The Power of Persuasion

Matt just fininshed up with the Science Fair. His project was pretty cool. He would show a poster to a volunteer for 30 seconds. Then the volunteer had 3 minutes to write down anything they could remember from the poster. Next, Matt reviewed their answers (to be sure he understood what they had written). During the review, Matt was so say something like, "Oh, you missed the girl on the bike." or something like that. (There really was not girl on a bike) The next day the volunteer had three minutes again to write down what they could remember. Matt told the volunteer that we were testing long-term and short-term memory. Really he was testing the value of an eye-witness at a crime scene. Would the volunteer add the nonexistent "girl on the bike" the next day when the suggestion was made to them. Matt tested 10 volunteers (5 boys and 5 girls). None of the girls added the nonexistent person, but four of the guys did. I thought it was interesting.

BIRTHDAYS!

Bron turned five in November. He got to have his first friend birthday party. We had a dog party. Grandma Mercer came and helped me with the party. It was tons of fun and the kids loved it. (they also had ears - but Bron had taken them off by the time the picture was taken). Mike turned nine in January. We had a big party for him over at the ward where the boys (and one girl - his cousin Aubrey Mercer) all played basketball and other fun games - then they had a pizza party and opened presents. Okay . . . so I said they played fun games. The games were fun, but boys at the age of nine are WAY too competitive and have not learned how to control their emotions very well. We probably had more than six different boys in tears at one point or another (because they were not winning). It was pathetic.

Grandpa and his Birthday Bear

My dad bought this bear a few years ago from Western Nut. It sings happy birthday and is really cute. He brings it to all the kids' birthdays and sits by them while the bear sings.

The kids love the birthday bear (I know Bron is not smiling - but he does).

Bronson got this build-a-bear from Grandma and Grandpa Place when he turned three a few years ago. This bear sings the build-a-bear birthday song. Well, the next birthday that Grandpa came to with his bear, Bron had to run downstairs and get his bear so he could sing too. Since then, every time that Grandpa brings his bear, Bron has to go and get his.

He gets really excited about having a dog like Grandpa's bear.

Some Fun Stuff

Mom made these cool Utah hats for all the boys to wear to the BYU - Utah football game. It's kind of a silly picture, but the hats were really cool. Thanks Mom!

Matt and Mike had a Shakespeare Festival that they put on a their elementary school. The kids could choose if they wanted to do costume design, perform in the play (Taming of the Shrew), stage crew, or green show. Both my boys chose to be part of the green show. Mike was a joke teller and a juggler, Matt was a joke teller and a puppeteer (Punch and Judy). The kids who were in charge of the costuming had to actually design the costumes and make them, the stage crew actually drew up and painted the set. I love their elementary school.

A new favorite photo of Mike.

Kali was a crayon for halloween

I have meant to post a picture of Matt during the fall of his football. I didn't get very many photos, as I was always holding a kali or trying to appease Bron. This is one of the few photos that were snapped. Matt looked really cute (I mean tough) in his uniform.

Packs Pumpkin Patch

Kristy and I took our kids to Packs. For a free trip, it's kind of fun. Next year Matt and Mike would love to try the corn maze out - we just never had time this year. I thought these were cute pictures of Bron and Hailey from the patch.

A Little Halloween Fun

I saw this cool idea in my Family Fun magazine. The kids had a lot of fun decorating their shirts. You just use a white T-shirt and tie elastic bands all around it and then put it in orange dye (I just dyed them right in my washing machine). After they dry you take the elastic bands off and draw the faces with a sharpie.

Merry Christmas

I am finally getting around to adding a small addition to our very outdated blog.

I took Kalia to Walmart. We went in a side door and there sat Santa, completely asleep. He really was - it was pretty funny. After he woke up we got Kali's picture with him. I must say, this is about the cutest baby/Santa picture that I have seen!