Eruption and The Trike-a-Thon

Recently, Alison's class at school has been studying Mexico. Ali has been especially intrigued by the volcanic activity in Mexico after reading a short story in class that recounted an eye-witness account of the formation of a volcano. So, when the class was given an assignment to produce their first research paper about Mexico, Ali's chosen topic came quite easily.

What didn't come quite as easily, however, was convincing Ali that a full volcanic science demonstration was not required as a visual aid. I think Ali has been reading our copy of "Getting to Yes" because she somehow negotiated her way into our doing it.

We tried our best to design a mountain structure that could withstand the intense heat of molten lava, but unfortunately construction paper, old Pepsi bottles, poster board and paint aren't as heat-resistant as you might think. Rather than re-engineer a new volcano which could withstand the lava, we instead opted to use a baking soda and vinegar lava-substitute and soak, not melt, the plastic figurines we decorated the volcano with.

(Note Ali's missing teeth. This was not an unfortunate consequence of some volcano malfunction. She's just missing 5 teeth--including the four in front!")

Megan was able to fill her role in the whole ordeal...I mean "experience"...by attending Ali's oral presentation and eruption demonstration at school and capturing these pictures. (They did not have the Van Halen song "Eruption" playing the background, unfortunately.)

Max contributed by accompanying Megan to Ali's class and trying to destroy everything he could get his hands on. Probably.

Kaitlyn, recently had a Trike-a-Thon at her school. She was one of two riders who successfully completed the 50-lap course (and did it on just two wheels to boot). Kaitlyn was able to keep up with her friend Collin (son of our good friends George and Brittany, and the other 50-lap completer) the whole time, although she opted to ride with her eyes open most of the time.

On an unrelated note, Kaitlyn was talking to Megan the other day and Megan suggested that Kailtyn do something (exactly what we can't remember...let's say it was 'clean her room'). Kaitlyn's response was classic: she looked at Megan in the eyes, put her hands on her hips and shifted her weight to one side and said, "Mom, that is so 1999!"