Science Club Activity

On Saturday, a former favorite 7th grade student, and current UMR senior, set up a science lab for my current 8th graders. He brought a superconductor and liquid nitrogen for their entertainment. They did all sorts of neat activities like freezing a banana in the liquid nitrogen, and then used the banana to hammer a nail and dipping a carnation into the liquid and smashing it to a million pieces! When he poured the nitrogen over their hand, they had to make sure they kept their hand flat, so the chemical didn't stay in contact with their skin too long. It beaded up into little balls and ran across their skin and then raced across the floor as if it didn't experience any friction.
The edible portion of the lab was the big finale. The students were directed how to freeze marshmallows in the liquid nitrogen and and eat them. They were crunchy and you had to keep moving them around in your mouth. The best part was making homemade ice cream with the liquid nitrogen. My camera died, so I don't have any pics of that, but it looked like a witch's brew the entire time they stirred it.It took a fraction of the time to make it, but it was the richest batch of homemade ice cream I have ever had! He even brought chocolate syrup and sprinkles for the kids! I think the lab was a huge hit and they enjoyed every minute of it!

It is possible that I have entered the "nesting" phase, but I don't know when that is supposed to happen. It is all of a sudden very important to me to clean everything! And by everything, I mean edges of the carpet where it meets the wall, the insides of fans, dust that gets in the floor registers, ceiling fan blades, behind the computer....very odd for me, I must say.

Tobin plans to start cleaning carpets with the Rug Doctor and painting walls this week. At least, that is the plan right now. My job has been to put away clothes that no longer fit and make more room in the closets. I really need to combine two more closets, so that there is a baby closet in the nursery. It does appear that I have more clothes that don't fit than ones that do.

Yesterday morning, Tobin and I attended the The Baby Affair. One can tour the Special Delivery suites, browse through more than 70 educational and specialty booths, check out seminars on everything from exercise and breastfeeding to Fatherhood Basic Training, and even see a Maternity Fashion Show! We went to a seminar on home safety and Fatherhood. We learned a little, but the Stages of Labor video had the most impact on me, well, both of us. That was more info than either of us was ready for. It grossed Tobin out completely and had me scared to death and I'm not kidding. These women were screaming and moaning and crying and carrying on something fierce!!! I am a rare case in that I have taught reproduction and childbirth for 13 years, so most of the Baby Affair was not that informative. I took my mailing labels and registered for giveaways at 30+ tables. That saved me time filling out the info. Tobin filled out one registration and he was the only one that won anything! He won a $50 Visa gift card. Go figure. I did come home with a pile of pamphlets, flyers, coupons, freebies...all sorts of stuff to go through.