Good Morning Wednesday!

A 6.15am we all got up and drove to the beach

reason: Mollie wanted to sketch the sunrise..

And while we waited, there was a whole beach to create in, so inspired by a show we watched last night....we built...

The Pyramids - the Great Pyramid, the first Step Pyramid, the Sphinx (x 2, boy competition!) and a couple smaller pyramids.

Gotta a have a photo of a friendly visitor...

What beautiful way to greet the morning.

Chook Tractor!

It was either going to be the dog locked up while the chickens free range or we build a chook tractor...we, what am I saying..Dave builds the chook tractor. :D

edit to add, I helped a bit!

We wanted it to be big enough to sit over our vegy gardens so when the season finishes they can get to work in there. They already have proved they are excellent at it..cheeky things!!

We are now getting 3 eggs a go HOORAY!

And at the end of the day, we open the door and they walk into the coop..what lovely ladies!!

Yesterday...the pool season has started!!!

Bit cold for me yet but I love seeing the kids swimming.

The Family Chickens

We have four chickens. Their names are Leia, Reddy and Cornwall and Florence.

We have got three eggs from them so far in the two days they have been here.

Chicken pecking in the dirt

Chickens drinking out of the water trough

Chicken on the roost

The nesting boxes

The chicken feeder

Close up of chicken

Photos and words by

Lastly....the Scarecrow Competition

The show had a Scarecrow competition and a couple families from the homeschooling group (including us) entered two scarecrows......guess our theme....

Yes the Royal Couple :D

Lucas Cairns Show enteries

Here are most of the photos entered in the Junior photography section.

Lucas won 3rd place for this Ferrari Pits photo

And here are the other three photos he entered.

He was very excited to see his photos on the wall.

He did so well :)

Two more NXT creations!!

A Crazy lawn mover.

One of the buttons on the handle turned the lawn mower on and the other turned the blades underneath spinning. It moved back and forth across the floor and if he left it for long enough, it did a complete 360' turn :)

And this one was called a mystery machine...lots of different things turned and spun. It was a quick build that was tested and then taken apart for the next creation...

Guess what his next creation is going to be.....

A gearbox and clutch!!

Something much more practical :)

He has finished the clutch plate already....

We are loving this NXT Mindstorm!!!

Building with Dad

On Monday, Lucas and Dave decided their slot car track needed an over and under bridge.
After some measuring, drawing, calculating, sawing, nailing..and the rest :D
Oh and some painting

An over and under bridge was made... It works like a beauty!!!

A photo for Mama :)

By Lucas

My favourite, The Ulysses Butterfly!

A couple more NXT creations

And these are as different as can be :D
Santa and his reindeer annnndddd.....


Yes an automatic weapon...sigh...lol
Yes it shoots little technic pieces, not at anyone, into a plastic container..BOYS!


And a lego something he has been working on with Dave. A Lego Crank Shaft, that you would see in an engine..

The motor is attached to the shaft running through the lego mounts which turns the arms which are pistons...yes I am right, I just checked! :D

Time to cruise the NXT website for more ideas!!

Easter Bunnys by Mollie!

Thankyou for your Dorkey Rabbit pattern :D Tracy!!

She made 5 rabbits - One each for us and one each for her friends next door. She has made them as part of an easter hunt. She has written clues for everyone to follow and the bunnys with an egg in the pocket is their prize.
Cute hey!

She thought drawing the faces was a easier option then embroiderying them.
I will secretly make one for her today so she is part of the easter hunt.

And she took the photos herself..I better watch out, she is getting good!

Sketching @ the beach!

On Tuesday we all got in the car, including Odie (our dog) and drove 10 minutes north of here to Ellis Beach. Mollie has been wanting to do some sketching at the beach for a while now so we packed a morning tea and headed out. We found a lovely elevated spot for the kids to set up on and after a run round they settle down for some sketching.

Mollie loves her drawing!!

Lucas did a drawing too, which I am thrilled about and then he took off with my camera to take some photos too. He is really getting into photography lately.

And while this was happening, Odie got a lovely long run on the beach with Dave! We were there for an hour and in that time we saw three people. How nice it is to have a tropical beach to yourself!!

Mollie has asked for the botanical gardens next for a sketching morning...perfect!

Rollerblading FUN!

On Wednesday we met our homeschooling friends at the local Skating venue for the kids first try at skating. There were many downs with lots of laughing.......

But finally they GOT it...well kind of :D

The skating venue is opened during school hours BONUS! so we can get lots more practice...

What a fun day to share with friends :)

BTW: they tried both blades and skates but said the blades a definately easier.

More robot creations!

The Mindstorm robot has been re created into a

Robogator

Scorpian

Ball Sorter

This Lego Kit is heaps of fun!!