Mathematics education

I'm adding this video as both promotion and penance. For those who know me, the promotion bit is self-evident (for those who don't, I do statistical research and have held positions as statistician in the past). The penance bit come from a prior habit of campaigning for everyone to know calculus. I'm repenting of this stance, and seeing it much more practical to encourage everyone to have a basic understanding of statistics prior to graduating from high school. As the speaker says, you can use statistics every day.

If you don't believe me, you fall into the narrow category of people who never watch/read the news and who have no opinion on any political or cultural issue. The news is typically saturated with (misquoted) statistics, and statistics are used to justify stances on every political and cultural issue currently under debate. To be an informed citizen and/or consumer, it is useful to be able to understand what goes into a statistic and how to tell when one is being misused. Be especially wary if you strongly agree or disagree with a statistic without evaluating its quality. I've seen many people defend a statistic that is either untrue, oversimplified, or misused to the hurt of their credibility.

Enjoy, the video is short.

S'more love. Asmore'.

I went yard-saling this weekend (wow, yard-saling is now a verb to me. Funny how that happens.) At one, I found a s'more roaster for $2. It didn't come with fuel, so I took the cheap route and used isopropyl alcohol. I found out about that little trick while eavesdropping on some sisters in white in the temple.
That doesn't sound good--eavesdropping (not a good act) in the temple (a very good place). Oh well. I wanted to wait and make my graham crackers and marshmallows (follow to links to the recipes) but we just couldn't wait.

S'more coma.

Why bother making the s'more? Just eat each piece! Chayce, can you open that mouth any wider?

Zac, not a fan of having ANY burnt parts (many marshmallows met the fate of the trashcan due to some pickiness), is slow roasting his mallow.

I will probably still make some mallows & crackers, because I have before & they taste infinately better. But still, what a fun evening activity!

The Gift of The Holy Ghost

So, I taught Zac's Sunday school class the other day (Sunday, of course). It was a lesson on the blessings of being a member of Christ's church. I asked each child to draw a picture of one of the many blessings they enjoy. Some drew family, some drew smiles...below is Zac's drawing...


It is the Holy Ghost, can you tell? Wings to help him fly. Antennae to help him transmit his messages, and receive them, and an eye single to the glory of God (Ok, I added that part, but we did talk about it.) Oh, and he's happy, because the Gospel means "Good news".

Firefly Catching Expedition

Ok, well, the expedition wasn't really that far. Just into the back yard after bedtime hours, which I think was excitement enough. I wish I could have captured the glow of the fireflies as we ran after them and caught them, but I couldn't find a happy medium between using the flash (and therefore not seeing their green light) and not using the flash, missing them and getting nothing but black photographs.

"Beets" a.k.a. Eating Local

When we talk about the CSA we are members of, we're often asked, "What do you do with a bushel full of vegetables every week?" Well, beets were in abundance this week, and I thought I'd show what we DO with our veggies--we EAT them!! Do we get sick of them...sure after a few weeks. By then we've pickled or frozen them, and we're on to the next crop (fresh tomatoes anyone?)

Beet munching, before dinner even had a chance to start.

Zach, enjoying fresh sliced, raw beets.

Payge shows her delight after trying a beet, and watching her silly siblings doing the same.

Show me your purple!

Breakfast during beet season: steamed beet greens, fried eggs, corn bread.

The UGLY carrot. The only one though...the others were beautiful--and eaten.

Just some cuteness.

Told to smile for the camera--she pulls the opposite. But cute anyway!

My Cheezer!

So grown up.

Princess Puzzle

A most fun new find from our neighborhood yard sale. I felt more like I was trading stuff than just selling, but finding this puzzle was a treasure!!

Jam Session

Today, I turned this...

and this... (Stephen says it's almost as beautiful as me. Glad to know I come in a close second to fruit.)...

into 28 pints of this...and this.
Yum!

Sorry PETA, I tried

On 17Jun09, President Obama swatted and killed a fly during an interview. PETA had this to say about the incident. Ever since reading the book 'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle' by Kingsolver, I have been trying to give extreme* animal rights activism the benefit of the doubt. Kingsolver argues that unless you grew the food yourself, you cannot guarantee that small mammals and birds were not killed in the process.** But I told myself, surely the PETA types don't mean insects. As long as we are careful, we can avoid killing mammals. But even strict organic agriculture without organic pesticides (yes, such exists) and only hand picked food cannot prevent insect death. The very act of disturbing a plant to get fruit off of it will kill insects. Watch close next time you pick a pint of strawberries - you will kill hundreds of insects in the process.

