Science Fair at Somerset and David Won 3rd Place

We all went to Somerset Academy last night for the kids' science fair. Both David and Missy have their own projects and surprisingly David won 3rd place overall for third grade. We were not really expecting it since we didn't really choose a 'spectacular' topic. His 2nd grade project had more potential as even adults were surprised with the result (boiling water inside a plastic bottle directly on top of hot coals). We even had to ask if he won an award since his teacher asked him to leave his display board in class for some kind of presentation outside the class but she said the awards were given out starting in 3rd grade. Obviously since the first and second graders' parents are more into doing their kids' projects than the kids themselves.

Anyway, I guess the judges were more interested with the students adhering to a scientific approach in doing the project which we really took care of. David used a 'control', made graphs and tables and his data was complete, concise and clear. His topic was about what material among plastic wrap, paper and aluminum foil was the best for keeping things cold. Missy's was about making a balloon fireproof by adding water inside the balloon. It was a little similar to David's 2nd grade project. Anyway, we were so happy with what David got and David was ecstatic. Ophine readily suggested that we go to Coldstone (ice cream shop) for a celebration before we went home.





















With classmates Natalie and Tyane.


















With Ms. Machado, Missy's teacher.










































David with Ms. La Cava.

David is Student of the Month

David got chosen for this month's 'Student of the Month' for his class. This month's theme is about self-control and thankfully he got to be chosen just before the school year ends. We're fortunate that the two kids are doing great in school and we always see to it that even with these simple programs for the students, we make sure that we attend. It just boosts the spirit of
the students especially when they see a parent or their parents being there to share their 'glory'.
The students always get a pin, a certificate, two homework passes which they really like and some coupons for restaurants and the like.

Six more weeks and school is over. I'm sure the kids are looking forward to their summer vacation. They still have to finish their science projects, do their end of year show and their last field trip for the school year (esp. for David). Then it will be 4th grade for David and 2nd grade for Missy in August.































With the proud parents!




























With the principal, Ms. Donna Kaye.

Building a Lego Technic Bulldozer for Spring Break

David has really enjoyed building Lego toys especially since last year. He was more of a Pokemon fan before and have collected a lot of Pokemon stuff and toys. Now, I can see he is turning his gaze on more substantial toys and I really prefer it that way. When one builds an age appropriate Lego toy, you're not only creating the final product out of hundreds if not thousands of varied pieces but it also builds intrinsic skills in you that improves your ability to follow directions and solve problems. Once you do 'free-style' like what the two kids also do with their other Lego blocks, then it helps you be more creative.

I can understand now why there are so many AFOLs around (Adult Fan of Lego). David can easily do models with less than a thousand pieces but when he did his Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer which has 1367 pcs., he asked me for some help. I guess he just needed a relief since he wanted it finished asap. Well, I enjoyed doing it too thus I got this Lego Motorized Bulldozer #8275 (technically for me) which was the winner of the 2007 Nuremberg Toy Fair Innovation Award and runner-up in the 2007 Toy of the Year in South Africa. I let him build it with me and after a lot of hours here and there in a span of 3 or 4 days, we finished it without any problem. The two kids now enjoy playing with it especially that it's remote controlled. It's also big and quite heavy. It was just technically more astounding since there were a lot of different kinds of gears and moving parts including cams and pistons and there was no room for error and you have to follow the instructions to the letter. You just have to be precise all through out the building process and when we were done there were only a handful of small pieces left. I kept reminding David about it since if we have made a mistake, then we will surely lack some important pieces and we have to find where we went wrong and that usually takes more time than building one straightaway. I'm looking at some Lego Mindstorms too that includes robotics, sensors and programming and you really design your own but I found out that there are several books about it and I've seen 'you tube' videos of people building really super cool stuff. There's really more to Lego than kids' stuff. David and I are now looking forward to building more Lego kits.























Video made during assembly.






Finally.

Video of the finished Bulldozer.

David's Birthday Party

David celebrated his 9th birthday Saturday by having a party at home. It was good that it was exactly April 5, his actual birthday and of course it's always easier to hold one on a weekend. Good timing! We served baked ham, bacalao a la vizcaina, broccoli madness, baja bean salad, jap chae, lasagna, chicken inasal and pizza. Pauline Jimenez brought her Chilean corn dish and Pauline Cruz made macaroons. Ophine baked some Cinabon coffee cakes and muffins.

We're done with having really big parties for them when almost everybody you know was invited. Just too much work and we don't even have time to mingle with our friends anymore. I was not able to shoot more pictures except for the games. We just probably have a little more than 30 guests including the children. Next month, it's Missy's turn and she'll be 7.

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