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| From 2009-02-28 Colfax Champions |
Smallmonster’s basketball team played for the K-1 championship last Saturday at Colfax. It was a close game but pulled it out in the end 44-38. Never thought they could score so many points but practically every shot they took went in. It was a great ending to an exciting season and smallmonster can’t wait for next year. Now it is on to Baseball…
This weekend we finally had some nicer weather with temps in the upper 60’s. Saturday was spent working in the front garden getting all the dead day lilies and leaves picked up. Somehow it was missed in the fall cleanup. Tallmonster was happy to help since he got to drive the tractor and wagon to the backyard mulch pile. I haven’t seen Tallmonster so eager to help with yard work! We decided to treat the jmonsters to dinner out since they both did well on their report cards. We went to Sagebrush Steak House since our first choice was packed. They both liked the restaurant since they had peanuts in a bucket but they too were busy and ended up waiting over an hour for our food. Mommy and Daddy left grumbling that it wasn’t worth the long wait but the jmonsters seemed happy so it was a nice time.
Sunday was even nicer with warmer temperatures and plenty of sunshine. Mommy and Daddy were determined to get some more work done on the Adirondack Chair project that has been put on winter hiatus. We decided to put together what Daddy had cut out and were able to get the 4 frames done. Still lots to do but at least we have something tangible to look at. Who knows, maybe we will get them done by late Spring! All and all a great weekend but of course it was too short…
The Tallone had to make a catapult for a science project due on Monday. He had been mentioning it for a couple of weeks now, but Daddy didn’t quite get the gist that it was an official school project, nor that a deadline was looming.
A quick Google search and we had locate a pretty easy design and thanks to StormtheCastle.com we had the prototype done withing a couple of hours. The plans for the Table-Top Troll Catapult were just what we needed and we were catapulting tin foil balls all over the yard.
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| From 2009 Misc |
We decide to mount up and head over to Bur Mil Park and do some walking on the Greenway. Daddy was getting into a funk and was ready to string the jmonsters up by their heals, (not that they didn’t deserve it or be better served with some “Little Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe" Treatment).
We packed up the bikes in the back of the van and ended up a little lost. We had been there once before, but stopped a little short and had to repack up the bikes and head down to the Nature Barn where the entrance to the Greenway is.
We hiked for a couple of miles down to the bridge and back, and the jmonsters rode their bikes along parts of the Owl’s Roost Trail. On the way back we saw a Great Blue Heron perched in the fishing pond. All the walking did the trick and tired Daddy out enough where he didn’t have the energy to take his frustrations out on a misbehaving child, (not that any live in the household).
We ended the hike with a quick tour through the Wildlife Center at the park. It was pretty neat, and they had all kinds of critters. The biggest hits where the huge ‘ol iguana, rat snakes that come in a variety of different colors, guinea pigs, and a big fat lop-eared rabbit that you could pet.
We headed back to the house for dinner, and watched Mr. Deed’s after doing up the dishes.
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| From 2009 Misc |
The infamous day the water stopped started like any other Friday morning. The jmonsters were up and at’em at 6:00: 6:20 for the Tallone, he needed a cattle prod to get his lazy bones a moving. Daddy was slipping back into his drill sergeant role barking orders to get things tight and brush teeth, comb hair, and get the back packs in order.
The only exception was the fact the outside temperature was single digits. Eight degrees to be exact and the only hint of trouble was a slow trickle in the kitchen facet. We got the jmonsters on the school bus and went about our morning routine, minus the walk because it was too cold.
Mommy, was quick out of the shower as she ran out of water it was long enough that she was able to rinse off, so no harm no foul. We went through our plan of action of placing the light bulb under the fake rock and waited for the pipe(s) to unfreeze. Mommy headed for work and Daddy to the office to field phone calls and do paper work.
At 3:00 in the afternoon there still wasn’t any water. Daddy had kind of forgotten about it, and Mommy was a little miffed when she got home. We upped the stakes and put a heater as well as the light bulb under the rock, and Mom headed for the store to get a blow torch. Daddy read on the internet that the blow torch thing wasn’t such a good idea, something with steam and exploding pipes, none of which sounded too appealing.
We regrouped at 6:00 and decided it was best to pack it up and head for a hotel, as the dishes were starting to pile, the toilets were getting pretty gross, and Daddy still hadn’t showered that day. So we cashed in a few miles and stayed at the Hilton Garden because it had an indoor pool. We had dinner at the IHOP and headed over to our new digs, where the jmonsters bobbed in the pool and hot tub.
Mommy and Daddy were asleep before the kids, but they were the first ones up. We breakfasted on all you can eat breakfast bar, another jmonster favorite, and by this time Mommy and Daddy were pretty sick of breakfast foods. We headed back for the house, (Smallmonster had a basket ball game which he lost in overtime the Smallone missed the game winner at the end of regulation).
