The boys on tv

Last week our homeschool group visited Channel 6 KFDM, our local CBS affiliate for a tour.


First we met in the conference room and learned about where they get the news, the only thing a reporter can do to get in huge trouble (use profanity on the air), how they get the news perfectly within 30 minutes, and more. Notice who is at the head of the table- Luke. Luke was asked what he wanted to be when he grows up and he replied either a vet or a meterologist.

We then took a tour. First stop the cable room. This room was filled with computers and cables that help run the station.

Next stop was the control room.

Then on to the studio. We were able to watch the live 12 noon newscast. Every Thursday James Brown the weather man has a cooking segment. We walked into the studio and he was finishing preparing the food. He does cooking shows at the local supermarket and has a couple of cookbooks out. The dish he prepared on our visit was Crawfish Etoufee.

He then demonstrated the green screen and let the kids try it out.

We learned about the cameras, the producer, and more.

Then it was time for the live news show to begin. I did take this picture during it, without the flash of course.

Here is Luke with Lance, the station's internet guru who gave us our tour.

And the boys with James Brown.

We rushed home and watched the news we had recorded while eating lunch.

They showed our group on the air. The camera zoomed in on Luke as he was beating his chest like a gorilla. I kindly asked him why he was doing it and he replied that he wanted to do something funny to make people laugh.

We had a great tour!

Marco Polo Week

Last week we learned all about Marco Polo and the Silk Route. We read Marco Polo A Journey Through China by Fiona MacDonald. Marco Polo traveled halfway around the world on a search for rare plants, medicines, spices, silk, wool, glassware, metalware, ceramics, porcelain, and bronze. He traveled to the east collecting goods then returned them to his shop in Venice to sell.

The boys made a fun craft using spices. Favorite spices imported into Europe from India and the Spice Islands include ginger, nutmeg, black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon.

They made a spice map. I printed out a map of the silk road, then the boys made a collage with it using spices.

The finished project:

Then I cut up tortillas spread butter on them and had the boys top them with different spices. We warmed them in the over and had a yummy spicey snack. We talked about how spices can add so much flavor. No wonder people traveled halfway around the world for spices.

For the boys

The boys love to see themselves and their creations on my blog, so this is for them.

For Christmas we gave Luke a Lego castle set and Grannie and PawPaw gave him a different castle set. He combined them to make this tall castle.

The boys received scooters from Aaron's parents. They want to ride every day!

We gave Caleb the Lego Space Shuttle. I thought it would take him a week or so to put this together. He had it complete in one day.

Paper Jamz were a big hit too!

Caleb loves anything to do with space or NASA. He loves this Space Shuttle!

Grannie and PawPaw gave this Star Wars Lego set to Caleb.

While Caleb loves the space shuttle, Luke loves jets. He built this mainly by himself with just a little help!

Their birthdays are coming up soon! More toys!

Ponderings

I have been thinking a lot about my blog. I try to only have positive posts. I don't think anyone wants to hear me rant about anything. But I don't want it to appear on my blog that I have a perfect life. At the butterfly house we are not always smiling, and we have plenty of problems, challenges, and faults.

I never want to suggest that I have it all together or that my life is Camelot. So here is me getting real:

• My boys pick with each other constantly. What is it with them? Then I get upset and yell. Yeah, not proud of it.



• Many nights I go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink and a basket or two of laundry waiting to be folded.



• I am terrible at sticking with a budget. I try to be frugal, but each week I end up spending way too much money on groceries.



• The boys both got strep throat for the second time in a month last week. Finishing up the second round of antibiotics and hoping this is it. Am I a bad Mom because I didn't change out their toothbrushes the first time?



• I can't sew and I'm not crafty.



• I am an introvert and it takes me a long time to become friends with someone.



• Many times I put my school work off until the last minute.



• I sometimes worry and am anxious. Constantly working on this.



• I have way too much gray hair and wrinkles for a 34 year old.



• Never quite satisfied with where we are in life. I often long for change (a new city, new house, new church, new something!)




• I need to dust, mop, clean the bathroom, wash the sheets. I am always behind in house work.

So that's me keeping it real. I will continue to be positive on my blog, but maybe share more challenges along the way. I do love my life and am thankful for it! I'm trusting in God everyday and trying to live my imperfect life for Him.

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:2 The Message

Winter Update

Good morning on this cold day! It is 10:00 and we are taking a quick break from school. We are experiencing super cold weather for us- right now it is 32 degrees.

My cold remedies are....

a hot breakfast of oatmeal and hot tea,




and a toasty fire.

My classes started this week. Last semester was successful (Yay!). I earned all A's. This semester I am taking Anthropology, Domestic Violence, Social Problems, and the second History class.

Big A is super busy. He is working about 12 to 15 hours of overtime a week. He did score a new Sorry Sliders game from Goodwill last week. Lots of fun to play.

And Sir Paws is taking over the house.

Luke adds, "Sometimes Paws gets into mischief when we are gone. Most likely Paws scratches the curtains. A lot of times if Paws is not tired he will come into my room and keep me awake. So I try to tire him out before bedtime."

Sir Paws

Luke loves all animals. He has wanted a kitten for a long time. We have a couple of outside cats, but Luke didn't get to experience them as a kittens. One night Luke started crying saying, "I just want an inside kitten so bad." Yes, Luke can be dramatic.

One of my friends, a cat person, found two skinny, tiny kittens by her house that were probably dropped off. I happened to stop by her office before Christmas and she had them there. They were all bone with big heads. She knew Luke wanted a kitten and offered us one. I told her we would think about it, but we were about to go out of town for a week so we would have to wait.

She proceeded to find homes for the kittens. One went right away. The second one she couldn't find a home for. Her other three cats started acting out to show their dislike of the kitten. This past Monday, my friend again offered the kitten saying she would have to take the kitten to the animal shelter if he didn't get a home. Monday night Big A and I debated about getting a kitten. We both decided we didn't want to deny Luke something he really wants that is in our power to give to him.

I waited till the morning then called my friend up and went to pick up the kitten.

Meet Sir Paws (Paws for short).



He is the sweetest kitten.

He follows us wherever we go. During school time he sleeps under the table.

Sir Paws lets Luke play with him.

I has serious doubts about getting a kitten. But I decided to embrace life and take the bad that comes with the good.

We had a productive week schooling with no attitude problems. Caleb said Sir Paws helped them with their school work.

Paws is still skinny with a big head and ears, but is growing into them.

So cute!