Science Fair Projects

So we had the science fair this past week, which we didn't attend, but here are pictures of Jacob and David with their displays. We have videos of them describing things, too, but they won't upload right now for some reason. So here are pictures:






And here's an experiment by Jacob that had a bit less to do with science:

Getting Ready For Science Fair

Science fair is next Wednesday, along with the Cub Scouts Blue & Gold Dinner, and we hadn't gotten past pseudo-hypothesis phase on Jacob's and David's projects before yesterday. Got some done yesterday including actual numeric measurements with Jacob's projects. Maybe more details with photos later on that. Current plan is to go to Cub Scouts rather than the science fair a this point. But the displays will still be out.

But here is a picture of Zeke for now:



On other fronts, I actually wrote a bit more on my "California" book this week. At about 6000 words now. Not sure it'll ever be high quality or even done, but it provides an opportunity to discuss issues and ideas. I always have more ideas (for whatever) than time or commitment on such things. Other stories in my head, for future reference are (code named) "Cosmic Drama" (about a high school theatrical presentation gone very awry) and "Moonlighters" (about Latin American computer programmers in the US pretending to be a company in India). Anyway, mostly listing these for future reference. Not sure I'll ever do anything with any of them.

On yet other fronts, Kristine has been doing deeper cleaning of various aspects of the house. The idea of making things prepared for selling seems difficult enough to scare me a lot, but it's something that will need to be faced if we go back to school. And it's not terrible to do in any case. Kristine also painted the hallway several weeks ago. I'm better at focusing on day to day chores than the big things that need done.

Yeah.

Recorded on Michelle's cell.

And the verdict is . . .

We finally got a response from another school. They said thanks for the application. You know the rest. So, Tom won't be going to Stanford. We know, at least, that it was Tom's least favorite (despite it being the highest ranked), with the highest living expenses and situated in the worst area of the 4 universities. It was the most ambitious of all the places to apply, but it still makes us wonder what the others will say.

We are still waiting for responses from 2 schools - UT Austin and UMass Amherst. We still haven't heard anything about money.

In other news, Sam made his first call to 911 today. They called back to make sure everything was ok. No one came out to the house, so hopefully that means we don't have to pay any money.

To Church Again

We all made it to church for the first time in three weeks. Anna was feeling well enough that we sent her to nursery. She does still have a cough, though. But we're all getting there. And it was nice for all of us to get to church. 8:30's a bit early, but it's nice to have the day afterwards.

Still no news on school stuff.

Two Funerals

It has been an interesting week for us, beginning with the news of President Hinckley's passing on Sunday. We shared that with the kids at family home evening on Monday. The one memory I'll share of him is the one thing I remember him saying at the soccer stadium in Guate, because he requested it. It was along the lines of, "If you remember one thing today, remember you heard Gordon Hinckley say he knows that God lives."

On Tuesday we heard of another passing a bit closer to home. A brother in our ward at church, age 42, married and with 5 kids aged from 12 years to 1 year old, passed away unexpectedly while off on an overnight field trip with one of his sons. They didn't share what he died from, but no one expected anything. Kristine, being in the PTA at our elementary school and this brother's wife being well known among the teachers and PTA at our school, helped give news and connect people at school with people at church so they could find ways to help.

The funeral service itself (on Saturday, like President Hinckley's) was moving, comforting, and with good doctrine taught. In all, it has been an interesting week.

On more mundane topics, Kristine and I had planned to go to VSP's annual dinner dance in Sacramento last night, but Jacob came down with stomach flu, so we stayed home.

And for a happier touch here and since I hadn't posted any pictures of Kristine or Zeke yet, here's one I took today: