I'm on a roll

Jack was sure the minute the assignment was made that he wanted to do penguins for his habitat project...the first big project/presentation of second grade. He read a gazillion books, researched on the internet and learned a lot....then he got to work....


Proudly displaying his finished project and report - now, if he can just stop laughing while he tries to read it....sometimes the boy can be super shy!

Highlighting the coolest thing he learned - there is actually a group of penguins that live in the coastal forest near New Zealand, the yellow-eyed penguin (can you see his art work??) is the rarest penguin of all, and typically lays two eggs at a time - twins!

Vanilla Ice's Ice Ice Baby

Take Me To The River

Harry has been working on his first major project/presentation for second grade for about a week now. He's studied water features and landscaping books for months now, so he was excited to finally get to do it 'for real!'

He decided to do a largemouth bass habitat, and it started something like this....

....and ended like this, one proud boy! Practicing his presentation - showing the bass eating a smaller sunfish 1/2 its length
He brought all his favorites together with his path to the fishing dock

All the details with the case open - spawning grounds with papa to guard it, sunken log for protection, movable bass catching sunfish, and fisherman up top

Big Mouth Billy sings

Just a spot on the map of the world

Plain White T's Map of the World

Piece by piece

The boys had their first projects of second grade,

Ziploc Quilts....

Harry showcased (l-r, t-b) his favorite sport (tandem biking with Daddy), his pet fish Jerry, a small item (map of Ocracoke), a picture of himself, a star with his name, his autobiography, his favorite cd (Cars soundtrack), his favorite candy (smarties), and his future occupation (chef)
Jack showcased (l-r, t-b) his favorite cd (Laurie Berkner's Buzz Buzz), a picture of himself, his favorite sport (soccer), his future occupation (inventor), a star with his name, his favorite candy (gum), his autobiography, a small item (lego man), and his favorite animal (leopard).

The school year is shaping up to be a great one, and they are loving being back with their friends, establishing new routines, and meeting new challenges. They've done a project and taken about 4 tests so far. Here's to second grade!



Dixie Chicks' Aunt Mattie's Quilt

You've got to try

The boys have started a few projects this spring....it seems they plant a seed at school every year, and this year something may actually come of them! Harry loves to eat lemons and has wanted to plant a tree from the seeds of a restaurant lemon for what seems like forever....if this doesn't work, the local nursery sells little trees for a chunk of change ;-) They also finally planted those sweet potatoes that they started in boy scouts. Can't wait to see what comes of their projects!

JB's Love and Luck

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

There's a lady that stands in a harbor

First grade has its first social studies project due at the end of this week. Guess what Jack chose as a great American symbol to study? Surprise! I'm working on the SoL montage from our recent trip to NYC, but suffice it to say today was his second-favorite SoL moment - he is so excited about this project!

She's still in need of robes and a little painting, but she's shaping up nicely. Tops in Jack's book, right in front of this moment.....

Aaron Tippin's Where The Stars And Stripes And The Eagle Fly

and life is love

The boys' school collects Box Tops For Education, and they are currently having a Halloween competition Batty For Box Tops - the school has raised over $150 this month, and I'm a little tired of clipping....but not too tired to gladly take any box tops you would like to donate to the cause!

Look for anything with this label

They also collect just about anything that earns the school money or supplies, including Campbell's labels

and labels from Tyson's products

Thanx for any contributions to a great cause :-)

The Box Tops' Neon Rainbow

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

sometimes you're the bug

Boys and bugs naturally go together, right? The boys got these little containers at a friend's birthday party, and have been putting them to good use with all sorts of things...this morning it was a little one we found flying around the house.
We ordered those caterpillars for a butterfly project, but one week in, it looks like they were a bust - will be sending for replacements and trying that one again.....

Dire Straits' The Bug

Mama's in the kitchen - redo reveal

So, here is what we bought, circa August - the kitchen had been redone just a few years before but it was really tight with the refrigerator in the left corner beside the steps, and there was very little storage.
It was pretty open but just didn't work for us - the rest of the house has a lot of 'elbow room,' but this is our main entry way and was really tight (once you add the refrigerator there).
This is the view from the family room. Hello friends, Nicole and Grayson!

Here's how it looked from the stairs in October...

...and here's the same view tonite. Yes, I still have a LOT of Christmas left to put away, but I was tired of the grief for not posting pix, so here's the real deal, including a pile of dishes from Tuesday's awesome brunch :blush: but you'll notice I *am* running water to hand wash them)

October

December
October

December

October

Tonite - see, I'm running water to wash those dishes. I can watch the deer out those windows, which will some day lead out to a new addition....

And one of the coolest features....they call it a double blind or peanut or whatever, I just call it amazing! Every pot we own is in this one cabinet, and here's how it works...

Merry Christmas to us!

Beach Boys' Child Of Winter (Christmas Song)

Move It On Over

This peaceful scene...
became this muddy chaos on Thursday
They're not just pretty faces anymore! They've learned how to put some muscle into it

They've also become excellent QC assistants

Moving requires a lot of skills beyond the strong back and project supervision....Ty Pennington better watch himself ;-)

....and if you weren't totally convinced of their decorative flare, check out this recent creation - they said they were decorating for Christmas, so it's apparently about to get interesting!

I just have to say that they've both been amazing troopers thru all this. If you ever want to move with kids in tow, I'd recommend 5 as a great age!

George Thorogood, and just about everyone else