I am Engineer, hear me Roar!

One of the benefits of having 4 kids all go through the same school is that you see some of the projects over and over again. Such was the case this year for Adam. In the 3rd grade, the kids need to build a grape smasher. Basically, they are to use the elements of simple mechanics (simple machines) to construct a device to smash a grape. Simple machines are things, like incline planes or ramps, levers, pulleys, hinges, fulcrums etc.
Adam has been chomping at the bit to do his for weeks now, and it was due today. He had a drawing and a plan. That's all dad needs to turn his idea into reality. So, last night Adam and I went down to the shop and put this sucker together. The little wimpy hammer that we had used in Rachel's grape smasher, simply would not due - we wanted more smashing power, more grrrhh, grhhh, grrrrhhh ( sorry, how do you type Tim, the Toolman Taylor's signature manly grunts?). So, we went with the small sledge hammer. Now yes, dad was responsible for the majority of the construction, but where it was appropriate, I had Adam buidling elements of it. We had to get our timing just right to have the hammer pull the carriage up into place just in time to smash the ever lovin crap out of some poor grape. Ding, we have a winner! We had grape guts all over the kitchen last night. We had to install the plexi glass splatter shield to protect the innocent bi-standards.
Now, if engineer Dad had had some more time, there would have been an optical trip sensor at the bottom of the black tube, so that when the grape went through the tube, it would trigger on a programmable logic controller, and a latched solenoid would automatically release the hammer. But alas, these are supposed to be 'simple' machines (note to self - remember this is 3rd grade, not junior level project at the U in Mechanical Engineering). But there is still Becca to go next year. Can't wait. It will be bigger, and badder than this one!
Overheard another parent as I was leaving (as I have many times) "How am I supposed to compete with that?"
(pictures coming)

And the Oscar goes to...

Rachel Roylance for her role as Betsy Ross in Mrs. Lawson's 5th grade class play on American History. Rachel did such a good job, I was so very proud of her. At the middle of the year, Rachel had her teacher retire (kind of a shocker - at ticked off this parent a little bit), but that teacher was back to watch today. She came up to Rachel and remarked how much Rachel had grown over the year. It the first play they did this year, Rachel looked at the floor a lot and you could barely hear her. The second play they did in the middle of the year, Rachel did a little better, but flubbed a line at the end - and broke down in tears. Today, she was a star, and her teacher told her so. She had to enter on stage while singing "You're a grand ole' flag", solo, and then having the class join in after the first couple of lines. She did fantastic.
She hated her 'scratchy' costume she had to wear, especially since she got a sunburn yesterday at field day. She looks cute with her new shorter hair cut.
Good Job Rachel!
(pictures and video coming)