Winning Science Fair Project - William

Science Fair, Science Fair, Science Fair... the words can send shivers down a parents spine. The thought of first coming up with a project, adding one more thing to the list of many things, spending one more minute of time, even maybe an entire weekend or worse two weekends! Yikes,  but no not here... you see I am really a closet homeschooler.  William mentioned Science Fair and I couldn't wait!! He was pretty excited,too. :) So away we went... You can read about the project here.  Here is what happened Post Science Fair! 

William ended up placing 3rd for the entire region of 1st grade science fair projects!  We were so proud and he got to experience what it means to put in some hard work and concentration and reap the rewards!

On Stage accepting his reward!

Sorry the pic is a little blurry, but you can still see the pride on his face and gleaming smile as he made his way back to his seat! Great Job, Will!!

Favorite Things Friday

I came across a wonderful blogger , Rachel, at  Finding Joy,

Friday's over at her place are Favorite Things Friday,

A post designed to reminisce over the past week of photos and happenings

 to reflect and share the simple blessings you experienced. I enjoyed it so much, and encourage you to do the same!  Happy Friday, Gals! 

 

Sweet Big Brothers

who look after little brothers and make sure they are supplied fun stories

Silly Pajama Monsters

That won't eat you up but might cuddle you silly!

A natural love of reading.

Will had gone to the library at school

and brought home a new Star Wars book.

He couldn't get enough and ended up reading half the book in one afternoon.

Warriors

with a spirit to take on the world

They remind me of the boys in "Will, the Mighty Warrior"

ImageCredit

 

Gifts full of love for a day dedicated to show love.

Loving 3 little sets of hand prints, melts my heart!

Kind hearts and curious minds.

A new fish always makes it OK to sit on the counter top all day!

His name is B.O. , not what you think..it's actually short for Black & Orange.

Makes me giggle every time I hear it.

4 days later, he still loves to sit and watch his fish.

Where did you find Joy this week? Leave a comment below and them make sure to jump over and link up with Finding Joy!

Science Fair Project: Skittle Color Count

A few weekends ago, William worked his little heart out on a Science Fair Project for school.  We were so proud of him! He worked so hard, and that hard work paid off.  He ended up placing 3rd!! Great Job William!!


Project Run Down:  

Does each bag of skittles contain the same amount of each color?

William's Little Helper! 

 (Always wear your safety Goggles when doing Science!)

William Counted and Recorded stats on 10 bags of skittles. And through it realized that not only does each bag of skittles not contain the same number of each color, but it also does not contain the same amount of overall skittles.  (Hmmmm....  are we getting jipped on skittles?) :)  Note: There is usually most red skittles and least green skittles in a bag.  (It would work that way... Green is my favorite!)

Do your kids participate in School Science Fair?  What were your project topics?

Halloween Fun!

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween Night.  Our neighborhood was crawling with cutie pies and spooky creatures last week.  It was fun to get out meet a few more neighbors, run into some sweet friends, and watch the excitement in each of our kids as they went from house to house visiting and hoping for some sweet treats. 

 We have a fun tradition on Halloween.  After the bags are full and we have had our fair share of trick or treating, we head home to dump out all the fun goodies.  After Michael and I look over everything, we let the kids loose.  They have 15-20 minutes to indulge in any treats they want.  I know most of you are thinking, "Seriously! you let your kids eat pure sugar for 20 minutes!"  but hear me out!   I will say for the 3 years we have done this the most candy eaten has been 5 packages.. Honestly, that's not even a full sized candy bar.  Last year, William chose A Piece of Gum... yes for 20 minutes and out of all that sugar, he chose one piece of gum... Anyways, afterwards, the boys choose their 5 favorite pieces of candy to eat later, and the rest of it gets sent to work with Michael. He sets it on the counter for customers and co-workers. He usually brings the basket home a week later empty.  That's right no more candy to loom over, and non thrown out... it is a win-win situation!  What do you do with all that candy?

Here are our sweet boys ready for Trick or Treating!

 The ZooKeeper

 Anakin Skywalker!  (Great job on the costume mom!!)

Superman!

 Ready, Set, EAT!!!

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!! What did you do?

Wordful Wednesday

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.
Psalm 119:110-112

William Started School!!

 That's right! The oldest of the Caldwell Brothers started school!  We chose to homeschool during kindergartin, and loved every minute of it!  But this year we felt school was the way to go. God has totally answered our prayers with his school, class, teacher, and friends.  He is thriving and loves everything about it, and frankly so do I! 


