Mar 2
It rained yesterday and today! Thomas was out enjoying it (who knows when it will happen again).
Of course you need the camel pack when you are out for a 10 minute ride in the rain. It’s important to keep hydrated when you live in the desert!!!
love
-jen
He didn’t take the mouth piece out of his mouth the whole time
Had to tie the straps up so he wouldn’t get then caught in the chain 
Goof
Lovin’ the splashes. Look at the speed….<grin>
Reunited with this song following it’s use in the opening ceremonies at Vancouver…
Rows and flows of angel hair, and icecream castles in the air, and feathered canyons everywhere,
I’ve looked at clouds that way,
but now they only block the sun.
They rain and snow on everyone.
So many things I would have done, but clouds got in my way.
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now,
from up and down, and still somehow,
it’s clouds illusions I recal.
I really don’t know clouds…at all.
Moons and Junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way you feel
as every fairy tale comes real; I’ve looked at love that way.
But now it’s just another show. You leave ‘em laughing when you go
and if you care, don’t let them know, don’t give yourself away.
I’ve looked at love from both sides now,
from give and take, and still somehow
it’s love’s illusions I recall.
I really don’t know love at all.
Tears and fears and feeling proud, to say “I love you” right out loud,
dreams and schemes and circus crowds, I’ve looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads,
they say I’ve changed.
Something’s lost but something’s gained in living every day.
I’ve looked at life from both sides now,
from win and lose, and still somehow
it’s life’s illusions I recall.
I really don’t know life at all.
Really quite beautiful lyrics.
Feb 25
Jen will get upset for me posting geeky things on here… but this is just TOO COOL!
Feb 6
A cow is a completely automated milk-manufacturing machine. It is encased in untanned leather and mounted on four vertical, movable supports, one at each corner. The front end of the machine, or input, contains the cutting and grinding mechanism, utilizing a unique feedback device. Here also are the headlights, air inlet and exhaust, a bumper and a foghorn.
At the rear, the machine carries the milk-dispensing equipment as well as a built-in flyswatter and insect repeller. The central portion houses a hydro- chemical-conversion unit. Briefly, this consists of four fermentation and storage tanks connected in series by an intricate network of flexible plumbing. This assembly also contains the central heating plant complete with automatic temperature controls, pumping station and main ventilating system. The waste disposal apparatus is located to the rear of this central section.
Cows are available fully assembled in an assortment of sizes and colors. Production output ranges from 2 to 20 tons of milk per year. In brief, the main external visible features of the cow are: two lookers, two hookers, four stander-uppers, four hanger-downers, and a swishy-wishy.
I already wrote about the sinkhole. The Schellenberg troop finished off that day with a little side trip to see some camels.
First we were playing around in the bushes
Then we dared venture towards the animals.
Thomas, as you can see, was a little afraid. Ryan was NOT
Come on… He’s cute.
Ryan didn’t actually loose his arm.
Daniel takes a turn
And the baby… cause babies are cute.
It was a great afternoon. Thanks to Cam for showing us the way, and Doug for a few extra kids and some great geeky conversation!
Feb 3
Went to the sink hole on the weekend… I had no idea what to expect… turns out. from the top.
Not much.
But from the bottom
and as you descend …
The boys were making sand angels.
Isn’t Jen Purdy?
it’s pretty cool!
Jan 30
Daniel had a cool homework assignment this week. The parents had to write a story abotu the child, one about them selves, and one about a grandparent. I thought I’d share…
Cheeseburgers.
The year, 1993. The place, Bracebridge Ontario. The setting, a small cottage town full of tourists and city people trying to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Ryan has always been a big eater. When he was 15 he would regularly eat through an entire pack of 12 hotdogs for lunch. It was during his summer job working at Bangor lodge that he set his sights on the Guinness book for world records. Ryan heard that the world record for cheeseburger eating was 32 standard McDonalds cheeseburgers. Armed with an empty stomach and 100 dollars, he bravely marched into the local Golden arches. After a brief discussion with the manager, Ryan and he agreed that as a test, Ryan would pay for 10 cheeseburgers, and the restaurant would keep making more for free until Ryan stopped eating. We got through 10. Then ate 15. Then passed the 20 mark. Ryan was so full… 21, then 22, 23 cheese burgers were packed away…. 24, couldn’t go on any more. But only 8 away. 25, 26. Only 6 more. Cant do it. Too full… 27.
Ryan ate 28 cheeseburgers in a sitting. He didn’t hit the mark, but for years after, when he went into that store, he was welcomed with “Hey, aren’t you the cheeseburger guy?”
The Kite:
Daniel learned to walk very quickly. He was 14 months old when he started to run. Mom and Dad wanted to encourage him to spend time outside so we went to the store and bought him a new Kite. Daniel’s eyes widened when he saw his beautiful new shark kite. It was shiny and black, with a long tail, and a special handle to unwind the string. We went to the park. The wind was a nice slow breeze. He was so excited. Daniel had never seen a kite fly before, so we told him that this was going to be very special. We unwound the string, and dad held the kite. Mom was with Daniel and we said 1, 2, 3 Go!
Dad threw the kite up into the air and it crashed spectacularly into the ground. Daniel kept running. The kite was dragging around the grass, and Daniel was laughing and thinking this was an amazing gift. Daniel didn’t know that kites were supposed to go up. Dad knew. The next day dad went and got a kite that worked, and Daniel finally understood how kites were supposed to behave. Mom and dad still remember Daniel’s first experience with kites.
Caught!
It was late in the evening. Ryan was returning to his friend’s house to visit. Unfortunately, 3 in the morning is a time when most people are supposed to be sleeping. Ryan didn’t care, he wanted to see his friend. Ryan was out running in the woods earlier on that day and found a beautiful columbine flower that he dug up and planted for his friend. So he grabbed the ladder and marched over to his friend’s house. He placed the ladder up against the house, and climbed up onto the roof.
Jennifer, like all good teenagers was asleep in her bed. Her mom, however wasn’t. Barb(Daniel’s Grandma) was very energy conscious. She did not like to waste anything. This particular evening, she had all the windows in the house open, letting the cool night breeze through the house. However, as the night drew on, the temperature started to rise. It rose so much that Barb decided to get up and turn the air conditioning on. Barb had closed all the windows in the house except for Jen’s when Ryan appeared at the window. She opened the door to Jen’s room, and saw Ryan sitting there with a plant in hand, on the second story roof.
Jen woke up to her mom, turning on the light, questioning Ryan as to why he was on the roof, at 3 in the morning, while her daughter was sleeping, and why he had this little plant in his hand. Ryan sheepishly climbed down, and went home, Jen went back to bed and Barb returned to her bedroom… All were a little surprised with what that evening had brought.
The next morning, Jen found the plant at her window.