Starbase Atlantis

Silly Guy participated in the Starbase Atlantis program last week.  It is a free program funded by the DOD open to all students entering or graduating 5th grade.  The program is 4 days of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  The week is full of hands on Science experiments and instruction.  Some highlights from his week...designed his own space station, built and launched a model rocket, and simulated a flight where he had to take off from Ford Island, Pearl Harbor Naval Station and land safely at Hickam Air Force Base.  He also went on a few field trips to various places around base.  He was completly exhausted by the end of a 7 hour day but always excited to tell me about all of the fun things he had did at Starbase. To find out if this program is offered near you check out their website Starbase  .  Also on the website they offer some links to various science websites shared under the link tab.  Check it out!

In this picture is his group, Endeavor, graduating.

A picture of him preparing to launch his rocket.

Chinatown

We took a stroll in Chinatown the other day.  On this trip I remembered to bring my camera. 
My husband loves to go down there to buy our veggies and seafood.  The prices are usually better than the grocery store and everything is fresh.  The color of the fruits and vegetables are so beautiful and bright.  Not to mention the flowers;  unique, fresh, and relatively inexpensive.  The aroma of the lei shops alone is worth the trip.  Everytime we take a visit I have to bring home a bundle of fresh flowers to brighten up the house.
Here are my pictures from Chinatown....

I want to go home with you!
In this picture, I thought the robins-egg door in the background was just the perfect contrast for the red and green. 

Mangos, Papaya, and Lychee...oh my!

I had to take some of these beauties home too! Red Ginger is one of my favorites here in Hawaii. 

In this picture...again the contrast of the red/pink and green against the blue + charm(the baskets hanging in the doorway). 

The 50th State Fair

For Little Man's birthday we took him to The 50th State Fair.  We had a great day playing, riding rides, eating cotton candy, petting zoo, and a piggy race.  The last time we went to the fair Little Man was too small to ride.  He had such a great time and wanted to go again and again.

This is the piggy race.  So cute!

Here is Little man and my hubby on the race cars.

Silly guy is not one for rides.  His face in this picture cracks me up.  It truly expresses his feelings towards rides. 

Little man on the boats.

Sweet girl LOVES rides. 

She got on this ride which flipped her upside down about 50 feet from the ground. 

My 3 kiddos on the big slide.

Little Man is 3!!

Our Little Man turned 3 years old!  I can't believe he is 3 already.  This little boy was patiently waiting for a long time for his birthday.  The older kids told him a few months before his birthday was coming.  So he would always ask,"Is it my birthday?"  When the day finally came we had a blast celebrating his birth.  By his request I made him a Buzz Lightyear cake. Happy Birthday to you Little Man!! 

"It is time to give this cake a try.  Hmmm, let's see if I can fit it in..."

"Yup, got it in there.  Taste good!"

"Yay, it's my birthday!"

Mountain Countries Notebook

I created a Mountain Notebook for Silly guy's History/Geography study "Mountain Countries."  The notebook has 24 pages covering countries such as;  Peru(The Andes), Nepal(The Himalayas), and Switzerland(The Alps).  I have uploaded the file to my page at HSlaunch.  Feel free to grab a copy of The Mountain Countries Notebook .

 Our maps were included in our study but you can find some great maps by googling. 

I did want to share this neat video clip I found on Watch Know .  It was like a little virtual field trip:)

A summary from the Watch Know video:  "National Geographic presents a short video on the physical geography, the ancient capital city of Cusco, and the Inca Trail. There is a visit to Machu Pichu and its amazing stonework is shown with explanation of some of its special characteristics. The mystery of drawings carved into the flat, dry plains visible only from the air is mentioned. Headwaters of the Amazon and the rain forest are also shown."  

Also, some great ficitional reading we enjoyed with our study:

Secret of the Andes by: Ann Nolan Clark

 and

Heidi by: Johanna Spyri

Here are a couple of the notebook pages(below).  Have fun!

 

Kaniakapupu: The singing of the land shells

After our hike up the Judd Trail, we drove about 1/4 mile further down the road to find this jewel. 

It is the ruins of King Kamehameha III's summer palace. 

We had to hike down a short trail to find it.  It was built in 1845 and was a place for the King to entertain and to meet with the chiefs.  The biggest event held here was a luau attended by about 10,000 celebrating Hawaii's Restoration Day in 1847.

This was a stone pathway in front of the summer palace. When we got home I googled the palace and found this website Kaniakapupu .  Click on the name to learn more about this historic place on Oahu.

Some pretty flowers along the road.

Hiking the Judd Trail

Today we packed everyone up in the van and went seeking the Judd Trail. 

