would you rather

Time is flying lately... and by lately, I mean constantly and always.  My baby will be S-I-X in one month.... um, I don't think I can see through these big fat water droplets forming in my eyes right now.  I still feel the smudge from the 'smoosh kiss' this guy gave me before bed.  He will kiss his fingers and then smear it onto my cheek.  It's the best.

Would you rather never play or play but always lose?
Ok, fine, I would play but lose because otherwise I'd just be sad all the time without play

Would you rather have to sit all day or stand all day?
I would do sit because if you stand your energy will be like ugh, I just have to stand and do nothing

Would you rather be a parent or a child?
Child because I like school!

Would you rather be super strong or super fast?
Super fast because if someone was here you could go woah, and they wouldn't even see you punch them

Would you rather be chased by five zombies or one werewolf?
I would do five zombies because werewolf are very hard to defeat and zombies and pretty dumb and slow and you can immediately smash them in the brain

Would you rather get 20 of your favorite treats on Halloween or 50 treats that aren't your favorite?
All of those, so 50 treats because I like them all

Would you rather sleep in a coffin or live in a giant pumpkin?
Live in a giant pumpkin because then I could just eat my house, but I won't eat all of it, but I could make pumpkin pie all day.  But I could make the seeds my furniture...

Would you rather wear your Halloween costume to school every day until Thanksgiving or have to wear a jack o lantern over your head to school for the first three days of November?
I would do my costume because that would be so fun!

Would you rather get to go on a one week vacation anywhere you want or go on a month long vacation but within 200 miles of your house?
Within 200 miles of my house because then I would then have a whole month!

Would you rather be able to give your teacher a report card or be able to write your own report card?
Write my own because then I would say check, check, check, and all the checks on mine!

Would you rather go on a long hike in the woods without any shoes or have to spend a day at the beach in your winter coat?
Coat on the beach because if you walk barefoot and a stick could hurt you, that actually happens to people.

Would you rather receive just socks or just dictionaries for your birthday?
Just dictionaries because then I could read each page each day and I could give one to all of my family.

splashy

This splashy guy

engineers week

Aiden's class celebrated National Engineering Week with two cool team challenges.  The first was to take 50 bendy straws, pipe cleaners, and paper clips and make the tallest tower that could hold up a golf ball.  The second was to make a bridge out of cardboard tubes and popsicle sticks that could hold '21 elephants' (really plastic bears, but they were playing off the book).  They worked in teams to plan ahead of both challenges and it sounded like everyone worked very well together.  They also have enjoyed having their class book club in the patio garden during these beautiful days.  Aiden also belongs to the Chat n Chew book club over lunch, and I'm glad he has all these opportunities.

playwriting

The school holiday last Monday was filled up with a really fun one day playwriting workshop with AFYP.  The group created their own play, 7,892 Doogles.  If you read the script you can see Aiden's humor all over it.  Keaton was so excited to be hanging with the big kids.  The boys were so incredibly energized when I picked them up and couldn't stop chatting about it.

good

Aiden's paper Aphid stands up off the paper ;)  So much paper art from that kid and his buddies.

It's third grade recorder time!  We even have one at home to practice ;)

Keaton loved making this paper roller coaster and explaining exactly how it worked.

Getting a chance to get out is made even sweeter by the fact that the boys can't get enough of babysitter Mr. Donovan's fun - made even better by poke balls!

art

Some fun graphics work for two new neighborhood bands, drama clubs upcoming show, and Aiden's RoBob series.

super readers

Check out those Super Readers!  Mason was again hosting kids with free tickets and a chance to walk out on the court before the game started, in exchange for some meeting some reading goals. These guys don't need much incentive to read and earn their super reader capes ;)  They were mostly pumped for dipping dots and lemonade, but the game got really good at the end. It was a giant comeback and Mason almost managed to win against RI (a la Patriots style), but not quite.  It was still fun when the stadium would explode with cheers.

