turkey day

I can't quite figure out how many turkeys I've made for the holiday, but the Michael Symon cheesecloth covered method did the job this year.  I think the skin was extra crispy.  I stuck with some other healthy recipes like sweet potato wedges with only 2 tablespoons of brown sugar for 4 pounds of potato!  And I did the same balsamic glaze carrots and brussel sprouts from last year.  Top it off with some cranberry relish, salad with apple and pumpkin croutons, cornbread stuffing and mashed potatoes and the Thanksgiving menu is complete.  The cousins play so well together and they were really ready for some dessert - pumpkin ice cream with pumpkin caramel, brownies, and pecan pie.  Thanks to Jess and Matt for those last two treats!

turkey trot

The Turkey Trot through our neighborhood was on again this year.  My turkeys were all gung-ho with some fun signs, and then when Aiden got out there he turned into a teenager that was embarrassed by our cheering…he shed his fun hat pretty quickly and was hiding when he saw kids his age from the Raccoon Runners breezing past.  Man, seven going on seventeen...and Keaton warmed up to the idea of being out in the cold and didn't want it to end when the last runners made it past us.

lights

Meadow lark Botanical Garden was host to even more sparkly lights this year.  We caught it on a gorgeous nearly 60 degree evening right before Thanksgiving.  I was so glad that Gran and Pop were here to enjoy it with us!

tidbits

So grateful that my folks made it here to enjoy this week of thankfulness…  Towards the beginning of the month, my mom had been in the hospital for five days, so she is a real trouper.  Thankful for good health around here!  We took a weekday trek to Ikea for some meatballs and a surprisingly good pumpkin cupcake!  There were tons of hand turkeys created in the TPF - Turkey Processing Factory - which looks a lot like GranGran and PopPop's room.

We enjoyed the elementary school's performance of Wizard of Oz - see the Great and Powerful Oz head on the left and the Emerald City on the right. 

Keaton and I were thrilled to enjoy a thanksgiving feast at this smiley guy's school earlier in the week.  They had this pumpkin ice cream which was a real treat.  Keaton could not get over that he was in the big kid cafeteria.  

turkey interviews

Happy Thanksgiving! So thankful for these turkeys:

Turkey 1 from LB on Vimeo.

Turkey 2 from LB on Vimeo.

school cool

Time for some turkey gluing on pre painted stuff on picture day when everyone was dressed up.

This potato turkey is so fun and everyone poked in a different number of toothpicks in different patterns.

This three person teeter totter alligator is a long standing favorite.

Painting and reading are big favorites.  The Don't Push the Button book is a huge hit with all the kids crowding around to read it together.

Making different kinds of slime with cornstarch and other fun stuff...

neverland preview

At their BN fundraiser event, the Neverland Adventurers gave us a working preview of the upcoming show. Here is Captain Hook in character minus all the staging and costumes he's so excited about...
Neverland Preview from LB on Vimeo.

recital two

Aiden's second piano recital went really well.  We were so happy my folks made it to town (my mom was sick, but is doing better!). Aiden had picked out his tie a while ago and found this old tie bar to hold down the back of the zipper band ;).

The theme this time was Girl Power, so all of the songs played were either about a woman or written by a woman. He played Eleanor Rigby, a Neat Beat, and a tradition at every fall recital Happy Halloween Machine.  This year she had three kids playing it in unison on two pianos.  Pretty neat.

The teacher's theory on recitals is that they shouldn't "get sick of the song" by practicing it too long, so two of his songs he just started this month.  Aiden stuck with even the big hand stretches on his songs and really worked hard.  

Second Piano Recital from LB on Vimeo.

santa

As an extra bonus the Santa at the ultimate Frozen village was very sweet.  The boys were sorta quiet, but Aiden perked up when he asked if they had been good boys this year.  He said, "Me yes, Him Maybe?"  Then Santa asked what they wanted - Aiden, Ultra Agent Legos and Keaton, Crayon maker machine.  Then he asked what else they wanted, and Keaton said, "How about a new hat for my mom!"  Santa said he should definitely be on the good list now that he's sweetly asking for presents for his mom.  Then we got them to both look at the camera and flash a smile at the same time… Score for an early week day visit to beat the rush!

ice palace

We visited the Frozen inspired Ice Palace which is like a slice of Disney at the mall, complete with karaoke, Olaf dancing in a snow globe, videos galore.  Aiden's favorite was when the characters ran between the screens.  I still love watching the fake snow fall gently from the top of the dome.  It was fun because it was pretty empty on a weekday, and we could round the corner to see Santa.  Santa pic coming soon…

more games

This Jake and the Neverland Pirates Treasure Hunt game is really fun for both the boys.  You make a match with the gold coins (some of which are hidden and you can only view with the telescope) and then you get to search for that item (wherever you've placed it around the room).  You pick it up with the sword and hurry back to beat the timer.  

