8 February 2009 - Science Fair

Jessica's plant-related science project won first place for the fourth grade group. She also got an award for her poster design. We were proud of her and hope this encourages her to remain interested in science, but we also talked a little bit about fairness in these types of things. There were several projects at the science fair where the kid had clearly done most, if not all, of the work themselves. Sometimes the posters were hand written, the images were crooked or low quality - it was clear they hadn't had much adult assistance in getting their project done. Yet in several instances the projects themselves were pretty good, and no matter how hard the kid worked on the presentation, it was not going to look as nice as a kid's who has two college professors for parents. Obviously we made sure that Jessica did her own work and fulfilled the requirements as she should have, but at least to some extent, the recognition she's received is because we helped her do a nice job. I feel that the kids who did the best they could, all on their own, deserve to be acknowledged for good work as well. Just some philosophical food-for-thought.

This week was Madeline's turn with the class teddy bear, froggy. Froggy lives in a backpack and goes home with one kid each week. I also think he bathes in Febreze and Lysol each day that he goes back to school (at least I hope he does).
All of the girls got to choose a book at the book fair this week, so they've been taking turns reading to each other.
Madeline made me a tie at school. It's my favorite one now. It has fruit and animals on it.
Have a good week,

Matt

1 February 2009 - Miami

I had to go to Miami for some meetings for a couple of days. I was looking forward to sunny Florida weather, and it was nice when I got there Thursday afternoon, but soon turned gray, rainy and almost cold. I went for a run on Friday afternoon, and took this picture of the downtown area from a high arching bridge on the bay.This sculpture was at a playground downtown. I thought my kids might enjoy seeing it. Better yet, they'd enjoy playing on it.

I took this picture out my hotel window. The drawbridge had a bell which rang each time it was going to open up, so I got to hear it a good bit in the evenings, and even a couple of times in the middle of the night.
Since my hotel was in the downtown area, I wasn't able to see Miami Beach. During my run on Friday, I tried to run to Miami Beach, but found there was no sidewalk on the causeway between the mainland and the sliver of island where the beach is. So I had to settle for this lame, man-made "beach" on the downtown waterfront.I had a good trip overall and met some cool people. It was also good to get back home and see my girls again.

Matt

25 January 2009 - Science Project

This week has focused a lot of time on Jessica's Science Project. She decided to water four plants with different liquids to see what would happen. She chose Apple Juice (which gets to stinkin' pretty bad after 10 days in a warm house), Sprite, Tap Water and Salt Water. We even looked up the consistency of Ocean Water (3.5% salt) and mixed it up. Jessica watered and faithfully measured plant height and leaf length for 10 days. Salt Water and Apple Juice helped leaves grow (although the Salt Water leaves are turning a little brown now), and Sprite helped the plant grow taller at first, but then it shrank! She used Baby Jade plants, which are very hearty.
On Saturday, when all the data was collected, we spent several hours preparing her poster.
We had to try several different layouts to get everything to fit.
Once everything was on, Joanne worked her crafty magic and made the poster beautiful. The science fair will be next week.Matt

18 January 2009 - Madeline's Metamorphosis

The important part of this picture, and the only really momentous thing that happened this week, is related to Madeline's ears. Her certificate of bravery is because she didn't cry when she got her ears pierced. She's a very big girl now -- very sophisticated and beautiful.

11 January 2009 - Back Home

I didn't get around to updating my web site for the week of 11 January, because we were pretty much all in the same boat as Madeline. This is what happens after 18 hours of airplanes and airports. I'm happy to report we've all bounced back pretty well now.

4 January 2009 - Second Week in Hawaii

On Sunday, December 28th, we attended church at the Hanalei Branch. Along with several other tourists, we multiplied their normal attendance several times.On Monday, we went snorkeling at Poipu Beach Park. Since Emily had an underwater digital camera, I was able to get a few pictures of the fish on the reef there.This fish is a Convict Tang.
This rainbow colored fish was very quick and hard to keep up with.
This is Madeline playing mermaid on the lava rocks at Poipu.
On Wednesday, we took a tour of the Na Pali Coast, a steep rocky area on Kauai accessible only by boat, air or 11 mile hike.This is a sea cave along the Na Pali coast.
On the boat ride, we found several dolphins. They liked swimming along with our boat.
This is our boat.
This is Jessica and Emily at one of the many waterfalls on Kauai. This waterfall is called Opeakaa.
Our family with my mom and dad at the Fern Grotto, a shallow cave below a cliff and small waterfall.
Madeline found a flower on the hike to Fern Grotto.
A view of the Kauai coast as photographed by Joanne.
Jessica and Emily in front of the Spouting Horn, an ocean geyser created at the tide if forced through holes in the lava rock.
This is a little synopsis of our trip. We had a great time, but we're glad to be home now.

28 December 2008 - Christmas in Hawaii

There was a 2 hour snow delay (actually, it was just cold) on December 22nd, the Monday before Christmas, so the whole family got to go to Madeline's preschool Christmas program. Madeline was a sheep.
Most of you know that we were going to Hawaii to spend Christmas with my mom & dad, and my brother and sisters and their families. On our way there, we got very badly delayed by Delta Airlines, and ended up spending a day in Los Angeles. We didn't really get to do anything there, but we were able to spend a night in a hotel rather than sleeping on the floor in LAX airport. This is a shot of the girls at the hotel, waiting to go back to LAX to catch our flight to Kauai. One good thing that came from the delay was that we were upgraded to first class for the trip out.Although we didn't make it to our hotel on Kauai until midnight on Christmas Eve, the girls were up at 6 am (11 am Pennsylvania time) to find gifts beneath the "Christmas Tree" on the table.
Jessica got the game Apples to Apples Junior, and then later in the week enjoyed playing it with her cousins.Emily got an underwater digital camera, which came in handy while snorkeling on the trip.
Madeline got a baby doll, which was everything she'd asked Santa for. This is a family shot with our leis, which we got when we checked into our condo.On Christmas afternoon, we went to Waimea Canyon, which is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. The sign says our elevation was 3,400 feet in this picture.This is Waimea Falls. On Kauai, there are waterfalls everywhere you turn.The family was all together by Saturday, December 27th, and we all went to the beach at Hanalei Bay. We tried to surf and boogie board, but the waves were too small, so we just played in the water and sand until the girls turned into mermaids.Merry Christmas!