Eruption Concoction

Had our kid-posse over today (which is 4 third graders + 1 first grader + 1 kindergartner) and among other things (many other things) we painted and adorned the paper-mache volcano Eleanor and I started LAST summer (and had not finished yet).  Then we tried a variety of concoctions the internet promised would simulate a volcanic eruption.  We've tried the mentos + soda mix (lack luster at best, maybe the type of soda really does matter?) and several baking soda + vinegar mixes (meh). We even dumped baking soda into the regular soda, for a pretty good reaction.  Nothing was that impressive, and I'd like one of you to explain the chemistry going on here so I can design a more dramatic eruption.  Speak up!  Short clip of our eruption here.

a plan (summer 2012)

paper form (summer 2012)

Happy Birthday Mike!

Horse Camp gets a thumbs up!

I heard about a trainer that teaches kids out on the east side of town, which means I don't have to cross any bridges or risk getting stuck in traffic getting to and from the barn.  So, we signed up for a three day camp to check it out.  It was pretty great!  Eleanor happily shoveled poop every morning!  (That was a beautiful thing for this mom to witness.)  If you're really interested, you can see a video of her trotting around on Belle here.

saddled up and ready to work the obstacle course

slowing down the trott

cleaning the hoof

basic grooming

leading Belle back out to pasture

Eleanor goes to Hogwarts

Sabina came back from Israel for a few weeks this summer, just in time to have her birthday party with her old friends.  Only, her old friends didn't come as themselves.  We are squarely in the Harry Potter years in case you haven't heard and the party was at Hogwarts, of course.  Can you guess who Eleanor is?

Latourell Falls

A nice waterfall hike in the gorge that actually feels safe and kid friendly = Latourell Falls.  It's a good way to keep cool on a hot day.