Topple!  I remember playing this balance game back in the day.

Puzzlations is a series of fun tiles that you can use to create your own tessellations.  

'Smath is Scrabble for math equations!  Brilliant.

Wimpy Kid Don't Scramble the Egg game - You pick a category and you have to name something when you are passed the egg and if you are holding it when it goes off you lose!

The Legend of Drizzt where you have characters and monsters that follow you around the different areas and cause trouble… It's way more complicated than that, so you'd have to ask J and Aiden.  The only time I played I just did what they told me to do ;)

These tricky Lego games are so complicated, but they love them regardless.

Connect 4 is another classic goodie.

getting ready

Thanksgiving is less than a week away! Getting ready with these suggestions from the Ladybug Class.

school cool

School is still very cool for this jazzed three year old.  He loves the music class and the movement class too.  Lotsa fun painting with fall colors lately and this guys loves to paint with unconventional things like duplo blocks ;)  

On the right he loved sharing his spy glove with his friends. He told them about the watch and "tools if you get lost" right here on the "glub!"

bowl

Keaton's school hosted a fundraiser at the bowling alley that was fun for the whole family (way better than an auction in a banquet hall).  Keaton managed a strike down the ramp and Aiden almost broke 100 thanks to the bumpers.  It was fun to invite our friends to share our lane.  We even had a second round where everyone (even the three year olds!) had spares and strikes!

tidbits

The Mantua Made Fair tradition of molasses cookies on a stick continued… Aiden says they get better every time ;)  His piano teacher was reminiscing with us that we met her at the Fair this time last year.

The big mound tucked into the woods by the parking lot at Keaton's preschool is covered in leaves now.  It's that time of year that if it's even remotely nice out there you let them linger as long as they want, because very soon it will be too cold to march around the woods with buddies.

This guy always seems to have a pencil in his hand and a story to tell about all his doodles.

Sometimes a cinnamon bun is made even better by this creative guy… so many treats!

We are just under a week to Aiden's second piano recital!  It is really going to be a treat this year with Eleanor Rigby, A Neat Beat, and Happy Halloween Machine (played by three kids in unison in three different octaves!)

This game store had a huge selection of monopoly games!  The boys favorite was definitely Wizard of Oz.

The play/germ area at the mall was in full swing when we attempted to go see Santa and had to go to plan B because the line was hours long!  It's the Frozen theme this year that is hooking everyone - what a phenomenon! 

These marshmallow puff guys managed to squeeze into the car cart.  But daddy long legs may have been in there for the last time...

mugs

J mentioned "forced perspective" photos and I said I have a good one ;). So here's what I found in my tea:

good list

Aiden was pleasantly surprised that he passed to the next level in his ice skating class - Tot 1-5 and Alpha complete!  Beta here he comes!

These funny glasses with the nose and tickle mustache will never get old.

My new kneeling chair for the hours I spend at my computer editing.  Good posture for the win!

The Ted's Bulletin giant tv tray with beef stroganoff (and an extra chicken biscuit from J since we shared).  So bad it's good ;)

Really good quotes that pop up on Instagram - I love my random montage of Instagram follows.

This Castle Logix game is a favorite - Any game that says it's for up to 99 years old is usually a win.

Room on the Broom was a book that Aiden found at Target and he picked it over a toy!  Keaton loves reading it on repeat too.  Then as a special treat we found a short Halloween season movie they'd made about the story on tv!

The ninth Wimpy Kid book was preordered for the birthday boy, who was excited to get it right after his birthday and devoured it right away.

merry and bright

Mosaic was just putting up their schnazzy holiday decorations the other night.  The faux evergreen reindeer are hanging out everywhere with big milkshakes according to Keaton since they have straws ;). It seems like we were just trick or treating, right?!

some sorta

This is classic Keaton art, which he comes back to over and over again. He burned through a whole mechanical pencil for this doodle piece. There are melting bananas, electrocuted eyeballs, and a few hidden Ks. My favorite is when I ask him about a certain part and he says, "Oh, that's some sort of thing!"

turkeysaurus

We disguised Tom the Turkey as Turkeysaurus Rex for the "family homework" activity this week.  Aiden and Keaton were pumped!  Keaton even suggested the volcano all on his own and Aiden was so excited for his idea.  Can we do family homework for ever?!  So fun!  All the kids in Family 1 are creating their own disguised turkey (so he won't get eaten on Thanksgiving!) to display for the family luncheon next week.  

bay max

I am your personal health companion….Are you satisfied with your care?!

big

While I was off in NYC this past weekend (with my friends of 21 years!), the boys weekend around here was super laid back.  After Aiden's Neverland Adventure practice, they had tickets reserved for the new Big Hero 6 movie.  It was a big hit!  When I volunteered in Aiden's class on Monday morning it seemed that every kid shared they had seen it too.  Daddy even took them to get some of the figures at the toy store.  Now I have a big job to learn the characters and make sense of the stories Keaton tells me about it ;). Like he has been repeating "I am your personal health companion, are you satisfied with your care?" in the funniest monotone three year old business voice.  

