Homeschool Prom

Meggar and I are pleased to help the Mason's committee in planning the Homeschool Spring Formal Banquet! Of course, we have chosen a Jane Austen theme:

"A Night at Netherfield Hall"

I doubt Colin Firth will be able to attend. Some girls were asking about Regency attire, but I think they were joking.

We're excited about the setting of the Tudor Room at the St. Joseph Country Club. Our dinner will feature British specialties, i.e. Cornish game hen, roast potatoes with English lavendar and herbs, parsnips, crown rolls, English trifle, and a pot of tea. We have secured a special guest speaker from Britain, she's an ex-pat who works at our Downtown Library. Meanwhile, I am still negotiating with a caricature artist and a Shakespearean Comedy Troupe from the KC Renaissance Festival. Only 3.5 weeks remaining until the big night!

Meggar went shopping (again) and decided on the purple dress! (Maybe KSU is still in her future?!) She won't let me post the photo until after her debut. She and Hannah have an "Old English Table" every Tuesday to sell tickets after Homeschool Choir. We are hoping for 40 students.

Young Engineers

It was a scene from the future... My three sons are acting the part of engineers during an afternoon class called "Building Bridges" at the homeschool co-op. (It was adapted from a public school gifted program, and they love it!) This was week 5 of class: First, they discovered their bridge would not allow a boat to sail under it, so they had to take off their two deck pieces. One broke! So it cost $91,000 to buy a new one. But the accountant (Winger) wrote the check with a misspelled word, which resulted in a $2,000 fine from the bank! Then Polar Bear said they needed more lumber, but the store closed early. The "Herzog Contractors" company was struggling on Tuesday afternoon. (I tried not to laugh as they were all talking at the same time on our way home.) They have one more week to finish construction of their bridge--within a $1.5 million budget--before the weight-bearing competition amongst the 5 student companies. I predict one or two of them might truly become engineers!

Chess Champions

The 7-9th graders took 1st place in the un-rated division at Supernationals!! How wonderful for Dorito and his friends--the trophy is almost as tall as he is! (picture to come) Mr. Bird was very proud as they had 4 players finish in the top 15, too. Dorito keeps telling us stories of the HUGE Gaylord Opryland Convention Center with indoor waterfalls, bridges, and gardens.

Dancing Queen

What fun to watch the "Mamma Mia!" movie and sing along with the ABBA songs. I knew more of the tunes that I expected to recognize. Hey, I like singing - even if the plot was silly. Plus you can't go wrong with Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, and Meryl Streep in the movie. With six other girls and plenty of good snacks, it was as better than going out.

Chess Tournament in Progress

Dorito is in Nashville--playing in the world's largest chess tournament along with 5,200 students from 45 states. Yesterday, he lost the first match and beat his second opponent. His St. Joe K-9 team is in 1st place after the first day!! Very exciting. It's also been fun to hear him talk about the chess inventions in the vendor area. "Pounder chess" lets you make one move as the piece you just captured. 3-D chess lets you move vertically up the side wall (built with shelves). And some version where the piece permanently is attached to the square, and you move them together each time. Crazy!

Kansas Abortions and Doctor's Conscience

I must comment on the doctors in the news lately. George Tiller, the infamous Wichita abortionist, was acquitted last Friday of 19 charges related to late-term abortions. Pity about the loop-holes. Tiller estimated that he performed 250 to 300 late-term abortions in 2003, each costing an average of $6,000. Out of his millions, he paid $300 in cash to Dr. Ann Kristin Neuhaus if she would provide a second opinion that these were "necessary" for the women's health. Tiller said he is one of only three doctors in the U.S. who currently perform late-term abortions. The others are in Boulder, Colo., and Los Angeles, he said. Sad situation in my home state, and we continue to pray for an end abortion.

On the national level, you may voice your opinion until April 9 on the proposed rescission of the doctor's conscience clause. One form can be found here to email HHS. LifeNews.com suggests emailing proposedrescission@hhs.gov directly. Since my brother has a pro-life Ob-Gyn practice, this hits close to home. If doctors do not have the rights of conscience, then neither will their patients.

April Fools

This year, I didn't cook my usual April Fool's breakfast of meatloaf and mashed potatoes because Winger was throwing up. It was also a gloomy and blustery day outside. Needless to say, no one in the family played any tricks all day.

But I cannot resist a comment on Obama's nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. (She's fair game because I lived more years in Kansas than I have in Missouri.) She is the sixth appointee who was found to have made unintentional mistakes on their taxes. She explained the goof saying she deducted mortgage interest for a house she sold in 2006, and for deducting the interest of a similar second mortgage. No Fooling!?!