Science!

We have had a busy week.  Ruth enjoyed going to a youth night on Friday to play games.  I am glad that she can enjoy being with other kids from the ward.  Saturday morning we went to the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History.  Neal had gone to the museum a few weeks ago with a group from work.  He wanted to show it to us.  We got there and found out it was a special event for the kids that day.  They were doing a STEM activity day (science, technology, engineering and math).  They had many tables set up with activities and things to do.  They kids had so much fun trying different things out.  We also got to go to special presentations.  Ruth, Caleb and I went to a demonstration on liquid nitrogen.  They made ice cream with it and all got a taste of it.  Neal, Andrew and Spencer went to a demonstration of tesla coils where they played music with them.  It was all cool and interesting.  We went outside and looked at all the old missiles and air planes.  I enjoyed reading things about the history of nuclear science starting just before WWII.  Out front the last thing we looked at as we were leaving was information on the sun and solar power.  They had some things set up to look at the different gases on the sun.  I am glad that we happened on this special activity.  It made the museum much more interesting for the children.  We stayed for five hours!

 I just took pictures outside.  Inside was a bit crowded and my arms were full of coats!

Just a few things that we have enjoyed this week.  Andrew has been trying hard to figure out how to solve a Rubics cube.  He has been watching videos from their website and playing around with the cubes we have.  Spencer earned a free Pizza Hut pizza for reading and we went and got it for him yesterday.  He had a big smile the whole time. He has also finished the requirements for the Wolf rank in cub scouts. Caleb has begged to do a birthday party and we told him he can.  He is counting the days down until his birthday and is very excited about a party.  Ruth has had problems with the clarinet playing well for her.  Her teacher looked at it and said that the keys were out of alignment and we should have it serviced.  I took it into a repair shop today.  Ruth will borrow an instrument from the school in the mean time.  She enjoys playing.  I have had a cold but am feeling better today.  Neal worked hard on taxes and got them mailed off.  

Neal has helped Andrew with a science project on batteries.  They have tested different kinds of citrus fruit and different kinds of metal to see what make the best electricity.  Spencer is doing a science project with me with plants.  He has been watering them with vinegar and apple juice, and one with water.  The one with vinegar has died and the apple juice stinks!  We will be finishing up the projects this week so they can turn them in next week to the science fair.

We are enjoying some nice weather this week, sunny and warmer.