One Wind Turbine, One Wind Mill, and One Happy Mardi Gras

Last month we trekked over to Rhode Island and saw Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West at the IMAX in Providence. It was Ethan's and Ryan's first time to an IMAX, and they were alternately thrilled and confused. Watching Ethan react to the feel of the buffalo, looking around to try to find what was making that thunderous sound, and then exclaiming "What are those?!" while pointing at the screen was the closest I'll ever come to seeing how non-natives in the Lewis & Clark party reacted to them.

On the way there and on the way back, we were discussing one of Ethan's current favorite topics: alternative energy. On the way home, we took a scenic route down along the coast of Rhode Island (the island on which Newport is located as opposed to the other islands or the mainland). Ethan wanted to know about wind power, and lo and behold it appeared, looming above the horizon: a wind turbine. It was not too far from the road we were on, so, of course, we detoured. We found Portsmouth Abby in Portsmouth, RI. On the grounds there is a wind turbine next a parking lot on a western slope.

It is really massive, but very quiet. Here is a photo of Ethan and the turbine so you can see how big it really is:
Ethan was a little intimidated by it, so he didn't go all the way up to it. I didn't either since I wasn't wearing boots and didn't want cold wet feet for the rest of the drive. Ryan felt the cold wind when the car door opened and announced, "I can see it just fine from here, thanks."

Ethan kept calling the turbine a windmill. We explained to him that they were two different devices, but he just couldn't remember the two terms and used them interchangeably. While we talking about the differences, as if the universe hadn't provided enough adventure for one day, (Is there even such a thing as enough adventure?), we came across a windmill. This one is in Middleton, RI at the Windmill View Cottage.

Ethan was surprised at how small it was when compared to the turbine.


I didn't get to see the actual windmill. I was going to trek across the field even if I would get cold wet feet, but Ryan really didn't want to leave the car even if I carried him. So, I read while Ryan played DS and Ethan and Esther set out to learn about the windmill and get some photos.

I can't end this post without noting that today is Mardi Gras. It may just another Tuesday for most of you, but in our house, it's a holiday. I meant to order a King Cake, but I didn't get to it this year. Next year, though, there's one with cream cheese filling calling my name.

Evidence of Learning (Not what you think)

Three amazing things have happened in the past two days.

Thing one:
Ryan came in the kitchen and asked for tin foil. I gave him the roll we have that is out of the box and therefore doesn't have the serrated cutting edge. He took some and tried to wrap it around his leg. "I'm getting on my armor," he explained.

"That's great. You know," I started to tell him that he'd a need longer piece of foil to get it around his leg, but stopped myself. He crumpled up the piece, put it on the table and began adding more and more and more foil it making a big ball. I thought that he was using a lot of foil. "So, what are you making?" I asked carefully not saying that he had a lot more tin foil than I thought he would use.

"It's a boulder! It's going to fall down and then - wait! Like this see?" He dropped to the floor and pulled the foil ball onto his leg. "It falls on the guy like this and his leg is caught like this." Ryan began to squirm around the floor miming someone with a stuck leg. "But don't panic! He gets out when his friends come and help him." Then he took the ball of tin foil and ran back to his Rescue Hero guys.

Thing two:
Ryan asked me to get the markers so he could draw. (Side note: I can't wait until the craft room is re-arranged and he can get them all by himself. That will make him happy.) I got them and he sat at the table while Ethan, Esther, Jo, and I played Scrabble. I looked up and saw him coloring all over himself with marker. He looked like he had blue snot running down his face. I laughed and told him to go look in the mirror at how cool it was. So did everyone else.

Thing Three:
Ryan and Ethan were in the bathtub tonight getting water everywhere and drinking bathwater and spitting it out toasting anything they could think of toasting. Esther went in and put towels on the floor so the flood waters were somewhat contained. I thought it was great that they were having such a good time.

It occurred to me this evening that none of those things were problems. Tin foil just isn't that expensive and he really can't use "too much". I know where the store is located. Not only that, but I needn't tell anyone the obvious. I can trust my kids to see for themselves when they don't have enough tin foil to wrap around their legs. Non-toxic marker all over Ryan's face and body is just marker and it it doesn't mean people will look at me like there's something wrong with me for letting him draw on himself, and if they do, then that's their issue. Yes, flooding the bathroom will make the floor really wet and someone might trip and get hurt, but if towels get put down, it doesn't matter.

See? I can learn. I have three pieces of evidence.

All this time I thought we had a dog

Ethan and Ryan were playing with their light sabers this morning. Ethan was feeding lines to Ryan to advance the plot. Ryan was following as closely as he could.

Ethan: Now say, "I bear sole responsibility for my actions."

Ryan: I am responsible for the bear.

Ethan: Not quite.

Cream Cheese and Cookies

Ethan and Ryan spent the morning playing a game which involved using empty cream cheese boxes as communicators. They opened up both ends of the boxes and put them on their arms. At one point, Ryan couldn't find his box. I emptied the butter out it's box and offered him that one, but it didn't have the right constellation of pictures, so I searched the house and eventually found the missing cream cheese box in the recycle bin.