Will's First Day of School!



William totally thrives on a routine, something my homeschooling schedule didn't provide as much.  His favorites are PE, Music, Library, Recess, and the Cafeteria.  His favorite subject is reading, and he is doing great!  I'm so excited to see what this year has in store for him, and for our family. He is already learning some really big lessons, on being true to who he is, responsibility, and what it means to be a friend and a brother.

 

The Brothers, ready to take Will to School!

I know every parent feels this way, but I know God has big plans for William.  I pray that God will continue to teach him lessons,to prepare him for his purpose in life. I also pray that He will give us the ability and wisdom to give Christian guidance to our sweet boy.  We are so blessed to have such a wonderful boy!

Disaster Averted!

Yesterday, William decided he wanted to make everyone breakfast, toast with Nutella. I love that he likes to do these little tasks, and gets great joy by serving others.
As I walked into the kitchen this morning this was the conversation....
William: "Mom, can you open the Nutella for me?"
Seeing everything out, toaster, stack of bread, knife, and nutella... I said, "William, I thought you were going to toast the bread."
William: "I am, I just need to get the nutella open."
At that moment I realized exactly what William was asking me to do... Open the Nutella, so he could put it on the soft fresh bread, and then stick it in the toaster... YIKES!
William's how-to was a bit different than mine; I quickly thanked the Lord that I caught this, and redirected William to use the toaster first and the Nutella second. Such a small choice that would have had a much different outcome. A messy & broken outcome, which would have left William feeling disappointed.

As I was thinking about this a little later, I started to realize how truthful this fact is. Order is so important, but so many times,  we try to rush ahead and do things on our own timetable. Fortunately, We have a Heavenly Father who knows we will mess up, and even allows us to mess up, and learn from our mistakes.  However, we also have a heavenly father that gives us instruction so we don't have to experience those disappointments.
I am glad William chose to listen to my guidance that morning and follow a more direct, safe choice to have breakfast.  Unfortunately, too often I find myself at the crossroads of a decision, and not heeding the warning I force myself to learn the hard way, through frustration and disappointment. Thankfully we have a God that also extends his hand of Grace and Mercy to us through out own selfishness and ignorance.
Proverbs 1: 8-9
^8-9 Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you;
   never forget what you learned at your mother's knee.
Wear their counsel like flowers in your hair,
   like rings on your fingers.


Thank you Father for your Guidance, Love, and Protection.  Thank you for helping us avert disasters as we walk through life as your children,

William meets the Webcam

So about a month ago, we purchased a new laptop. And well it had been a while since we had upgraded, so the perks on this computer are great.  While messing around with it one night, Michael showed William the webcam and well this is what we got to see!  We have laughed at this video so many times... hope it brings a smile to your day too!!

Top Book Series for Beginner Readers

William, 18 mths. With his 2 favs. Blankie and Book!

One of our favorite past times in the summer is reading.  I mean it is too hot in the middle of the days to go out, and video games and movies are only allowed sometimes. Plus, William has always had a love for books. From a very early age, he has spent hours browsing through books, studying the pictures, and studying each bend on each letter written.  Recently, his ability to read has blossomed into something amazing and he can't get enough reading, but he tends to gravitate towards super hero comic books.  While I don't see anything with reading age appropriate comic books, I do want him to read books, actual books. Books that have more than 2 sentences to a page. Books that will challenge him, but not lose his attention. 

 So after some searches online, asking around to some of my homeschooling friends and local children's librarian, here are some series I have found and had some success with.  I know this not a complete list by any means, so please feel free to add in the comments!  Happy Summer Reading!

Magic Tree House Series  Mary Pope Osborne (Our New Favorite!!!)

Frog and Toad  Arnold Lobel

Amelia Bedelia Peggy Parish

Curious George H.A. Rey

Henry and Mudge Series Cynthia Rylant

Aesop for Children Aesop

Just So Stories Rudyard Kipling

The Big Blue Book of Beginner Books Dr. Seuss

Torque series Jack David
The Boxcar Children Gertrude Chandler Wagner (advanced)

