Sunday, February 6, 2011

Daddio: Heroscape!

Avery went to a sleepover tonight, so the four oldest and I couldn't play Dungeons and Dragons like we planned.  So instead, Connor, Mason, Gabe and I decided to play a massive game of Heroscape.  How massive?  Where normally we play with 400 to 500 point armies, we decided that, since we're a player short, we would up the stakes to 1000 point armies -- twice the size of what we usually use for Heroscape.

And with such legendary, epic armies, we also knew that we must have an epic map.  So Gabe, Marney and I decided to build the greatest map ever constructed.  Because there were four players, we wanted to make it square, so everyone could start in their own corner.  We also wanted to make the physical obstacles equal for each player.  Thus, we created the Lava-Swamp-Glacier-Mountain-of-DOOM!

I know it looks like a huge map, but once you put the massive armies on it, you realize that we're right on top of each other.
That's my army of Orcs and Trolls in the top left, Gabe's army of Robots and Army Men in the top right, Mason's army of Mechs and Snakes in the bottom right, and Connor's army of Ninja and Gunmen in the bottom left.  We each had to take at least one Marvel Superhero characters for our armies.  I took Thanos, Gabe had Hulk, Mason had Abomination and Connor had both Spiderman and Venom.  Here's a better shot of the map from table-level, so you can appreciate the elevations:
After only a few rounds of play, we were already getting into the game with quick action and heavy casualties.  This shot is from the second round of play:
Here's a shot of all of us.  At the bottom of the picture, you can see all the armies that have already been killed off laying on their sides:
While we had a good time and a ton of fun playing, As Connor MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod once said, "There can be only one."  And so it was that all the armies slowly got killed off, and only one person had three figures left surviving:
ME!  Thanks for a great game, guys.  It was awesome.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Marney: Student Of The Week

It was a good week but it was also busy and we had a lot of fun.  This is my list of school and you have to look at all the days to see what I did. I cross things off every time I do one of them.
 Math
When I do my multiplication sheet I always do it different ways.  Sometimes I do it random and sometimes I just do it in order.

I do Teaching Textbooks Grade 5 math.  This week in math I was learning about multiplying by threes and adding and subtracting three digit numbers.

 Where it says "lesson 21" is the day I was on.  I got score 100 and that means I missed none.
 Phonics
When I do phonics and I don't know how to spell a word I look on the other sheets to see if I found them.  Phonics is fun, it is fun when I see these weird pictures where they ask me weird questions.


  Reading
This is my reading comprehension and I was reading The Seasons, it is a myth about how we got seasons.  It was super fun to read because one part that I read was about this guy who stole a girl and brought her to the underworld.  How I answered all the questions is, I told mom them and she does not know what the story is so it is kind of like I tell her about the story.

 I read part of this book for history this week.  It was about a queen in ancient Greece who decided to destroy ships but then she made her own ship and other people wanted to destroy it and she got real mad at them.  She was alive in B.C.
 For fun I read Junie B. Jones Has A Monster Under Her Bed.  It is about this girl who was afraid that she had a monster under her bed and it was really funny.
 I read this book and it is called The Secret Zoo and it is about this girl who gets lost in a zoo.  These three people have to go and find her.
 Grammar
What I do in grammar is I correct sentences, spell words and I do sentences with homophone pairs in them and they have to have those words in it.
Spelling
I do spelling with Gabe and it is fun because I get to write down words and there is practice words and words with patterns in them.

Other Stuff
Music- I have been learning things from recorder and it has been fun so far.  I have been learning stuff like F sharp and I am learning other things like long notes, which are pretty cool.

Cooking- I cooked chocolate bottom cupcakes and they have cream inside them.  I learned that when you are putting vinegar in the thing it makes the baking soda works so that they puff up.
Puppy Sitting- I went to the vet with Franki, Sam and Tina.  They got their shots and they have worms.  Puppies pee a bunch at the vet.  Me and Kiki had to babysit the three puppies at my house when mom was in her room with the two little boys.  They bark like crazy and we played with them in the kitchen and we let them out sometimes.
 

Avery: Snow!

Oh my gosh! it's actually snowing here in texas! I'm soooooo happy! I Gabe and I made giant snowballs and threw them at the window, all of us made snow angels, we took Franki for a walk and failed at making a snowman! It's so awesome! :)

Mommio: Texas Snow Day = Really Happy Kids!






















Thursday, February 3, 2011

Connor: The Sims 3

Time for another fun fact!  Okay in the Sims 3 you can turn your Sims into a vampire.  Vampires do their work really quickly.  Although the vampires will die when in sun light for a long time.

Kiki: Blog Of The Day

Learn to sing- I have singed songs from books. I am going to start signing songs off the roku.
Grow hair out- I have been growing my hair out everyday.
Paint better- I haven't done anything to paint better.  I am going to paint some pictures.

Gabe: Blog Of The Day

So let's start. My first resolution was typing.  I still can't type fast but I need to do a typing program.  My next one was my hand writing has gotten way better because I am writing a few books and stories. My next one was controlling my temper. I have done nothing for it.  My next one was full lotus pose. I am still working on it, I have gotten better. My final one was wear my shoes every day. I have done it but not when I was sick!

Connor: Blog Of The Day

I will say that I've been doing fine with being around the kids.  As for driving I may not want to even try that.  I'm sorry but with the fact that I couldn't drive a golf cart much less anything on four wheels aside from the wheelchair I should not even attempt to drive.  That is pretty much it.

