The latest from CB...

Lately we've been settling into our routine with homeschool, hockey (lots of hockey), and being up on the mountain. 

THE HOMESCHOOL REPORT:

Our trebuchet project has been perfected with additional counterweights and we got a record launch of nearly 70 feet.  We are eyeing a few distant houses for a stealth fruit attack.  We need to clean out the fridge anyway. 

We moved on from catapults to building bridges out of popsicle sticks.  The boys built some impressive structures. Here's Spence testing his first bridge:

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Owen with his first bridge:

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Owen testing his second (super burly) bridge.  (Owen and the two 10 pound weights = 95 pounds):

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The bridge broke after Sumaya stood atop it.  So we know that the bridge holds somewhere between 95 and 260 pounds.  (Sumaya has really bulked up here in CB.)

We've all been enjoying Sumaya's geography adventures and learning about cool places all around the world.  Recent destinations have included Mauna Loa, Antarctica, Hadrian's Wall, and the Terra Cotta Warriors of China.  The boys are sent on (virtual) missions to these places and return chock full of amazing facts. 

Spanish class and cooking class with CB locals have also provided some fun for the boys, as well as a bit of a break for us homeschool teachers.  The boys have begun cooking dinners on Sunday nights - partly as a way to learn the ropes, and partly because they have had enough of dad's Paleo dinners.  Why doesn't everyone love meat three to five times a day?

While also serving as art teacher, Sumaya has rediscovered her love of watercolor painting, and can often be found in a blissful state trying to capture the subtle hues of this cute little mining town and the breathtaking mountains that surround us in every direction.  Husband is in awe of this latest bit of skill, and wonders if there is anything she cannot do (well).

TROOPER THE MENACE (a report filed by Spencer)

I played with Trooper for an hour straight.  We played fetch.  I threw a stick and he’d come back and then drop it next to me.  It was kind of fun.

 But, there’s another side of Trooper.  He is a menace.  Whatever you leave outside, he finds it and destroys it.  It started with Owen’s new soccer ball that he got for Christmas.  It lasted two days in Crested Butte before Trooper popped it.  Then, when we were launching oranges in our trebuchet, Trooper stole our orange and tore it up. Same thing happened with our tennis ball ammunition.  Next, we were playing with legos in the driveway.  We walked to town and when we came back, Trooper had stolen some of our lego pieces.  Next, you would think dogs eat bones, but not this one.  He ate my sled!  He chewed the whole side of it right off. 

 Another time, he followed us to town, and stole a basket from in front of a thrift store.  When we told Trooper’s owner, she said this wasn’t the first time he’d taken a tour through town.

 Yesterday, Trooper wasn’t feeling so well and he took a huge explosive poop in our yard. 

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 Now we try not to leave anything outside.  I’ll still play fetch with him, but I wouldn’t say he’s a good dog.

THE SPORTS REPORT

This past week we had 9 hockey games.  NINE.  Sumaya got to play against the talented gals from Western State College.  Jason realized that the first game of his career, in which he scored twice, is likely to be the pinnacle of his hockey life, and that it's all downhill from here. Spencer played in a tournament all weekend, including a game against a former neighbor, Anthony Turco, who now plays for Durango.  We got to see Anthony, his brother Nicholas, and dad Rich for a few hours on Saturday at our house. 

Owen and Spencer are getting to know the mountain well, and led Jason on an all-mountain ski tour last week.  We were bummed that the mega-storm that hit Nederland skipped CB entirely, but the skiing has still been pretty great. 

Owen is quickly becoming King of the Hill at the local sledding hill.  Thankfully, Trooper didn't eat all of our sleds.  If there is an X-games event for sledding, Owen is ready for the competition.

Sumaya and Jason have also found time for some great skate skiing, some good winter biking, and a bit of yoga.  We are currently ranked 1,563rd (out of 1600) on the Crested Butte athletic couples competition.  We have yet to win any national or world events, which might put us in the top 500. 

HERO KITS

Lest it appear that there is no work happening here at Bervabu Headquarters, I am pleased to report that progress is being made on Hero Kits.  It has been a surprising pleasure to work with inanimate objects rather than people, and a rough prototype is now complete.

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VISIT TO NEDERLAND

We'll be back in Nederland later this week for a brief visit, before jetting off to join Sumaya's family to celebrate her mom's 70th birthday.  We hope to see as many of our Ned friends as possible while we're home.

 

 

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