good list

Our costume bins (there are now two busting at the seams) are full of well loved costumes (even after passing along a bunch to our cousin buddies). 

Thinking Putty is one of our favorite things lately... a little piece of the fidget toy excitement. This one truly does look like glass.

There is this funky narwhal song that the third graders can't stop singing and dabbing along to - so this shirt is what Aiden describes as a "shirt that represents my soul!" Ha!

Introducing this squishable guy, Mr. Hedgie Pokey Brennan.  His pokes quiver and he always looks like he's getting ready to run towards you. He gives the best hugs despite those tiny arms ;)

This tiny replica of J's Van Halen guitar now graces his book shelf at work.

This stuffed guitar accompanies plenty of serenades from these guys.

Love the antique shops with these really old metal canisters - Old Reliable PB, now that's some marketing!

old buddies

Old friends came back to visit and it was like they hadn't missed a day! Keaton was so surprised that "his Sydney" was back in town for a visit ;)

escaping

Man, again there is a big batch of friends escaping :(  This area just breeds that transient deal so I suppose we will get used to it...  In the meantime, we've been enjoying as much time as possible hanging out.  The Escape Room trend is a favorite of mine and we beat this White House themed room in just under an hour!  

Then my absolute favorite type of party is hanging out crafting - we decoupaged some going away presents...  

G&P

Thanks G&P for coming to visit, see the shows, and spoil us for our anniversary!

anniversary

It's happy 13!  Feeling lucky!  We snuck out to a nice dinner at Fish at the new MGM at National Harbor.  It's fun to get dressed up and go someplace new... feels refreshing!  Thanks to my folks and the boys who played and baked for us to celebrate!

dragon

The Little Dragons put on a really fun mini show with their chosen dragon characters.  Keaton was Sparky who would spit tiny sparks instead of fire.  They sang some songs and roared their way through their fun show.

hun

Aiden's character Magyar is the sassy hun soldier.  So many expressions during some pretty fun choreography and awesome songs!

after

Thanks to my folks and the Brennans for coming out to see the shows this weekend! Such great directors - the red shirts rock! We are happy to have some neighborhood carpool buddies in the show with us too.

pool opening

The week leading up to the pool opening was nearly all blustery rainy days, but despite the forecast the weekend delivered some decent days. So much so that the boys were determined to get in with the crowds of buddies. 

annapolis

Took a day trip to Annapolis for the holiday... Keaton claimed my hat which it turns out fits everyone and makes us all feel like we're on vacation.  Aiden added a coin from Spain in 1868 to his coin collection.  The ice cream at Kilwin's was the best I've ever had, seriously.  That delicious place smelled of chocolate from blocks away!

good list

The pool club kicked off the season with a rainy weekend, but it didn't keep anyone away from the first band of the season. It was really pumped up when my friends took over the mic for some 90s rap. 

Oreo pops with sugar monsters and lions, oh my!

Bike rides across the new end of the path with my favorite long legs guy that needs a taller bike.

J's magazine photos and photos that pop up from his international talks...

Bunch of really great friends are moving agggain, boo, but yay to spring parties to go out with a bang... This Escape the Room game from Think Fun is so fun!  We beat Dr. Gravelly in an hour and 15 minutes (you have 2 hours to complete it with the bonus round).

knit wit

Things go in waves, but my knitting lately has been pretty consistent.  It's such a great thing to do while waiting for the kids at their activities. I've finished a bunch of projects that had been around for a while... I also was bitten by the shawl bug.  I attended two workshops with "celebrity rockstar" knitters, Casa pinka on mosaics and West knits on marled knits. Fiber art is such a subculture of wholesome quirk. There's also a bunch of research about how good knitting in particular is for you (regulates your heart rate and is better than meditation). Check out J in the airport to Hawaii holding up my finished ombre shawl ;)

colonial

Always a favorite place, we made it to the Spring Colonial Faire at Claude Moore on a really perfect spring day. Added some new cornhusk dolls and paper fans to our collection, and Keaton somehow convinced us to buy him a pop gun. I plead temporary insanity. The rock candy is a big favorite and probably the main draw for the boys, along with the handmade sausage for J.

