Jacob's Penguin Project

Jacob was invited to do an Independent Study project this year. He and a few other first and second graders met twice a week throughout the school year. They learned how to do research, type, put together a bibliography, and write a report. It was so fun to see the end product! The night of the presentations was well attended. Each student had put together a questionnaire to be filled out by those coming around. Jacob had so much fun doing each "presentation." He had a little index card with prompts on it reminding him to say hello, state his name, and then the three major areas he studied. He did a great job, and we are so proud of him.

At one point I came over to check on him and he told me that I didn't need to hang around. He was busy and had people to talk to. He let me know that I could just go visit with my friends or go look at some art in the hallway. He makes me laugh.

He made the penguin and little fish by himself out of some Model Magic Clay. It is an Emperor Penguin.

These were some fun questions that you could lift up for an answer. He was especially pleased with how the "blubber penguin" turned out. He was sure to point it out to everyone.

Please bear with me, I am going to type his report here for the benefit of grandparents who live far away and would love to see it. He dictated and I typed it. I only gave him a few prompts, such as: "Jacob, let's do a sentence at the beginning of each paragraph that pertains to ALL penguins, and then list some specific examples." He flew right through it. It was really fun to watch his serious face as he looked over his notes and then worked out his grammar.

Penguins

This is my report on penguins. I had to study a lot to learn about these things. I will tell you where penguins live, what they look like, and how they live.

Penguins live in cold places. They swim in the water. They live in southern parts of the world. Some penguins live in the cool coasts of Africa. Some species of penguins live in South America. They live in Antarctica, too.

Penguins are birds that have feathers that are black or blue-ish gray. Underside feathers on penguins are white. Adult penguins look like they have white skin on their bellies, because their belly feathers are so flat. Even though they are birds, they do not fly. There are many different types of penguins. Emperor Penguins have yellowish orange feathers on their chins. Most of them are 4 feet tall. Fairy Penguins are the smallest type of penguins ever. They grow to be 16 to 17 inches tall. Rock Hopper Penguins get their name because they hop on rocks. Chin strap Penguins get their name because they have a line of black feathers starting at the top of their jaw bone, going under their chin, and ending at the other side of their jaw bone.

All penguins feed on fish. Some penguins may eat shrimp or other small animals in the ocean. Blubber, which is a thick layer of fat under their skin, keeps them warm. An extra layer of feathers acts like fur below their outside waterproof feathers. Raising baby penguins is a lot of hard work for the mom and dad penguin. The mom has to swim off with all the other moms to get food in the ocean. The baby stays at home with the dad. Usually penguins only lay one egg at a time. Adelie penguins have two babies at a time. Penguins may look clumsy on land, but they are graceful swimmers in the water.

Penguins are very neat animals. They are birds, but they do not fly. They live in very cold areas, but they do not get cold. I like penguins because they look so cute and cuddly.

Overheard

From the bathroom.

(I'd just called the boys to dinner.)

"Ahhhhh! Hurry! She's coming! Get the milk jug out of the toilet!"

"Okay....put all the recycling bin things in this pile..."

"I'll put the teaspoon back in the kitchen."

"Uh-oh Jacob, we used all the cinnamon sticks..."

______

I didn't even look. I just let them know that the bathroom needed to look like new before I saw them again, and when I went in to brush my teeth that night, it looked as good as new.

Sibling Plug

You must read my sister, Lindsay's, most recent post. The link is in my sidebar. Crazy funny. I am crying right now.

No Complaints

Wow! Last night I was the last person to fall into bed... at 8:30! Gives you some kind of indication of how busy we have been over the weekend. And, to use a phrase Jake has just adopted, "Time sure flies when you're having fun!"

It began on Thursday. What a purrfect summery day it was. We started out by having some girls over after school to run through the sprinkler in the backyard. They migrated to the driveway to lay on their towels and dry off and play a little game of chess.


When the girls' parents stopped by to pick them up a couple hours later their dad asked if we would be up to going to the lake. When? Right now! We most definitely were! Everything is more fun when it's spur of the moment. We threw some gear together, called Mike with the bad news that we wouldn't be home when he got there, and neither would dinner, and took off. SO MUCH FUN! The kids went tubing and Amelia was a regular little lake rat. We parked the boat in the middle of the lake and all swam around while people took turns sitting in the boat with Lady Love. She kept standing up and smacking her hands on the side of the boat and squealing with delight.

