With eyes that watch the world

During our January trip to NYC, we each picked a special thing to do - Harry's dream was to see Van Gogh's Starry Night, which he had been studying in his art class. We tried the MoMA Family Programs which focus on certain aspects of their collections (and it is FREE!) - we lucked into a lesson on "lines" and joined a nice group of 4 other families to take in some classics.

The boys couldn't resist the chance to be silly while waiting our turn
First up was Harry's favorite - what a wonderful opportunity for him to see the real deal that he had been learning about in school. Each person was encouraged to recreate the lines that resonated with them

Harry titled his drawing "Strait Liner by Harry" (and really did enjoy it, despite this expression)

He thoroughly enjoyed the lively discussion and introducing Dean to his favorite painting (so far)

Pablo Picasso's Girl before a Mirror was the second stop on our tour and had Jack making observations and asking questions

We saw so many different artists and started a few interesting discussions

This was the best 'find' of the trip - and it all started with Harry's experiences in art back in our little hometown!

Don McLean's Vincent

Bubbles, Bubbles HE'S lots of fun!

Jack is guest-posting the blog today. Please welcome our elder son, Jack!

I am Star Student for next week, so I get to take our class pet, Bubbles, home for the weekend and write about our adventures. Bubbles came home with me on Friday. We watched tv and played a few computer games.
We also did a few science experiments with magnets. My brother Harry was my assistant! Bubbles discovered that a magnet can stick to his fin pin that Devyn gave him when she was Star Student.
Bubbles figured out that magnets can attract through skin and bone and muscle!
We went to a party and picked up my Dad from the airport, then I slept with Bubbles on Friday night. Bubbles stole one of my favorite rock star hats on Saturday morning.

Playing a computer game with Bubbles and Harry on Saturday morning, I finally got my Mohawk hat back from Bubbles! Bubbles meets my neighbor, Joe, at the second Halloween party, and we sat in a chair together to watch someone play Guitar Hero Wii.

I took care of Bubbles after the Halloween party he went to because he was tired, and so was I! Before I lost a tooth with Bubbles.

After I lost a tooth with Bubbles.

Bubbles got into the washing machine before we could put the dirty clothes in on Sunday morning.
I had fun with Bubbles!

Dave Moran's Bubbles - Look here and you will be able to listen to a fun song called Bubbles online - just press the "play" arrow.

The ghouls all came from their humble abodes

The boys' school had their annual Halloween party tonite - somehow the one week always does us in, but we got close on Harry's costume and finished Jack's...with a few minutes to spare!

this is about 1/3 of the cars that were decorated with tricks and treats.

Harry decided he wanted to go as a shopping mall this year, and at the last minute we thought of the mall cop additions. He was bummed that we didn't finish the top floor fountain, but it will happen....

At some point, he decided to have fun

I got a lot of shots from the back, so it's good they were finished - Dean made Jack that cool guitar from an axe, and Harry will finish off his parking deck with a ramp up his right sleeve. Luckily, they have about 4 more opportunities to don their duds.

They look like giants in this picture!

Happy Boo To You!

Bobby "Boris" Picket's Monster Mash

In the twinkling of an eye

All it took was a beatiful Fall afternoon and an offer of a Scouts' Bike Rodeo to get Harry to finally ride his bike. He was really determined, and quickly realized his skateboard balancing could come in pretty handy on two wheels!It was a day for meeting challenges - Jack took on this stick and clearly was the victor! Way to tough it out, little man!
A stop at the lake was definitely worth the ride, look at that sunset! "Explosions" are our favorites My phone camera couldn't do justice to this huge flock of Canadian geese (according to my wildlife enthusiasts) It was a sweet ride home with my two sonshines!
Van Morrison's Bright Side Of The Road

Makes me wanna take a back road

This song was made for our boy Harry! He always loves taking a detour, so he and Dean headed out for an adventure on Saturday morning. Harry has studied every road in our county, and has taken the 'human garmin' moniker to lengths my directionally-challenged soul can appreciate!

Rodney Atkins' Take A Back Road

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

...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