It was just an old plywood DINOSAUR AND CAR

I'll admit it, we're slackers...the boys' Aunt Jackie brought them these wooden projects the last time she babysat (August?). The boys and Dean finally got a chance to put them together one lazy Sunday
and Harry's added some of his favorite details - still working on the Mustang logo, but he's got the back wiper blade going!

Thanx for making some happy boys, JJ!

Alan Jackson's Drive

The children of the summer's end

We took our annual trip to an old-time county fair today, and the day was wonderful - we were able to leave just about the time that everyone was headed toward overload, and I even got to go to a friend's afternoon party (thanx, Crystal, and all your fun friends). I included links for comparisons from the last two years -
Something magical about a ferris wheel....this really is a sweet event, and we started the day with a birds-eye view

Those are our big boys carrying up their own mats, Jack a few steps ahead of Harry

Jack wanted to ride solo again this year, but Harry wanted his favorite co-pilot along....

there was a lot of debate about who hit who the most

Harry got to ride in a pseudo-vw, his previous favorite ride!

Then he got his biker on!

There are some comparison shots from two years ago where the handlebars are about at their shoulders....wow, they really are growing!

They got to do some planting, and we'll see how well we can keep the pansies alive and get the dandelions planted in time for spring

Boys love firetrucks!

This is Harry's favorite car of late, forget the original love for VW's and the later love for Hummers....the boys loves him American muscle cars at the moment!

They won a few prizes, and Jack was even generous enough to let Harry pick a prize after Jack won the water race twice. Thanx, big brother!

And there's the Jack with his Daddy after all the fun was had!

Here is the post from last year's festival, and the one from two years ago

David Bowie's Memories of a Free Festival

But there's a big blue sky waiting just behind the clouds

No, IDK why the Jeep has featured so prominently in pix of late, but I realized it's been all week since I posted and was doing a little island dreaming. So, here you go!
I think I'm busting us out of here this morning for some fun with friends - hope your day is a great one!

Brad Paisley's Behind The Clouds

Gonna walk down that dirt road

The boys' friend Dylan came over for a playdate today - it was the first kids-only playdate we've tried, and it went great....everyone was on their best behavior, and I even got to piddle around in the yard while they played. Man, they are growing up fast!

Everyone went in their own direction at times

(that used to be a pond behind Harry!)

The other side of the backyard, complete with tracks

Harry giving Dylan a few pointers while Jack gets into the sandboat

Dylan practicing his parade wave

Hey, look where you're going!

I can't believe how much they've grown - they had to duck to get into the SSHarryJack!

It was a gorgeous day - all those running boy feet and the breeze, just about perfect!

We took a LONG walk, ran into some friends, found some animals and played a lot of I Spy...which is pretty challenging when everything is so green ;-)

Harry regaling them with some story

The three of them practicing their executive chair-sitting skills

We had a great time, Dylan, and we'll have to do it again soon!

Bob Dylan's Dirt Road Blues

I'm American made, but I like Chevrolet

The boys and some friends had the chance to meet a real live race car driver - he was great with the kids, and we may have a new favorite driver to watch! Jack asked him a LOT of questions, and he answered every one patiently...thank you!

Peyton Sellers posing with Jack, Asher and Harry, after signing his info cards for them - he really seems like a great role model, so check him out during any of the Nationwide races he's running

The three of them checking out the car and asking questions

They practically climbed into the car to get a peek at all the cool bells and whistles - at one point they asked how the car started, and I fully expected to hear a rumble when one of them asked 'this button?'

Harry, Jack and Asher getting a better look at the engine, which you could see thru the wheel well

They realized you could see all sorts of cool things by peeking under and between car parts

Something about this picture seemed so classic...if it said STP, they could have crewed for The King, right?

Asher, Jack and Gavin checking out the tires while Harry focused on the cabin

I love that you can see Harry's thrilled face reflected in the window and his menacing shadow - looks like the Hulk ;-)

This shot was my favorite of the day, I think - Asher and Jack

By the end of the morning, a bunch of friends from preschool got a chance for a photo op:

Gavin, driver Peyton Sellers, Jack, AJ, Ladybug (Harry's one true love), Asher, and Harry beside the car and Garrett making a break for it...real gone!

Sheryl Crow's Real Gone

Not a cloud was in the sky

What is it about sunshine and last-minute plans?! Two of the boys most favorite friends came over after school today - their moms (some of my most favorite friends!) drove the boys home, a huge adventure, while I finished a few pre-Open House errands. Asher's dad even got to join in on the fun today!

They took the cars for a spin (see that JMaple, Casey?!)

Jack felt industrious and did a little hauling

At several points, I had visions of HS beach trips or college fraternity challenges

Harry, Asher and Grayson created their own Super Fab Lab after a few frogs were caught

It was a beautiful day - thanx, friends!

04/17/09 Harry:I love my friends!Jack: It was all fun and laughter and sunshine - what a great day!

Paul Simon's Was A Sunny Day

Beep beep'm beep beep yeah

Funny how things go sometimes, (Asher, if you're reading look away now!)

We met our friends Dana and Kellan's and Dana's mom for lunch today, and what a surprise - they came bearing gifts. I guess without all the craziness of party-planning, I forget that Sunday is fast approaching :blush: Anyway, the bag was from one of the coolest toy stores around, and when they opened it up to find these awesome cars:

I realized that they were the same thing we'd bought for Asher's birthday on Tuesday. Harry picked them out, and they are super cool - they are each made up of 14 parts that you can mix and match, including taking off the tires (remember the fun at the museum?!) It was a great gift, and now the boys are really excited about giving Asher his so they can all play cars together (Kristi, they said we can play, too LOL)

These aren't the greatest pix, but I think they show how much they love the gift - thank you, Dana!

Bobby McFerrin's version of The Beatles' Drive My Car

If I Had A Hammer

It was a beautiful day today, and we got to enjoy it with Uncle Les! (I am still going thru Boo Bash pix, it was a LOT of fun and I have a bunch of pix of mommies with cameras, so I'm hoping folks will send me some other good ones [hint, hint])

The boys helped Dean with a little hammering

The trees are really starting to turn beautiful colors
Jack, Uncle Les, and Harry playing in the yard

Dean took the governor off the Gator, and man is it FAST now

Uncle Les reading Doctor Ted to the boys tonite

Thanx for a lovely day, Les!

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