leg move, endless rounds of ball hogging, and his need to keep score! Needless to say I think we might play him up next year to serve him up a piece of humble pie.


He even attempted to dribble the ball behind his back!


Zach and Nate...best of buds!

Not Even a 2 Hour Delay...

Since March is halfway over, tulips and daffodils are blooming, and we've had a few 60+ degree days, I think it is pretty safe to say that winter is over. The sad part is that it never really came. It snowed, but it would all melt after a couple hours. What a bummer! Usually when Portland gets even a trace of snow they cancel school. Not this year. In fact when we got a couple inches the kids still had school.

Thank goodness just the sight of white fluffy stuff gets Zach and Kate excited.


This is Zach's best friend and neighbor Nate. The one morning we got a couple inches of snow the district cancelled the bus up to our neighborhood, which means its up to us, the parents, to get our kids to school. I snapped this pic of the two of them before we left, because I knew it would all be melted by the time school was over.



So much for sledding this year!

Jimmertime...

Earlier this month Justin bought tickets for all of us to go see Jimmer play the Blazers. We were a little nervous he wouldn't get any playing time, but he got enough for us to watch him sink a few three's! We might have been the only one's in the entire Rose Garden cheering, but what a good time. Zach brought his picture of Jimmer and sported his jersey. We screamed BYU! No one had to question who our loyalty was with. We did however cheer on the Blazers all for a free chalupa. Kate went to bed that night asking when she could get her chalupa. After the game was over they had a special court shooting for all the BYU alumni. Zach was all over that. What a great family night.



And without fail, another blurry picture. I think a new camera is in my future. If I keep thinking it, maybe it will happen.

Oh Sweet Kate...

This is what happens when you wake up before 7am. I wish life would slow down so I could join you!



Kate spends half of her days dancing and singing to music on the ipad. No wonder she drops mid-day for a snoozer.

The Other Tooth...

Over Christmas break Zach lost his other tooth. We tried to talk him into tying his tooth up to a beyblade and "letting it rip". Justin got as far as tying the floss around his tooth, until Zach got nervous and decided that pulling it was not a good idea. He then demanded that we untie the floss from his tooth. Simple right? Well, Justin tied it so tight we couldn't get it off. It was bleeding, and Zach was screaming. Justin finally could not take the drama so he yanked that floss and out came Zach's tooth, and lots of blood. Zach's reaction was priceless. The video says it all.

Our First Christmas...

Our first Christmas with just the four of us rather. I have to admit I was a little worried that the excitement of Santa coming and the opening of presents would go by so quickly, and that we would end up looking at each other thinking is that it? I worried for nothing.

The Nativity story was reenacted. Santa worked overtime on Kate's kitchen that came with over 200 screws. Justin and I went to bed later than usual. The kids woke up earlier than usual. Zach finally got his DSi. Kate got her dog, that walks. Justin got a book about poop...long story. I got my boots. We went to church to help us remember the true meaning of Christmas, and I hosted my first Christmas dinner.

What was going to feel like a low key Christmas, ended up being just the Christmas we needed. It helped that my brother Jeff and his family came into town at the last minute. Zach and Kate love having them around. Lots of cousin time was consumed!




Santa brought a Kitchen for Kate and a Lego Table for Zach!




Kate with her dog Charlotte. At least that was her name today when I asked. It changes frequently!




Finally! His very own DSi..no more having to watch over some one's shoulder.



Justin's poop book. It is actually a pretty funny read.


And in case anyone wondered what I look like when I wake up...wonder no more.


Justin has been wanting a sweater vest. Don't ask. I don't have answers, but he loves it and wears it every Sunday.


A big shout out goes to Grandma Raelynn for my table make-over. The top used to be brown. She sanded it a million times and painted it a million times while she was out visiting in September. Let's just say it took a lot of patience that I clearly do not have. Her hard work made for a festive table setting though. I think I could get into the whole entertaining thing. I see why people collect dishes.

2011 Christmas Card...

If you didn't get our Christmas Card this year, it wasn't because we don't love you, its because we don't have your address! A big thanks goes to my SIL at MST Photography, for cruising over to our place, to snap a picture with her nice camera of us in front of our first home. I realized I have not posted any pictures yet and we have been living here for over 6 months. We love our new neighborhood! There are tons of kids to play with, hardly any cars driving by, and we have a park right next door making up for our lack of backyard. We live in a double culdesac, weird right? It's a good thing though because culdesacs encourage all the kids to play with each other in the street in front of our houses, again making up for our lack of backyard. We love it here!

T'was the Season...

Yep, pretty sure life just keeps happening and my journaling gets more and more sporadic. Good thing it's never too late to reflect. We had a lot of "firsts" this past season. In keeping with tradition, we set out the weekend after Thanksgiving to Lock Lollyland, the best tree farm around, and cut down our first "live" Christmas tree to put in our first home. Exciting right? It was, but not as exciting as it was to sit on Santa's lap as an adult. The things we do for our kids. Santa was more than willing bless him. Poor Kate is shy and Santa was a little bit too scary for her this year. Zach had to read her wish list for her. He is such a good brother.

We gingerbreaded too. Now I'm making up words! Picture me trying to frost and assemble the walls and roof together, trying to get the house to set with just my two hands, and you get a pretty good idea of how I feel about this tradition. But again, the things we do for our kids. They loved the candy part, both the decorating and the eating.

We watched some of our favorite Christmas movies too! The faves were How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Home Alone. They never do get old.

Zach's Birthday Week...

I say a week, because every day this past week something was always about Zach! This year was a family birthday year, so the extra days of feeling a little birthday love were great! It started out with Grandma Laraine cooking up his favorite pasta dinner, and ending in cake and BEYBLADES on Sunday! Tuesday morning he opened gifts before school, and ate dinner at Red Robin that night, adding more beyblades to his collection. Over the weekend he lost his tooth(well Kate knocked it out with a pillow, but it was loose to begin with) and got a hair cut. Then yesterday he had birthday lunch with the principal(she has lunch with all the kids who have december birthdays and gave wach one of them a Krispy Kreme dounut) of his school and came home to a gift from Grandma Raelynn and Grandpa Marty. I have to say he had a pretty darn good week! Turning 7 isn't so bad.