Sunday, February 10, 2008

10 February 2008

This week reminds me of a talk when President Hinckley quoted Jenkins Lloyd Jones:

“Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.

“The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride” (“Big Rock Candy Mountains,” Deseret News, 12 June 1973, A4).


And though most weeks seem to be filled with delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust cinders and jolts, we have seen some of the beautiful vistas this week.

Katherine is playing the piano in her high school's (LVA) Broadway version of Cats. The royalty company has encouraged different locations to use indigenous settings. The setting LVA chose was the Las Vegas neon sign graveyard. (If you haven't seen it, it really is something.) They have done further adaptations with the different cats taking on Las Vegas personalities including Sigfield and Roy, Liberace, The Rat pack and current Mayor Oscar Goodman. Vicki and I have our tickets for the 22nd of February. Katherine told us it took three nights to finally get good. I have seen these kids production. If Katherine says it finally is good, it's great. These kids live for the arts. The newspaper said that production costs are close to $100,000 (a good portion for royalties) but that is what the theater department puts into it to make a great production.

Ben turned in a biology project that included a DNA Model with a select portion that was supposed to represent a protein within the DNA. He found a way to build the model using items we had in the house including a coat hanger, clothes pins, corks, small spools, wire, paint and hot glue. It is amazing what he did.

Spencer celebrated his eleventh birthday. Although he loved the gifts from his Grandparents and siblings, he we crazy for the "electronics learning lab" circuit board from his parents. He is now learning of transistors, resistors, capacitors, wires, diodes, batteries and STUFF. He has spent every last minute moving wires and pieces around to learn how they interact. He even found that different family members generate a different pitch when the complete a circuit di to the amount of water in each system. (Spencer has the highest pitch.)

Vicki and I continue to facilitate the learning. Its great to have a family.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Really enjoyed the update on the family in Henderson. What great kids and parents. We just love for every little tidbit of information. Thanks, Ron, for helping humble Vicki disclose her life history. Spencer, I loved the video clip of your "car"; however, I hope I never hear of you taking second when driving a "real" car!
Ben, I'd like to hear more of your DNA model with pictures.
Katherine, the newest family kitten, will soon be a Cougar.
love G&G Hatches