Jack and Cate Update -- December, 2008

Sunday, December 7, 2008

This doesn't relate to science projects or school awards, but we belatedly stumbled upon this bit of election analysis Jack created last month. His assertion that neither Obama nor McCain are "not mean or crazy" may be difficult to defend, but it looks really good other than that.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

All second graders are required to complete a Science Fair Project. This year, Cate tested whether people can taste the difference between Dallas tap water and bottled water. To add a bit of sorely needed drama and suspense to the website, I won't give away her findings here. You'll have to read them in the subsequent photographs.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Given the drama and suspense is now sufficiently intense, I'll tell you the answer. Eight out of eleven people could successfully differentiate between the bottled water from the tap water. In fact, the only three people who couldn't tell the difference were in our immediate family: Cate, Jack, and Lisa.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

You've already seen the science project, but (doggone it) this sure is a cute photo of Cate...

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Jack's science project was a little more high-tech (or at least carried a significant probability that someone would receive an intense electrical shock). He tested different light bulbs -- incandescents and CFLs -- to see which would evaporate a pan of water faster. Demonstrating that watching hundreds of Mythbusters episodes is finally paying off, Jack also insisted on having a control pan which wasn't exposed to either bulb.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

His experiment proved that incandescent bulbs burn much hotter and evaporate the water much more quickly. He also proved that science and gang-signs do mix.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

By happy coincidence, this quarter's Super Stallions were announced the same day as the Science Fair, and Cate was one of the honorees.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Every Super Stallion's name is read during morning announcements (parents, but not students, are informed in advance), and then they have a brief ceremony in the auditorium. Cate was understandably proud.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

On the same day Cate was named a Super Stallion, Jack took third place (out of 120 second-graders) in the science fair. Jack was so overcome with pride that he forgot to wash his face after dinner.

Friday, December 12, 2008

The kids took a field trip to the Dallas Zoo. Neither Lisa nor I could make it, but Ann King was nice enough to send this photo. We were assured that Jack was a perfect angel for the entire taking of this photo.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Rachael, a colleague of mine from Fuego, retained Lisa to help decorate her daughter's room, and the rest of us tagged along to spend an afternoon in the country. Sitting on a fence: check. Wearing a pair of comfortable old jeans: check. Sporting a checked flannel shirt: check. Jack's officially a country boy.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Cate was most excited to see their three horses (which I cleverly forgot to photograph). Unfortunately, they had their full winter coats and Rachael couldn't saddle them. Cate still enjoyed feeding them some carrots.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Rachael's husband, Darrell, grows hay on their 75 acres, and he was kind enough to spend the afternoon showing us the ropes.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Darrell must have had 150 round hay bales in the first barn, and he helped the kids climb to the top (or as close as they were willing to go). Jack was content to go a couple of levels high, but Cate went all the way to the top where she risked bumping into the rafters. At this point, I should probably mention that I've always suffered from debilitating and darn-near life-threatening hay fever (but I wouldn't ever stoop to complain about it). By the next day, I had a not unexpected case of hay fever-related asthma, so I took one of Cate's breathing treatments. I may outweigh her by three times, but I was jumpy and buzzing for two hours -- I honestly don't know how Cate does it, especially when she takes a treatment in the middle of the night. She's obviously inherited my super-human capacity for withstanding illnesses and their associated medical treatments.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

We also toured a second barn full of square bales. Perfect, more hay. On the way home from Rachael and Darrell's, Jack chose the music. I wasn't sure if I should be proud or concerned. By the end of the month, it was repeatedly selected just because they knew it was getting on Lisa's nerves. It's concern; definitely concern.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Because of its excessive drinking problem, we gave our Christmas photo the year off in 2007, but it was back at it again in 2008. We only took 37 photos before everyone's patience wore thin and we cheerfully selected the least unacceptable photo. We started with a few portrait-style photos, but we weren't happy with any of them, especially those where Cate was raising her hand. Trying to get a smile out of everyone, I might have asked who was excited about Christmas, but it's clearly (clearly) not my fault when the kids respond in this way.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Lisa with the stares, Jack with neatly combed hair, and me with the flash reflecting off my glasses. Rejected.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Unquestionably, we couldn't do better than this. We have a winner. I should provide photo credits as well. Cole from across the street took all 37 photos for us. He's also six years old, so I find his rates quite reasonable.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

The boys were playing with Legos following the photoshoot, and Jack wanted a shot of one of his men. Mission accomplished.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Jack and his best-bud (and our favorite Christmas photographer), Cole.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Jack prefers to wear his Cowboys lid Romo-style.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

