Archaeologist Lecture

After skating on the pond with the high school hockey players, our family went to a lecture by Dr. Koloski-Ostrow from Brandeis University. She has not only dug in Pompeii, North Africa, and all over the world, but she is the world's leading expert on ancient Roman plumbing and toilets. Quite a specialty! So, I knew that my boy would like this talk: archaeology and scatology!

Both boys listened with wide eyes as she gave background information about Pompeii, its people, customs, bathing, and yes, its toilets. While Shawn had to get out of his chair to wake up some dozing high schoolers, Lachen and Aksel were totally into it. (If anything, Lachen was giving a running commentary about which Greek gods correlated to the Roman ones the professor was discussing.) When the professor opened for questions from audience of over 100, guess who raised their hands first. Lachen took the microphone and asked the first question, closely followed by questioner number two, Aksel. I was bursting with pride. My two little classicists!!!

In honor of their impressive showing tonight, Lachen has given me permission to post a quiz on Greek mythology he wrote for us tonight. He wanted me to write the quiz for him to answer, but I reminded him that he knows more about the subject than I do. After tonight, we're clearly going to have to do some reading on Pompeii. The Head of School caught us after the talk and asked when the Reids were going to take a trip to Pompeii. Had I been thinking quicker, I might have asked when he would like to fund one! Okay, here's the quiz. Answers will be posted below.
Lachen is anxious to hear how you do.

1. How many tasks did Hercules have?
a. 11 b. 12 c. 5

2. How was Athena born?

3. What did the Hydra do after you cut off one of its heads?
a. die b. grow two more c. nothing

4. How did Hercules kill the Hydra?

5. Who is the god of healing?
a. Hermes b. Zeus c. Apollo

6. Who are the big three? What are their names?

7. Who invented the chariot?

8. If there is a party, which god comes?
a. Zeus b. Dionysus c. Apollo

9. What did Poseidon make a horse out of?
a. sea foam b. coral c. water

ANSWERS
1. b (12)
2. She was born from Zues's head in full battle armor
3. b (grown two more heads)
4. He cut off all the heads and put fire on them before they could re-grow.
5. c (Apollo)
6. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades
7. Poseidon
8. b (Dionysus--who is Bacchus in Roman mythology)
9. a (sea foam)

Let us know how you do in the comments section! Lachen wrote this quiz from 7:45 until 8:00 tonight. All I did was put a mask on my face and pluck my eyebrows. Clearly, I'm going to have to be a more serious academic if I'm going to keep up in this house!

Ali Baba & the 4T Thieves

Lachen and Aksel were phenomenal in their production last night. There were lots of audience members in the Black Box to see the first and only production of Ali Baba and the 4T Thieves. Lachen had a major role as Ali's wealthy brother, Cassim. He had several funny lines and he did an excellent job making the crowd laugh with his body language. "What was it again? Was it 'Open Barley?' 'Open Oats?' 'Open Millet?' 'Open Sesame!'" Aksel was one of the four thieves and he played a very fierce robber indeed. In reply to Ali Baba's, "You're a menace to the town," Aksel growled, "We're a menace to you, all right!" After weekly rehearsals since late September, the 8-member cast came together for a fabulous performance. Everyone remembered his or her lines, and none of the props tumbled mid-show. BRAVO! We'll see if there is an encore performance or another production in the future. For now, Aksel is glad to wear his satin Arabian pants around the house, and Lachen went to school today with the remnants of his curly moustache on his left cheek.

Eveleth Home of Hockey Tournament

Shawn and I are chaperoning a St. Mark's hockey team trip to Minnesota. Currently, the team has played two games (1 win and 1 loss in overtime), we've visited the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, dined in some fine establishments in Eveleth and Virginia, taken in a few good saunas, and squeezed in a great visit with the Sundquists. Tomorrow, the team plays one more game, and we head back to the Twin Cities to go to a Wild game on New Year's Eve. Shawn also arranged a tour of the the arena and passes to watch the team's morning practice--good ol' Wild connections. Lachen and Aksel will meet us at the Xcel Center after a undoubtedly fun time at both grandparents' houses.

Shawn's snoring on the bed...I think I'll join him.

Lille Jul Aften

Aksel and Lachen were both at Lille Jul Aften, but Aksel positioned himself in front of the camera more often. Lachen was a shepherd this year, and Aksel was Joseph. We had four wise men this year offering gifts of gold, frankincense, myrrh, and jar of body butter. It's what every baby really needs. (Double-click on the photos to enlarge them.)

We arrived early to avoid the snow storm, we enjoyed the batch of Guinness Clone Shawn and the boys made at Thanksgiving as well as some hard cider pressed from Dad's apple trees. Soooo delicious. Good times dancing around the tree, the pageant, Christmas carols, and great food. I know that I ate 3 dozen cookies...and that is no exaggeration.

Christmas is coming!

My computer and camera are not speaking to each other right now. I'm not sure if this is some sort of holiday tiff or if one of them have contracted a virus. In any case, I can't post the Christmas Pageant videos right now. I can tell you that Lachen did an excellent job as a speaker up at the big pulpit with a microphone. He spoke clearly and flawlessly. What a relief that he takes after his father and not his warbly-voiced mother! I didn't tell him, but I had a wretched gut ache all morning. Apparently his butterflies were in my stomach instead of him.

Aksel was decked out as a shepherd and he belted out his choir's songs with gusto. This is definitely his forte. His favorite was "Go Tell it on the Mountain." We had watched our Lille Jul Aften friend, Sofie Stern, sing at her church http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLzOSczFchA and then we watch a couple episodes of Glee to inspire showmanship and projection. The research definitely paid off!

The boys have their piano recital on Thursday at 7:00. Aksel's wearing a red vest that Grandma knit for Peter, and Lachen and I have our horns locked over his attire. Stay tuned for videos of these performances.

Playmobil Forever

Lachen and Aksel combined efforts and the Rock Castle bad guys have made a truce with the Good Guy Castle. The two kings are sitting side by side in the throne room below. If only all wars could be settled this way...I do have to wonder why the queen has been moved off the pedestal. A lesson in feminism will be another day. Oh, wait. Lachen, my over-the-shoulder editor has just informed me that the only reason the queen was de-throned was because there wasn't enough space. She's still the queen, and she retains all of her powers. Aksel adds, "She's still in control of EVERYONE." Oh, I guess I have raised two feminists!