Marney:Blog Of The Day

I have been doing an awesome job on reading harder books. I got two books for that. One is called The Secret Zoo and it is about this girl who gets lost in a secret zoo.   There are three people going to find her. It has been good so far.  On the being nicer, well it worked for about 2 weeks and then I got out of that and to the reading harder.  But now I am getting better on it and people are playing with me more and so I got back on track.  Mom said that I am getting better on that too. So I am doing awesome at the reading. A bit better on the being nice. So thanks for reading this.

Mommio: Blog Of The Day

So I thought I would update the resolution progress for myself and the two little toes also.  Let's see... 
Jack has not decided to start using the potty yet.  The only progress I can report is that he likes to say the words "pee" and "poop" a lot- so at least he knows what it is. 
Max is definitely not wearing pullups at night, and I know this because I am currently washing sheets.  But the good news is that he has had two dry nights so far and he is really trying.  He is working on his name too and can almost write it.  The ABC's are not happening yet.  But he did achieve another goal that we didn't even mention- he is finally putting on his own shoes and socks- great job Max!
Mom...well, I am taking very small baby steps towards my goals.  We do have an entire year to reach them.  So I have changed one thing I am doing to be healthier- I am eating breakfast every day, and it really does help me to snack less the rest of the day.  Next week I am planning to add drinking more water to my plan.  As far as helping the family get healthier- I have been trying to make healthier meals during the week (Monday it was teriyaki chicken, brown rice and spinach salad, last night was low-fat meatloaf, mashed sweet potatoes and green beans, and tonight it is eggs, peanut butter toast and fruit salad).  I will keep that up and I also plan to try to use something from our CSA veggies or our own garden every single night.  And I am working with the kids to create a month long healthier menu plan.  More focus on exercise to come later!

Mason: Blog Of The Day

My resolution was to read The Lightening Thief from beginning to end. So for I am on chapter two. I like reading it. It is real fun to read it.

Avery: Blog Of The Day

I've been working on my photography lately. Mom got me a book for it and I've read part of the first chapter. I learned what pixels and megapixel are. Pixels are what create your picture. It's like a puzzle. If you have one megapixel you have 1,000,000 pixels. Most cameras have about two or three megapixels. I have been using a tripod that Marney said I could have (thanks a LOT) and can get lots of great shots with it. I have also been playing with pictures on mom's photo shop thing on printmaster. Can't wait to get better! :)

Daddio: 2/3/11 Blog of the Day

Okay, Toes.  We're now one month into the new year, and Mommio and I are wondering how well you're doing with your New Year's resolutions.  My resolution was to make sure I track everything I eat on Livestrong for six months.  And I've done it!  Even though I haven't eaten less, I'm tracking everything.  So how are the rest of you doing?  Look over your resolutions below and post up about your progress:

Jack- use the potty
Max- stop wearing pullups at night, write name, write the ABC's
Kiki- learn to sing, paint more, grow out hair
Marney- read harder books, be nicer to people
Gabe- type better, improve handwriting, control temper, do the full lotus yoga pose, wear shoes everyday
Avery- practice photography
Mason- read The Lightening Thief
Connor- spend time with the younger kids, learn to drive
Mommio- be healthier, help the family be healthier
Daddio- track food on Livestrong everyday until July 1st

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Mason: Blog Of The Day

In ancient European folklore they used a bear instead of a ground hog.  They believed that the animals had powers to control the weather. When the ground hog comes out of its hole and sees its shadow it will be six more weeks of winter.  If it doesn't see its shadow it will be summer.

Connor: Sims 3 for Wii

Sometime next week the Sims 3 for the Wii will get here.  I can't wait because I love life simulation games like Harvest Moon.  I will keep you updated on if it has come and probably post up a fun fact about the series every day until it gets here.  First fun fact, in the Sims 3 you can make your Sim into a ghost.  Well that's it for today.  See Ya.

Connor: Blog Of The Day

The entire thing was inspired by the traditions of Europe's past.  For instance it is based on an ancient Irish tradition back when the Celtic religion was around.  It also is based on Candlemas and the abilities of a saint from the time when the Saxons ruled England.  Groundhog Day dates back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.  In North America most times the groundhog predicts that winter will last six more weeks.

Gabe: Blog Of The Day

Groundhogs day started in ancient Europe and they used a bear to celebrate it. There are lots of versions of it but the most popular is in Pennsylvania and the first state to celebrate Groundhogs day is Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has 40,000 people at the ceremony and it is the most popular. I found it on Wikipedia.

Marney: Blog Of The Day

The people who made it up live in Pennsylvania German.  The animal they used was a bear or a badger.  It had to be a scared bear or badger. They did ground hogs day on February 1st. They still call it ground hog day.  They use a bear though. They made it up in the 19 something.  The biggest crowd was in Pennsylvania German. There was 40,000 people.

Avery: Blog Of The Day

Here's what I found out (ps... I found this on answers.com not Factmonster or Wikipedia) - It all started in the 5th century. The European Celts thought that the animals had supernatural powers to change the weather sometimes. And when they woke up from hibernation to early they would get frightened by their shadow and go back into their little hole. That would mean that winter is going to last four-six more weeks. If they didn't see their shadow it would be spring very soon.

Daddio: 2/2/11 Blog of the Day


It's Groundhog's Day!  But let me ask you this: what is Groundhog's Day?  I mean, other than the greatest Bill Murray movie ever made, what is this whole "G-Dog" day all about?  I want you to go to Factmonster or Wikipedia and figure out how Groundhog's Day started, and post up about what you were able to find.