It's been awhile since I last blogged. We haven't been up to a whole lot, but we have been working on tracking another Fenderson. I realized I haven't quite given this project justice, so I have been saving up this week to put it all together in one blog, so you can kind of see how it works. Each week, while we're on "summer vacation" the boys are tracking one criminal from the elusive Fenderson mob. There are seven brothers, one on each continent, and each of them have stolen a monument or national treasure that needs to be returned. We have a mailbox in the living room, and all correspondence with the "Home Office" comes from there. If the flag is up, the boys know they have mail.
This week we were tracking Cameron Fenderson in Asia. He stole the Azadi Tower in Tehran, Iran.
At the beginning of each week, the boys get an information sheet on the newest Fenderson, complete with likes and dislikes. Here we have some subtle and some not so subtle hints along with some information that might be less than helpful, but is still amusing. This information generally comes from the interrogations of previous Fendersons who have already been caught.
We know that Cameron is trying to travel to every capital city of every country in Asia in the next week.
His likes include: Traveling, Ethnic Foods, Buying Souviners & Flying
His dislikes include: Staying on one place very long, small cities, and Communism.
In addition, they usually get a map, or a list of countries to help them keep track throughout the week.
That above information usually comes on Sunday. By Monday, Agents from the Home Office have traveled to the seen of the crime and the boys get a package of the evidence found there.
Usually there's some snacks, and some other hints. (Did anyone else know hot wheel cars are made in Malaysia?)
Based on the snacks, and some other things like cards of various countries, the boys write down what countries they can eliminate. On Monday, for example, they got Tea Cookies from Israel, so they knew he wasn't there. They send that list back to the Home Office (for cross referencing)...
Then they pin the information to their "Tracking the Fendersons" board in the kitchen, and highlight the countries they can rule out off of their list.
Through out the week, the boys get various clues to eliminate more countries. For example, Hayden got coloring pages of flags that Cameron picked up at various restaurants he went to (remember he likes ethnic foods), and the crayons he got at that restaurant to color the flags (You know, like how a kids meal at restaurants come with coloring pages and crayons). The crayons that came with it included all the colors Hayden would need to color the flags, and he used a book to make sure he colored them correctly, and knew where they were from to eliminate those countries.
Some things (like the flags), the boys get a couple of different times throughout the week. Other things, they get can just be a one time thing. Peyton this week got a clue that Cameron picked up these rubber letter stamps in a country he went to.
Peyton had to figure out what they spelled, and he could eliminate a country that way.
Calib meanwhile, got some post cards. These postcards were written by Cameron and intercepted by the Home Office. Now the front of the postcard will eliminate one country (sometimes it's obvious like listing the country, sometimes it lists the capital or the flag and you have to figure out the country.)
Apparently this week Cameron thought he should write postcards to Barack Obama. So, these post cards also offer some more hints. In this one Calib had to figure out where the Rose Red City and the Aral Sea were. Since Cameron has already been there, he can eliminate those countries once he knows where those things are. (Jordan and Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan if you didn't know)
Now, Calib doesn't just know these things off the top of his head. But at the very beginning of this project, the Home Office sent the boys a book to consult. You see, the Fenderson's are tracking the internet, and the boys can't use it for any reason. I want them to learn to look things up in books, and not to just mindlessly run to google for everything. It's a great tool, yes, but I hate how it's becoming the only tool.
Calib got three postcards in all.
Since Cameron is into flying, the boys also managed to collect some boarding passes he left behind.
They listed cities, not countries, so it took a little work to figure out where he had been.
Packages come along the way too, with more clues. Once the boys started eliminating cities, the home office would send their agents out to those cities to see if they could gather up more evidence along the way. What they found in various backpacks at airports, hotel rooms, and resturants Cameron had visited, was sent here for the boys to inspect.
Then they would send a list back to the home office with their findings.
That's how it works, the rest of the week.. stuff comes, they eliminate countries. Sometimes it's as easy as reading labels to products to see where they came from, sometime's its looking up a flag, sometimes it calls on their previous knowledge and takes a little more work.
