Reviewing Kian's math worksheet today was hilarious. Check out his answers:
In a pie chart showing the favorite colors of 32 pupils in a class, half of the pie liked yellow, 1/4 of the circle chart liked green, and then 1/8 of the pie liked blue and red each. But instead of answering, 1/2 for yellow, 1/4 for green, 1/8 for blue and 1/8 for red, he answered: 1024/2048 liked yellow, where x=4 x-3/x liked green, 2/16 liked red and 1/8 liked blue. Seriously!
And then for the fill in the blanks:
What + 1/4 = 5/4? He wrote 10 divided by 10 over 20 divided by 20.
What + 2/7 = 1? He wrote 50/70.
What + 0.7 = 1? He wrote 3/10.
6 - what = 4.5? He wrote 1 and 256/512.
What - 1/5 = 4/5? He wrote 5/10-5.
What - 0.3 = 0.7? He wrote the square root of 25 - 4 over 1.
I told him that if math comes this easy to him, he should consider himself blessed.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
For a Faith in God requirement, Kian had to write a letter to a parent, grandparent or teacher telling them what they appreciated and respected about them. Here's Kian's letter. I don't think it's quite the respect they were talking about, but I can understand his point of view!
For Rhyetta,
Thank you for getting us books at the library, helping us, telling us how to do things, and others. You are a big help!
I most of the time respect you, even more when you are mad because I do not want to lose my computer time or something else.
Thank you Mom.
Kian
For Rhyetta,
Thank you for getting us books at the library, helping us, telling us how to do things, and others. You are a big help!
I most of the time respect you, even more when you are mad because I do not want to lose my computer time or something else.
Thank you Mom.
Kian
Saturday, January 28, 2012
What's Cookin'?
Here's what we cooked up at our house yesterday. I want it down for the record.
Breakfast: Oatmeal with brown sugar and milk as well as rich, cooked-over-the-stove hot chocolate (this was Ella's reward for surprising me by cleaning her room before I woke up! She got to make it). It was filling!
Lunch: One of four warm, nutritious, delicious loaves of homemade whole wheat bread. Served with peanut butter and honey or butter and homemade jam or any combination we wanted.
Dinner (with missionaries): Two perfectly moist and savory pork tenderloins as well as seven breaded pork chops (I wasn't sure how much the elders would eat!). Two oven-baked butternut squashes served with butter and brown sugar. Twenty-four homemade butterhorn rolls. Green salad with cucumber and carrots. And for dessert: two homemade chocolate cream pies with real pie crust and homemade whipped cream on top. It was heaven!
Breakfast: Oatmeal with brown sugar and milk as well as rich, cooked-over-the-stove hot chocolate (this was Ella's reward for surprising me by cleaning her room before I woke up! She got to make it). It was filling!
Lunch: One of four warm, nutritious, delicious loaves of homemade whole wheat bread. Served with peanut butter and honey or butter and homemade jam or any combination we wanted.
Dinner (with missionaries): Two perfectly moist and savory pork tenderloins as well as seven breaded pork chops (I wasn't sure how much the elders would eat!). Two oven-baked butternut squashes served with butter and brown sugar. Twenty-four homemade butterhorn rolls. Green salad with cucumber and carrots. And for dessert: two homemade chocolate cream pies with real pie crust and homemade whipped cream on top. It was heaven!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Our Chemistry Lover
Kian's back on a chemistry kick. He was a couple of years ago when we first moved to Missouri. We used to visit the amazing science store in Parkville where he bought assorted tubes and chemicals with his birthday money. Then he moved on to a fascination with computers. Now he's into both chemistry and computers.
The other night he came into the living room to browse the bookshelves before going to bed. He gets to stay up an hour later than the girls do to read in bed. I was glad to see him perusing the chapter books; I thought he might pick up a new novel to read. When he turned to go back to his bedroom, however, he had a college chemistry textbook in one hand and a dictionary in the other. Just a little light reading before bed.
In December I took the Cub Scouts on a field trip to tour the local fire station. The Fire Chief went on and on about safety and then showed the boys and their families around the equipment and trucks and 911 call center. It was fun overall. During the Fire Chief's speal on fire safety, he explained that you can't put a grease fire out with water. They discussed the correct way to put out a grease fire. Kian raised his hand with a question which the Fire Chief eventually recognized. His question was (and this is from my memory of the occasion), "When you use water on a grease fire, does the high heat from the grease fire turn the water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules?" The question doesn't sound so difficult to answer now, but in the moment it was so technical and out of place, Matt and I both quietly told him his question was too specific to be answered. I heard the Fire Chief say something like, "Well, I don't know about that." And I heard Kian mutter to himself after being shushed by us, "It's not too technical to me."
