August 2008
20 posts
WatchNSS08 Day 57: Making your sons ride roller coasters on Vimeo (via Vimeo). We’re at Six Flags (I remember it as Mariott’s Great America back in the day) and we’ve decided to create vidid memories for the boys: take ‘em on the the big wooden roller coaster. Not much in their lives had prepared them for the sheer joy of the American Eagle…now it will become a talking...
July 2008
31 posts
WatchNSS08 Day 56: It’s hot out here on Vimeo (via Vimeo). In our last day in Chicago, we went to Millennium Park to walk around and see the sites. The boys say it was very hot (and it was). After this we went to Gurnee Mills, IL.
WatchNSS08 Day 55: Lego shopping and skyscraper watching on Vimeo (via Vimeo). On our first full day in Chicago we’re taking care of some serious shopping at the Lego Store on Michigan and then we’ll make two trips to the John Hancock Center to view the city during the day and at night.
WatchNSS08 Day 54: Breaking in the hotel room on Vimeo (via Vimeo). First day of vacation and we drove to the Museum of Science of Industry and then headed to the hotel. After a little swim, we then eat at Gino’s Pizza (which was not a favorite experience of Evan). Then, back in the hotel room, the boys jump on the beds a bit and wind down.
WatchNSS08 Day 53: Short Films
The boys have discovered the Pixar Shorts (the short films before their feature presentation) and both Evan and Colin are hanging out in the guest room. Tomorrow, we’re off to vacation.
WatchNSS08 Day 52: The Great Underminer! on Vimeo (via Vimeo). This being the “All-things-Pixar-Films” summer for the boys, it’s no wonder that they would roleplay a min[e]r character from _The Incredibles_. This was Colin’s idea first, but Evan decided to give it a try also (and he’ll be first up on the video).
WatchNSS Day 51: The man in the attic on Vimeo (via Vimeo). Continuing with my “Hey, let’s get things done around the house” theme, I begin painting the exterior of our house and the only way to get one particular corner is out the attic window.
WatchNSS08 Day 50: Let’s eat at the fair! on Vimeo (via Vimeo). This is part 2 of the 10-hour day at the fair which includes dessert (ice cream, Elephant Ears, and my Deep Fried Snickers bar…yum!); Evan and Logan find the Hands-on Science tent and we wrap up the rides with a ferris wheel ride at night. Lastly, we take a peek at the judging of cows and Robyn’s calf.
WatchNSS08 Day 49: Let’s go to the fair! on Vimeo (via Vimeo). Really it’s Day 50, but I didn’t shoot any video…so I divided up our 10 hours at the fair into two parts: Rides and Eating and fun! This is part one where we wait in line for our wristbands and then see Colin ride rides. Evan’s friend, Logan C, is going us for the day.
WatchNSS08 Day 48: Can you do this in the pool? on Vimeo (via Vimeo). Evan, the ever-becoming-daredevil in the pool, shows off his newer trick for this season (remember: this was a timid boy in the pool for the past seasons) while we drink coffee and watch.
WatchNSS08 Day 47: Let’s go camping! on Vimeo (via Vimeo). And it’s Evan who wanted to set up the tent and go camping…in our backyard. So, the boys spent most of this morning hanging out in their new fort.
WatchNSS08 Day 46: Let’s run and the eat some fried food on Vimeo (via Vimeo). After running in the Elkhart Co. 4H Fair Parade 5000, we head over to the fair for some tasty food.
WatchNSS 08 Day 45: Python Project Produces Placing on Vimeo (via Vimeo). Evan’s computer game using python project got selected to go to the State 4-H Fair and he’s quite excited about it (as excited as an 11-year-old boy can express—by silliness).
WatchNSS08 Day 44: Waiting for the balloon chase on Vimeo (via Vimeo). We’re sitting across from the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds waiting for the balloon chase. It didn’t happen, but we had a nice time relaxing by the quarry.
WatchNSS08 Day 43: Searching for Colin Fischer on Vimeo (via Vimeo). A relatively easy way to learn the game of chess is to start with the “Pawn game” : (US Chess Center has a bit about this: chessctr.org/lesson1.htm). This is how I taught Evan and now Colin is playing.