And props to Peyton who tried everything they were sent this week, including the incredibly gross seaweed chips from Korea.
And the weird Mochi from Taiwan. Blah. (I tried them both too, FYI).
Along the way there is some good food too. The dried mango chips from the Philippines was gone in no time, and the Japanese Pocky Sticks (manufactured in Thailand) were a huge hit.
Sometimes, too, Cameron leaves a recipe behind of a food he really liked from one of the countries he visited. We make it here, and eliminate that country from contention. We had bangledesh stir fry...
And General Tso's from China. (Complete with Chop sticks from Korea!)
It's worth noting, some mail comes addressed to ALL Super-Secret Secret Agents, some comes addressed just to ONE Agent (but they can share what they have), and some clues are TOP SECRET, and for one agents eyes only. Now, last week Calib got the top secret mail. And, I shouldn't be telling you this, but I have intel that he got a letter from the last Fenderson brother that asked Calib to throw the other super secret agents off his trail, and in return he would be paid off (in the form of $5 on Steam). Last week, in Africa, the boys let Casey Fenderson slip away. Peyton was convinced he was hiding in the Serengeti in Tanzania, but Calib successfully convinced Hayden that Casey was hiding in the Kalahari in Botswana. When they issued their arrest warrant, Peyton refused to get on board, and wrote a note to the home office telling them as much. But, two out of three, the home office listened to Calib and Hayden and went to apprehend Casey in Botswana. When he wasn't found there, they checked out Peyton's claim. Turns out Casey HAD been there, as they found his backpack, but he had since escaped. Peyton was paid for his troubles too, and give information their may be a trader among his super-secret secret agents. Since the Home Office was sure he was trustworthy, he was named the lead agent on the case this week.
Peyton got the top secret mail this week. It was a word scramble eliminating several countries. But, his brothers were skeptical of his information, given what happened last week. (FYI, Agent Calib has not owned up to working with the Fenderson's, as this is simply speculation at this point.)
In another package this week the boys got some more snacks, and paint/color your own nesting dolls! They weren't told where these were from, but Peyton immediately knew to eliminate Russia from the list.
The boys decided they wanted to use sharpies instead of paint, and I was cool with that.
Look how cute!
By the end of yesterday, the board looked like this. There weren't too many countries left on the list.
Saturdays are usually arrest warrant days. But, sometimes there is one last clue. The boys were told the Home Office had a huge break in the case last night, as they intercepted a package that Cameron in Asia was sending to Casey, who had missed being captured, in Africa. (It might actually work to everyone's advantage that Casey is still out there, so stay tuned!)
I don't know if I wrote about it last time, but one of Casey's likes was puzzles. The boys did a puzzle ball last week for Africa. When completed 'X' marked the spot (another reason Peyton was SURE he was in Tanzania!). Since Casey enjoys puzzles, apparently Cameron had been picking up puzzle pieces to countries as he visited them. Cameron said he was on to his very last country to Asia (remember he wanted to visit every single country in a week), and he would send the last puzzle piece when he got there.
So the boys worked to put together the puzzle pieces. They were all shaped in various countries in Asia (though the puzzle leaves out the middle east), and they didn't have a box to go off of, Peyton who has learned where all the countries are in Asia (he knows all the flags, capitals, and location of every country in the world minus about 3/4 of Africa and Australia.. Calib is still on Europe, and Hayden is on South America), helped his brothers out.
But they did pretty good putting it together.
Peyton was sure as soon as he was done that the missing puzzle piece was Vietnam. But, Calib didn't trust him (gee, I wonder why), and checked the globe to confirm.
They all seemed to agree Vietnam was the missing piece. (Really, I was so proud when Peyton saw Cambodia, and Laos were the last two pieces and announced "It's Vietnam! I know it!" Would you know that? I hope so, but if not, it's ok.
So the boys issued their arrest warrant and sent it back to the home office. They are awaiting an answer now.