Last night as I peeked my head into Kian's room to tell him it was time to turn the light off and to go to bed, he said, "Wait, I have a question." I stalled for a moment and replied, "Yes?" He asked, "Does your velocity equal your speed divided by your mass?" I answered, "I'm not sure, Kian, we'd have to look that up." Because obviously, I didn't know the answer. He was already moving on to his next thought before I had even finished answering him, "I don't get it... It seems like you'd want a low speed and high mass so it should be velocity equals your mass divided by your speed..." The conversation was already over. He was really just saying his thoughts out loud. As I turned off the light and closed the door, I heard him muttering science formulas to himself and I smiled. I probably got the speeds and the masses all mixed up from his question. I can't remember exactly what he said. But I wrote it down as soon as I could find a pen and paper after leaving his bedroom.
Finally, Randi observed something about Kian while she was visiting here for a few weeks which she pointed out to me. She noticed that when Kian gets upset at me when he feels unjustly punished or angry, he mutters mathematical equations under his breath to deal with it. I heard it under his breath as he was filling the wood box (which he felt was already full). "If a equals b to the power of 3 and b equals 3..." It was hilarious.
He's our chemistry lover. That's for sure. Oh, and when he doodles, he draws molecules.
The other night he came into the living room to browse the bookshelves before going to bed. He gets to stay up an hour later than the girls do to read in bed. I was glad to see him perusing the chapter books; I thought he might pick up a new novel to read. When he turned to go back to his bedroom, however, he had a college chemistry textbook in one hand and a dictionary in the other. Just a little light reading before bed.
In December I took the Cub Scouts on a field trip to tour the local fire station. The Fire Chief went on and on about safety and then showed the boys and their families around the equipment and trucks and 911 call center. It was fun overall. During the Fire Chief's speal on fire safety, he explained that you can't put a grease fire out with water. They discussed the correct way to put out a grease fire. Kian raised his hand with a question which the Fire Chief eventually recognized. His question was (and this is from my memory of the occasion), "When you use water on a grease fire, does the high heat from the grease fire turn the water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules?" The question doesn't sound so difficult to answer now, but in the moment it was so technical and out of place, Matt and I both quietly told him his question was too specific to be answered. I heard the Fire Chief say something like, "Well, I don't know about that." And I heard Kian mutter to himself after being shushed by us, "It's not too technical to me."
Last night as I peeked my head into Kian's room to tell him it was time to turn the light off and to go to bed, he said, "Wait, I have a question." I stalled for a moment and replied, "Yes?" He asked, "Does your velocity equal your speed divided by your mass?" I answered, "I'm not sure, Kian, we'd have to look that up." Because obviously, I didn't know the answer. He was already moving on to his next thought before I had even finished answering him, "I don't get it... It seems like you'd want a low speed and high mass so it should be velocity equals your mass divided by your speed..." The conversation was already over. He was really just saying his thoughts out loud. As I turned off the light and closed the door, I heard him muttering science formulas to himself and I smiled. I probably got the speeds and the masses all mixed up from his question. I can't remember exactly what he said. But I wrote it down as soon as I could find a pen and paper after leaving his bedroom.
Finally, Randi observed something about Kian while she was visiting here for a few weeks which she pointed out to me. She noticed that when Kian gets upset at me when he feels unjustly punished or angry, he mutters mathematical equations under his breath to deal with it. I heard it under his breath as he was filling the wood box (which he felt was already full). "If a equals b to the power of 3 and b equals 3..." It was hilarious.
He's our chemistry lover. That's for sure. Oh, and when he doodles, he draws molecules.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Conversation on a Walk
Today Kian and I had the opportunity to go outside together in the AMAZING 60-degree weather. I walked/ran (down the hills mostly) and he biked and walked alongside me. We chatted about various things and had some good conversation. On our way home, I remembered I had recently been meaning to revisit "the talk" that Matt and I had with him a long time ago, to check in with him to see if he had any questions or concerns, that kind of thing.
So, I asked him if he any questions about it. He answered, "No, not really." He had no concerns. That was cool; I kind of figured as much. A moment later he asked, "Why does Wal-Mart sell stuff with that kind of stuff on it?" His question was too vague for me to answer so I squeezed more details out of him. I clarified that he was talking about magazines at the checkout aisle that show scantily clad women and advertisements for women's underwear and such. As I clumsily formed my answer, "Well, it's because some people like to look at that stuff... I mean, you'll find when you're older you will even want to look at it... What's important is that you know not to... They sell it because people buy it."
Then he asked, "What is s*xy? Grandma used it in her online Scrabble game."
