Hey, it's such a lovely day!

Wow, today was one of those non-stop whirlwind sort of days...

They woke up wanting to send an email to Daddy, so they posed in his chair, and Harry wore his only 'beach shirt', and they dictated some email love

We went briefly to do some art with Mrs. B - Harry cheesing it up and Jack wondering at what his hands had wrought? Part II will include the painting of their clay creations from today
This is the blur that greeted Amberger at her birthday lunch - they were thrilled to give her gifts and eat her cake, and very well-behaved with a table of 14 pretty indulgent adults. Thanx for everyone's patience and letting us crash your party ;-)
We stopped off at another old work site of mine, and they got to flirt with even more pretty ladies, so all was good in their world! It was late by the time we got close to home, so we stopped off for a little play....

....a little boy picture-taking practice

....and a surprise visit from Dora and a man with a shirt that honked - big hits!

For the second day in a row, no naps (darn you and your revolution, Sprite) but konked out by 6:45pm. They have been exceptionally well-behaved the last two days, so here's to hoping the lack of sleep doesn't catch up with them.

Poco's What A Day

Fun, Fun, Fun

We had a chance to get together with some great friends today, and it was, well....fun, fun, fun! I was too lazy to get the real camera from the car, but you get the idea. We met for lunch then realized there was no need to leave the restaurant since they had all the video games and other diversions we needed, including fun talk for all ages.

Carter, Zach, Ms. Christina, Ms. Jenny, Harry and Jack dig in
Harry and Carter shoot some hoops
Jack and Zach pose in the defunct photo booth
Another meaning for the phrase 'big guns'? LOL

When we stopped by Wal-Mart and they talked me into trying out the bikes, I would have cried except for the funny post by Antique Mommy who was also accosted by the hanging bikes recently. Jack taking off

and Harry trying some tricks...who is the Tony Hawk of the biking world?! He better watch his treads ;-)

And at the risk of spoiling the surprise for tomorrow, I think Amberger is the first girl (other than me) they've bought flowers for - they were so proud! Happy decade-ending tomorrow :-)

Beach Boys

Circle Of Love

Today was Dean's last day of vacation - he starts his new job tomorrow, and we were all sad to see it end. We had two of the best laughs of the last two weeks...

This morning, Harry's pj top was slightly off his shoulder and Dean starts humming "I'm a maniac" ala Irene Cara, starting my giggles which prompted theirs. They both did little renditions for videos, and I'm sure someday they will curse us, but it was a fun moment for their old folks.




Tonite's Circle of Love featured Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Jack bursts out "I love you ALL!" in a completely Rock Star moment that had us all laughing. Then when we sang LB's Moon, Moon, Moon ....well, you can figure out the rest.

About two years ago, they began insisting that Dean and I 'close the gate' with our hands and feet or 'make a circle'. They jump in the middle and we sing songs or talk. It's really sweet and cheesey and I hope they like it for a long time to come, despite the fact that we're having to adjust so that they both fit these days...sniff.

In lieu of pix of the CofL, I thought I'd post two of my favorite circles...

Reading with Daddy the other nite

and being introduced to my beloved Gramma - they were about one month old and it was one of those moments I had always dreamed of...she loved babies and gave them their first laughs - it was a wonderful circle for me

When I met you baby
You put a circle of love around me - SMB

Scissors Cut

I loved his look of concentration in this one - Jack LOVES him some scissors!
Tho it looks like he might be dropping the bomb, I loved this picture of Dean and Harry - lucky little boy (Daddy's Hands)

I found a good (pre)school worksheets website: TLSBooks

Art Garfunkel

When HARRY Plays Guitar

Time well wasted today....who knew how much time you could spend in PBK?

The boys chillin' by one of their favorite ponds
And catching a little wind
Jessica Andrews' When Gentry Plays Guitar

I Believe, I Believe, I Believe In Wishing Wells

Speaking of wishes, we had a nice afternoon and the boys found their favorite wishing well

My friend Lori showed me this fun trick of placing coins around the circle wall - the boys love to run and pick up the coins and toss them in. We've met a few nice people and had a chance to share some of the wishy love playing this game - thanx, Lori!

Jack's last heave-ho

Wishing you well!

Frank Sinatra

What'd I Say?

Things I heard today:

Jack: Excuse me, Mommy, could you please turn off the tv so I can listen to that nice rain? (I was tivo'ing Curious George so their life wouldn't end, but anyway!)

Harry: Maybe someone can put up our Christmas tree while we play? (He's been totally into Christmas lately, distraught that 'it's not today?')

And this is how they greet me when I go into their room for the umpteenth time to settle them down for their nap, which never materialized:

Harry: Can you kiss my feet? Um, NO

Jack: Look, I've organized all my animals! Indeed, you have, by size, color and assorted other characteristics, while your eyes remain open and sleep does not visit

Eric Clapton also did this Ray Charles song

When You Wish Upon A Star - Spin Cycle 6

This week's Spin Cycle is about wishes (you'll find the links at that link, oh that's confusing). I've been thinking about it for a few minutes, which seems to be all my fevered brain can handle at the moment.