And this was the precise moment we knew that Cole had gone nanners.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Will Price celebrated his birthday on Saturday afternoon, and it's not really a birthday party unless you have: a face painter, an enormous inflatable slide, hula-hoop races, a bonfire, two pi–atas, a popcorn machine, cake, egg races, beer, and a bonfire. We were especially grateful for the bonfire -- it was a beautiful 70° afternoon when we arrived, but it was probably in the upper 40s when we left at 6 PM.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Will's Mom, Sharon, is also Cate's riding instructor, so Cate was quick (and proud) to introduce her girlfriends -- including Katherine -- to all the horses.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Cate and the aforementioned horses. Most of the party took place in their pastures.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Jack and his best-bud, Evan Daane, raise the roof on this party!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Jack and his best-bud, Evan Daane, hold the roof down on this party! Or something. Frankly, I'm very confused and slightly concerned about this.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Evan and Jack are just a coupla gangstas.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

A coupla gangstas with popcorn and juice boxes chillin' it playhouse style...

Friday, December 12, 2008

When Cate read Grandma Irene's Christmas letter, she cried for a long time. We all miss Grandpa Dick.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Other years, we've gone on a Christmas carriage ride with the Chabrias, but we waited too long and everything was booked. Instead, we boarded an SUV and toured the M Streets and surrounding neighborhoods looking for Christmas lights. Afterwards, we all shared dessert at Simply Fondue.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Actually, we were a bit cagey about exactly where we were taking them for dessert. Kelli insisted we were going to "Tomato World." Cate's holding up some new-fangled ball that opens to reveal some doohickey inside -- apparently, it's what all the young people are doing these days, consarnit.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

I offered my suggestion for dessert as well: Carl's Green Bean Cavern. You know, it's both delicious and nutritious. Jack. Doohickey. Consarnit.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Josh was there as well. Doe-eyes sans ball-concealing thingamajig.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

We all enjoyed some rich chocolate fondue for dessert. She's using sharpened skewers that my parents would never have entrusted to me at her age. Who's got more sense?

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

What was once a yearly custom has become an annual tradition: baking cookies for Santa Claus. Eschewing your run-of-the-mill candy cane, Jack goes for the initial-inspired "J." Well, kinda sorta.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The kids were careful to apportion the frosting correctly -- one part on the cookies, one part taste-tested.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Cole helped this year. Can't you just feel the Christmas Spirit bursting from him?

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Cate loves to help in the kitchen and is becoming a good (especially breakfast) cook.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Jack let me take one gang-sign-free photo before he was back to his old tricks. I honestly thought a little zooming and cropping could avoid the gang sign, but I learned poorly framing the shot can be even more offensive. I'm sorry you had to see this, and I feel simply awful about the whole affair.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Along with their cookies, the kids left these notes for Santa. Frankly, their not above trying to curry favor with Saint Nick.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

On Christmas Eve, we went to the 5 PM Family Service and then went to our house for dinner. Actually, it wasn't so much dinner as a dozen appetizers, and this worked just fine for me. It also suited the kids just fine because it meant we could open presents while we nibbled.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

In previous years, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's home to celebrate Christmas Eve. Since it was our first Christmas without Grandpa Dick, I think we all appreciated changing our routine a bit.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

With Christmas presents in their immediate future and a visit from Santa scheduled for the next day, the kids were on their best (and happiest) behavior. They happily posed for photos whenever I asked.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Star Wars stuff for Jack: good call. Dog stuff for Cate: wise choice (but PETA will blow a gasket when they see we're stuffing dogs in a tube). The kids had a banner year. Lisa and I gave them a trampoline (that they had cleverly not noticed when its refrigerator-sized box was delivered earlier in the day), and Grandma Irene gave them a Wii. All I got was Wii Tennis Elbow.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

On Christmas Day, Grandma Irene hosted us and the Chabrias at her house, and I found Cate playing with the nativity scene. As always, it seems strange not to have my Dad there.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

I sometimes miss snow at Christmas, but it's hard to argue with 1) temperatures near 70° and 2) kids burning excess energy outside. Josh Chabria shows us how it's done.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Jack demonstrates the balletic grace of the scooter bunny hop. I demonstrate the poor timing and framing of a parental photographer. I guess I should be grateful -- things could be worse.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

The three wise amigos.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Yesterday, I found Jack assiduously constructing a ramp on the back porch.