Showing posts with label Boys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boys. Show all posts

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Make Your Own Homemade Slides for Microscopes

Last year, one of our friends from the local college let us have an older microscope, per policy, on "long-term-loan." It has 10x and 40x objectives and I really would love it, if we could add a more powerful one (not sure that's possible) because as of yet, we've not been able to view anything 'wiggling'. (Maybe we're looking in the wrong place!) ...But we have seen some pretty cool stuff!

I think our favorites are hair- animal hair. The goat hair was neat in that the grey was distinctively different from the black. The cat hair was awesome, in that it looked like it had vertical chambers. Weird! And cool!

But- slides were an issue- so- we made some!

We used simple index cards, cutting a 'window' out of the center and using clear tape to make a 'glass' and to hold our samples in place.We left the 'windows' kinda big so more light would show through.

You could also use thin cardboard, like cereal boxes are made from.

We collected all sorts of little things to look at!

Here are some of the interesting things that we looked at;
-goat hair
-cat hair
-human hair
-local honey
-storebought honey
-water that's been standing in a bucket outside
-broccoli
-yeast
-strawberry leaves
-banana
-lint
-dust
-leaves (from trees, plants, etc- old dry leaves were really cool)
-chives
-dried dill
-pencil shavings
-straw
-corn husk
-beetle
-gnat (this was cool because it had WAVY hairs on it's legs)
-coffee grounds
-salt (at 10x these looked like ice cubes)
-black pepper
-mustard seeds
-onion skin
-bathroom paper
-cypress clipping (this was cool too, in that, we've always known this tree to kind of 'stick to us' but under the microscope, we were able to see why- tiny hooks on it's edges!)

Any of you girls found neat things to view under your scopes?
Would love to hear from any of you who have them on tips to make the most use of them!

Job 5:9  Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number


Monday, August 19, 2013

USN, I give you......another son- another sailor...

Shakespeare certainly had it right when he said; "Parting is such sweet sorrow!"

There's sweetness in knowing your child is now going off to pursue dreams, education, and an income for himself.........but oh the sorrow of knowing this part of life is over and it will never be the same!

I have loved raising this child and often marveled at God for entrusting me with such a treasure.
Krestan has never caused me any major problem and has always had a heart that was quick to break and turn from wrongs. May God never ever let that leave him.

And now, I give him to the United States Navy. But I know he is ultimately God's and though they may put him in the air or on the sea far away from me, I know by faith, the Spirit of our God is able to go where I cannot.

Why the Navy?
I can think of no higher calling, outside of the ministry, than that a man would be willing to lay down his life for his friends, and this in fact, is Krestan's heart. He is willing to give all for our freedom, if called to do so, and to serve his country...to serve you, his fellow countrymen and women. I am so proud and excited for him, even though I fully realize that the specific job that he's chosen may lead him on incredible paths. Krestan is wild at heart, and who knows what God will do with that!

Psa 139:8-13  If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
Krestan had the gracious (and super awesome) opportunity to help set up fireworks for both Gordonsville and Putnam Co fairs.....and was rewarded for his service with a BANG! ...The man he helped invited us over to show us the wonderful art of explosives and blew up a tree. It was amazing! TV does NOT do this art justice!
(Yes- he did help set off those in the picture! How cool is that!)
Our church gave him a surprise going-away-party.
Beautiful!
Loved the cake! - and our church! They've been so good to him! Our pastor even took him out to eat one day for lunch.
Through some pawning of some old things and an opportunity to earn a little extra we were able to spend a few wonderful days here.... Forever here, would have been too short for me ;-)
We had lots of fun and laughs!
They learned to play marbles. I figured that might come in handy in the Navy! Can't you see them playing that on a ship!

Two days before he left, his family came up and took him out to eat. The day before he left, a very kind lady at our church took us out to Chinese and then I bought them ice cream after church that night. 