I've searched until my eyes are bleary for a picture of this, but alas my words will have to do (I guess I've been too busy living during these moments to snap a picture?) There are a lot of fountains in our world, and early on we gave the boys change and encouraged them to throw them and 'make a wish'. Who knows what their understanding of wishes is at this point, but they have finally stopped calling change 'wishes' and that's a little sad. I remember a moment of frustration over them throwing some toy: Me: We don't throw toys, what do we throw? boys: balls and money Me: What? Dean: their coins for wishes. Me: oh, yeah .... silly mommy smile

I wish everyone at least one moment of heart-stopping happiness. I wish the boys' enthusiasm and innocence and belief in the kindness of others would last as long as possible. I wish I didn't have to introduce ugliness into their world to keep them safe and aware of dangers. I wish I felt better. I wish this two-week break for Dean could last. I wish I knew how to answer my 4yo's questions about the Revolutionary War. I wish to say thank you.

Linda Rhonstadt's version is my favorite

ETA: This is why I blog....how could I forget the sound of Harry's sweet little voice singing the lyrics for this song? It's been a while but his 'dreams come trrrruuuuuuue' got me thru a LOT of hard times a couple of years ago. I need to get that CD back into the rotation.

Mud On The Tires

There's something so cute about boys and cars....they were checking out Daddy's Jeep tires with their buddy Sam the other day

Brad Paisley

The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire

Bizzy Bones - disclaimer: this song's lyrics are NOT part of our family's vocabulary, it just has a good beat that you can really dance to ;-)



Somehow this song became a part of the boys' growing up, you know....



the boy, the boy, the boy is really walking!
the poop, the poop, the poop is in the potty!
and the list goes on....

So, Dean and I are in another room and overhear the boys talking during their bath. They are playing with their toy sharks and Jack is singing: "the shark, the shark, the shark is on fiiiyyaahh!" in a perfect voice despite never hearing anything other than his dad and my lame attempts. Dean looked at me and I looked at him, we smiled and it was nice.




As Harry just noted, we had "a good, relaxing day!" that looked like this....

Reading at Story Time

Picking up a few things at the grocery

Packing up some clothes, er, boys, to share with our friends.

Boys, bears, and books (it is "B" week at prek). Thanx for the cute PJs Aunt Deni

And a little pre-nap reading

Now they are watching Sid The Science Kid (great for preschoolers who like science - today's show was all about sounds, the website is doing senses this week)

Sometimes there is nothing like a slow, rainy day!

09/25/08 Harry: This is a good, relaxing day! Jack: Did you know the initials for Thank You are TY?

Smells Like TEAM Spirit (nike ads?) - Game 3

It's true that we may have the nicest group of kiddies imaginable on this team! They are so much fun and really cheer each other on, are starting to work together great, and all that good stuff. Not so much on the scoring yet, but the other parts are coming together


Those pix of kids in adult situations, like the B&W shots of toddlers getting married or whatever, always creeped me out, but this was sweet moment that wasn't a staged Nike commercial. Jack told me at dinner that "Maggie will always be my friend forever and ever." Awww, I hope so!
Harry was also into the swoosh for some reason tonite, tracing the emblem and asking me all sorts of questions that I could not answer....(shrug) they thought it looked cool?
Nirvana

It Won't Be This Way For Long - Preschool Pix

I saw Darius Rucker perform this song last nite, love it and hope they don't play it to death like they do with new releases. Anyway, just to remind us how quickly these days pass....this is what four years flying by looks like - their first professional pix and their most recent (Jack on left in both together shots)







Darius Rucker

Alphabet Lost And Found

It's been a while since I did a book post, and the boys found this one again on their bookshelf the other day - I had forgotten how much fun it is to read and how cool it is to watch them 'getting' the puns, enjoying the art and language of this nautical adventure

Happy Reading

They Might Be Giants

It's A Game - Spin Cycle 5

Jen's Spin Cycle prompt for this week is Confessions. I'll confess I've been thinking about it since Friday, wondering what I might be willing to share online. I'll confess that this ConjunctionJunction song from School House Rock has been running thru my mind ever since I read the prompt. I'll confess that I spend too much time playing internet games on TwinStuff. I'll confess that I hate confrontations, can't put words together as well as I did pre-kids and set unreasonable goals for myself and my days.

But, by far the most humiliating and potentially liberating confession I have is that the first concert I ever saw was The Bay City Rollers at Carowinds when I was about 9 or 10 years old.


Of course, I proudly state that Bob Seger was the first indoor concert that I saw when I was 12 years old. But the truth of it is that I saw The Bay City Rollers before that - they were all the rage in my little town, probably similar to the Jonas Brothers or Hansen or some other teeny-boppers. I am actually almost hyper-ventilating to be admitting to this - man, LOOK at them, what in the world was I thinking?! OK, it's out there as soon as I push the "publish post" button. Do I feel better? Is confession good for the soul? I'm still not sure

So, here's your chance to let your voice be heard by taking a little poll....

Is confession good for the soul?
	Yes
	No
pollcode.com free polls

Remember that any comments you make on the poll site will NOT show up on this blog, so if you have something good to say be sure to post it back on this site :-)

Bay City Rollers

Carnival World - Two-day pass

We went back to the fair today and were lucky enough to have some fun friends along for most of the ride.

My Cool Riders

They love this little roller coaster, and Harry finally let go

I have a series of these while I'm cajoling Jack, but this was the funniest view

Jack, Harry, Amanda and Eddie on the Dragon Wagon

Amanda, Jack and Harry handing their tickets over for a ride
Hey, shouldn't somebody be watching the road?!?
I just loved this picture of Harry clapping for the Racing Pigs
Fair overload?
Jack serves as Harry's handrestHarry (in car with me) takes on Daddy and Jack at bumper cars
Seriously into bumping
If you know Harry, you know this was the highlight for him - the boy LOVES him some dishes!