Sign of the Times

I like technology, I mean... come on, their are so many things that come much quicker due to technology. Email, Direct Deposits, Music, Information... I mean you can sneeze and because of social media and sites like blogger,twitter, and facebook anyone and everyone has the ability to know within seconds afterwards.  I love the ease of being able to share and store stories and memories of our life, and connect with people I would have otherwise never met. 
But... sometimes I step back and go old school on myself.  Thinking about the days I spent as a kid, running around in pastures, playing with the baby calves in my grandfathers barn, and helping my brother track numerous animals in the pipes on our sod farm.  We didn't own an Atari or a Nintendo like some of our friends, nor did we have cable. I remember the day my dad brought home our first VHS player. The Internet wasn't around our home at that time, and computers where still a huge luxury. 
My children will never know a time like that.  My six year old already knows how to send and receive emails.  My four year old is a pro at using a laptop mouse pad, and my two year old maneuvers an IPhone/IPad like a pro!  Netflix is the new VHS, and computers are now a necessity. Instantaneous results are now an expectation... hm mm it defiantly has it's benefits, but I do miss those days.
I know I'm talking like I'm 80 years old... but... well it's my blog so I can! :) Ha!

Not long ago, William and I were in a public restroom. He had just come out of the stall and went to wash his hands. He turned on the water, placed his hands under the soap dispenser and .... waited.  Then he shook his hand a little and ... waited.  Annoyed he looked at me and then back at the soap dispenser. At that moment, it hit me, he was waiting for the dispenser to automatically shoot a bit of soap onto his hand.  I looked at him and said, "Babe, you have to push the button."  It then occurred to him that maybe the dispenser wasn't broken, it was just, "old"...  HA HA!  I got a good laugh out of it, but it is such a sign of the times.

By the way... I just ran spell check and it caught terms like, Netflix, IPhone, IPad, and Facebook... I guess my spell check needs to get with the times also! :)

Musings from a Mother of Boys: The one about the Frog.

Oh, to have boys...

I know many of you are in the same boat with me, as a mother of only boys, and boys close in age at that you probably hear comments like this all the time,

With a sad tone "You poor thing. Only Boys?"... "Girls, are so much fun... but boys?"..."Don't you wish one of them were a little girl?"

Come on people? Really?!? You do know my sweet, lovely, energetic, feisty, boys are standing right here! Listening to every horrible inflection in your comment! But, I'm not writing this post to tell you all the "stupid" things that people say, but instead to tell you what an awesome privilege I have to be a mother of only boys, and the fun we have as a "warrior" family. A family of wrestling and rescuing; of laughing and loving; and of competition and compassion.

Today, I want to share one snipet of what it is like to be a Mother of Boys.
 About a month ago, the boys began to find small frogs, about the size of pecans, in our dogs outdoor water dish.  They had obviously gotten stuck in there and were near dead each time. But to no avail my warriors, especially Cade; were all about rescuing the frogs. I mean they were as far as the brothers were concerned "still moving", a little anyways.
First a proper home must be made.  An old leggs pantyhose egg, left out from Easter decor, did the trick.  It was clear on one side  for proper frog viewing, had a small hole for air, always important, and fit nicely into a four year olds hands. After a bit of grass for a bed and a small black beetle, for food or company I'm not sure which, were placed inside the frog was scooted in and the egg was closed. 
The frog was then a member of our family for the next couple of days.  It traveled to the grocery store, our daily walking at the park, the dinner table. You name it the frog, cozy in his egg, was there.
 Let me remind you... this frog was on his death bed when we found him, and more than likely dead 5 minutes after being placed in the egg, but never the less when you shake something enough, no matter how dead it is... it will move or at least slide around. So, Cade was convinced it was still alive. After about 5 days the frog and his egg were forgotten about, and I hadn't thought much about it until....

About a week ago, I sent the boys to clean up their room. In the midst of the noise and disaster, Cade(4years) brought me a treasure he had found in the toys.

I'm not going to grace you all with a picture of this life event, and I know some of you will be grossed out, some will be absolutely disgusted, but for those of you who know our family... well you are probably going to laugh at the complete understand that this is a fairly common event in my home! Cade found the frog! The Legg's Egg had busted open releasing the stiff, dried, skin covered skeleton of a frog from his withered grassy bed.  Cade broght it to me, with a huge smile on his face and said, "Look mom, it's my frog!"  To which with one look said, "Awesome babe, take it to your Daddy!"  I found it laying on my computer the next morning... thanks honey! But that's how we roll in a family full of boys and I love every minute of it.

I would like to wrap this post up by dedicating it to all the frogs, carpet snakes, tadpoles, stink bugs, and anything else that crawls, hops, squirms, or wiggles...past, present, and future. Thank you for the memories! The joy you bring into our lives is clear by the smile that crosses their sweet faces even when you are just a memory.

