Rocket videos!

First post for the new year! (and by the look of it, for several months, whoops!)

We went to the park today to launch a model rocket with a video camera payload. The first flight went fine, but the second and third had problems with the recovery system deployment (the parachute didn't open). Check out the videos. The ascent video worked well, but descent is a bit (ha!) chaotic in freefall.

Launch #1:


Launch #2:


Launch #3:

Helen's Birthday

I had a great birthday. We went to the zoo and froze, then I went to a "soup exchange" and brought home 6 different soups to put in my freezer, then we had mac and cheese and pie (mmmm, my favorites!).

House Projects

We've been having fun changing things around a bit and using things in different ways. We purchased a new flat panel tv so we didn't need the TV armoire any longer. As you can't sell them for much, we recycled our into a toy cabinet. Also, we purchased some kid chairs at a garage sale and turned an end table into a little desk for the boys.

Erik fixed our fridge, hopefully. It was leaking water (freezer to fridge). We were collecting about a cup of water per day. After taking the freezer apart, he found that we had large build-up of ice...he defrosted the defrost drain tube (this was clogged with ice). Wish us luck that it will stay clear! P.S. Mr A took the picture of Erik.

Z-man's Head Nod

Z-man started nodding "yes." However, it is more of a full body rock. He nods his head with his head, sholders, and chest. We just worry that he's going to bonk his head on something.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch today. We went to the same one as last year...you ride a miniature train to the pumpkin patch and take a boat across a lake to come back. We had a great time.

Mr. A without training wheels!!!!

Mr A has asked to have his training wheels taken off his bike for the past few weeks. He always asks, though, when Erik is at work. The idea of running behind Mr A while carrying Z-man just sounds like a bit too much to me. Yesterday, A asked again while Erik was here and available...off the training wheels came!!! He did great. We attribute this urge to go without training wheels to the book "Franklin Rides a Bike." He isn't even four yet--what a prodigy!!!!

Aiden is writing

Aiden is learning to read and write. Here he traced his name and decorated it with stickers from Auntie Mere. Aiden can now sound out words that are three letters: consonant, vowel, consonant.