Science and Baking

One of our favorite days of the week is Thrusday because we go to the library to pick out new books. This week we checked out Magic School Bus Gets Baked in a Cake. It was a great book for tying science and baking together. At the end of the book we did the experiements suggested.

Fill a glass container with water and add 3 tablespoons of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Put a few peanuts in and watch what happens. It was neat seeing them sink to the bottom and then slowly rise to the top after the vinegar and baking soda reacted and created bubbles.


They both had fun knocking the peanuts back to the bottom. We also tried cashews and chocolate chips to see what would happen.


The next experiment showed Avery how the vinegar and baking soda mixed together formed a gas. We used the balloon to capture the gas. I just love his face in this picture.

Georgia on ice

This last week was an interesting one in Georgia. On Friday of last week they started predicting a snow/ice storm that was going to hit on Sunday. People swarmed to the grocery stores to get any last minute supplies and then anxiously awaited the snow. Being a Wisconsin native, I didn't do anything extra, how bad could it really be? I could always walk to the store if I needed anything and the roads would be clear in a day. The thing I didn't consider was that the stores would be closed and the trucks couldn't get there to restock the shelves. I am still waiting on dark chocolate chips : ). Okay, so fast forward to Sunday night, it started to snow/sleet. We woke up Monday morning to glaze ice everywhere and the entire town shut down, including the interstates in Atlanta. The ice was thick and it wasn't going anywhere. Normally in this situation back home they would heavily salt the roads and send plows around to clean up the mess. Now this is where the problem is in Georgia, we don't have the right equipment to take care of snow and ice. I think they mentioned around 40 snowplows total in the greater Atlanta area. I didn't see any in our county and I'm not even sure our county owns one. Most of the time they don't need the equipment because it warms up in a day or two and everything melts. This time Mother Nature had other plans- she didn't want to warm up until today (Saturday). That is a full six days of dealing with ice. We had school canceled for 5 days!!! I don't think there was ever a time growing up when we were canceled for more than 2 days. I didn't run out of food, but Scott had to search for gas since the gas station near our home was out.
I did enjoy being iced in, because we could be lazy and follow our own schedules. Sometimes life gets really busy with all of the activities planned, so this was nice. We stayed in our jammies almost everyday until after lunch and we only ventured out once or twice. Today we hiked at a local nature preserve.

The ice on Monday. It was funny watching the dogs try to use the bathroom. They both kept sliding all over the place.


Avery wanted to collect heavy things and try to break the ice. Here Scott is throwing a log, it's mid air in the picture. You can tell by Avery's cheering arms that he is quite excited!


The trails were still icy, Scott had to hold onto Avery most of the hike.

Christmas in Wisconsin

This picture was from our MOMS Club cookies with Santa. He was a great Santa, but as you can see, Alia was not pleased with him. Avery loved sitting on his lap and telling him he wanted a train to go around the tree.


We drove to Wisconsin again this year. It was a great trip, the 15 hours went quickly. The children are great travelers. This picture shows Avery trying a frog leg at a Chinese restaurant.


We bought one of our nephews a ball that you add ice cream ingredients to and roll around until the ice cream is done. It was a lot of fun and the ice cream was good.


Alia is making a gingerbread house. She ate more sprinkles than she put on her house.


Avery liked building his house. I liked the candy cane under the roof and the colored piles of snow.


Alia with her favorite bear and her new baby. She was actually pretty good on the skates. She calls the doll on the floor her soft baby. She has to have the bear and soft baby every night for bed or she doesn't sleep. When she wakes up at night she insists I tuck soft baby in.


Playing in the snow. Mom's dog Zoe loves playing and catching snow balls.


Avery loves snow. When we talked about playing in the snow he kept saying all he wanted to do was eat snow. He definitely had his share of snow.


Alia didn't like the snow. She thought it was cold and she couldn't move with all of the clothes on. Once she was standing on the sidewalk she stopped crying.


Maia wasn't sure of the snow. The walks didn't go so well because she kept holding her feet up.


I love Gaven's shirt! It zips up the front and there are mesh eye holes so he can see.


Everyone is excited for the gift opening except for Alia because she has no idea why her picture is being taken.


Bama loves her little lap dog!




Amanda, Dad and I


When we got home there was a package for Avery and Alia. She loved dressing up.