Money Saving Christmas Decorations

Fun Science

Supplies:

• A clear plastic 2-liter bottle
• A balloon (6-inch to 9-inch round balloons work best.)
• Clear vinegar
• Baking soda
• A funnel or butter knife
• A few leaves or red cabbage
• A saucepan
• A stove
• Measuring cups
  
• A few ice cubes
• Eye protection such as goggles or safety glasses

Procedure:

1. Put about 2 cups or water in the saucepan and add several leavesof red cabbage. Put it on a stove burner and heatit so the water boils.
2. While you are waiting for the water to boil, put about 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the balloon.The best way to do this, of course, is to use a funnel. If you do not have a funnel, try picking up the baking soda on the flat end of a butter knife, pushing the knife into the balloon's opening, and then tipping the knife so the baking soda spills into the balloon. It is a tedious process, but you will eventually get all the baking soda you need into the balloon.
3. Once the balloon has about 2 tablespoons of baking soda in it, pour 3/4 cup of clear vinegar into the 2-litter bottle.
4. Once the water in the saucepan starts boiling, remove it from the heat. Allow the liquid in the pan to cool by adding some ice. The liquid should have a blue or pink color now.
5. Add 1/2 cup of the liquid to the 2-liter bottle.
6. Attach the balloon to the opening of the 2-liter bottle by stretching the balloon's opening over the lip of the bottle.
   
7. Once you are ready, lift the balloon so the baking soda falls into the vinegar. And observe what happens.
   

It's all hallows eve. What will you make for dinner?
Here are some fun ideas...

and for dessert...

Pumpkin Carving

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~~OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~~

It's our favorite time of year again! The temperature drop, the colors, the holidays. We love everything about the fall!

Although I never seem to have any time to blog or anything else extracurricular lately, I did manage to get some pictures of the pumpkin carving this year.

Happy Halloween!!!

This is exactly how I feel.

Ever since the war started, I, along with everyone else, have viewed news coverage about soldiers losing their lives. I would feel a stab of sadness and think about how that soldier's family must be feeling, especially the mother. My heart went out to them and I felt a warm glow of gratitude for their sacrafice.

Now, I experience it all very differently.

I will be the mother of a US Marine. I have tried to convince my son to make a different choice but to no avail. He has talked about being in the service since he was just a little boy. I just thought he'd grow out of it. So, it looks like I will be the mother of a Marine.

I now experience these news footages in this way...

My heartbeat quickens, my soul feels dark and heavy, and my chin drops to my chest as I struggle to make the overwhelming feelings go away. The possibilities are so real now.

I can already feel the pain of loosing my son. Overly dramatic? I would only accept that argument from someone who has already offered up a son or daughter to this war.

Funny how I used to think that when my kids got married and moved away I could take a deep breath and stop worrying about them all the time.

The perfect place...

to read her book...

in her 3D glasses.
Side note: the book is NOT in 3D.

What a sweet and simple life she leads.

Earlier This Evening...

Hayden: "Mom, can't we please just keep riding our bikes up the street?"

Mom: "No, I'm sorry honey, it's getting dark. Time to come in."

Hayden: "But mom, we all want to soooooo bad and...mom, don't look at me with those big eyes. It scares me."