Air Apparent

AIR EVERYWHERE: In science class today, the kids enjoyed learning more about air. Though you can't see it, it can provide resistance and pressure and it takes up space. Fascinating stuff!

To help illustrate these principles, the kids constructed parachutes and played around with them, noting how the air resistance is what works to keep things under the parachute from plummeting as quickly.

Please ignore the Crisco can on the counter behind CJ. Thank you.

In another experiment, the kids engaged in Hypodermic Wars! Just kidding. :) But seriously, they used a barrel and plunger (those are the technical terms, apparently), as well as some plastic tubing connected to another barrel and plunger to engage in some force air shenanigans. The plungers were a poppin'!

SANTA'S WORKSHOP: Somehow, the fact that this week is the kids' last classes before the holiday break escaped me - until about 6 this morning. So, what to do about spreading some seasons greetings? Whip up some more melting snowmen, I guess.

Our vintage oven and Kitchen Aid were both going to town before sunrise. We managed to get snowpeople families done for Bee's art teacher and the kids' science teacher in time. (In fact, I was accessorizing the snowpeeps in the school library while Annabelle was in art class.)

DECK HANDS: After dinner the kids and Christian resumed trying to get our decorations up. Geez. When/how did we acquire 13,812 ornaments? Seriously, we're nowhere near done.

While they decorated, I played catchup on the computer and served as DJ Xmas. This is one of the songs I served up was 12 Days of Christmas by "Straight No Chaser." We all loved it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

FLASHBACK: Tonight KCTS (our Seattle PBS affiliate) aired some of the more memorable episodes of "The J.P. Patches Show." The program ran from 1958-1981 (amazing!). Though CJ and Annabelle never saw one of his television broadcasts before tonight, they know JP Patches from his action figures at Archie McPhee and some live performances around town. In fact, CJ and Annabelle were present for Patches' final public appearance, which took place on Sept. 17, at the Fishermen's Festival at the foot of our hill.

I was laughing harder at the show than the kids, for sure. My gawd, it looked to be hugely unscripted and was frenetic, a la SNL in the John Belushi years. Funny stuff.

It's wild to contemplate that Julius Pierpont Patches, the Mayor of the City Dump, predated the Space Needle, Starbucks, Microsoft, the Seahawks, Mariners and Sonics, grunge music, the 747 and so many more Seattle milestones.