Project Helper

You've become such a good companion and helper.  On the last few saturdays you've been really engaged.helping me with projects.

In April I started a hydroponic garden to compete in the NASA deep space food challenge and you've been my helper at every step of the way.  The original system consisted of plants in rockwool in 2" netcups inside of any can or jar we could get our hands on.

Later we developed a system using bins.  You came to Walmart to help me pick out the bins.  You love to come to Walmart with me.  We are good Walmart buddies, we both have a lot of patience to look at stuff and think about things for a long long time.  Once that system got working we decided we needed a new stand for the light.  You designed a stand on a piece of paper with a marker in a couple minutes and came back and said something along the lines of, I already drew what we need why are you here just still thinking about it.  Later, when we went to cut the wood and build it you confessed that you didn't think building it would be so difficult.

We started out by building the wood frame.  To top it off we cast a concrete countertop slab.  You and Joel, Kent and Alyssa all came with me to Home Depot to get the 80 lb bag of concrete.  You helped me mix the concrete using a plastic kitchen spoon stuck into the drill.  It took a long time and it was very hard to mix.  We were both very sweaty.

After a few days the concrete hardened and I put the 80 lb slab onto the wooden stand.  It works!

Reading

 You are learning how to read! It is so rewarding to see you grasp and progress in reading, mostly on your own initiative and with your own curiosity. I have been reading The Last Firehawk series to you. You can't get enough of it. You like to tell me what you predict will happen. Today you called me back into the house as we were trying to leave to tell me your thoughts! I hope your natural love of learning will bring you many happy discoveries and much progress! 

Taft's Birthday 2019

 Ok, so I'm writing about what happened a little more than a year ago.  But, I figured I'd record it while we both can remember.  So on your birthday for 2019 you turned 4.  To make the day special I brought you to school with me in the morning.  We went to the maker space at school and together we designed and laser cut a sign for you for your birthday.  Also, since in the makerspace the student employees are always trying out the machines, two of them gave you things that had been laser cut and 3d printed.  It was a lot of fun.  Since it was the end of the semester the civil engineering department was having a pizza party and watching the Grinch movie.  So after we finished laser cutting your sign we went to the civil engineering building and had pizza and watched the Grinch together.  It was a super fun day.  I am so thankful that I could take you to campus and you could hang out with me.  At night we had your birthday cake which was a monkey cake.

Christmas 2020

 Christmas was lovely. You wrote notes for everyone and put them under the tree before December even started. Here is a sample of your notes:

Alyssa gave you this note:

This is a picture of the Nativity that you drew:

This is a note you wrote to Santa last year. I am not sure exactly what it is or what you said - I think maybe it was a train track because you got Duplo trains. But I just want to remember it. You love Santa and you want to thank him!

This is a sticker picture you made. I never get tired of seeing your name written on things. You are so proud of your ability to write it!

Here is a card that Claire sent to you:

This year you made an ornament for the Garbage man. You like to run out and say hello to the garbage man when he comes twice a week. You are very enthusiastic!

Making snickerdoodles with Mom on a chilly afternoon

You and I made browned butter caramel stuffed snickerdoodles this week. You were a champ at stuffing each cookie with the caramels and rolling them in cinnamon sugar. You chatted away while you worked. It was just you and me because it was quiet time and everyone else was sleeping or otherwise engaged. I am glad we got to spend that time together!

 

Recent Drawings - October 2020

 

My favorite part is the roots in the pumpkins in the first drawing and the toilet and dishwasher, complete with electric and water hook ups in the 2nd drawing.

A sketch from nature

We went on a nature walk to draw some white wild flowers. You drew the flowers and the grass and the sound of squeaky brakes and the road and everything you saw. You were invested in sketching nature and everything else.