Tacoma Dancing With the Stars

The Ballroom Dance Team, Dance Driven. This is for their group waltz, Fly.

This is their group Lindy Hop to the song I Can't Stop It. Boys costumes were made by Ronda Lique.

The Lindy Hop

Xavier and Brittany

The group Waltz to Fly. Ian and Alyssa

Ian and Brittany

Ian and Alyssa

Final pose with Alyssa.

This was a fund raising event for the Tacoma Musical Theatre. The kids were there as part of the evening's entertainment. They did extremely well and we do have a YouTube video up.

I Can't Stop It, Lindy Hop:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZYiJnH62Jk

Fly, group Waltz:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLqTaKszfIM

Xavier and Brittany also performed in the amateur competition and came in first place. They were only three points away from winning the People's Choice Award. We have not hear how Christine (their instructor) did with her partner. This was very similar to the Dancing With the Stars we see on TV. Christine would be the instructor and the "star" was the gentleman who was dancing with her.

Pinch Pots at Claywerks

Last October we bought four Groupons for Claywerks, knowing the boys had a Pottery Merit Badge for Boy Scouts. We finally had a chance to call and set up the dates to work at the studio. So, now, for the next four Tuesdays, we'll be at Claywerks in Bremerton from 11:30-1:30. The woman used their worksheets for the beginning part of the class and gave a fantastic talk about pottery, types of clays, how to tell the difference in them, glazes, firing, kilns, wheels, scoring and attaching clay, and much more. I wasn't allowed to stay in the back area with the kids, so I sat in the front part of the studio, eavesdropping, sneaking in now and then to take photos. Here she has given them each a chunk of clay and they have beaten it on the table to get the air bubbles out. They are about to embark on the makings of their own pinch pots.
Ian was very meticulous with his pot, making sure the walls all around were of an even thickness.
The owner of Claywerks helped Evyn out as he had some thin spots and she showed him out to re-pinch and move the clay around some more to make the walls even.
Amber is using one of the tools she handed out, a wooden kitchen spatula. Wooden spoons and spatulas were the preferred tools of the afternoon. They are used to tap out the clay against your hand, which is on the inside of the pot, to ensure an even thickness around.
Ethan is using a wooden spoon and tapping out the sides of his pinch pot.
Another tool is used for smoothing out the inside of the pot.
Ethan also smooths out his pot.
The owner helps Amber with the inside of her pot. Amber's pot, if you notice, has a flange off the top. She made hers differently from the boys.
Next they were shown how to do handles. Ethan and Evyn wanted handles on their noodle bowls, as that was what they decided to make. The owner assisted Amber in putting one on top of her pot and it became a basket.
This is Evyn's completed noodle bowl. He even has a lip (right side next to his thumb) to rest his spoon. A very unique design element he thought of all on his own.
Ian has a little critter poking its head out of his cup (or is it a bowl?). The owner helped him craft the little frog. He is signing his piece of artwork.

Next week they will be able to go back and put finishing touches on their pots. She told Ian he would be able to manipulate and work with his little frog a bit more if he desired. Their homework? To look up various types of coil pots ... guess what they get to make next week?

First Day of School - week 3

Schools in our area began this week, most on Wednesday with a half day. We have been in school since August 22. Today marks the end of our third week of school.

Our friends have been posting on Facebook their "back to school" photos this week of their kids showing new clothes, new shoes, new haircuts, new backpacks, etc. However, we don't have anything to show ... we just get up and go to school like every year. So, here is OUR "back to school" photo ... all dressed down and comfy in their pjs. Only thing missing is mom ... also in her pjs! lol
Ian hard at work with Algebra 2 on the floor in the room where he does his schoolwork.
Amber hard at work at the breakfast table doing her Bible study.
Evyn diligently studying his language book on the sofa in the living room.
Ethan planted himself in our classroom and is learning the latest in Basic Mathematics.

Another test knit completed

Amber is modeling my latest completed project. It's not blocked yet. I'll be doing that this afternoon. This was a test knit for someone. The name of the shawl is Katherine Hepburn. It was the perfect size for Amber. I felt it should have been a bit wider and longer for an adult. I like to bundle, myself, and would like it to come at least to my waist to be long enough.
This is the front. It would look nice with a pretty shawl pin.
And here is a full shot. Very nice model. Thank you, Amber.

Venture Patrol Outing

This photo is a bit out of sequence, but it was the best one Mrs. Gentry sent of the kids on the dock and the boat. This is reboarding at Blake Island. Ian has the green backpack on.
Ian and Alex Hildebrand.
I personally love this shot.
A bit of Titanic? (He's never seen it!)

Ian believes he's Captain Jack Sparrow a la Pirates of the Caribbean.

Using the winch to raise the sail.
I like this photo, too.

Dust and Water

Generally these two elements really do not mix well ... they make mud. Today they are highly productive!

One side of the house is covered in a very fine dust as Daryn and Ian set to sanding the back porch, prepping it for stain and water sealant.

The other side of the house has Evyn, Ethan, and Amber scrubbing away at the bug and van. Daryn's first inspection set them on a rescrub. I guess they didn't accomplish what the initially set out to do in the beginning ... get a clean car. More elbow grease is needed to make them sparkle. My guess? He wants them working as hard as he and Ian.

I am plugging away at loads of laundry. Funny how it mysteriously appears in the laundry room, overflowing the color separated baskets. It's almost like the Great Hall at meal time at Hogwarts, when all the food magically appears on the tables from the kitchens below for all the students to eat.

My other project was completing the boys' scout sashes. Today I finished Ian's. All the badges he has earned, save one (which he earned in 2009 - photography) are now sewn onto his sash. I have also put his old rank and troop positions on the back of the sash, as well as some of the other patches he has earned. He wasn't that interested in sporting his popcorn patches, so those have been left off. The back of his sash now only has room for about 3-4 more troop positions and 2 more ranks. The front has room for a handful more, or so, of merit badges. After that, he'll need a new sash. He wanted to have it ready for the next Court of Honor, whenever that will be. The only one he's been able to attend was this past weekend when they had one at Family Camp at Dosewallips State Park. Sadly, our troop doesn't like to do scout things on scout night and like to schedule on different days during the week. However, with all the kids' dance schedules, we take up all the rest of the days of the week. We only allot Monday's for scouts. That means the boys never get their merit badges. It's a tough pill to swallow. Urgh. It's an ongoing battle for me with this troop. I so want them to leave ... but the boys want to stay. And, it's all up to them.

On that note, back to the laundry. Sanding is done for the day. Car washing is done for the day. Funny ... my job never ends!

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

Our blueberries are starting to ripen!
The cabbage hasn't quite formed a head yet.
Corn on the cob! It's not ready to pick yet and we patiently wait for it to ripen.