Chloe Poppins

After a long day in Columbia, SC on Saturday we were finished with National History Day.  Sadly, Mark was in Haiti and couldn’t travel with Sam this time.  Grandma and Grandpa stayed at home with Claire and Sophie, and two young cousins … but that’s another story … while Wilson and I traveled with Sam to the State Archive Center in Columbia.

Sam’s interview was at 9:50 A.M. and then we spent our day touring Columbia until the awards ceremony at 4:30PM.  Sam’s was the first name they called.  He won 3rd Place in the state, in his age division (6th - 8th), for the Historical Paper category.  The results are posted at the SC National History Day site, upper right hand corner.

The topic this year was “Innovations in History” and Sam’s paper was entitled MS DOS: Secret Agent of Change . This was quite an experience, and if 1st or 2nd place decides not to go to Nationals, then we’ll be going to DC in June as the alternate. But for now, our ride on the National History Day train is over. What Fun!!

Four more weeks and I’ll be able to pick up the sweet potato plants at the Farmer’s Exchange. Another week or so and I’ll be able to transplant the beans and peas into the garden. So, far so good … mix microgreens already coming up, and carrots too!!

Tiny Carrots

Tomatoes in the ground

The recently refurbished herb garden.

Don’t watch without a box of tissue. When you’re done, do something.

Sam, Claire and I will be walking in the Charlotte JDRF Walk on Saturday, April 17th to help find a cure for Juvenille Diabetes. One of Sam’s best friends has JD and this is the fourth year we’ve been able to walk with them. If you would like to donate to the Zach’s Force Team and support Sam in the walk, click Zach’s Force here. It looks like a great day for a walk!!

2008 Walk - Sam, Zach and another friend of Zachs

Usually we would all be going, but there is also a “Hike for Mike” to raise money for an education trust fund for Mike’s children. Mike died last year of cancer. So, Mark, Wilson and Sophie will be hiking for Mike.

This is the garden before the 80 degree weather and all the loving attention from Wilson and me.

Before the dirt arrived.

This is the garden in process….

Moving the dirt into the garden.

The kids worked very hard with me to move the “composted topsoil” from the pile in the driveway into the garden.  Due to the low powerlines, the dump truck was only to get within about 8 feet of the garden.

Sam waits for another delivery of dirt.

Everyone worked really hard to get the garden in early this year.  This pictures were taken on Saturday morning, the first day of Spring Break.  The kids were actually anxious to get out of bed and start working. That never happens!!

As soon as I can get back out with the camera… I’ll post some after pictures.  Good News… after the birds ate the first round of bean and pea seeds we planted in egg cartons a few weeks ago, the second round … hidden in a box by the hose … has sprouted.  :-)

This year, in order not to “run out” of eggs, we boiled 5 dozen eggs. We have eaten egg salad, potato salad, boiled eggs, and deviled eggs until we’re practically bleeding eggs.  At least we had fun!!

The head of our design team

One of Sophie

Friday, April 9th, we were in Columbia, SC for the State Geography Bee … sponsored by Google and Plum Creek. We didn’t know what to expect, but did discover that much of what we had heard or read about “bees” and the parents is true. Sam came in 11th and, despite not “winning”, had a wonderful day. He said he had no idea he knew so much geography, and he might like to try again next year. He had to complete a three round “playoff” for the last spot in the finals.

We had a great two days in Columbia … staying downtown, visiting EdVenture, going to the zoo, walking downtown and swimming at the hotel … not to mention the “Bee”. More picutes of the trip later….