Wil won the "You Be the Chemist" Challenge and will represent SC at the National Convention in Philadelphia on June 18-19, 2009. WOW! He is the first one ever to win for the Clover School District. He's made us proud on many occasions but this beats them all!!!

Here's a few shots from the day.

Checking in:

His buddy, Max D., also a finalist

The experiment demonstration:

The moment he won: (ME??? He said...)

Lightning rod questions... he tied on the round and they had to write their answers on paper. The first question was also a tie, but the second one... was the winner!!

And a group photo:

Irish Soda Bread

It's my annual tradition to make Irish Soda Bread. Today, I am making a batch for my first graders class. I am sure they won't like it but ... it's tradition and it's something new. Somebody has got to like it! Here's a picture and the recipe. Enjoy! Happy St. Patrick's Day. I hope you are wearing GREEN!



Here's the recipe:



Irish Soda Bread:



3 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

4 tbsp. unsalted butter (1/4 cup)

2 tbsp. caraway seeds, optional

1 cup raisins

1 cup buttermilk

1 egg



Set rack in the middle level of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees.



In a mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt and stir well to mix.



Add the butter and rub in until the butter disappears into the dry ingredients.



Stir in the caraway seeds if used and the raisins.



In a small bowl, whisk the buttermilk and egg together and mix into the dough mixture with a rubber spatula.


Turn the dough out on a floured work surface and fold it over on itself several times, shaping it into a round loaf.



Transfer the loaf to one cookie sheet or jelly roll pan covered with parchment paper or foil and cut a cross in the top.



Bake for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 350 and cook for about 15 or 20 minutes more, until well colored and a toothpick plunged into the center emerges clean.



Cool the soda bread on a rack and serve with plenty of sweet butter and bitter orange marmalade.



From: The Food Network (Marilyn O'Reilly's Irish Soda Bread.Link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/marilyn-oreillys-irish-soda-bread-recipe/index.html

Wil gets..... b.r.a.c.e.s!!!

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

CAN I PLEASE HAVE A MILKSHAKE?

Much to his disliking, he got braces on yesterday. He has to have a "Herbst Appliance" to help correct an overbite. I thought his teeth were just a little overcrowded until we visited several orthodontists and they all had the same opinion. I think it's hilarious that my great grandfathers name was Herbst... we should get it for free... HA. He has been a little out of sorts but a really good sport about it. He's eating a lot of yogurt and pudding... soft foods but he did eat some spaghetti last night so he at least doesn't feel the end of the world is here. I tell him his teeth are going to look absolutely beautiful when we're finished. I just hope he believes me. I didn't get braces until high school when most of my friends were getting theirs off. It was my own doing as I had to wait until I made the commitment to take care of my teeth. Poor Wil, it took him an hour last night to brush and floss. Here's a few pictures from what he calls the torture session :) And Garrett went along for the visit too so I have to include one of him-

Our little camper

Garrett has set up a fort in the master bedroom, of course. He's having too much fun to make him break it down. I caught him in it last night reading. Notice the stash... the trashcan, the watch, you can't see the food and water... he thinks he's camping and he needs all this stuff just in case. He's all boy!

LET IT SN*W.....LET IT SN*W..... LET IT SN*W

It it started snowing about 8:30 pm last night. It was a cold rainy day and the colder it got, the more it looked like it was going to snow... and it did. The kids loved it! The dog loved it! Luckily, Eric worked from home today and took the kids out sledding... they made a snowman also... it's as tall as Eric. It took all three of us (excluding Garrett) to hoist the middle section. Unfortunately, it's warmed up a good bit and a lot of it is melting. Scruffy didn't like the snow the last time.... not this time... he loved chasing the snowflakes!