Shoot for the Moon

Saturday, September 18, 2010 was International Observe the Moon Night. What, you didn't get the memo?

Owen's teacher sent home a note about a contest being hosted by the Fernbank Science Center and Planetarium. The children were encouraged to photograph the moon in the early evening sky and try to take a creative shot like balancing the moon on your head or something similar. Not surprising, considering his interest in all things planetary, Owen REALLY wanted to stay up and try to photograph the moon. I'll admit that he might have been slightly motivated by the fact that the paper indicated "the best 10 photographs will win a prize."

After brainstorming different approaches, he settled on trying to catch the moon in a cup and trying to pinch it betweeen chopsticks. He was very clear on the fact that he had to take the picture completely on his own. While OUR camera undoubtedly captured a better and closer shot, he couldn't handle it totally by himself. So, he switched to his own digital camera and directed the shots to his liking.

"Higher, mommy. No, lower. Ok, now open the chopsticks more. Wait! Don't move! Now, move closer to me..."

Here is the resulting image.

Well, whaddya know. We got an email on Monday from the Science Museum with the following message:

"Thanks so much, Owen! No one else in our contest thought of using chopsticks on the Moon, and your photo is absolutely wonderful! Congratulations on winning a Lady in the Moon night light as a thank-you gift. Great work!"

He was thrilled, to say the least...very proud of himself. And though the nightlight is certainly NOT the Lego set he was convinced they would hand out, I'm sure he'll appreciate it nonetheless.

Really?

Tonight was Math Night at Owen's school. Originally on my calendar as a parent study group, I learned that students were included as well and would be demonstrating some of their recent math lessons to the parents in attendance.
Ok, so...ummm...I didn't fully comprehend until I arrived to sit at Owen's station for a lesson. My son then proceeded to instruct me, and tens of other parents rotating through his station, on 'commutative law'. Yeah, that.

And he got it. Like got it. And if you sat down for a lesson, he wasn't letting you leave the station until you got it too. "It doesn't work on subtraction you know. It doesn't make sense. Just addition and multiplication. Lemme show you."

All the kids were just fantastic. You know, they can surprise the hell out of you if you just let them.

Really.

Bananarama

Often, when we end up with some overripe bananas, I turn them into some tasty banana nut bread. Yesterday, the boys noticed that we had 3 perfect bananas and suggested that I make some bread for their afternoon snack. Instead, I mentioned that I wanted to try a new banana cake recipe.

Owen immediately jumped up and began to lobby for he and Bennett to make the cake themselves! "We'd be like scientists, mommy! Cooking is like science, you know." I conceded and they both ran off to grab their chef hats and set to work. Yes, they have chef hats. And they clearly know when it's appropriate to use them. So, hush.

I decided to take a step back, embrace the mess and just let them do the whole job. It took a few tries for O to separate the egg whites/egg yolks but they did the measuring, stirring, mixing and pouring...all themselves.

I took the finished product to a morning meeting today and the consensus was a thumbs up! I didn't mention that there just MIGHT have been a few licked fingers during the process. Details, details.

It just is.

In the past, when I've experienced a lull in blog posts (or more to the point, a complete hiatus in blog posts), I typically resume with some lengthy explanation or justification for my absence. Not this time. It can easily be explained by my current mantra.

It is what it is.

So, maybe I'll get the blog back up and running. Maybe I won't. Maybe I'll just continue to limp along, keeping it going with only a post or 2 per year. Maybe I won't. Maybe I'll appeal to the now-disinterested grandparents with a funny/charming/sentimental family anecdote now and then. Maybe I won't.

Either way...

It is what it is. And I'm okay with that.