Daddy stayed home to get the plumbers on the phone as there was no relief from the tap. The well driller guys were over in about an hour and after a few moments under the house it was declared that the pump was bad. Daddy remarked nervously that it sounded expensive, which was countered by a grunt and a “Uh-Huh”.
The next thing we knew there was 400’ of pipe snaking up and back through the back yard, and the good ole’ well boys were back in the truck headed for the shop to get a special pump, that they don’t carry on the truck. Daddy again remarked nervously that sounds expensive, followed by more grunting.
They returned and placed the gold plated pump at the end of the pipe and lowered the assembly back down the hole. 400’ feet of pipe go back in a hole a lot quicker than 400’ comes out. In a jiffy they were done, and we were back in business flushing toilets, washing dishes, hands and faces. One asked if the new pump was expensive, Daddy explained that it took the place of any thoughts of a 52” flat screen TV hanging on the wall. Oh well, not much you can do without water and it’s off to Myrtle Beach…
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| From 2009-01-17 Myrtle Beach |
After our water problem was fixed we packed up the van and headed to Myrtle Beach for the long weekend. This would be the first time Daddy and the jmonsters would see Grandma and Pap-Pap’s new digs. They rented a new condo this year and like it much better. It is on the 16th floor so Daddy and Tallmonster had to hug the wall to get to their room. It’s a loonnngg way down.
We arrived at dinner time Saturday night and couldn’t go to bed without an after dinner swim in the pool. It was like bath water so it was nice and relaxing.
Sunday dawned cloudy and rainy but we decided to head out the to jmonsters favorite store Kleig’s Kites. It is at Broadway at the Beach so we went to walk around (after a morning swim of course) and be tourists. It was rainy but it didn’t deter us from enjoying the day. After lunch at Johnny Rockets, we checked out a new store called Sugar Me and it just might take over as the jmonsters new favorite place. We bought over priced jawbreakers and gummies and decided to head over to the new Bass Pro shop down the road. After checking out the saltwater aquarium it was time to head back and try the beach. It was still raining and so after a quick walk on the beach it was back to the pool.
Mommy had told the jmonsters that it was their day until 6 p.m. when the Steelers came on. Grandma made chili so we watched the Steelers and Pap-Pap and I moaned and groaned through the whole game. Only when we both left the room did something good happen. So we better make sure to do that during the Super Bowl! Monday we had to leave and of course it was sunny and 20 degrees warmer. We walked on the beach while Grandma took the jmonsters to the pool. All and all a great weekend, hopefully next time it will be warmer…
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| From 2009-01-10 Science Project |
Tallmonster decided to work with pulleys for his science project. We took a couple of trips to Wal*Mart to get a few clothes line pulleys and some rope. The Tall One did a little bit of research on the internet to learn about the simple machines.
We did some experimenting in the garage with different combination of pulleys and measured the results with a fish scale. Tallmonster put every thing together on his project board and even typed out a presentation, http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=dcwkzzcr_4gsw39rgd. He didn’t win any prizes, but the project was pretty cool.
Tallmonster was up and at ‘em first thing this morning. Mommy set his alarm last night and he popped right out of bed. No rest for the wicked the bus showed up at 6:45 sharp. The bus driver is going to give them a little relief and come at 6:55 from now on, but it is still way early.
Smallmonster was last to get his lazy bones out of the sack. When Daddy went in to roust him he explained that he doesn’t get up until someone turns on his light. Glad we got this all straightened out on the first day.
With Mommy at work and the jmonsters at school Daddy had plenty of time to get some work done. Instead he remembered that he had a dentist appointment where they decided it was a good idea to replace a filling. So with a mouth full of Novocain he got to spend the rest of the morning explaining his incomplete words over the phone to everyone. It still was pretty quiet and Sandee didn’t quite know what to make of it, so she decided it was prudent to nap most of the day away.
When the bus dropped the jmonsters off, there was much to say and explain. Tallmonster started the year out right, by forgetting to bring home a paper that he needed his parents to sign. Daddy was trying not to stroke out on the first day, and we suppose we should somehow applaud his consistency. He still tries everyone’s patients as only Tallmonster could.
Smallmonster seemed pretty happy with his teacher and class. He explained that 1st grade is easy, so there are no worries. As long as we remember to turn on his light, so he can get out of bed in the morning.
Mommy has a new friend, and Squeaky has been visiting us quite often the last couple of days. We didn’t think any hummingbirds would visit since the feeder is so close to the screened porch. It is cool to watch the little guys come in to drink. You can actually hear them first since their wings are beating so fast. The one squeaks like a dog toy while it is drinking. We spent the morning setting up the tripod and fighting with the remote for the camera to get this shot. Only took about 50 shots! They are fun to watch and hope this little guy goes and tells his buddies…
