Kempton Kegger

So, I don't drink. but I do have a use for a keg....

The real engineering I do during the evening hours and weekends. Lots of fun...

Welded in a 1/4 inch coupling to accept a pressure fitting, filled the keg with 15 gallons of H2O and pressurized the whole thing to 75 pounds. (It is rated @ 60 psi!!) I will let it sit for the weekend before starting the next phase. It is in the recycle bin for secondary containment. If if does burst, I want a little protection. More to come.

UPDATE:

I realize that I did not explain that this will soon be a Rocket Launcher. An monstrosity of a rocket launcher. I will cut the top (down spout) off and weld in a 3 inch stainless steeling coupling. This will allow for a very large electronic solenoid valve, and a SS launch tube. When I am all said and done, anyone will be able to launch either paper rockets, potatoes, anything you can imagine around 100-150 yards with a terminal force of approx. 75 Newtons.

It will be lots of fun for my 3 year old.

it's Potty Time..

Jacob started potty training this week, thanks to Mom. He first started last year, but then missed the feeling of going in your pants. I think it is because he doesn't want to stop playing to use the restroom, and diapers resolve the play/pee scheduling conflicts. But now that he rides a bike and races rally cars, diapers just aren't that cool anymore. First he wanted to "cover them up" with Spiderman undies; now he just want to run around in nothing BUT Spiderman undies.

I have had to rebuild his training wheels on his bike, twice. The Specialized HotRock that he rides is build to take a brutal beating (the beatings that 2 year-olds give), but the cheap training wheels that accompany the frame are built for normal sissy boys that stay on flat sidewalks, and don't bomb dirt hills at 20 MPH and Jake is not a sissy, (or normal). In fact, he is a Kempton, and we are freaks. I have to start running sprints again, to get into shape to be able to keep up with him at top speed. I love that boy, but he will be the death of me yet.
Makenna uses her first word on a regular basis. She wants Mom, she says Mama or Mom. If she wants food, she waves her arms like a bird and says, Mama. She really is the cutest thing ever...

Makenna turns 8 months

Makenna is 8 months old today. While sitting down for lunch she said "Mama". Keline and I just looked at each other in amazement. (Keline taught Jacob to say "Dada" first, so that when he needed something, he would always ask me!) Jacob is definitely a mama's boy. Kenna now says "Mama" first, and is most definitely a daddy's girl. Kinda crazy in the Kempton household.

Makenna @ 8 months: 18.5 pounds and 27 inches.

Jacob's big boy bike

Soon after Jacob went from riding his bike Flinstone style to mastering the skill of pedaling he wanted a big boy bike. He told his dad that he wanted a Spiderman bike. A blue spiderman bike. A blue and black spiderman bike. Matt found exactly that. After having the bike a day, he rides as fast as he can down the driveway and slams on the brakes right before the street, and he rides off steps. Anywhere we go, he wants to ride his bike there. We'll probably have to take his training wheels off after a week.


he calls this his baby bike.

A day at the beach

These pictures describe my kids so well. Makenna is a very calm baby and Jacob seems to keep me on my toes.