And PETA reprimanded the president for killing a fly. Was it intentional? Yes. But I do not ignorantly enter the berry patch thinking that doing so will not end in insect death. The PETA philosophy needs to be re-examined since it is fundamentally untenable without exterminating the human race. In that case the philosophy itself is unneeded. Any philosophical ideal that destroys the capacity for the philosophy to exist when the ideal is fulfilled is fatally flawed.


* In a strict definition of the phrase, I am an animal rights activist such that I don't want my cows or any other animal to suffer needlessly prior to natural, merciful (the horse with the broken leg), or functional (meat animals) termination.

** I have seen agricultural machinery kill many a mouse and duck.

Mmmm, Gum Sandwiches... and A Guilt Trip

So, I, uh, bought some bread. Yeah, yeah, I know, it goes against all I stand for. But see, I REALLY wanted a PB&J with some soft bread, bread that didn't really have it's own flavor, bread that wouldn't detract from the taste of the yummy peanut butter and jelly combination. {Don't worry, the "jelly" was still my home-made strawberry/blueberry spread, and the PB the kind where you have to mix the oil in each time you get it out, I'm not THAT far gone...}

I kept thinking, "Yes, this is what I missed, I should buy this again..." until dear Chayce said:
"HEY MOM!! Guess what! You can chew this bread like gum! It even sticks to your teeth. Cool!"

Yeah, OK. Never mind, guess I won't buy it again for awhile--don't want them to get used to their sandwiches sticking to their teeth.
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I was folding Zac's pants the other day, and I noticed how very long they are. His height sort of crept up on me. What is he doing growing anyway? Geez, I never gave him permission. Anyhow, I told him that I'm going to sit on top of his head--you know, to keep him small. I figured my weight would hold him back.
He then asks me, "Mom? Why do you keep saying you want me small? Isn't it my job to grow up, isn't that what you're trying to get me to do?" I realized I was giving conflicting messages, so I explained to him that although my goal is to raise him up to be a wonderful man who will help society and his family prosper, I would really miss him at this age, that I really enjoy spending my days with him, and wish the time would go just a bit slower. Do you know what this boy says to me? After all my sob story of how I want him to stay forever? He says, "Gee Mom, don't worry. When I grow up, I'll visit you just as often as you visit grandma and grandpa, and I might even bring my kids."
Well, since we visit once a year, I guess I know my quota...unless I up the visit #. Of course, I know that I will take the time to visit him because I know it's hard for a young family to travel, so I won't expect it of him. I'll remember that I would rather be at my home now with my kids, with my family coming to see me, and I'll do unto my children what I would like done unto me.

Where a Kid Can Be a Kid!

About two weeks ago, the kids started begging for another go at Chuck E Cheese's. Stephen told them that when they'd gathered a full yard waste bucket of sticks and a water pail full of rocks from the yard, they would have earned the right to go. Well, they did (a lot of it with our help) and so today was the day. I went online and got a coupon where $10 would get 100 tokens, which, if you know anything about the Cheese's, you know will go far because each ride/game/activity is only one token. Zach was off, busy using his allotted tokens to earn tickets to earn toys and candy with (I love their stamping system where kids can't get out unless the adult they are with matches their stamp, so you can let a five year old wander off for a few minutes), and I decided that since I'd forgotten to bring my camera, we'd use the Photo Sketch machine. So, for ten cents, we now have the memory of a life time--

She really did have fun, you just can't tell from the picture. Love it.

hidden gems

Here's a few cute pictures that have been lurking in the depth's of my cell phone's memory.















Zach and Chayce, ready for church.













Payge in the berry patch eating berries, bath time hair-do, and begging to be let in to nursery at church.

Back to the Days of Pooh...

I went upstairs to tuck my children into bed this evening to find that Chayce had dressed up her Pooh Bear doll to match her for bed. Quite ingenious, stealing the dress from Payge's Cabbage Patch kid...

As I stared at this photo I took of her (because I thought it was just too
cute to NOT take a photo of!) I was reminded of
the song Return to Pooh Corner,
which actually plays often at our house because
I enjoy Kenny Loggins'
music (yes, I am an 80's child).