I had to form another quick answer. "Hmm, it means... (and I'm trying to figure out how to word it for a 10-year-old)... "a person who is... hmmm." I was really scrambling for the way to say it!
Then he piped up, "s*xual desire?"
"Yes, Kian, that's it! A person who is... (and again I could not find the words!)"
"attraction?"
"Yes, Kian, that's it again! A person who is s*xually attractive. You're so smart. You're thinking of all the words I'm not!"
It was so funny how he really answered his own question. I'm confident that he understands what he needs to at his age.
So, I asked him if he any questions about it. He answered, "No, not really." He had no concerns. That was cool; I kind of figured as much. A moment later he asked, "Why does Wal-Mart sell stuff with that kind of stuff on it?" His question was too vague for me to answer so I squeezed more details out of him. I clarified that he was talking about magazines at the checkout aisle that show scantily clad women and advertisements for women's underwear and such. As I clumsily formed my answer, "Well, it's because some people like to look at that stuff... I mean, you'll find when you're older you will even want to look at it... What's important is that you know not to... They sell it because people buy it."
Then he asked, "What is s*xy? Grandma used it in her online Scrabble game."
I had to form another quick answer. "Hmm, it means... (and I'm trying to figure out how to word it for a 10-year-old)... "a person who is... hmmm." I was really scrambling for the way to say it!
Then he piped up, "s*xual desire?"
"Yes, Kian, that's it! A person who is... (and again I could not find the words!)"
"attraction?"
"Yes, Kian, that's it again! A person who is s*xually attractive. You're so smart. You're thinking of all the words I'm not!"
It was so funny how he really answered his own question. I'm confident that he understands what he needs to at his age.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
My Adventure in the Snow
A few weeks ago we had a snow storm. It wasn't really that bad, just snow falling out of the sky onto the roads, but it did make the roads wet and slick. I thought the snow would start after midnight so I went ahead with my evening plans to visit a friend from church for an hour or so.
When I left my friend's house around 8 pm and saw the snow falling, I wasn't worried. I reassured my friend I would be fine. I had a cell phone just in case. I drove slowly and carefully through town without incident.
When I got onto the highway that winds it's way through the countryside to my home, I could feel the slickness of the road. I had to drive extra-slow in order not to swerve. I drove on even though it was hard to see with the snow falling down, praying that God would protect me on my way home. (I had, after all, just done a good service for Him by visiting a friend from church).
There are seven miles of this hilly, curving highway to travel before my gravel road. At about the 3rd mile, I came upon a steep hill earlier than I expected. When I saw that I was at the top of the hill, I gently braked, knowing that I would naturally accelerate as I descended the hill and I didn't want to go any faster than the pokey 25 mph I already was. The slick road didn't like my braking and I immediately started veering off the road, the car angling and sliding and I knew this wasn't going to end well. I was still near the top of the hill and only slammed into the side of it without any real damage to myself or the car besides a bruise on my knee and some misalignment to the car.
The car was stuck at an angle but was out of the road thankfully. I had the cell phone which I used to call home and ask for help. Matt would come to my rescue as he often does! A couple of boys who had driven past me from the other direction in their monster truck, walked back down the hill to check on me which I felt was very kind of them. I told them that help was on its way. I waited in the car for Matt to arrive, during which time I got to watch two other cars get stuck on the same hill. They got down the hill without problem, but couldn't get traction to drive up the hill! And they were stuck in the middle of the road. It comforted me greatly to know that I wasn't the only one stuck on the road that night. It really was slick.
Matt found me safely. He called a neighbor to tow the car. We drove home on the side roads without any problem. Randi had taken care of the kids at home and kept the house warm for us while we were away.
I couldn't help wondering to myself, however, why this would've happened to me, especially when I was out doing good work, visiting a church member and serving God. Shouldn't He have protected me from accident while doing His work?!
It was three days later when I drove by the site of the accident again and I realized how very much God protected me that night. If I had started sliding off the road just ten feet further, the drop off would have been 30 feet down. The car would have rolled and the damage would have been much more severe, especially to me.
That really changed my attitude! It made me teary to think how blessed I really was that night. I feel so cared for by my husband and family, by neighbors and strangers, and most importantly by God.
I won't be driving in the snow again any time soon, thank you very much.
When I left my friend's house around 8 pm and saw the snow falling, I wasn't worried. I reassured my friend I would be fine. I had a cell phone just in case. I drove slowly and carefully through town without incident.
When I got onto the highway that winds it's way through the countryside to my home, I could feel the slickness of the road. I had to drive extra-slow in order not to swerve. I drove on even though it was hard to see with the snow falling down, praying that God would protect me on my way home. (I had, after all, just done a good service for Him by visiting a friend from church).
