Kitchen Chemistry

The kids took over my the kitchen and my mug of tea to do a chemistry experiment on neutralizing ph levels. Fieldin got to be Greta's assistant and was excited about that. 

 It was fun watching them work together. They worked for a hour and a half and wanted to do another experiment but lunch and errands got in the way. 

 A fun time with good results( my morning tea isn't as acidic as I thought it was). Greta has done this before and was teaching Fieldin about acids and bases. We need to make a trip to get her more ph strips since Fieldin wanted to test is Halloween candy, note to self, do not buy sour skittles. Yikes! 

 Once I got the kitchen back I made some dishwasher detergent we are going to try. We already make our own laundry soap, window cleaner and general counter/bathroom cleaner so thought we might as well try our own dishwasher soap. Excited to do an experiment myself and see if it works tonight. If it works as well as it smells(lemony) we are set. 

Short Circuit

 First off, Fieldin's new favorite thing is washing dishes which has been great. He also unloads the dishwasher. I am guessing this is short lived but enjoying it while it lasts. 

 Some electronic fun going on in the house lately. Greta's new favorite toy is a lie detector which can be a bit touchy but works most of the time. She and Fieldin have been having fun with it since Greta assured him it won't electrocute or shock him. Valid worries for a little brother. He reminds her one day she will need to invent a REAL light saber for him which I think is a good deal for what he puts up with. 

 Playing with the electronic circuit board they got for Christmas. After we work through the book and we know they can use it safely and without shorting it, they will have more freedom to experiment. 

 So far they are turning on a light and experimenting with lightness and darkness. Greta has already done this but it's all new to Fieldin and fun to watch him get excited. The "reading" stuff is boring. He likes playing with the wires ;) 

 One 9 volt battery= lots of entertainment in this house. 

Merry Christmas

Christmas Morning

5:30 in our room but it could have been worse! 

Lots of excitement and yes, Fieldin was relieved that Santa came. 

 Chompers got reindeer ears which as you can tell he was pretty excited about. 

 Then it was time to break open last nights presents. 

 Greta got her microscope working. 

 All in his lacrosse gear. He has been at it for atleast an hour playing with Jeff. 

 Army men set up for combat all over the rug. 

Christmas Eve

Yearly kid pic with the tree. They used to cuddle now it is more hugs and head lock.  

 Chompers by the light of the tree. 

 Lighting of the advent wreath. We all take turns reading about what each advent candle represents. Fieldin did such a good job reading his. I love this picture. 

 Then presents. Fieldin was pretty excited about his Lacrosse set. 

 Greta got her microscope with extra slides and chemistry sets. 

 New cougar gear! 

 Gret got a bunch of books she wanted. Especially a Greek mythology book and a Harry Potter Cookbook. 

 Star wars, and lots of it. 

 Gret loved her 3D cat head she put together so she can put it on her wall. 

 Very excited about their gifts. 

 This one if the best pic. Look at his eyes. He's been wanting a WSU cougar helmet for awhile and he got it! He was so excited 

 As usual we lost the cat in the paper and we have to dig him out so we don't step on him. 

 With his new helmet and Jersey. We were afraid he was going to wear it to bed. 

 And of course the yearly Santa bribe. Fieldin was sweating it this year, if Santa was going to come and if he was on the nice or naughty list. He really stressed about it. He kept asking if Santa had texted us to say if he was coming or not??? 

and eating some of Santa's treat below. 

Jeff's raisin cream pie with cinnamon. 

tracking Santa online....

Making German Christmas Eve Dinner

Every year we make a German meal for Christmas Eve and this year the kids were ready to learn how to make some dishes and help out which is the best part of any meal. Love teaching them things that they may pass on one day. 

 Greta making the cucumber salad with dressing. So good! 

 The cat begging for pork. The boys got the pork cuts ready to make schnitzel. 

 Fieldin was pretty happy doing the mallet work to thin the pork. 

 Greta learned how to use the spaetzle maker. 

 Boiling the spaetzle. 

 Then she learned how to coat the schnitzel.

 I made the braised cabbage and dinner was ready. Jeff made a nummy raisin cream pie from his grandma's recipe. 

 The kids said it was the "best meal ever" and looks like schnitzel will need to make a normal rotation into our meal planning. Fieldin LOVES schnitzel.