Christopher Robin and I walked along
Under branches lit up by the moon
Posing our questions to Owl and Eeyore
As our days disappeared all too soon
But I've wandered much further today than I should
And I can't seem to find my way back to the Wood

So help me if you can
I've got to get back
To the House at Pooh Corner by one
You'd be surprised
There's so much to be done
Count all the bees in the hive
Chase all the clouds from the sky
Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh

Winnie the Pooh doesn't know what to do
Got a honey jar stuck on his nose
He came to me asking help and advice
And from here no one knows where he goes
So I sent him to ask of the Owl if he's there
How to loosen a jar from the nose of a bear

It's hard to explain how a few precious things
Seem to follow throughout all our lives
After all's said and done I was watching my son
Sleeping there with my bear by his side
So I tucked him in, I kissed him and as I was going
I swear that the old bear whispered
"Boy welcome home"

Believe me if you can
I've finally come back
To the House at Pooh Corner by one
What do you know
There's so much to be done
Count all the bees in the hive
Chase all the clouds from the sky
Back to the days of Christopher Robin
Back to the ways of Christopher Robin
Back to the days of Pooh

It made me EVER SO GLAD that we took the time to go to the beach again yesterday. Yes, that's twice in two weeks, and it might even happen more often, because childhood only comes once, and summer is only so long. Someday, my house will stay too clean, and the laundry will stay folded until I want to wear it (as of now, it seems emptying drawers is a fun game), but right now, I think we'll go play together.

Toddler Party Politics

No relation to us, but funny nonetheless...

Apples and CHEESE!

I caught Payge sitting on the couch in a dazed look, munching on an apple. She was so focused on her chewing (just got new molars!) that I thought that she wouldn't notice me getting out the camera. I was wrong. This little ham heard the "beep" of the camera, and she automatically pulled a cheezer. Can we say "Pavlov?"

Sunburst 2009: 10K

Today was the day. I did it. I ran 6.2 miles with a number posted on my shirt. Zac kept asking why I was doing this, if I didn't plan on coming in first. I tried to explain goals, and how I keep trying to beat my own time. He then asked why I didn't just time myself on the weekends. Ahhh, logic. I kept trying to impress upon him that there is something different about race day, but he was starting to make me wonder. Until it happened. I crossed the finish line and my little girl said, "Mom, I want to be a racer like you. I want to run fast. I'm going home to make my own number." That, my friends, made EVERYTHING worth it. To know she saw a goal set, and achieved, and wants to set her own goals now. Even if I'd run at a snails pace (which I didn't, I ran it in 1 hour, 6 minutes), my kids saw me finish something I'd started.

Before the race...it was early, please forgive the lack of excitement on my face.

Running down Riverside Drive! The kids were waiting here to see me pass (it is a block behind our house) before they headed off to meet me at the finish line).

Crossing the finish line!!! I'm the yellow (in case you forgot).

Right after the race.

My big squeeze at the end!! The best prize of all.

Where have you seen this before ;)

Is this familiar to those who have studied Israelite and/or Nephite history?

see more Funny Graphs

Peonies-Sigh.

Want to win FIVE BOOKS?!?

As you may know, I like to read...as do my friends (real-life friends, not just folks I met online ;) ) over at Reading For Sanity. Click on the link for a chance to win five books from the five bibliophiles that run the blog!

My Darlings, Dancing the Night Away!

Bummer, they aren't very big files, but maybe you get the point. My sis-in-law finally got me photos of my kids dancing at the wedding we went to. Too cute. Thanks Rinny!

On this one, Chayce is dancing with the groom and Zac is dancing with the bride.



Zac & Chayce dancing together. So SWEET!

The Girlies in the Family

Payge right before church.

The pose she makes when I say, "Cheeeeese!"

Chayce decided those irises would make a beautiful headpiece. Don't you agree?

Madeline Bertrand Park

We spent our Sunday afternoon at the park. It's a beautiful park that never gets very busy because there is a fee to park there ($3 once or $35 a year). There are many hiking trails, a clean, well cared for playground and lots of room to run. Our kids like to run, and so we decided this would be a great place to let loose. It didn't hurt that the psychology department from Notre Dame was hosting a dinner in one of the pavilions, so we didn't have to pay the parking fee!! I must say that it seemed funny to me to see all of the family BBQs going on in the different pavilions, and then to look over at the one ND had reserved...white table cloths, chafing dishes, pitchers full of ice and beverages (rather than soda cans). Just struck me as funny. Aside from that humor, we had a great time.

St. Joseph river

Cute husband.

Walking to the river.

Zach and Chayce looking at the river (St. Joseph)

Payge...I'm sure she's thinking, "What? Why that camera again?"

Zachary and Chayce found a caterpillar to play with while we were walking. They tried to be gentle with it, but of course it left a deposit on them, it's not like caterpillars take the time to find an appropriate place. We didn't think much of it (it's happened to all of us, right?) until the following conversation took place:
Chayce, "I'm going to keep him until he turns into a butterfly...Mom, can I keep him? I'll find him a branch and some leaves...and...and..." Zac (interupting), "Chayce, that caterpillar will never turn into a butterfly. When I was holding him a few minutes ago, all of his butterfly parts came out. Poor thing."