We went up this winding road which was breath taking.

We got out of the car and walked down to a trail.  We weren't sure which way to go but the trail followed along this stream.  We walked down and there was a small waterfall.  Little man just loves waterfalls. 

After enjoying the waterfall we continued down the trail.  It wasn't marked so we walked on and came to a dead end.  Where we just hung out for a while and played in the stream.

Then we back tracked and spotted the trail across the stream. 

We were so excited to find the trail sign.  The trail ends at a pool where I read is a great picnic spot. 

With three choices we choose this way...

My husband giving me a smile:)

We walked up the path for a ways and Little man was beginning to tire.  He decided this tree looked like a good place to rest.

Then we reached this forest where there was a wonderful cool breeze.  Singing birds surrounded us.  It was so peaceful.  The kids wanted to pitch a tent right there and stay.  At this point Little man was pretty tired so we decided this forest would be our picnic spot. 

Although we didn't make it to the pool it was enjoyable for the whole family.  We hope to do this hike again before we leave Hawaii.

Zucchini, Cherry Tomato, and Fresh Ricotta Pasta

This recipe came from Cooking Light magazine. It was delicious and with all of those veggies you can't go wrong.  When I first told my husband what we were going to be eating for dinner he said,"Where's the meat?"  After we finished eating we both agreed there was no need for meat. 

Ingredients:

• 3 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 3 1/2 tsp sal, divided
• 6 quarts water
• 8 ounces uncooked fettucine
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 tablespoons small mint leaves

1. Combine milk and buttermilk in a small heavy saucepan over medium high heat;  bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat;  drain.  Place milk solids in a small bowl;  sprinkle with 1/8 tsp salt.  Toss gently to combine.
2. Bring 6 quarts water to a boil in a large Dutch oven.  Stir in 1 tablespoon salt and pasta;  cook 7 minutes or until al dente.  Drain.
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add oil to pan;  swirl to coat.  Add zucchini;  saute 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper, and garlic;  saute 2 minutes, stirring frequently;  stir in tomatoes.  Combine remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, pasta, and tomato mixture in a large bowl;  toss.  Top with ricotta and mint. 

Sundried Tomato and Fennel Chicken Sub

I have to say not having such a full schedule has given me back the opportunity to cook yummy food (something other than crockpot)for my family again.  I love to cook especially when I get to be a tad bit creative in the kitchen. 

Ingredients for chicken marinade:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp Mrs. Dash Tomato, Basil, Garlic seasoning
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 4 sundried tomato halves-chopped

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray
• 1 1/2 cups sliced onion
• 1 cup thinly sliced fennel bulb
• 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
• 1 lb chicken breast- sliced thin
• sub rolls
• 1/2 cup tomato basil pasta sauce
• provolone cheese

1. First mix all of your ingredients for the marinade and pour into a ziploc bag.  After cutting the chicken into thin slices and add to marinade.  I would allow it to marinade for about 20-30 minutes. 
2. Once the chicken is marinaded take out of the bag and throw marinade away.
3. Preheat a skillet over medium high heat.  Coat the pan with cooking spray.  Cook the chicken until brown.  Once the chicken is cooked remove and set aside.
4. Coat pan again and add onion, fennel, and garlic;  saute for about 4 minutes.  Add the chicken and saute for about 3 more minutes or until vegetables begin to brown.
5. Lay the rolls cut side up on a baking sheet and broil until toasted. 
6. Spooon chicken mixture into each roll and top each with 2 tablespoons of sauce. 
7. Cut provolone cheese in half and place on top of each sandwich.
8. Arrange on baking sheet and broil until cheese melts.

Far Out Solar System

The last time Silly guy studied the Solar System was a couple of years ago.  There is just something about space that is facinating everytime we study it.  He made this Solar System model last week and was so proud and wanted me to share it on the family blog. 

The Start of Human Anatomy-Cells

Sweet girl has started studying the long awaited Human Body.  She has been anxiously waiting for this study.  While learning about cells, one of the experiments was to scrape the inside of her cheek and look at what we found under the microscope. 

She refused to scrape her own cheek but luckily she had a ready and waiting brother.  Here is what we saw... a cell (circle object-black on the outside).  Pretty neat! 

A Bouquet for You...Happy Mother's Day

“The most important thing she’d learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” -writer Jill Churchill

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother." - Lin Yutang

"Making the decision to have a child-it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." -Elizabeth Stone

"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom." - Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." - Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love. ~Mildred B. Vermont

The best conversations with mothers always take place in silence, when only the heart speaks. -Carrie Latet

That best academy, a mother's knee. -James Russell Lowell