Awana's Pine Wood Durby

As the school year comes to an end, and sping is knocking on summer's door; I began to look back at what Kindergarten brought to our home and this is one event I apparently overlooked in our memory book/blog.  Back in oh let's say November... yes it's been that long. William and Cade participated in the Pinewood Durby through a local Awana's program.

Michael, William, and Cade all worked together to create the hottest race cars around.
Cade chose blue (left) and William chose red (Middle).  On your mark, get set, GO!!

AND THE WINNER IS....

WILLIAM!!! IN 1st PLACE FOR SPEED

CADE!!! IN 2nd PLACE FOR DESIGN

We are so proud of our little racers! Great Job boys!!

Poor Brennan, had to stay in the stroller the entire time, b/c he couldn't leave the cars alone... Poor guy!  He didn't feel like much of a winner, and made sure everyone around knew it! 

Williams Comic Books:

(William, 6 years old, wants to be a comic book illustrator and writer when he grows up. He practices drawing/tracing/copying his favorite comic characters and stories daily. William used his Fisher-Price camera, took pictures of his drawings, and asked me to download them on here for everyone to see.  He then gave me all the dialog of the comic... so I'm not promising grammer or typing perfection... enjoy everyone! This is all William! )

Transformers: Animated Volume 8, Return of Guard

Written by: William Luke Caldwell
Illustrated by: William Luke Caldwell

This is a big clean up job. Even for big guys like us. "Hey, where is Bumble Bee?", said Bunkhead. "Isn't he supposed to be helping too?", asked Optimus Prime.

 Elsewhere at Sumdak Tower. "Isn't it time that you just do something?" says Dr. Sumdak. "Why is the point that your dad is missing?". "No he's my dad and if I were missing he would do the same thing for me", Said Sari.

 "Ok boss lady. but you might want to take a look at this." says Bumble Bee.  "Hold my calls, I need a break." says Sari.

 "Did you guys see that?" says Prowl. "It's kind of hard to miss," says Ratchet. "Autobots transform and roll out", says Optimus Prime.

 The Autobots race to downtown detour. VROOM!

 The ship crashes in the park. "Robots!?  why does it have to be robots?" says the army captain.

 "No captain. Make your men stand down.  Let us handle this" says Optimus Prime. The main hatchet opens at the bottom of the ship.

 The Autobots line up to meet their commander come off the ship. Ultra Magnus, Centinal Prime, and Jazz all come out of the ship. "Jazz, put a force field around the ship to protect it from the humans." said Ultra Magnus.

 "Commander, we have just started cleaning up after battling Megatron and the Decepticons", said Optimus Prime.

 "Come on Bumble Bee", Says Bulkhead. They get closer to the ship before Jazz cuts them off with the force field.

 Somewhere deep, close to the river. "And so I will sneak attack cyberton" says Megatron. "What do you need me for Megatron, I'm a bounty hunter, not a mercenary fighter," says Lockdown. "I've got quite a bounty for you, Lockdown. I need you to capture one of the Autobots' space bridges." says Megatron.

"Now you are talking my programming language, Lockdown out".  Back at the Auto bots secret headquarters, Since someone took sari's home away, the Auto bots let her live in the secret headquarters with them.

After that the Auto bots went back to the meeting of the all spark. "What the all spark is destroyed?!?", Ultra Magnus, Centinel Prime, and Jazz yell together.

"Not completely destroyed, just part of his energy was destroyed,"says Optimus Prime. "Why don't you stand up for yourself big guy?"says Bulkhead. "Because he knows his place." says Centinal Prime.  "How about I put you in your place?" says Bulkhead. 

"Why do we hide here like mole rats?" says Lug nut.  There is a sound patrol machine so we don't have to worry about the Auto bots, "says Mega tron.

"That sounds crazy, even to me!" says the guy that is two vehicles.

That night, the Auto bots search for the new Decepticon, but it isn't a Decepticon it's a robot body with a human controlling it. "Well, I felt that. It hurt!" says Centinal Prime. "I wasn't trying to tear apart your body, I was trying to keep your body from putting the shield spikes in my face." says Optimus Prime.

A few minutes later... In the Auto bots secret headquarters. "Arn't you  guys tearing stuff up?" says Prowl. "No, we are trying to make Sari happy, but on accident we are not trying to make stuff worse, but we are." says Bumble Bee.

Optimus Prime, beats the headmasters robot and hits him in the head with the battle ax.

THE END!