2/365 – Sun. 1/2/11 :: Wizarding Wars

Matthew has been semi-obsessed with an online game called Wizard 101 on and off for over a year. For months he’d been trying to get Kaylee to try it, but she wasn’t interested.  Finally, a few weeks ago, she caved in and gave it a try. She was immediately hooked. As of right now, the laptop is the only computer we let the kids play on that can handle the game, so they take turns, playing different characters.  Sometimes they sit together, with the non-player watching/coaching/commenting; sometimes one goes off and does something else while awaiting their turn.  We relaxed the time restrictions on their computer gaming over winter break, so this – one kid timing the other and not-so-patiently waiting – has been a common sight lately.

1/365 – Sat. 1/1/11 :: Kumla King

My Project 365 for 2010 fell apart in September, and then completely disintegrated in October, as life just got in the way. I did take some pictures here and there, which I may (or may not) go back and insert later, but for now, we’ll just pretend nothing happened and continue on. ;)

Christening our new year is a shot of Mark getting ready to dish up some kumla for Matthew.  Kumla is a Norwegian potato dumpling, in our case eaten with ham and generous slabs of cold butter. Mark makes these once or twice a year, usually on his birthday. This year (technically last year) his dad and step-mom brought along freshly imported Iowa pork chops for us to enjoy, and then we went north for Christmas, so it got postponed to today. (The kumla, not the birthday.)

Don’t these gray lumps of stuff look appetizing? ;)

Mark, of course, loves them, and Matthew decided he liked them too.  They’re not my favorite, but with enough butter they’re not bad. Kaylee liked her first taste, then thought better of it, and had a hot dog instead. :)

Day 255 – September 12, 2010 :: Random Dancing

Sunday, late afternoon. Mark off at a magic lecture. Kaylee just out of the shower. Somehow the subject of “Weird Al” Yankovic’s “Eat It” comes up (probably as we were trying to decide what we wanted for supper). I pull it up online for them to hear. Spontaneous dance party to erupts. We take turns picking songs for the next hour and a half. Good times. :)

Day 254 – September 11, 2010 :: Game Night Gourmet

When Mark has D&D, the kids (including any extra kids who may have tagged along with their gaming dads) and I always have frozen pizza for supper.  It’s quick and cheap and easy, and as far as the kids are concerned, it’s as good as a gourmet meal. :)

Day 253 – September 10, 2010 :: Good to the Last Drop

The kids had chocolate ice cream for dessert. They made sure they got every last bit of it. :)

Day 252 – September 9, 2010 :: A Total Fluke

Matthew had been studying whales in science and had to complete this collaged version of a fluke. I’m not sure what most of the questions had to do with science, but it was a cute project. His answers (with his spelling and factual… um… “adjustments”)…

1. initials – M.A.J.
2. hobbies – Play video games, set up army displays, read
3. city of birth – Murphy
4. birthday – Jan. 19, 1999
5. favorite food – saled
6. favorite animal – Monkey
7. favorite song/singer or group – Darth vader tune!!
8. favorite tv show – unKown
9. favorite place to shop – target
10. favorite vacation spot – Six Flags
11. favorite college/university – unKnown
12. best thing or topic in Science - experiments
13. favorite/lucky # – 9
14. favorite color - AQua

Day 251 – September 8, 2010 :: Time for an Ark?

After over 5½” of rain in two days, the playground areas at the park resembled swimming pools.

Kaylee was all ready to dive in after school.

 

Her face as she caught sight of the smaller play area from the top of the larger structure…

Fortunately, that was the end of the rain for a while, and the water had subsided by morning.