He decided to go in with a mohawk. (I know our friends and family will not be surprised.) He knows they'll take that last bit of hair as soon as he gets there ;-)      The preacher said; "..that it's all going anyway and Krestan just decided how that would happen." .... He spent his last night home participating in his favorite youthful pastime - -gaming.             They laughed, squealed, and hooted for hours. It was so funny that Kayanna sent a video of them to her oldest brother and sister-in-law.
On our way out the door to the recruiter's.
The last pic he let me take with MY camera, getting out at the recruiter's. I SO wanted to get him saluting and asking permission to 'come aboard' for the final time at our local office. But- it's his day........and I tried not to embarrass him ;-)
And since I couldn't get to my camera (ha!ha! Krestan!) I insisted that Kemmie take one of him driving off with the recruiter to boot camp.
And...he's gone....sniff, sniff. And I kept all the tears in, until he drove off and I was in the car, and somehow a few squeezed their way out of my supposedly unrelenting eyes.:)

2 Th 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
Jude 1:24-25  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

How to Tell When Your Boy is Ready for the Navy, in Pictures:

Kemmie applies the duct tape

Kayanna expresses her vision

Kellan and Kyler are not sure the plan will work
Time for deployment!
It's now or never boys!

SAIL!
"Living the dream!"- Krestan
"I got this!"- Krestan, again
And this, my friends, is how you know your little boy, is ready for ship life!

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Acts 27:24 ... God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

A Double Celebration

We were not only able to celebrate my son's swearing into the Navy, but also 'officially' celebrated his graduation. That had been postponed for several reasons- including the fact that we found him a job 3 1/2 hours away right after the order was placed for the diploma.(The job was with a family member in Georgia that we knew would teach him many skills and watch over him.:)
Cake!
Keenan and friends
No one could keep a straight face!
Keenan and Me

All of us, including their 'brother from another mother'

woo hoo!
My 3 youngest
Loved the pond behind his house
My youngest and my oldest

Keenan: property of the USN :)

 I took 48 hot dogs and buns and a #10 can of chili. (This lasted both nights that we stayed.) For the other meals, before I left, I cooked a turkey, green bean casserole, and a sweet potato casserole. All I had to do was reheat! I left the leftovers for him and his friends. I cooked a spiral ham while I was there and cut it up for them to reheat for sandwiches later this week. Amazing how happy meat makes a bunch of guys!
We had a wonderful visit- we're still sore from all of the laughing!

Prov 15:15  ...he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Mom's Sailor-

It's official- my oldest is now part of the United States Navy!

Was the outfit prophetic?


I can't believe that baby boy is all grown up now!
Girls- it happens fast!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Our Current Reading List- lots of goodies from our local library or online free

3rd grader-Kyler: Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Pinocchio, McGuffey’s Fourth Reader, The Swiss Family Robinson, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Treasure Island, Christopher Columbus and the Discovery of the New World, Rascal, Lentil, The Bears: Hemlock Mountain, The Sign of the Beaver, A Lion to Guard Us, The Family Under the Bridge, Yonie Wondernose, The Book of Dragons, The Enchanted Castle, Make Way for Ducklings,  Allan Fowler- Pine Trees, Maple Trees, It Could Still Be a Tree, Simple Machines, Can You See the Wind?, -One Morning In Maine, A Tree Is Still A Plant, The Apple and the Arrow, Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving, The Story of Valentine’s Day, Blueberries for Sal, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Daniel’s Duck, Hatchet

4th grader-Kayanna: The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, The First Four Years, Little Men, Rascal, Secrets on 26th Street, The Family Under the Bridge, Thee Hannah!, Twig, Watcher in the Piney Woods, Listen to the Nightingale, The Enchanted Castle, The Railway Children,


6th grader- Kellan: The Silver Chair, The Last Battle, David Crockett-Scout, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Pathfinder, Robinson Crusoe , Elements of Civil Government, Not Yours to Give, The Story of David Livingstone (http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=golding&book=livingstone&story=_contents),  Rascal, The Yearling. The Sign of the Beaver, The Family Under the Bridge, The Door in the Wall, The Enchanted Castle,The Wanderings of Odysseus, Abraham’s Family by John Morris, Black Ships Before Troy, Minn of the Mississippi, Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving, My Side of the Mountain, Hatchet, Call it Courage

8th grader- Kemuel: On That Day Began Lies, Don Quixote, Life on the Mississippi, The Soldier in Our Civil War Volume 2, Rascal, Lord Peter: the complete Lord Peter Wimsey stories, Our Town: A Play in 3 Acts,- Cry: The Beloved Country-, The Family Under the Bridge, The Bronze Bow, The Enchanted Castle, Exploring the History of Medicine, Mosque by Macaulay, Cathedral by Macaulay


