Jessica's Science Project - 2010

For her project Jessica turned on an off different electrical outlets from an iPod Touch. She set up the web server, created the web page, connected the AJAX code to a serial proxy, build an "Arduino" microcontroller, and programmed, it, and connected a custom circuit in a power strip that allowed for optically isolated control of four different power outlets. We had a lot of fun. Here she is at the State science fair with her project.

Science Fair 2010 - First Place!

Melissa and Jessica both won first place in the state science fair!

Fish Kiss

Noah was pretending to sail
Deborah said to him "I think you are a fish."
Noah: "No, I am not a fish; I am a person."
Deborah: "If you move your lips like this you can be a fish."
Noah: "That's not when I'm a fish. thats when I'm kissing too much."

Wonder who did that...

Deborah: "Noah, don't take your pull up off."

Noah: "But I need a new one."

Deborah "Why?"

Noah: "Cause somebody peed in that one last night!"

Hmmm...wonder who did that....

The Problem Is...

Quote from Seth: "Mommy, the problem is, Noah wants to do evewysing his way, and I wasnt to to evewysing my way!"

A Sucker for a Kiss

Deborah opened a sucker for Noah, and he gave her a kiss
Deborah: "You don't love me, do you?"

Noah: "I do love you, cause you opened it!"

Deborah: "Would you love me even if I didn't open it?"

Noah: "No!"

Apparently his love is quite conditional

Looking back seven months...

This isn't my usual lighthearted post of funny things the kids say, so please forgive me a few minutes of nostalgia. Thanks for letting me share with you.

This weekend I cleaned out my laptop case. It contained my copy of the pediatrician's notes from when Soph was born. Just a few excerpts:

"6/15/09 15:00 hrs. Mom scheduled for induction today. Cord prolapse noted by exam and fetal heartbeat in 60 bpm prior to c/s. From detection of cord prolapse to delivery is estimated 10/12 min. Mom +lupus anticoagulant &GBS & GD. Apgar @ 1,5,10,15 (minutes) is 0,2,6,&8. Chest compressions during first two minutes. PAP firs 10-15 minutes. CPAP currently as well..."

"Addendum, 16:45: spoke with both parents about possibility of ischemic encephalopathy (brain damage from lack of oxygen) because of prolapse cord for 10-15 min. duration. Spoke about signs and symptoms of ischemic encephalopathy and its consequences both short term and long term. Spoke about different levels of severity...."

I read through these notes as I watched my seven month old do an army crawl across the floor and squeal in delight. In the few days since, she has cut her first tooth, started sitting up on her own, and pulled herself to standing. My sweet baby who started life with an apgar score that was literally a 0: no breathing, no heartbeat, just went down for her morning nap.

Not everything in my life has turned out perfectly. But today I am remembering that miracles do happen, and I will forever be grateful for this one.

Hyrum's version of Jolly St. Nick

Our kids take what I would call "string quartet" lessons. Each is learning to play a stringed instrument. One of the Christmas songs they have been learning is "Jolly Old St. Nicholas." Hyrum decided to sing it the other day:

"Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Clean your ears this way..."

Apparently music is the best way to teach appropriate hygiene to elves and such...

Are These Waterproof?

Seth was using some rubber vehicles for sorting and counting.
Sophia is trying to help by sucking on them.
Seth: Mom, are these waterproof? Cause she licks things.

Feeding Sophia

Sophia likes sweet potatoes but is very messy with them

She thinks she should be in charge of the spoon.
I beg to differ.

and feeding her is like trying to hit a moving target

What is Today?

Noah: "Dad, what is today?"
Dad: "Today is Monday."
Noah: "No, that's not it. Mom, what is today?"
Mom: "Today is Monday."
Noah: "No, today isn't 'Monday', today is tomorrow."

Seth quote: "If you ever see a real kangaroo, don't go by it. 'Cause he might have some cereal that he stole from someone."

A Creative Approach

Seth is a confessed chocoholic. If he could, he would have chocolate for every meal of the day. I bought some mini peanut butter cups to use as incentives for potty training Noah, and Seth knew of their location.

He came into the office and saw me sitting close to the hiding place. Knowing he couldn't get one without my knowledge, he decided that he had better get more creative. "Mommy," he asked, "Can I have three of those so I can practice my juggling?"

I never knew that Seth juggled, and I am pretty sure that the only place he throws anything chocolate is into his mouth!

Premature Punishment

Seth comes in with a broken toy sword.  Deborah asks whose it was and he replies: “Hyrum's.”

Deborah tells him, “Hyrum isn't going to be very happy when he finds out.”

Seth replies, “Yeah, he'll kill me. Mom, will you get Hyrum in trouble?"

Deborah asks, "What for?  You are the one who broke his sword."

He said, "Well, he was the one about to kill me!"

So we are hypothetically punishing Hyrum before the fact...

The Ivie Clan