Density test

Ours consisted of 4 liquids: light corn syrup (sunk to the bottom), dish soap, water dyed red, and the vegetable oil settled on the top! Pretty neat! I was babysitting when we did this, and couldn't remember all of the layers, but it still made the point.

The following information is from: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/seven-layer-density-column

How does it work?

The same amount of two different liquids will have different weights because they have different masses. The liquids that weigh more (have a higher density) will sink below the liquids that weigh less (have a lower density).

Material	Density
Rubbing Alcohol	.79
Lamp Oil	.80
Baby Oil	.83
Vegetable Oil	.92
Ice Cube	.92
Water	1.00
Milk	1.03
Dawn Dish Soap	1.06
Light Corn Syrup	1.33
Maple Syrup	1.37
Honey	1.42

To test this, you might want to set up a scale and measure each of the liquids that you poured into your column. Make sure that you measure the weights of equal portions of each liquid. You should find that the weights of the liquids correspond to each different layer of liquid. For example, the honey will weigh more than the Karo syrup. By weighing these liquids, you will find that density and weight are closely related.

** NOTE: The numbers in the table are based on data from manufacturers for each item. Since each manufacturer has its secret formula, the densities may vary from brand to brand. You’ll notice that according to the number, rubbing alcohol should float on top of the lamp oil, but we know from our experiment that the lamp oil is the top layer. Chemically speaking, lamp oil is nothing more than refined kerosene with coloring and fragrance added. Does every brand of lamp oil exhibit the same characteristics? Sounds like the foundation of a great science fair project.

The table shows the densities of the liquids used in the column as well as other common liquids (measured in g/cm³ or g/mL).

Density is basically how much "stuff" is smashed into a particular area... or a comparison between an object's mass and volume. Remember the all-important equation: Density = Mass divided by Volume. Based on this equation, if the weight (or mass) of something increases but the volume stays the same, the density has to go up. Likewise, if the mass decreases but the volume stays the same, the density has to go down. Lighter liquids (like water or rubbing alcohol) are less dense than heavy liquids (like honey or Karo syrup) and so float on top of the more dense layers.

Marshmallow towers

Today we made marshmallow towers with mini marshmallows and tooth picks! Great activity for a day that is too cold to go outside.

This was right before it tipped over... haha

I don't know why these photos are smaller. Here is J with his marshmallow structures!

An Apron for Andrea

My sister Andrea loves the chickens. So when I was looking for the right fabric to make an apron for her for Christmas, and I found this, I knew it was perfect!

I don't know what the blur is about on this one? Smudgy lens?

She was messing with the settings on iphoto. Looks cool!

And just one more, for fun...

As she said, "....nothing happened......." :-)

Today has been a wonderful day!

I laid in bed until 8:00 (I wasn't sleeping, just enjoying the quiet, and the opportunity to lay there). After having devotions, I finished reading a wonderful book I got for Christmas "Kisses From Katie". It's about a missionary in Uganda - very inspiring! She is so young and so wise. It makes me excited to be a missionary. I drank lots of hazelnut coffee while I read... so cozy!

The day was so bright, the sun shining, the weather warm. I ate lunch around 11:00 (since I never really ate breakfast), then I went for a 3 and 3/4 mile walk/run. How refreshing! I love running and walking and spending that time talking to God.

When I returned home I got a load of laundry going, cleaned the cat litter box, swept the basement steps, mopped the kitchen floor, scrubbed down the kitchen cupboards, and had a refreshing shower (with new shower gel I got for Christmas, followed by new lotion!). Around 3:00 my sister came over with her 4.5 children, and at 3:30 our good friend (from miles away) arrived. She just left at 10:00 p.m. We enjoyed talking and talking and drinking tea and talking. Mom made baked chicken and salad and I made twice baked potatoes for dinner. My sister Andrea made her special chocolate cake with chocolate frosting for dessert.

I feel so refreshed. What a good day! Thank you Lord!

A Christmas Tea Party!

My dear freind, Aunt Pam, and I decided to plan a tea party this past year (2011). It kept getting pushed back, due to more important things filling up our time. Finally we decided a Christmas Tea was just the thing, and so we did it!:-)

The tables were just beautiful. It looked like a real tea room!

We used green plastic table cloths and covered them with beautiful lace plastic cloths.

We used fake candles (the little battery tea lights) due to some people who have allergies. It looked so lovely in the goblets borrowed from my sister's stash (we borrowed ALLOT from her!). Aunt Pam and Uncle Bob bought enough tea cups for each table to have their own pattern. Then we used various cream and sugar sets. At each place setting we had a plate, fork, spoon, and knife, cloth napkin, a little tartlet tin to put the used tea bags, and for favors we had sparkly snow flake ornaments and magnetic bookmarks.

Also at each table we had a dish with home made peppermints and truffles. There was a glass dish (as you can see in the photo) with 3 glass cups filled with lemon or lime curd, strawberry jam, and clotted cream (for the scones), honey (for the tea), and a tea cup with beads and string so the ladies and girls could make themselves a bracelet while they chatted.

Our two dear waiters served tea to the ladies off these wooden carts, and had trays of tea sandwiches and delicacies underneath.

We served these star shaped egg salad sandwiches, and round cucumber cream cheese sandwiches. They were made on wheat, white, and rye breads. The rye was a big hit!

These next two aren't very clear, but we had a lovely table set up with all of the desserts and foods displayed. The ladies were instructed to choose their flavor of tea bag off of this table before sitting down.