100th day

Happy 100th day of school! Keaton joined the Family 1 rotations that were familiar from Aiden's past two years.  He colored his own pair of 100s goggles, strung his own 100 beads, and the big favorite - a self portrait of himself at age 100. Aiden wasn't even aware it was the 100th day, so third grade must be a buzz kill.

sugar

I was lucky again and the boys had class parties back to back, so I could make it to help with both.  Aiden's class had a complete overload of sugary treats, three types of cookie, giant cupcakes, marshmallows dipped in chocolate, and many valentine Fun Dips.  Aiden has a thing for Fun Dip and usually eats the stick before the sugar runs out and the remaining dips turn his finger a solid zombie green.  They made a fun heart huggie pencil topper and played a game where they matched the quotient and dividend hearts by silently looking for their partner around the room (that was a big hit with this AAP crowd and they wanted to play over and over!)   Check out that haul of valentine's - and when did this become a second Halloween?!

vday expressions

The many expressions of a kindergarten Valentine's party ;)  The top sequence is when his dad showed up to surprise him and also help out at the party! J called Valentine's number bingo at one station, while telling good kid jokes.  The next station was to make a heart buddy craft.  Then the poor mom that organized the games created what should have been fun - a heart letter matching game - but the kids were literally moaning at the somewhat tedious, overwhelming number of pieces to match.  The only match to that bummer moment was when the kids tried the Samoa girl scout cookies someone brought in, and most of the kids were literally spitting them out in disgust. It felt like one of those bad sitcom moments, and you just had to laugh.  

good

Class party prep! These love bug treats we made over tea at my friend's house brought some smiles ;)

Aiden filled out candy grams for his whole class plus a bunch of random friends.  Most he wrote "keep being awesome!" but a few had their own special message.

My neighbor was so pumped when she saw this "messy bun hat" floating around on the internet, so she asked if I could make one.  You betchya

photo booth

The Mom's Committee that has been working together on at least the last five events - we have it down and know how to get it all together ;)

My new neighbor across the street and her littlest... We are so lucky to have a big batch of houses turning over right now and new families moving in... although somehow we've become old timers even tho we haven't lived here more than four years yet (mainly because everyone is so transient!)

the party

Our neighborhood Valentine's party has grown even in the years since we moved here, and this year we had a new much bigger venue and filled it with over 250 people!  My boys turned into snakes and had an absolute blast.  I enjoyed meeting some new neighbors and helping welcome them to the neighborhood.  

the dance

The boys weren't sure they wanted to go to the school Vday dance, but they were sure glad we were there once we got in the groove. While Aiden literally tried to break dance with his friends, Keaton tried to keep up despite falling over and hurting his ankle a few minutes into arriving. Rocky made the party!  I was surprised that all the kids knew some old school Lil Jon beats and it had me giggling when the whole crowd would bust a move at the same time.  

snap

My camera roll is loaded up with so, so much of this:

courthouse

Part of the city's Chocolate Festival includes a faux trial they call the Great Chocolate Caper.  This time is was Little Miss Muffet vs the City Spider.  The lawyers give their arguments and the kids all serve as the jury.  They went to a back room to deliberate.  Keaton was nominated as the Jury Foreman and he got to go up to the real judge stand and tell her that they were a hung jury- undecided! It was a really good way to illustrate how the judicial system works.

schoolhouse

It's a rare day when it's just me and Keaton together nowadays, but we had a chance while Aiden was still at acting for the afternoon and J was out of town.  We had a chance to visit the Legato schoolhouse which housed the school children of Fairfax starting in 1877.  They showed Keaton what life was like for kids back then who used McGuffey readers, chalkboards, bonnets, and lunch pails.

patriots

What the what!?  This happened!

good list

Some sweet berry treats at the tiny table which Aiden can barely squeeze under - oh my, how many years until he's taller than me?  

A wicked game of Topple!

Aiden's random snapchat filters inserting cute floating bears on top of my knitting and making photo bomber Daddy into a bear face too - ha!