Friday night the kids all went to a pool party and barbeque with some friends, and Mike and I went out with all the adults in his family. We went out to eat to celebrate his passage of the bar. It was really fun to dress up and go somewhere fancy, and not have a baby wiping goobery crackers on my shoulder. Ahhh...

Saturday was birthday parties and a fun family bike ride.

Sunday was a wonderful Mother's Day. Flowers, cards, yummy food, and a nice nap!


Jake made
me a card, poem,
and the
standard:
a rock.
It must
be
true love.






Andy drew a
picture "with a
heart!"and
"bumpy Clouds."
"Look, I even drew
hair just like yours!"













this
poem
rocks
as much
as I
guess
I do.




On Monday we continued the excitement with an official swearing in of our new attorney at law. It was great. Afterwards his office hosted a great luncheon. Lots of good food and fun company!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Mike won a recipe contest! I've always known he can cook, but now the world (or at least his company) does as well. The comptrollers office was holding an original healthy recipe contest, and since Mike's office is affiliated, he was able to submit a recipe. It had to be tasty, healthy, and completely original. He submitted a southern style entree and came home with a blue ribbon (and a gift certificate). The contest was in the morning, so the Judges just had microwaved leftovers, but they still liked it. I think it's pretty cool, and he had a great time doing it.

Here's the recipe. Try it out. It's dee...licious!


Chicken with Triple Sweet Root Vegetables
1st prize, entrée
By Michael Anderson

Who would guess onion and basil can be just as good as brown sugar with your sweet potatoes?

4 chicken breasts
2 large sweet potatoes
1 large sweet Texas onion
8-10 sweet basil leaves
6-8 parsnips (one bag)
2 sprigs rosemary
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3 teaspoons sea salt
Juice of 2 lemons
1-2 tablespoons olive oil

Pre-heat the oven to 325ºF. Peel and dice the sweet potatoes, parsnips and sweet onion. Chop the parsley, sweet basil, rosemary and add the cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Add the herbs to the vegetables, and put in a large pyrex glass dish. Pour juice from 1 of the lemons and olive oil over the vegetables. Cover with tin foil. Place in the oven for 1 hour. Pull out and stir the vegetables. Place the chicken breasts on top of the vegetables, pour remaining lemon juice on the meat and put back the uncovered dish in the oven at 375 ºF for 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Add more salt to taste.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 ½ hours

Nutritional Information:

Serves 6

264 calories
3.6 grams fat
17 grams carb
37.5 grams protein

The Nutrition information is from a nutritionist that the Comptroller hired for the contest, it isn't just Mike's guess.

Enchanted Rock

Went camping. Had fun. Hiked, went caving, explored the creek. Had a skit night around the campfire with the other scouting families (groan), ate lots of s'mores (mmm...), chased off raccoons in the middle of the night, got sunburned.....

Enjoy the pictures.

Amelia loves the feel of grass. Here she is playing while we set up camp.

Our friends

Ready to hike

Emerged from the cave. Some serious troopers.
Tight spots and pitch black couldn't stop these boys.
(With just a little help from their dads - wink.)

Mike is grabbing a huge handful of my hair in an attempt to keep the wind from blowing it across my face. The result is a little less than flattering.

Look at that view!

WOO HOOO!

Mike did it! He made our day, our month, and our year.... He passed the Texas Bar! He found out the results a day early and surprised me with the news on his standard call to me while leaving work for home. Needless to say, I started freaking out. I think if any salesman would've knocked on my door at that time, I would've swung him out onto the porch and danced with him!

The boys and I were jumping up and down and yipping/shouting/squealing. Immediately upon hearing the news, Jacob announced that we must cover the house with congratulations signs. He and Andrew rushed to the wardrobe and lugged the bin of crayons and a huge roll of drafting paper over to the kid tables. They colored and taped like crazy to finish it all in the 45 minutes we had until Dad got home.

The lowest picture of the three on the door was drawn by Andy Roo. I asked him if it was a happy Daddy dancing. He informed me that it was actually Daddy "passing the bars!" He also did the lower poster on the garage with "Dad in a whole land of bars!" and lots of happy faces.

When the much anticipated Man of The Hour arrived he had a beautiful bouquet of red roses in his hands for me! The first thing he did was thank me for helping him do it. I, of course, started crying. Then the boys excitedly took him on a tour of the posters on the garage, door, lamps, fireplace, his chair at the table, and his bed pillow. We then went out to celebrate at a delicious Italian restaurant.

What a fun night! Amelia could sense it and was bouncing all over the place. We are so happy. So blessed. So grateful for the support we have received from so many, and for the encouragement to go at it again.

A new chapter begins.....