The Grand Canyon was Created in Less Than Two Weeks and Other Stories From our Recent Life

Tonight, February 12. There is a almost a foot of snow on the ground. Well, not in our yard as almost every spot has been trampled down by two girls who finally love playing in the snow and do so for hours at a time. The low temp is supposed to be 17 degrees. I sat in solitude at 9 pm watching the parade of nations for the Winter Olympics, inwardly hoping those nations that have never won a medal could win and wondering if the sports of luge and bobsledding are really just adrenaline rushes rather than sports. Tom, Hadley, and Kassy were outside. Sort of. They camped out in the tree house. The little house on stilts is so well insulated that the $15 box heater from Aldi's makes it too hot.

A few other updates, for my dear relatives who are starved for glimpses into our lives that they got used to reading over the past two years:

Hadley's second grade play was early this month. Geology Rocks! was full of mountains, ferns, rocks, and volcanos. I marvel at the creativity of the song writers who manage to pack so much educational information into an elementary school musical. Hadley auditioned for and got one of the lead parts, which this year consisted of about 20 lines including whoppers like, "There they are?" and "I don't think they are going to be much help." Still, she was thrilled and kept saying, "I can't believe they choose me." Hadley played a school girl searching for her lost Geology teacher: Professor Rock. He was kidnapped by shady ferns who didn't like him because he was promoting alternative energy sources and the ferns dreamed of becoming fossil fuels. I'm not making any of this up. Hadley did a great job and had a grand time. Grandma Kohnne managed to make it for the play and several of our friends came too, making Hadley feel extra special. Thanks! Kassy's play about community helpers will be on the 24th. She will be a mail person.

Above: Hadley and friend were school girls looking for 
a missing professor.  Below: Another good friend, one of the shady ferns, poses with Kassy

A week before the play Hadley also got photographed with five other kids for promotional material about her school. Look for her on a billboard somewhere around time. The longer I live here, the more convinced I am that Handley has the best education in the area and it's free. They have an open house on March 11. Let me know if you want details or call the school yourself. (Yes, I am blatantly advertising for my children's school on my blog!)

I guess Hadley gets most of the news this month. She just finished making a 3-D replica of a landform as part her geology unit. Well, the assignment actually said the project was PG (Parental guidance suggested). I turned the project over to Tom (his first project manager job ever). So really, the large grand canyon model Hadley made, was the brainchild of Tom. And the work of Tom and .....I was embarrassed to be one of those parents, the kind who help too much. But honestly I think Hadley learned a ton (she had to write a three paragraph report too), I think the teachers expected the excessive help, and
I think the time spent as father and daughter was worth the excessive time (and money!) Tom poured into this project. Check the bottom of this post for step by step pictures.

On a final note, we just got a new computer. It's an Apple (less viruses!) and sadly, a desktop. But I'm so impressed with it I doubt we will ever own a PC again. The actual computer is completely silent and the size of CD case, only 2 inches tall instead. Amazing. Even the packaging the computer arrived in was brilliant with a minimal earth footprint and an absolutely efficient use of space. And cool looking too. I saved enough money from my article writing to buy a new camera, which I don't like and hope to take back and exchange. But I have used the camera, so I might be stuck. Do you have a favorite digital camera?


Grand Canyon creation photos.

Step 1: Create layers of cardboard and drape with chicken wire.

 

Step 2: Use plaster cloth to create canyon.

 Step 3(not pictured): cover with a coat of regular plaster of paris. Step 4: paint and step 5: decorate with trees