We had scones, pumpkin spice roll, tea sandwiches, jam tart cookies, mini cheese cakes, and cream wafers (as well as the truffles and peppermints). Everyone really enjoyed the food!

My mom and sisters were all there. Here is my oldest sister with 3 of her children (her 4 year old got to spend some daddy - son time:-) ).

My 6 year old niece had been looking forward to this tea party with much excitement! It was her first "real tea party" to attend, and she couldn't wait! She kept saying, "I just keep imagining what it will look like!"

At the tea party I asked her if it was what she imagined. "No," she said, "It is even better!"

It was so worth doing just for her:-)

My 3 year old niece felt very grown up drinking from a real tea cup. My sister made these darling jumpers and head bands for the girls and their dollies:-)

All of the little girls were instructed to bring their favorite doll or stuffed animal for the "Doll's Tea". I am quite sure the dolls enjoyed themselves:-)

Myself and Aunt Pam - The Hostesses!

I was up until 2 a.m. the night before, and I think Aunt Pam only got a couple of hours of sleep.

But everyone had such a good time, so it was certainly worth it!

Reading

Reading to my nieces and nephews and cous

ins.

I love these kids:-)

Davey Crocket play

For Christmas I made my four-year-old nephew brown pants and a fringed vest, a sling shot, and bought a coon skin hat. Now he can be a little Davey Crocket or Daniel Boon:-) Here he is posed in his new get up, and showing off the gun daddy bought for him and his siblings to share as a Christmas gift!

Here's the rest of the kids (minus baby brother), excited with their new non-toy! (They will be getting lessons from Daddy how to use this, and will not be left unsupervised. Just so you know.)

Don't you love my little 3-year old niece's tutu?!:-)

Merry Christmas 2011!!

Our Christmas tree at 6:00 in the morning. Dad read to us from Luke 2, we listened to some Christmas music, and we passed out gifts:-) Later in the day, after church service, my older siblings and their families came over (and my Omama!) for another gift exchange. Mom made ham and mashed potatoes and my sister made green bean casserole. We ended with cookies, and yummy ice cream a friend brought over! It was a lovely day:-) In the evening we watched the new movie my sister got "The Help". It was very good!

Please pray for my sister-in-law, brother, nephew, and their new baby girl. She was born on Tuesday the 20th with "Apert Syndrome". She is beautiful and doing well, but will have to have surgery in the next couple of months to separate her little fingers and fix her skull so her brain can grow properly. Thank you!

Quiet/Busy books

This year for Christmas I made Quiet Books (or busy books) for my 3 year old niece, and 1 1/2 year old nephews. I got the idea from a friend who made them for her great grandchildren. I got online and found many ideas for the pages. In the end, they turned out great but were very time consuming. Most of the pages were the same, but a few I made specific for the boys, and specific to my niece. Here they are!

I love the boys' covers. Cute material from Hobby Lobby.

A mitten to put your hand in:-)

A little house.

Peek behind the curtain, door, and bush for a surprise!:

Learn to tie the cat's collar:

Fall leaves:

They velcro on. I painted the velcro for 2 reasons; because otherwise it is too

strong and all that pulling will ruin it. Also, they are color coordinated to the leaves for matching!

A touchy-feely bird's nest.

Peek inside to see the eggs!:

A camping page. This has a zipper for learning to zip.

Unzip and find a sleepy camper!:

A dog house, with a scotty dog peeking out:-)

Pull him out and take him for a walk!:

The barn (possibly one of my favorite pages!):

Open the barn doors to find 2 farm animal finger puppets!:

Also hidden you will find a chicken on top, a cow, and a chick on a bail of hay:-)

I cut those out of some farm animal material and fabric glued them in.

Another favorite page. The boys got tractors with tires that unbutton:

The boys got a little lad to dress up (Velcro on the clothes, and I again painted the

rougher velcro so the hold wouldn't be as strong):

My favorite boys page. The last page is a little car mat!

In the pocket you will find a sail boat, and 2 little felt cars

I made with button wheels:-) I think it's so cute!

The boys got a fishing page. The fish hook onto fish hooks (hook and eyes). My friend

Megan suggested tying them on with embroidery floss because the fish kept getting unhooked and falling out of the books.

After "catching the fish" they can stick them in the boat if they want:

The girl's button page has flowers to unbutton:

The girl's book has a little girl and dress-ups made from bits of trim and lace I bought at the craft store. I finished the edges by melting them carefully with a match. Sewed on velcro.

Instead of the fishing page the girl's book has a laundry page.

I had tiny clothes pins to hang the clothes on the line! This is my favorite girl's page:-)

The last page in the girl's book has 2 pockets to stick a pad of paper and crayons

to keep a little one entertained some more!

Now for the facts:

•I made 12 pages each.

•I used flannel fabric.

•I made the pages about 10 by 12 or so (I think).

•I used lots of fabric glue (I think a whole bottle between the three books!), but I also sewed allot in that would be handled and need better secured.

•I used allot of felt which I bought. Also allot of scrap fabric which I had on hand.

•I sewed everything onto the fabric pages before I sewed the pages (like front and back) together. Then I sewed the 2 pieces (which equaled four pages),with the right sides facing, together. I turned them right side out and finished all around the edge. When all the pages were finished I assembled them in order, laid them on the cover, and sewed right down the middle through all of the layers.

•I don't know that I would make another anytime soon, but it was fun and I have allot of leftovers!