...in this carnival world

It's fall festival season around here, and we had the chance to visit one of our favorites recently. The boys participated in a summer reading program that led to treats....

....and certificates

silly faces with their friend Darius

They make the big trek on their own these days....

and even give me an occasional pose

I caught them on the Dragon Wagon

And setting up for darts

water gun races.....

....led to some loot!

If you feel like a trip down Memory Lane, check out last year's trip, ending with comparisons from years past

Jimmy Buffett's Carnival World

Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box

The boys' Book Club is finishing up their third book, Pippi Longstocking, a classic that I remember well. My friend Lisa Weaver and I went to see the movie the week that I moved from SC to VA when I was twelve years old..yikes, what a blast from the past!

Their culminating project is a Cereal Box Book Report, which turned out to be a really fun way to incorporate some of their favorite scenes. The front included identifying information and a picture of their favorite scene from the story, the first side had a list of characters with descriptions, the second side described the setting/s, and the back included a game that related to the story in some way. They are to include a surprise inside that is something real and reflects something about the story.

Here is Harry showing off his box and 'surprise' (this is probably the best shot I've gotten of his three missing teeth, bonus!)
He drew a picture of his favorite scene, the silly one from Chapter 1 where Pippi cracks an egg on her head - he did a great job with the yolk and it falling over her nose

His 'cast of characters' highlights Pippi, her two friends Tommy and Annika, and her monkey Mr. Nilsen

He drew a picture of Pippi jumping from drain cover to drain cover during a game they play, and noted that most of the story took place outside, but a few scenes were inside, including Pippi's 'berthday' (her spelling) party

His favorite part was the back, where he created a maze to get Tommy and Annika to Pippi's birthday party, including obstacles that were birthday-themed: hats, cakes, balloons, and noise makers. He even put a few directions for the non-maze types ;-)

Jack proudly displaying his cereal box before soccer practice

His front cover depicted the scene where Pippi whomps up on two bullies, who end up in a tree. He was really proud of his 'dots, like teachers make on their letters'

He described the same characters, the kids and Pippi's monkey

He mentioned the town and a neighbor's house, where they had a tea party as settings

Jack's back cover had a Differences game, and he took great care with the details of her clothes and shoes that were discussed in the book and her expression.

They had a lot of fun with the project, and since Pippi is such a funny girl, there were a lot of laughs at our house.

Edie Brickell's What I Am

Human Video Game

Harry kickin' it old school with Pac-Man

Jack trying to win a prize for his best girl, Erin

Will Smith

What a field-day for the heat

Field Day 2010 was a big hit! They were excited, and started the day boarding the bus armed with their new water bottles. The jungle gym was converted to all sorts of skill tests, and Harry was proud to earn some prizes. They had sack races, balloon pops, time with friends, sponge passes ala last week's Survivor, tug-of-war, and Harry's favorite moment - popcorn! Somehow I missed pix of the bouncey houses, but they were bit hits - thank you to the weatherman for a perfect morning, and thanx to all the parents and teachers who worked to make it a wonderful event.

Buffalo Springfield's For What It's Worth

Here Comes The Sun, little SNOWSTORM

This is my favorite moment of any snowstorm....

how different things looked yesterday!
Our little snowmobile

a couple of the boys' favorite rides - this is what happens when you don't put away your toys - who knows when they will ever thaw out....you can't see the iceberg in the one under the deckThere have actually been some sweet (quiet) moments, like what I think is the first time they grabbed a game to play together, all on their own

And if you're superstitious...maybe I should take this snowflake out of the window? I took it off a gift they gave to a teacher because I couldn't figure out how to wrap it and thought it fit in the window....now that I think of it, it was the week of the first snowstorm....hmmmm

Jack is a little concerned about the trees - 'it's beautiful, but it might hurt the trees'

So far, we've been lucky at both houses

Enjoy, stay warm and safe!

The Beatles

So, I Write A Little

Harry has decided he loves to write, draw, and do all those other art-y type things he never had any interest in during all those forced mommy-and-me type activities we both suffered thru....thank you, Mrs. R! Several of his friends' moms have told me the same thing is happening all around, so hats off to Daddy's mantra about 'all in good time'

Unfortunately, he's taken it a bit far with the chalk at the new house. He's on a week's probation for his latest attempt at getting his art ON, and here's the letter he wrote Dean and I to apologize to us and the house ;-)


Thank you to all those people who gave us sidewalk chalk before we had sidewalks....it is being put to great use these days, and I'm considering taking out stock (if he learns to limit it to groundwork)

So, at school they've been working on the thankful theme, and this seemed pretty true to him these days - thankful for both houses!
Ambidextrous, much? The boy is a *little* impatient, not sure where he gets that ;-)

Alabama

No, I won't back down

I fought the law, and the law ....didn't win! I got a ticket last month for speeding in a school zone and had picture proof that I entered the zone at a point where the sign was not visible - I sat thru an hour at the courthouse to be told that the officer realized I was right and dropped the charges...woohoo! It was quite an experience to watch the 20-odd people filing thru the courtroom today...

The kiddos are negotiating all sorts of social situations lately, and Harry has been working toward some more effective assertion skills. In the old days, he would have sawn his arm off with a plastic fork if it would make Jack happy...in the last month, he's been taking his turn more often. "Excuse me, it's my turn to talk now!" The road is a little bumpy at the moment, but we're so pleased that he's finally standing up for himself. Today, I overheard him tell three friends that they couldn't shut him out of their game - you go, little man!

Our little cartographer - the boy loves roads, routes, and the Garmin!

I loved this picture of him from the weekend

Jack's also working on a lot of social nuances, trying to figure out the differences between being a leader and being bossy, and how to handle things great and small. He loves playing the slots at Grayson's house, and came home with a pocketful of quarters today - he gets it honest, I guess since I whiled away many hours at Aunt Libby's dime machine - I hope we don't have to find the G.A. schedule any time soon ;-)
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

06/24/09 Harry: Sometimes the Garmin lady interrupts me when I am telling a story! Jack:Welcome to the gun show! (as he flexes his muscles)

We all scream for ice cream!

Our second attempt at Game Nite happened in the middle of a wonderful summer day, with a

great bunch of friends and a LOT of ice cream!

Everyone but Sam and Hannah and me:

Zachary, Jack, Asher, Kristi, Sarah, Carol, Grayson and Nicole

(Harry was 'taking a break' because of behavior)

Jack and Sam being silly

The lessons on chivalry will begin in earnest tomorrow - I'm thinking he should be the one pushing...

I hope this is the last call we get that starts with ' there was this tree right in our way...'

There's something classic about boys around a car

Sarah found several critters today, including this pretty cool zebra-striped granddaddy longlegs

Does this remind anyone else of Richard Gere presenting that necklace to Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman? I kept expecting him to snap it shut on her hand

Grayson's best Anakin Skywalker impersonation...notice his 'do

Asher and Grayson getting creative with the moonsand

This dragonfly kept trying to join the party - I think it's Helocordulia uhleri (Uhler's Sundragon), female. Behind her is the bush that had those cool iced berries a few months ago - it's just starting to bloom

Harry getting a little training from Dean, and one of my all-time favorites - his first 'shot' at about 3 months old :wub:

I lucked into this optical illusion, which reminded me of the last two pix from this post