Aiden's state quarter collection has been growing quite a bit!  He still needs tons of the National Park features, but it's exciting when he finds a new one.

mckeys

The piano bar hosts kid's day once a month complete with a kid friendly buffet, plenty of dabbing (check out Kermit dabbing in the background), and a screen you can send photos to for fun.  The kids are invited to dance up on stage.  The favorite was the Rocky theme song with both boys pumping their fists in unison ;)

care

Some days are so full and this random Wednesday was one of them.  My knitting group all ventured out to the new knitting store that opened its doors that morning. She was hosting a series of door prizes and I won by being the first person to show her a knitting project out of my bag ;) Let's Make a Deal style door prizes are especially fun!  J modeling the fun kit of all these mini skeins I just couldn't resist.

Then it was off to host my very first Wish Party for Make-a-Wish to celebrate my wish kid's upcoming trip to Disney World!  He was so full of enthusiasm and grateful to hear all the tips from my boys.  I'd asked A and K for their recommendations and it was fun to hear them share that you can't miss some of the shows at Animal Kingdom and the spy missions in Epcot.

Then I made it back to the kid's school just in time for Kid's Care Club.  The project was to make cupcake socks - which was a really cute valentine's treat for the local nursing home.

Yarn pirate beard says, yaaarrrn!

tidbits

We had a second one day window of snow and this time the dusting that didn't stick to the streets called for a two hour school delay (it wasn't even that cold!) So we went sledding on pine needles and snow dust again ;)

When big brother meets up with his friends, sometimes mom and dad take you to Chuckie all by yourself like an only child.

would you rather

This month was so, so full.  Full of fun and smiles...especially with cousin buddies and family at Disney.  Full of new stuff...you started fencing which is like is a nice blend of martial arts self control with the strength training of baseball and the coordination exercise of basketball.  The best part is that your dad can work with you on it.  Your kindergarten teacher had a baby at the beginning of the month, a few weeks before she expected, but you had a smooth transition with your class' substitute teacher. Your teacher says you are the cheeriest, most helpful, best listener... You even got a sticker for being the best listener in your class.  I think you come home and release some of that tension from holding up all that good behavior, but I'm glad you behave so well at school.

good

Dragon mask to celebrate the Chinese New Year.  The kids are getting ready to join the Mulan Jr and Little Dragons casts with Acting for Young People, so I am betting dragons are going to move up the good list around here.

My knitting friends are keeping me motivated to commit to this simple relaxation.  This sweater yoke was almost all created while watching the Australian show Offspring, which may be the first show I watched whole seasons of right in a row like that - sorta a mom version of binge watching since I can't just stay up watching or watch anytime, but it was spread out over many days ;)

Football parties with kids playing twister ;)

Kids creating with spirographs is really fun to watch.

science center

The good ol science center made better by meeting friends there, new experiments, and pretend instruments.

snapchat

PopPop and Austin nailed it:

tidbits

So many fun relaxing moments at home lately.  The boys love this Art Detective book where they try to find symbols and clues in the real life paintings.  The puzzle mania books at the bus stop - even the cold can't stop these guys from enjoying their spot under the tree.  Aiden created a whole plan and created this Pokeopoly game (from this make your own kit) It was a lot of organization and he realized how much goes into making a game.  The Bionacle lego adventure game with this puzzle pieces that create a new world each time.

Some tidbits left from vacation - the view of Disney in the distance from the ninth floor of our hotel.  This beef jerky store really wanted you to get a good shot with their Beefbook.  This crazy Star Wars clan in this funny picture.  J drew a surprise Joy for me on the Crayola magic projection wall. 

G&P

It's some sort of miracle getting a photo with all four kids and their grandparents with everyone's eyes open looking towards/at the camera with a smile! 

baby toes

Does it get any better than baby toes and sunsets?  Keaton would hold his cousin all day if he had a choice.

swim

We stayed at my brother in law's conference hotel and it was really nice.  The pool was surrounded by a grotto and beach area. 

cousin crayons

Can't get enough of some matchy cousin buddies - this time they were the cutest crayons!  Thanks G&P!

crayola 2

The make your own crayon wrapper was a definite highlight!  We also got to watch them create a whole batch of brand new newborn crayons and take some home with us ;)  

crayola 1

On the third day, we slowed down the Orlando marathon with a trip to the Crayola Experience.  It was a perfect spot for tired legs and creative kids. They had so many interactive exhibits and the entire place felt like a really fun children's museum.