Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Birthday, Carter-Man, WE LOVE YOU!

Mommy loved you even before you were born!Mommy and Daddy love Carter!





Nana loves Carter!







Papa Juan loves Carter!




Uncle Stu Loves Carter!









EVERYONE loves Carter!

Three generations of moms love Carter-Man!Clarks and Quicks love Carter
Madsens love Carter
Tanners love Carter
Aunt Carla loves Carter
Aunt Carol loves Carter
Uncle Morgan loves Carter
Cousin Carlee loves Carter
Happy Birthday, Carter - You've given us two years of smiles!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

IOL Math Training at the Ranch

In October, Vaughn and I had the chance to spend three days at Ken and Marilynn's ranch in Swan Valley, Idaho. Marilynn had invited three extraordinary Kenyans to the US for extended IOL training in math and science - and I had the opportunity to work with Stephen, Evelyn, and Lilian on the mathematics end of things.
We created our own tangrams and discussed geometry vocabulary. Then watched a training video with students doing the same things we had done.
After a morning of math, we went outside to play games - this is the game lady with Stephen, Lilian, and Marilynn.


"He was the king of trees; keeper of the leaves." ~Cat Stephens
Uncle Dick told us this tree is not native to the Swan Vally area.


After more math work around the dining room table, we viewed another training video - this time in the chilly basement. Evelyn and Stephen are wrapped up in quilts trying to get warm. Our cool weather was much colder than the equatorial climate to which they are accustomed.
Here we are listening to Uncle Dick talk to us about teaching science.

A Taste of the Old West!

Evelyn's got her boots on and a cowboy hat perched on her head!
Jenny gets the horse ready for a rider, while Cowgirl Evelyn watches.Stephen, Lilian, and Evelyn observe the goings-on in the round pen - just three cowboys a-waitin' for a chance to ride.


Evelyn gets the first lesson.


Jenny and Joes are ready for action!
Evelyn's a natural in the saddle!
Jenny lengthens the stirrups for Stephen.
Stephen cuts a dashing figure on horseback!
That smile says it all!


Now it's Lilian's turn...
First lap around the round pen - life is good with red boots!
Jenny gives some reining instructions.Marilynn shows us how a real cowgirl sits a horse! Marilynn doles out a post-horseback hug.

The riding party, plus me - a non-rider.



Even the horse knows how to pose properly for a picture!
Stephen learns about another kind of horsepower!