Sullivan's Visit

As part of our get a way up North, our friends Beth, Peter and their brood of four boys overlapped for a night.  Sullivan's plans for winter camping were canceled when the guide told them their was still too much snow (good lord) and so instead they thought they'd try adventuring Dougherty style (maybe they wished they stuck to the camping!) Eight kids. Three adults. One cabin. And we all survived!  Actually it was lots of fun - no one was seriously injured (although there were the few expected splinters and snow face plants). 

We had a great time over lapping our stays and the kids loved having some non-family playmates at the cabin for the special occasion. 

"Spring" Break Part II

"Spring" Break Part I

This year for Spring Break we headed up North to enjoy the time off. In contrast to last year's break which involved jumping in the lake and running around without coats - it was quite a change.  The snow accumulation is by far the most since we've own the Treehouse (I'm sure we had more as a child - but for the kids this was "epic" snow).  Despite the snow, the temps were high 30s and  lots of sun so it was perfect for the kids to sled and climb and just enjoy the fresh air.  

 The plow guy told me he was running out of room to put the snow - I thought he was kidding.  Not so much. 

 Grandma MJ asked me if we shoveled the deck - I said that would have taken all week. 

 We made a fire outside just to see if we could! The seating logs are still buried deep beneath the snow. 

Welcome to the World Andrew Kelly

We've waited for you with eager hearts and your arrival brought a new sort of joy into the world. If ever you wonder about how much you are loved, you just come ask your Godfather and I. 

St. Patrick's Day (Burrrr! Fun!)

St. Paddy's this year was complicated on several fronts: first, the parade and our typical parties were being hosted on the 16th, and second the kids had a swim meet during the time we'd normally be at mass and heading to the parade. Also, it was cold, LOTS colder than last year  - but we are not of the faint of heart!  The temps did not slow us (in fact at the end of the day we ran to the car to warm up).

This caused us much frustration, if the swim meet was on the ACTUAL St. Patrick's day, we would have had no problem pulling the kids out.  But because it was on the day BEFORE, it made us reconsider our priorities.  We Dougherty's decided that we can cancel anything in good faith (school, athletic events, work) for the actual day but not for the "marketing" day.  So we turned the problem into a fun two day adventure of celebrating one of our favorite times of the year. 

Thomas was a trouper and partied from 1- 5 pm downtown St. Paul eating and listening to great music (well, and napping a bit as well). 

 The Dougherty Boys!

 The Irish Girls!

 Two Shamrock Princesses (one official, one in spirit)

The Dancing Begins!

Archimedes!

 Archimedes: Eureka!

By Seamus Dougherty

Archimedes was the most gifted person of his time. I am going to tell you a story of Archimedes' s life.

Archimedes was born on 287, B.C. His father was Phidias the Astronomer. His family hung an olive branch on their door in celebration of his birth.  When he was a teenager he went to Alexandria, Egypt to study. When he got back, this happened:    

In a place called Syracuse, King Hiero called on Archimedes. King Hiero had just got a new crown, but doubted it was made of pure gold. So he asked Archimedes to check. Well, Archimedes thought and thought and thought some more, until he thought he should take a bath. When, he realized that while he was in the tub, the water raised and when he got out, the water lowered.

He was so pleased that he ran around shouting: "Eureka (I have found it)". When he got back to his home, he measured the density of the gold. And then he found out that the King had been cheated. Well, that's the end of that story.

When he was old, the Romans attacked Syracuse and King Hiero asked Archimedes to help. He did more than help; he won the battle for Syracuse!  Archimedes made catapults that looked like the Gods were throwing stones at the Romans. Later, the Romans got in to Syracuse by betrayal, not by besting Archimedes's catapults. When Archimedes was doing math problems, a Roman soldier came to take him. The Roman told Archimedes to come, Archimedes told him to wait. Then the Roman stabbed him in the back.

Archimedes was a brilliant man. His tomb says: "do not disturb my circles".    

My take on the experience:
http://beingthehorizon.blogspot.com/2013/02/eureka-things-dead-mathmatician-taught.html