Trajan's Disney Story

On our trip to Disneyland, most of my family was kidnapped by Rocket Raccoon.  The transport to their ship was very jerky!  They were imprisoned for two months.  Then they took a robotic leg and fought their way out.  They got back onto the transport and escaped.  This is a picture of their heroic escape.

Story by Trajan
Picture by Disney

DISNEYLAND!!

I forget how much I like Disneyland until I walk through the gates and see the Main Street Station.  You walk in and see that the entire place is designed and built to make YOU happy.  There is not another place like it in the world!

Then it'd down Main Street, and everyone is happy.  The Castle, The Matterhorn, Frontier Land off to the left.  How could a place get more glorious?  Star Wars Land, that's how!!

Sure it's expensive, and the lines can be long, although ours weren't, but for my bet it truly is "The h
Happiest Place on Earth".

And we still couldn't get the kids off their phones.

The Bug

In late September 2019, I drove out from Napa to Durango to pick up a 1969 VW that my brother Jeff had had for years.  He was the second owner.  Mom was out for a visit and we made a road trip of it.

We drove it around for a couple of months, but in the beginning of January we decided that it was time to start work.  Percy and Hadrian took out the seats and we got an upholstery kit.  We will be working on putting it in for the next couple of weeks.

We'll keep you updated.

Trajan Helps Build a Chicken Food Hut

This weekend Hadrian, Trajan , and I built a small building to protect the chicken food from the rain.  The kids did most of the work including design, measuring, cutting, and assembling. It was great fun and worked great until I left the roof open and it rained.  Food got wet, but it was a user error.  We didn't realize that we needed a yellow sticker commenting about how The device will not function properly if the user acts like an idiot.

Percy went to school in his rubber ducky PJ's as he gets in contact with his inner child.  When asked why he chose these particular jammies he said "Duck, Good!"

Snowmobiling at Medicine Lake

Granddad, Percival, Hadrian and I went snowmobiling on the 29th.  The snow was good and we had fun.  Granddad has two new machines, big and fast.

Making Root Beer

For years I have wanted to make root beer with real sassafras.  So a couple of weeks ago we did it.

After making a gallon of root beer we pored it into bottles and capped them.  I think it came out very good.  There was a complexity to the flavor that you just don't find in the dark sugar water you buy in the stores.  Next time we will add a little sarsaparilla.  Can you say YUM!

The Rooster is Gone

Roodie the Rooster has found a new home.  He is now leading up a henrom of 23 and is both happier and much more tired then when he was henpecked by our four hens.

😄

The Bynum's Buy a New Car

Well actually we didn't buy it yet mainly because Shawna doesn't see the value in an old dump truck for a family of five.  "What kind of gas mileage does it get?" she asks, completely proving that she just doesn't get it, and when I reply "Well, that depends of weather we can get it started, doesn't it?" She looks at me like I'm the one that doesn't get it.  I don't think I should have to explain that to a math teacher that if we don't start it (gas use, zero) and we push it even one inch is gas mileage is infinite.  That's better then a Prius any day.

Being fair the above conversation didn't really happen mainly because I'm afraid to bring it up.

Ksenia's Baby Shower

Hadrian was in heaven and Percy made a new friend at Ksenia's baby shower.  Later Lola (the dog) ate Trajan, that's why we don't have any pictures of him.

Koy's Birthday Party

Trajan and Hadrian had their tongues turn black after eating fondant off of Koy’s birthday cake.  Later in the day, both tongues atrophied and fell out, making it much easier to get the kids to eat the meals that they used to turn their noses up at. "etz asier do eot baba slot en oo ant ais ot" said Trajan a couple days after the party.  I am pleased to report that the tongues are growing back and should be in place before the Christmas photo season. 

Woodland Star Robotics Club Goes to Pixar

Using Hadrians visit to Pixar as a guide I decided to take the Woodland Star Robotics Club to Pixar on October 10th.  It was a fantastic trip.  What a place to work!  It was an inspiration to all of the kids.

Percy Goes to the Sonoma Challenge Ropes Course

The Woodland Star 7th grade class went on a field trip to the Sonoma Challenge ropes course.  The students went over a couple of rope bridges, a zip line, and several other challenges. Percy used his rock climbing skills and succeeded in all of the challenges he attempted.  I went on the trip with the class and actually attempted some of the events.  I was very proud of every one in the class, but Percy outshined them all.

Hadrian To Goes to Fort Ross

One of the field trips that the Woodland Star 4th graders go on is the overnight to Fort Ross.  Fort Ross was the southern most North American outpost of the 19th century Russian Empire.  For the field trip, the students wear period costumes and are broken into teams that work the fort for the day.  Hadrian was a hunter and spent the day spear fishing.

Rock Climbing Gym

One of the coolest things the kids are doing these days is indoor rock climbing.  The kids are in a club and each week work with a coach that has been climbing for more then 20 years.  It is fun and very good exercise.