There are seven miles of this hilly, curving highway to travel before my gravel road. At about the 3rd mile, I came upon a steep hill earlier than I expected. When I saw that I was at the top of the hill, I gently braked, knowing that I would naturally accelerate as I descended the hill and I didn't want to go any faster than the pokey 25 mph I already was. The slick road didn't like my braking and I immediately started veering off the road, the car angling and sliding and I knew this wasn't going to end well. I was still near the top of the hill and only slammed into the side of it without any real damage to myself or the car besides a bruise on my knee and some misalignment to the car.
The car was stuck at an angle but was out of the road thankfully. I had the cell phone which I used to call home and ask for help. Matt would come to my rescue as he often does! A couple of boys who had driven past me from the other direction in their monster truck, walked back down the hill to check on me which I felt was very kind of them. I told them that help was on its way. I waited in the car for Matt to arrive, during which time I got to watch two other cars get stuck on the same hill. They got down the hill without problem, but couldn't get traction to drive up the hill! And they were stuck in the middle of the road. It comforted me greatly to know that I wasn't the only one stuck on the road that night. It really was slick.
Matt found me safely. He called a neighbor to tow the car. We drove home on the side roads without any problem. Randi had taken care of the kids at home and kept the house warm for us while we were away.
I couldn't help wondering to myself, however, why this would've happened to me, especially when I was out doing good work, visiting a church member and serving God. Shouldn't He have protected me from accident while doing His work?!
It was three days later when I drove by the site of the accident again and I realized how very much God protected me that night. If I had started sliding off the road just ten feet further, the drop off would have been 30 feet down. The car would have rolled and the damage would have been much more severe, especially to me.
That really changed my attitude! It made me teary to think how blessed I really was that night. I feel so cared for by my husband and family, by neighbors and strangers, and most importantly by God.
I won't be driving in the snow again any time soon, thank you very much.
Monday, January 2, 2012
24 in 12
When Klaus turned one a few weeks ago, I wondered to myself where had the time gone? How could one entire year have passed since this little baby was born?! (Okay, he's not little, he's 32 pounds of delicious baby fatness--the largest baby of our family, even our extended families). I marveled that we had enjoyed this chubby, happy baby in our home for 12 whole months already!
Twelve months goes by so quickly! A person can accomplish something really great in 12 months. If I wanted to, I could accomplish something important in the next 12 months. Something that I've been meaning to do for a long time. Something I expected would have happened by now. Something I hadn't gotten the motivation to accomplish in 2011. I bet you can guess it: lose weight.
This embarrassing blog post is my public declaration that I'm serious about my goal this year. I'm calling it 24-in-12: 24 pounds in 12 months. Losing 24 pounds will get me back to my comfortable size 8 jeans. I'm squeezing myself into size 12's at the moment.
Even more embarrassing, I'm going to admit my current weight. I plan to never return to it again. At Wal-Mart this morning, I actually took a scale off the shelf, opened the package, weighed myself to get the number I needed, then put it back in it's package and returned it to the shelf! I'm too cheap to actually buy a scale because it's not an item I even want in my home! Anyway, the number was 155. Terrifying and shocking.
I'm really excited about my plan. In order to accomplish it, I commit to exercising daily (a walk or some yoga), drinking 8 glasses of water daily and eating only 2 treats per week. Wish me luck!
Oh, and here's a picture of our wonderful 1-year-old!
Twelve months goes by so quickly! A person can accomplish something really great in 12 months. If I wanted to, I could accomplish something important in the next 12 months. Something that I've been meaning to do for a long time. Something I expected would have happened by now. Something I hadn't gotten the motivation to accomplish in 2011. I bet you can guess it: lose weight.
This embarrassing blog post is my public declaration that I'm serious about my goal this year. I'm calling it 24-in-12: 24 pounds in 12 months. Losing 24 pounds will get me back to my comfortable size 8 jeans. I'm squeezing myself into size 12's at the moment.
Even more embarrassing, I'm going to admit my current weight. I plan to never return to it again. At Wal-Mart this morning, I actually took a scale off the shelf, opened the package, weighed myself to get the number I needed, then put it back in it's package and returned it to the shelf! I'm too cheap to actually buy a scale because it's not an item I even want in my home! Anyway, the number was 155. Terrifying and shocking.
I'm really excited about my plan. In order to accomplish it, I commit to exercising daily (a walk or some yoga), drinking 8 glasses of water daily and eating only 2 treats per week. Wish me luck!
Oh, and here's a picture of our wonderful 1-year-old!
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