Nuclear Science Museum

 The Nuclear Science Museum in Albuquerque offers homeschool classes. This month they were discussing chemical properties. The kids had to figure out how to identify and differentiate clear liquids from each other based on their chemical properties. Some of the clear liquids were water, bleach and vinegar.

 

Because you know it's true

Trying something new.

when we moved into our home, we were given a discount if we cared for the landscaping. We agreed.
Then the rabbits came.
I love Watership Down, (even the creepy film), and started by watching them with interest. As the snow fell they turned on our trees and began to eat the bark. As the tree's protector, this would not stand. I started by scaring them off. They would just return. I started startling them with a weak BB gun shot to the butt. They would return.
I finally researched the safety and legality of killing rabbits and bought a bigger gun.

After four deaths, they stopped showing. I have always felt that killing animals should result in some sort of use, so after some more research we decided to skin and eat some of them.

It was actually quite tasty.

I was grateful for the opportunity to show my children the whole process. They were surprised to learn that cows and pigs pass through the gutting process so they can have their hamburgers, hot dogs, bacon, etc... Now if Kate and I can keep a dang plant alive we can show them the work that goes into produce. 

Other NM wildlife we have witnessed up close:

These birds will kill rattlesnakes so they are welcome round my house any time. I grew up here and only ever saw one during my childhood. I have already seen three since returning.

New Year's Interviews

Ruth 7 years old

What do you want to be when you grow up? fireman

Who are your friends? Olivia and Zaya

Favorite game? Checkers

Favorite toy? BB gun

Favorite thing to do? color

Favorite food? lasagna

Favorite color? red

Favorite animal? hawk

What do you do all day? Play, color, nerf battles and clean

What does Dad do all day? He goes to Albuquerque and talks with people from his business, he eats lunch and comes home.

What does Mom do all day? Plans anniversary trip, plays with us and does school with us.

Will 5.5 years old

What do you want to be when you grow up? A mechanic that builds robots and electric toys

Who are your friends? Isaach and Boston

Favorite game? Incan Gold

Favorite toy? Spinosaurus

Favorite thing to do? Ride scooter

Favorite food? Crunchy tacos

Favorite color? turqoise

Favorite animal? parrot

What do you do all day? Scooters, duplos, watch scripture videos with Claire and Ruth

What does dad do all day? goes to work and eats out for lunch

What does mom do all day? Work on projects on her phone, make snowflakes and exercise

Claire 3.5 years old

What do you want to be when you grow up? A police

Who are your friends? Penny, Zach, Camilla and Paige

Favorite game? To play with stuffies

Favorite toy? Christmas Toys

Favorite food? Cheese tortilla

Favorite color? pink

Favorite animal? dogs

What do you do all day? Clean and play

What does dad do all day? Go to work and stay home and works in his office

What does mom do all day? work on computer

Claire is still a little fireball. She’s very emotional and loud and still throws a fit about eating food she doesn’t like. But she is also definitely getting better. She has started to show an interest in words and reading and asks what every sign says. Although she can be quite difficult she is also always the first child to say thank you for special treats and outings.

Will struggles with doing school things he isn’t interested in but is slowly coming along in reading. He is still very creative and loves making little creations out of office supplies. Although he lacks some motivation he can work very hard on projects that he comes up with. He loves to meticulously copy words from books and can build any Lego set with instructions. He’s also very creative with the Lego machines he creates on his own.

Ruth, as always, is more mature than her years. Since leaving California she has missed the social scene she had and has enjoyed our outings to Albuquerque so much. She is friendly and easily strikes up conversations with other kids and adults. She’s trying her hardest to be mature and grown up and ends up being bossy too often. But she is bright knows how to work hard. I'm sure she will be a great leader one day.

Open Gym and Lunch Out

 After working really hard at the gym we had a yummy lunch out together before heading back home.

Fun in the snow

Winter

After Christmas we took advantage of our proximity and spent most of our after Christmas time with family. While we were away, Edgewood got hammered with snow. Our driveway was a foot deep! after getting stuck and unstuck, we parked the car at the end of the driveway and trudged into the house.

The next day Katie and I hand shovelled the whole driveway. It felt good to be out working together.

The kids enjoyed the piles we were making

I learned recently that fresh snow absorbs sound, lowering ambient noise over a landscape because the trapped air between snowflakes attenuates vibration. It is why you enjoy so much silence in the snow. Despite the hard work, the morning was peaceful.

New Mexico

One of our favorite things about New Mexico:

Christmas, etc.

 Christmas Eve we had our traditional Shepherd's dinner. Brad put it all together beautifully. This year we especially enjoyed the orange fig jam and Havarti cheese.

Some of Brad's presents. He looks like a super-villain in his mask and coat