10th grader- Krestan: Roughing It (semi-auto Twain)My Utmost for His Highest, Elements of Civil Government, My African Journey, Luther and the Reformation (G), Beacon  Lights of History Vol V -?(G), Why Won’t They Listen? http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/wwtl, Rascal, An American Plague, Silas Marner, The Nine Tailors,  Crime and Punishment, What’s So Amazing About Grace?,  The Family Under the Bridge, The Enchanted Castle,
Exploring the History of Medicine, Mosque by Macaulay, Cathedral by Macaulay, The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia, The Screwtape Letters


Sunday, January 1, 2012

Homemade Elf Boots

These were a gift for the kids to go with their Santa hats from last year. What's more fun than a little "dress up" for Christmas?
I made them from a large piece of felted wool that had been given to me and the tassels I made with leftover yarn from the quilt that I made for oldest son.
 Speaking of boots and Christmas- Have you all ever seen:

Monday, December 19, 2011

Homemade Puppet Theater-

Attention: Mom's Frugal now on Youtube
 www.youtube.com/momsfrugal





My kiddies are going to LOVE this!


I was able to have Lowe's hold me a box, for free. It's a HUGE refrigerator box and I cut a cute little door in the back.
The fabric had been given to me years ago by my neighbor. I purchased some border paste to glue down the striped fabric for about $4.  Other than that- FREE!
I used yarn to string up all the curtains by poking holes in the side and tying.
I bought this set of puppets with my Swagbucks, although they were at a cheaper price. (I'm guessing the price is up right now so they can give quick shipping.)
                                                                  
This post is linked to SomewhatSimple, The Diaper Diaries, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Thrifty101, Delightful Order, Frugal Fridays.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Rice Babies- bed warmers

I made these for Christmas, like I did our Bean Babies four years ago.
I used a pattern like a gingerbread man, cut them out on plain fabric, double stitched the edges so no rice grains can escape, turned them, filled with rice, stitched the turning and filling hole, and wrapped.
The kids are able to color them however they wish and at bedtime, they can be heated for 1 1/2 minutes in the microwave for a cozy bed warmer! 
Dh liked this idea so much that he requested one long rice bag for his neck and two small ones for his pockets so when he goes outside to check on the dogs through the winter, he can keep warm too! ;-)

This post is linked to:
Skip To My Lou

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Combat Carl Has A New Jacket!

This is the jacket they talked me into making for poor ole Carl who had no shirt. This army guy is quite a character at our house. You see- he has had his arm replaced, a foot, and there is something wrong with one leg they said. He's a walking miracle- but at least he now has a jacket! ;-)

Friday, September 23, 2011

Will Memorize for Sugar...

My children were given a nice box of their favorite candy a few weeks ago. I decided to make the best of it!
The rule- you can have the candy anytime you want IF you memorize something :-)
The fun for me has been to find the things I want them to memorize!
I started with things they had memorized before but had to study over, like the Lord's Prayer and Psalm 23.
From there we've added more Scripture, songs and hymns, and poetry.
I try to pick several things a week and lay them out on the school table and they can study it in their spare time.
Here's one site I'm digging through for Poetry and here's another specifically for children.
This is my favorite for hymns and here is Ambleside's homeschool list of hymns.

The kids' choices this week are My Jesus, I Love Thee and God of Mercy, God of Grace.

Here are two from the last few weeks that I thought you might like:

My Books
By: Author Unknown

I love my books
They are the homes
of queens and fairies,
Knights and gnomes.

Each time I read I make a call
On some quaint person large or small,
Who welcomes me with hearty hand
And leads me through his wonderland.

Each book is like
A city street
Along whose winding
Way I meet
New friends and old who laugh and sing
And take me off adventuring!
************

A Student's Prayer
Now I lay me down to study.
I pray today I won’t go nutty.
If I should fail to learn this junk.
I pray today I will not flunk.
But if I do, don’t pity me at all,
Just lay down my bones in study hall.
Tell my teachers I did my best
Then pile my books upon my chest.
Now I lay me down to rest,
I pray I’ll pass tomorrow’s test.
If I should die before I wake,
That’s one less tst I’ll have to take.

by a suffering student.