science fair 2007

I've only had this video done for about two months now, so I finally decided to get my act together and post it for everyone to see!

In case you've forgotten, back at the beginning of school, all three kids had science projects due. Julia's class was only submitting collections [since they're so young], but Libby and Bailey each had to create a full-blown project to submit to the science fair. Here are some photos of their projects, of them working on their projects, and how they fared in the final judgement!

little trackmaster

Collin enjoys his new train set

Here's a fun video of Collin playing with his new train set! Thanks to generous Christmas cash from Papa & Amoo and Grammie & Papa, Collin was able to add other pieces to the basic train set we gave him for Christmas to create a great setup. He had lots of fun making his choices at Target!

We set up the train tracks in the spare room, so 1] there's plenty of room for Thomas and James to meander along the train tracks and 2] we don't have to worry about taking it down since it's not in the way. Collin is quite the conductor-he handles the remotes for both of the trains, flips switches to change routes, and in general keeps things running smoothly. The other kids have a fun time playing with him as well, and Bailey has helped him set up his track a few times in a variety of ways.

american idol revamped

Webkinz American Idol [by Libby and Julia]

A couple of days ago Libby asked to borrow the camera to shoot a movie. I just downloaded them today [there were about fifteen!] and I promised her that I would post one for your viewing pleasure.

Some background: In case you don't have kids that use the internet yet, Webkinz are wildly popular stuffed animals that come with a web account when you buy them. You enter a code online and it brings your Webkin to life in a virtual world, where they eat, play games, buy stuff, etc. Libby decided it would be fun to film a video in which her Webkinz are, in fact, the hosts of American Idol [which, by the way, she has never seen]. She got the idea when she stayed the night at a friend's house and they watched some on YouTube.

Anyway, this is the kind of stuff we're up to on this our final week of Christmas vacation! Although it I must confess that I look forward to resuming a normal schedule, I am savoring our last days of relaxation and sleeping in. Because let me warn you now: when your kids start school, your life is no longer your own!

thanksgiving video by libby

Since I was limited on picture/video space on the last post, Libby's Thanksgiving post is being presented in two installments!

Ambika in the kitchen, and Andrew kickin' it on the hearth!

A short video Libby took while chasing Barrett downstairs.

Warning: you may want to take Dramamine before viewing.

julia and uno

A short movie featuring Julia with her baby hamster, Uno. [By the way, Uno is a month old now.] During the editing process, I played this movie over and over while fine tuning some bits. Collin busted up laughing every time he watched my finger get bitten. Every. Single. Time.

what we did last summer

A slideshow of summer highlights!

young samurai

I was inspired to turn Collin's antics into a short movie! Enjoy!

got moves?

After dinner tonight the family was just hanging out. It had been another long and busy week and I was ready for some serious veg time. I was sitting in the study where Owen and Julia were on the computer, trying to decide between reading or taking a short nap, when suddenly Collin bursts into the room sporting his Cars underwear and some pretty fancy moves! It was so hilarious that I had to grab the camera and get a short video of him in all his glory. He was really getting into it, whatever it was!

mini & baby

Mini, the hamster cannibal-ahem, I mean mother

As I've had some requests for hamster baby updates recently, here's the latest: we are down to one baby, and I have every reason to believe that this one is a keeper. Uno, as I affectionately refer to this little survivor, was apparently the only hamster to escape his/her mother's wrath. [let's just say that Mini has had her fill of protein in the last week and leave it at that] And she looks so innocent, too!

Actually, I have felt rather badly for little Mini. She was pretty young to be a hamster mom. When I compare sizes of the mother and baby [you'll get a chance to see them together in the video], the baby is just so big. I don't know how she ever could have taken care of seven at once. Uno is plump and sturdy. Still blind as a bat, though. The eyes are supposed to open within the next week, so that should be fun.

Here's a short video I took of mom and baby!

bailey's video

Click here to view the video that Bailey made and posted on YouTube!