Happy Birthday, Petra

One of the things I love about my little Petra is the way she brims with confidence.  The first time we went to visit her kindergarten teacher, Petra chatted all the way through her literacy assessment.  I don't think she even realized she was taking a test.

She has buddies on the bus and buddies at school.  When we go to church she enters with a flourish, happy to be

dressed in her fancy church clothes.

The few things that unnerve her are getting shots at the doctor's office, eating food that seems a little off (per yesterday she asked nervously, "Mommy, what will happen if I swallow a pear seed?"), and apparently spiders.  She came into my room last night at 12:26 a.m. to ask me if tarantulas were poisonous.

"Petra, I think you just had a bad dream.  Hey Petra, look at the clock.  What time is it?  You know what that means?  It means that you are officially 6 years old.  Happy birthday!  It's time to go back to bed.  Do you want me to tuck you in?"

Today she is at school dressed as a zebra unicorn for her Halloween party.  She is planning on amending the costume tomorrow for trick-or-treat so that she can be a ninja zebra unicorn.  Because who doesn't want to be a ninja zebra unicorn?!

I love it!

Research Projects

The Kuhlman Research Group (KRG) is pleased to provide this memo report concerning some independent research performed on P&G products.  KRG was contracted to perform this research in the period spanning 2006 to 2015.  Sarah Kuhlman was the primary investigator.  KRG would like to acknowledge significant contributions by research technicians Paul, Julia, Petra & Nathan Kuhlman.  The P&G product research program was overseen by Steve Kuhlman.

I.                    Crest:  Research was performed on a standard bathroom sink using Crest for Kids in various dispensers.  A positive correlation was found between high levels of plaque and the consumption of liquid Drano.  It is believed that poor brushing habits of the research technicians led to large globs of Crest being spit and washed down the drain.  Crest globs coupled with low water pressure lead to drain clogs, and consequently more frequent use of Drano.  While a positive correlation has been observed, the statistical significance of this correlation has not been verified.  Further research is being conducted.
KRG would like to propose the development of a foaming toothpaste with a mild flavor that is applied directly to the teeth to reduce both dental plaque and Drano consumption.

II.                  Downy: The KRG has verified that Downy, if placed on an upper shelf, hidden by outdoor toys, and forgotten for some undetermined amount of time in a room without climate control, will increase in viscosity to the point of becoming a Jell-O.  While the start time for this thermal cycling experiment was not recorded, it is believed that the duration was not greater than 9 years.  The thermal cycling was estimated to have an upper bound of 100°F and a lower bound of 30°F.  Lower amplitude thermal extremes occurred on a 24 hour cycle.
KRG proposes that the principal investigator never use the upper shelf again.

III.                Pantene Conditioner: In a single test performed earlier in October 2015, the principal investigator determined that if Pantene Conditioner is applied to a bathing “puff” that rubbing will not cause it to form a lather like body wash, even if the principal investigator does double the quantity of product normally used.  It is unclear whether the suds-less puff of hair conditioner benefited research technician Petra’s skin during her shower. 
The KGR suggests that the principal investigator SLOW DOWN.  If slowing down is not possible, perhaps reading glasses could be worn in the bathroom to identify which product is being used.

Proud of Petra

I have to brag on my little Petra.  Last week she told me that she had joined the 100 Club in her kindergarten class for successfully counting to 100 for her teacher.

 

We were walking through a store and she was counting and playing and chatting.  She counted to 100 by tens and then observed, “Mommy, counting to 100 by tens is like counting to 10 by ones.”

Yes, honey. Yes it is.  And I am delighted that, as a kindergartener, you understand that.

Still walking through the store, she was trying to add big numbers.  “Forty plus forty is fifty.”

“No, honey, that’s not right.  What is four plus four?”

She thought a moment.  “Eight.”

“Right, so what’s forty plus forty?”

Another moment of thought, and then, “Eighty.”

“Good job.”

She then tried to add fourteen and fourteen to get eighteen, so we still need to work on how on some of the finer points of the rules, but she is doing so well.