Aiden drew some characters and made up a new song:

mustache monday

PopPop was thoroughly amused by this How to Become a World Ruler book he found for Aiden for his birthday.  It is complete with all the identification and even money printed with the birthday boy world ruler on it ;)  Everyone joined in the mustache madness (plus eyebrows ;)

school cool

I think you can tell this smiley guy loved the special Halloween snack at school - Pumpkin clementines, ghost bananas and candy corn cupcake!

Puppet shows, making goop, and glue projects are other favorites...

hammers n nails

These simple pallets proved to be one of my favorite projects.  Both boys could nail nearly all of the 32 holes for both of their pallets.  It was nice soft wood and I think they make nice coasters.

customize

Here are some Friday Flashbacks for ya!  Before and Afters of some house projects.  We still have some touchups with painted trim, etc… but the major changes in these three big projects are so refreshing!  Aiden likes to joke with me that I like to "customize" everything.  Keaton declared that houses are made out of countertops and told me we need to cover more stuff with countertop ;)  That little guy was such a good boy on our numerous trips back and forth to the tile and countertop shops.  

I fell in love with this quartz Cambria Blackwood countertop (dark sleek from a distance for good contrast with our light cabinets, with good interest up close and won't show every smudge or crumb) - Our installer had to special order it for us, but I'm so glad we found it!  I'm having a tough time getting good photos with all the crazy lighting, but you get the idea….but it's so much better in person.  The marble subway tile is more subtle in person than these photos, and I'm really happy with the really natural look and variety.

This fireplace was benign enough that I don't think everyone noticed it, but it stuck out to me like a sore thumb.  The hearth had some sort of dried up glue on top of the broken terra-cotta tile that seems to be a Virginia signature hearth (who knows why?)  The painted yellow brick had rust bleeding through in parts, blah!  I picked a mixed glass tile and a bluestone hearth.  On a whim I asked him if he could install it on the vertical and wrap it around the edge.  Up close it now looks almost like a pillar going down the inside edge.

The stairs transformation from earlier this summer - Still a huge change!

long weekend bits

There were two extra weekend days for teacher conferences this past week.  So I should be able to figure out how it's Thursday already!?  J had to teach the executives and then head off to CA for a conference.  It was a bummer he missed the real birthday, but he missed us so he sent us some sweet flowers.  I think they make everyone smile, especially this giggly guy in disguise.

These scootering brothers at the park with the last of the colorful trees.

The last of the costume aisle was now on clearance.  It was hard to resist this hot dog getup.  We will miss visiting the costume aisle - til next year!

Many couch forts and the newest addition - the tallest towers you can build!

Storytime in the movie theater included instruments this time around - and very eager Brennan brother helpers.

The Origami Yoda guys needed to add some Rebels to the group.  It was very important that I send photos of these to daddy.

Reindeer pancakes!  and fancy pancakes with pumpkin mousse, granola, and syrup - yumm!

favorites

The birthday treats continued with a visit to the Peep store where they have Minion peeps now ;)  The coin machines were another favorite treat.  And then the big spenders at Build a Bear finally snagged a Donatello Ninja Turtle with a fun TMNJ theme song and a Toothless dragon.

capital wheel

We took a birthday trip to ride the new(ish) Capital Wheel.  These giddy guys were so excited to visit the National Harbor on a beautiful day off from school!  Aiden, who is now a super brave seven year old, went into the sand filled mouth of the sand covered sculpture.  Both boys loved the wheel ride and were giddy as it took off.  We saw airplanes and helicopters fly by and the color on the trees was still there.  It was a nice long ride in a cozy compartment.  A nice birthday treat...

cake

Little brother worked hard on mixing this brownie cake for his brother.  They were both really happy to decorate it with sprinkles.

many faces

Of the Tin Man...

It was so fun to have back to back Halloween parades with both boys, but I really look forward to going into this guy's class parties in the future.  It sounded like he had a ton of fun and they had such creative stations for the kids (like potion mixing, etc).

monkey march

The Halloween photos just keep flowing around here...
Keaton's school hosted a parade and Keaton was so thrilled to show off his wings.  There is a certain excitement because he picked it out and he thinks it's funny that he is a flying monkey.

They even got a chance to play on the playground together in all the fun costumes.  Warning: slides are faster in costumes ;)

Ms. Keow hosted a treat stop and Keaton loves her.  She works at his school but originally she was his music teacher at the rec center.  She and her kids have become such great friends.