You're getting a sneak peek from the home office here. Later tonight the boys will find this in the mailbox. The Iranians were so pleased with the return of the Azadi Tower that they sent along some cash for Summer of Shakes tonight at Sonic. Since Cameron was found, the boys also get the last piece to the puzzle, and get to attach the "Found & Returned" label to their picture of the Azadi Tower, along with "Captured" to Cameron. The Home Office also picked up these candies while they were in Asia, and they are paying their agents in form of Plinko Chips.
It's a fun project to pass the time of our little break, especially since we're lacking in presidential birthdays. It keeps some of their skills sharp, and it helps them work on their logic and organization. Now, my kids are all old enough to know that I'm behind the home office, obviously. But, we all talk in code. They ask me things and I just shrug and reply "How would I know what's on the way?" They roll their eyes, but they're letting me have this one, so I'm pleased.
I think they're having a nice break though. We're quite bummed public school is wrapping up. Not only will be back to work here in a couple of weeks (after our anniversary week and my mom comes to visit), but things are about to get crowded and hot. Blah. In the meantime though, my kids are kind of living the dream...
We did hit Adventure Island this week too...;
It was a little more crowded than the last time we were there, but not too bad overall.
And Hayden is still loving the cliff diving!
But that was pretty much all we did this week, besides a lot of work around here. I wrote JFK's story, I am prepped and ready for all of next week's Fenderson, I planned out our activity for tomorrow's Lessons By Dad Series, I have a head start on Jeopardy for next week, and I've got a good chunk of True American: Memorial Day Edition ready to go. (I was totally hoping to put flags on Veterans graves again this year like we did last year, but they reached max on volunteers months ago- I even looked in March!)
We have hit the pool a couple times, and played some amazing games of Spy Ally (though my family might say otherwise), but we stayed around here because someone wasn't feeling that great this week. I realized this when I found him napping in the sun with Maybel. She was pretty concerned about her buddy. She sat by him, or licked him, or laid right up against him for the better part of an hour.
Speaking of Mayb's and Dips, they are just my favorite cat tandem ever. Even if Dipper climbs to the top of my chair in the kitchen and meows loudly for someone to come pet him on an hourly basis. I've never seen another cat so demanding for pets as this guy.
So next week I am TOTALLY excited about the Fenderson project. First of all, we're tracking Coby in North America. Coby stole the CN Tower, but the Home Office has intel he has run to the USA, and is in a quest to travel to the lower 48 states on a roadtrip. But, it's also crossover week. I actually stole this project in theory from a friend of mine, Kristi, who is spending a week tracking a criminal across all 50 states. (She's kind of amazing!) Her criminal: Nita Direction. Nita and Coby have plans to meet up, so I sent her Detectives a package, and she made a cool letter and puzzle for my agents. In addition, I've totally worked it into our presidents birthday on Friday, and I cannot wait to see how it all plays out.
Oh and did you all see that finale of Survivor? We all stayed up late on Wednesday to watch it. (If anyone other than Mike won, we were all about to be seriously pissed). We were pretty happy with the second chancers who were chosen too. So we're looking forward to next season, and the boys keep asking me when we're going to have game week here again so we can play. (There's also ready been trash talking for the upcoming- yet still over a month away- frozen T-shirt contest).
That's it from here. We're hunkered down for the weekend trying to avoid the crowds. I even made sure to go to the store yesterday morning to get anything we needed. Asa is working today from home, and Monday for the OT.
This week blogs might be few and far between. I know I'll do JFK on Friday, but I kind of like putting a whole blog together for each Fenderson. So, I'll likely do that on Saturday, if I have time since it's Super Saturday. We're doing lessons by dad Sunday, playing True American Monday, and probably heading out Tuesday to enjoy one of the last few days before public school is out. Other than that, we've got an office week coming up for Asa. (Boooo!)
Next Up: The Last Week Calib is 14! (I know this, because he's been reminding us of his birthday non-stop.) I keep telling him to take the online class for his permit so he can take the test on/right after his birthday, but he doesn't seem too into it.
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