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!!