Jesus Explains

Choclo Wants You to Know

That he made this himself, and he's a genius.

So, now you know!

Rockets!

 We've finally finished our laws of motion rockets and built "real" model rockets to launch at NASA Goddard!

Here they are on the launch pad from left to right: Choclo's, Mxyl's, Klenda's, Oob's, Zorg's, and Leena's.

We had used a bulk kit of 12 Astra IIIs, and, yes, we made all of them (although some were for other kids in the class).  Our family did seven of them because Choclo made one for the Emperor as a birthday present.

 I chose this kit because it had a pre-molded fin assembly - much easier than working with balsa wood, exact-o knives, and small children!

It was quite easy to build, and the fins were beautifully straight.  In fact, the rockets really came out beautifully, except....

The pre-molded launch lugs were too small for the rails.  In the top picture, you can see that each rocket is strung on to a metal rod or "rail."  This is important because the rails guide the rocket straight up .  Every model rocket has a "launch lug" which is the part of the rocket that rail goes through. 

What you are actually seeing in this picture is the pros (the one in the hat is the launch officer and our first cousin, once removed) trying to get the launch lugs to stretch out enough so that the rockets will move smoothly on the rails.

After all the building, it is incredibly frustrating to have the rocket not work correctly because of a problem  that came from the factory!

They actually worked our rockets enough that they were able to launch, but, of the other kids in the class, only one was able to launch.

Still, it's an ill wind that blows no good.  The friction on the rails reduced the altitude of the rockets, but then, since they didn't go as far, we had a much better recovery rate.  We retrieved 6 of the 7, and we usually only get half of them back....

We plan to enlarge the holes on the launch lugs and try again next month!

Spark Labs

  This week we went to Spark Labs at the Museum of American History.

If you live in the area, I highly and quickly recommend it! 

Highly because it is an amazingly fun science and invention lab, quickly because it is closing on October 6th.  They are redoing that section of the museum, and they won't reopen for three years...

Here we have Choclo and Leena working with snap circuits.

 Here are Oob and Klenda constructing/inventing an answer to some kind of farming problem.

 Here is Zorg making a musical marble run.  He's figured out how to propel the marble up vertical spaces.

 Here is Mxyl, creating a new kind of car from lego parts.

Some of the kids spent 1 1/2 hours here.  After an hour, however, I took the younger Zoomlians through the Transportation exhibit. 

I wasn't planning on doing this museum until later, but I really wanted to catch the Spark Lab exhibit, and I'm super glad we did!

Naturally, on the way out, we had to pose with this fellow...

Happy Birthday, Emperor!

 Happy Really Big Birthday!

The Emperor had pear upside down cake, a bunch of new (old) comic books, concert tickets, a new CD, and a day off for his birthday!

And if that wasn't enough, he also went bowling!!!

It turns out that bowling with a large family works out to be fairly cheap entertainment.  Aside from the cost of the shoes, a single game with seven people (some of whom wander about) takes at least two hours.

In case you're wondering, the Emperor won... by a lot!

Happy birthday, sweetheart!