Benj, Melinda, Jason, Kaitlin, and Samantha: August 2009

Ghetto LED LCD Hack

So a week or so ago we decided to get Jason a computer. He's started playing some learning games on our laptop and not only does he enjoy them, but it seems to be helping him get some concepts down so we figured he might as well have his own. (Not to mention he's almost 3)

Anyway, I helped some guy that I met off of Craigslist fix his push reel mower in exchange for a really good deal on a used computer. Then I found a guy in Vancouver that was offering an LCD monitor for $25. Like all things that seem to be too good to be true, it kind of was. When we got home to try it out we found out that the backlight didn't work. In other words, the monitor comes on but doesn't light up and you can't see anything.

After discovering that one of the lamps was burnt out which caused the inverter to fail, parts would cost about $50, I decided I needed to do a ghetto hack. $6 dollars of cheap LED lamps from the dollar store and behold, the ghetto LED LCD hack.

You'll see that there are some pretty noticable hotspots, that's the best part, Jason doesn't notice at all. Afterall, he's just a kid. The dark picture shows the monitor next to the laptop for a brightness comparison.

And the verdict is.....GIRLS!!!!

We had our ultrasound today. We are having two girls! Jason has been telling us the whole time that he has two baby sisters on the way, I guess he knew what he was talking about. We are very excited!

Bend a what....

..Bendaroos!

Grandma and Grandpa Murdock gave Jason some Bendaroos for a present and we absolutely love them! I say we because I think I have just as much fun creating as he does. The Bendaroos come with instructions on how to make things. It tells you how many of each color you need. Jason is a good helper and counts out each of the colors we need while saying "Mom the recipe says we need 5 cups of blue sticks, 3 cups of red sticks..."

Jason insisted we take some pictures to show Grandma. So here you go! Enjoy :-)

Also here is a shout out to Elder Lloyd. We are proud of you! Happy birthday!!!

We're Back

We have had an amazingly lazy summer. I won't delve any deeper because I know how jealous it makes people to know that teachers have the summer off. Actually this is the first summer of my adult life that I haven't had more responsibility. Anyway, I know some people might remember the power wheels racer project, here's the bad boy on the open road.

Washington Fun!

For the past month we have been in Washington. Benj's parents took a trip down to Ecuador and rather than be in Portland where there is no air conditioning we volunteered to stay in their air conditioned house, swim in their pool, and feed their dogs. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it :-). Favorite things of this summer so far:

*Grandma and Grandpa Lloyd's swimming pool!* Missing the record heat in Portland!*Mini golfing and bowling with G&G Murdock. * Jumping on G&G Murdock's trampoline with a sprinkler under it. *Lloyd Reunion and being with the family. * Canoeing in the Yakama River *Wrestling and running away from G&G Lloyd's dogs. *Sleeping in a king size bed. *Buying a van to fit our growing family. *Being together everyday and relaxing.

As a side note... the babies and I are doing well. I have to say that having twins really is double. I have felt twice as tired, twice as sick, and now I feel twice as big as I did with Jason. Everything is going well though so I cannot complain. I am feeling MUCH better now and we get to find out what we are having next Friday so stay tuned! If I get brave I will post a picture of my ever growing self....maybe....