Adventures in Bennionland

Ahhh…the joy of Sunday. Most Sundays you can find our family (at least the boys) snuggled in bed late, then off to church (maybe) and then off exploring.

This Sunday we just took it easy. I am so glad since we start school back up tomorrow*. In the afternoon we had some inspiration from these guys and found ourselves elbow deep in a Rube Goldberg experiment (yeah, I’d never heard of him either).

It was a blast. Sitting at the kitchen table drawing out our concept. Rummaging through the boys’ toys and our art supplies for tools to make our machine work. Then spending a good hour setting it up, testing it out, and trying to shoot a video of it. I think it ended up taking maybe 8 takes – Eric thinks it’s more like 15!

In the end the time didn’t matter. Here we were as a family doing something together – something new – and enjoying the creative work!

Now you can enjoy:

Our Popcorn Popping Rube Goldberg Machine!

Our Rube Goldberg set-up:
A ball started by Walker rolls down the ramp and lands in a cup. The cup is attached to pipe cleaners that pull down the light switch to turn off the light – and the cup swings and hits a truck. The truck hits the dinosaur which slowly bends over and hops. When it hops it hits another car which travels under the chair. The car hits a toy gun which has been holding another car – that car slides down the ramp hitting a chair (held up by another toy gun). The chair falls down and hits the books which are lined up in a domino fashion. The last book his an airplace which has it’s nose pressed into the start button – and then, the microwave starts popping the popcorn!

*And while most of you are still “ooohing” and “ahhing” over the video – I just have to say – nothing makes me want to homeschool my children more than preparing to send them back after a break. When we’re in the middle of school I’m ok, but oh it makes me sad to think of them not here everyday exploring and adventuring with me. Ok…that’s enough…

Do you see all these amazingly adorable (and green) faces?!?

Oh the joy that is our playgroup. It is full of wild and wonderful boys and girls. W&W absolutely love when we can hit playgroup* – as do I since I get to hang with my favorite ladies.

We always do something fun- like this! We even had a leprechaun show up and hide a candy treat for the kids – they ran all over the park.

Later that day the boys got a package from their Grandma Steph – and as always she spoiled the heck out of them. They particularly love their green cars! Eric and I even got a treat – but he wasn’t home for me to snap a picture of!

*I’m still trying to figure out a way to convince myself that playgroup is valid excuse for pulling the kids out of school.*

We got some great news this month when a special book arrived in the mail.

Eric’s Mom Stephanie and sister Anneliese have been hard at work. They self-published an adorable book staring our very own Will. Written in his voice it tells the story of being a kid with Celiac. We love that it focuses on the fact that he is a regular kid in so many ways – and this is just one part of him.

We tore into our package! Both Will and Walker were thrilled with the books and bookmarks. And honestly it such a treat to see both my kids names in the dedication.

Both boys took copies to school and their teachers read them in class. I cannot tell you how special this is – the more people understand Celiac the more “regular” Will becomes in the eyes of his peers.

Thank you Grandma Steph and Aunt Ali!

For those of you looking for your own copy you can find it on Amazon HERE! And you can check out the other two books they’ve written/illustrated!