Carrie and her kids came over for playtime and cookie-making in the afternoon. Ethan was still wearing the cream cheese box when Carrie got here. She asked him "So, what's that on your arm? A ray-gun?" Ethan just rolled his eyes and very slowly and clearly told her "It's a Cream. Cheese. Box." He cracks me up. Carrie and Esther cracked up too. Quinten (Carrie's oldest) looked puzzled and said, "What's so funny?" We told him, but I don't think he thought it was funny.

The Ethan, Quinten, Chloe, and Ryan immediately headed out into the backyard, despite the 20-degree weather. They jumped on the trampoline and played with foam swords. Carma elected to stay in the warm house and color and help bake cookies. She really liked making the batter, but wasn't too into cutting out cookies shapes. Instead she climbed up to my shoulders and did back flips. The older kids came in to help decorate and eat cookies.

It was a really relaxing fun day. I love having friends come over.

Tummy Crummies and Flu Vaccines

We talked to Ethan and Ryan last month about getting flu shots, and Ethan said he definitely wanted one. Ryan wasn't so sure. We called the pediatrician and were told that they were currently out of doses, but would have more available this month.

In the meantime, Ethan got a horrible stomach virus. He starting vomiting Sunday night and felt crappy into Monday. I started throwing up on Tuesday and still don't feel completely well. Esther got sick on Wednesday and is still under the weather. Ryan threw up once on Wednesday, laid down for about 10 minutes, then leapt up ready to play. Jeanne has, so far, managed not to get sick at all.

All this was not the best lead in to today which was flu shot day for Ethan and Ryan. Ethan was a bit nervous about the whole thing, and Ryan said he wasn't going to get one at all. That was fine. We told them that it was up to them, and they could change their minds right up until we left the doctor's office. When we arrived at the office, the nurse told us that instead of a shot, the guys could get the nasal version. Ethan said he'd take that happily. Ryan said, "I'm getting the shot. I like pain." The nurse dosed Ethan and then drew up Ryan's shot. She wiped his arm with the alcohol and unsheathed the needle. Ryan said, "Never mind. I'll take the nose kind." I was really glad that the whole experience was pain free.

At dinner tonight, we were all talking about our days. Ethan said he got the "nose shot" and that it was "really great." Ryan said, "I had to get the flu nose shot. My boss said all spies need to get one every year. Next year I have to get another one or I can't work anymore."

I have no idea when he decided that being a spy meant getting a flu vaccine. That just goes to show you who is the real spy guy around here.

Kid's Vote

Isabella Pinto organized her own election. Here's a bit from the Waterbury Republican-American (Connecticut):

Isabella Pinto, 8, was so disappointed to learn she was too young to vote, she organized her own election. The young political junkie and contemporaries from her recently launched Children's Right to Vote Committee on Tuesday will address what they consider an injustice. They will oversee their own presidential election, one open to even those born after iPods first hit store shelves. "It's not fair that we don't get to vote," said Isabella, an aspiring commander-in-chief (and lawyer and scientist) from Thomaston. "People say 'We the people,' and children are people, too."

The rest of the article is here: http://www.rep-am.com/News/376850.txt.

When we told Ethan about this, he said he had to go to Thomaston and vote. It's about an hour drive from New Haven to Thomaston, but that didn't deter him. After Esther and I cast our votes for Obama, we piled into the car and set off for Ethan to vote. Ryan said he was not going to vote because it didn't count anyway. I can understand that.

Ethan was so excited to get to vote for Obama. He said he wanted to vote because Obama was against the war and would help people who don't have a lot of money. He said he thinks it's great that Obama wants to "spread the wealth."


Once we got to Thomaston, Ethan had to register, and get his ballot.

Next he went to the voting table and marked his ballot.


Finally he put his ballot in the ballot box.
He was very happy to get he chance to vote. He even got an I voted today sticker which he put on the calander along side ours.

Lucky for Ethan, he got his election results already:

Presidential Winner: Obama - 66, McCain -53, Nader - 4

Total Voters - 123

Now let's hope the nationwide vote follows this one!

Watching Shrek

Ethan, Ryan, Mimi, and I were watching Shrek. Sadly, the disk from Netflix froze. While Mimi was trying to get the movie to play again, the following conversation took place:

Ryan: Why did Shrek put on that helmet? He shouldn't have put that on and then she (the princess) wouldn't have yelled at him to take it off.

Ba: Shrek didn't want the princess to know he was an ogre. He didn't want her to be afraid of him.

Ryan: Why are people afraid of ogres?

Ba: In most fairy tales ogres are monsters who eat people -

Ethan (cutting in): Yeah! And drink their body fluids!

Ryan: What are body fluids?

Ethan: Honestly, I have no idea.

My guys crack me up.