WatchNSS08 Day 42: Buy a Neuton says @Indebatecoach on Vimeo (via Vimeo). Jeff stops by and does a PSA for the environment and a sales pitch.
WatchNSS08 Day 41: I trimmed a bush this big on Vimeo (via Vimeo). I pontificate on the merits of manual labor and Evan sets the record straight (WARNING: DISCO MUSIC WILL BE HEARD).
WatchNSS 08: Day 40: Porch update: railing is in on Vimeo (via Vimeo). And as a note: I can see why people just buy the pre-assembled PVC or metal versions of the porch railing. Oh, and make sure you use good primer…It’ll save you a coat of paint.
WatchNSS08 Day 39: How to teach a cat to swim on Vimeo (via Vimeo). Lori teaches the CatLuke to swim in the pool in the most effective way: dropping him in the pool.
WatchNSS08 Day 38: Colin likes his dessert on Vimeo (via Vimeo). It’s a proven fact that Colin may resist eating his dinner, but he lives for dessert. Tonight it’s vanilla ice cream and Hershey’s® chocolate syrup and one happy boy.
WatchNSS 08 Day 37: The Incredible Knitters on Vimeo (via Vimeo). While the menfolk watch _The Incredibles_, Lori and her mom are working on various knitting projects. Lori’s calling this Knitting Sock Summer and Doris is making some baby clothes
WatchNSS08 Day 36: A minute in the life of the CatLuke on Vimeo (via Vimeo). And it’s really that exciting.
WatchNSS08 Day 35: Let’s go out to eat without kids on Vimeo (via Vimeo). With Evan at Logan’s house and Colin being watched by Ken and Doris, Lori and I get a chance to do stuff in Mishawaka (and exciting stuff we do…like bookstores and eating and the running store).
WatchNSS08 Day 34: Big Red Truck on Vimeo (via Vimeo). The city of Goshen allows its residents to “rent” one of their trucks for hauling junk away. So, with the porch junk left over from tearing the old one out, I load up the truck and tomorrow, the city of Goshen will take my junk to the landfill for a small fee. Nice.
WatchNSS08 Day 33: Evan’s not a fan of 4-H on Vimeo (via Vimeo). And yet, he did make it to his last meeting of 4-H 21st Century club and enjoyed a moment of quiet reflection.
WatchNSS08 Day 32: Love, Goshen Style (fireworks) on Vimeo (via Vimeo). And yes, that was my slight reference to the 70’s sit-com show. We’ve been setting up a place at Goshen Middle School to watch the local fireworks for about 6 years now. Things learned: Colin like Skittles, Evan likes fire and sparklers (listen for the “Put in on the ground”) and Colin likes Skittles. Fun...
WatchNSS08 Day 31: Four kids and a trampoline on Vimeo (via Vimeo). We went to the Cross’ house for dinner and s’mores and riding around the property on the golf carts. For the kids, it was all-things-trampoline and don’t worry, this doesn’t turn into an AFV video where someone gets hurt….it’s just kids having fun jumping and flipping.
WatchNSS08 Day 30: Lightsabers and no questions answered on Vimeo (via Vimeo). Colin puts on an impromptu Jedi performance during a game of “Who plays this character?” With the porch painted, I ask Colin a question…to which he reflects a bit on the answer.
WatchNSS 08 Day 29: Priming the porch and Knitting a sock on Vimeo (via Vimeo). And, perhaps, “Finishing the Hat…” Porch boards are down and primed and I am happy to have finished that part of the project. So, what’s Lori (@speechmom) doing in her free time? She’s knitting socks for herself and she shares a common issue with all of you knitter-friends out there.
WatchNSS08 Day 28: Putting boards down on Vimeo (via Vimeo). Chris is out working today, so I (Evan Judson) interviewed and uploaded this video. He is working on the porch again today.
WatchNSS08 Day 27: The Destruction of the Porch on Vimeo (via Vimeo). And so it begins: my big “around-the-house” summer project: replace the porch…and it begins with a little deconstructing.