places you can knit

In honor of my upcoming workshop with Stephen West (the rockstar knitting instructor/Amsterdam shop owner extraordinaire), the boys fell in love with his funny Places You Can Knit video series.  Essentially he walks around knitting in random places and announcing it on camera.  The boys were giggling so much making their own version, they got the hiccups. Bonus points if you can count the hiccups:


Places You Can Knit : Friday Afternoon from LB on Vimeo.

art class

Snaps of some fun art projects from the boys after school class -

Fürst Try

A belated video of Fürst Try at the Spring Fling - moved inside the cafeteria due to rain:
Fürst Try at the Spring Fling from LB on Vimeo.

school pics

Check out those classic scunchy face school photos - I helped out with picture day and knew right away that those full length shots weren't going to be great for anyone - that bench! ;)

hip hop

These after school hip hop kids had a little showcase to share with the parents.  The group dance was many pieces all linked together.  They had fun with a bunch of buddies in the class too.

Hip Hop Kids from LB on Vimeo.

duet

The biannual photo with his piano teacher, Ms. Cindy Wallin and his duet partner Brady.  They played Imperial March from Star Wars.

piano recital

Timeline Adventure, just a really good piece that his teacher loves which is in five eight and Wouldn't It Be Loverly, from My Fair Lady Piano Recital, Movie music from LB on Vimeo.

good one

It's day one of recital weekend (voice and piano) and it was also a really fun full day!  The last AFYP Saturday rehearsal, a birthday party for Keaton with his best bud Tyler, and Aiden and I made our own Chuckie Cheese party while daddy was at commencement.

Those rockers are colleagues in the business school!  In J's class, that student pictured created Unsung Heroes that recognizes and fulfills wishes for those that provide for the community.

voice recital

Voice Recital, Aiden age 9 from LB on Vimeo.

the block

Definitely need more of this! Thanks to Lizzie and crew for coming to our block!  We also visited the Block for treats. Hiding in that cup down there is a donut ice cream sandwich made with chocolate salted caramel almond ice cream sandwiched between a warm donut drizzled in nutella and oreo chunks.

meatball

On the list of favorite things: hanging out with this meatball and getting meatballs at Ikea.

cousin buddies

Cousin buddies chilling out, puzzling, and falling asleep on swings...

smiles

Thanks to my boys (especially J who orchestrated the perfect day!) for all the smiles! Is there anything better than these guys smiling in a new yarn shop?!

frederick

We hadn't been up to Frederick, MD before, but it has a really nice main street.  It was made even nicer by a very beautiful Mother's Day full of sunshine.

treats

Som any surprise treats made by my boys... Love the I love you because....

science fair

Mother's Day weekend kicked off with the regional science fair at George Mason University.  It was such a treat see this guy march off confidently with his cohort to present his poster to the judges, come back afterward jazzed up at all the questions he fielded, and then win fourth place/honorable mention in his division.  Everyone enjoyed the public session checking out all the posters in all the age divisions.  Then it was time for the public session and awards ceremony.  Keaton jumped out of his seat with so much excitement when they called Aiden's name and Aiden looked at me with the widest excited, surprised eyes.  

Aiden's project started when I asked him if he'd like to make and project and he immediately asked, "Yes, if I can defy gravity?!" It was seemingly out of the blue, but it sparked the whole goal of his project.  How much force does it take for a magnet to levitate?  And how can he create a device to measure it?

tidbits

Cards galore for all his teachers during appreciation week!

The Kindergarten special project to make a boat - Keaton's was Hawaiian and had plenty of space to luau on it.

Kids Care Club helped make posters for the Raccoon Run which raised a bunch of money for cancer research despite the soggy day.

preview

Getting ready for the big stage with a preview of Mulan at the community center "tea" - These dragons are ready!

appreciate

Teacher appreciation week was a flurry of tiny gifts each day... the favorite were these colored in Rocky the Raccoon masks the boys were excited to give.  Our PTA hospitality luncheon in the library covered all the teacher's lunch periods from just after 10:30 to nearly 2:00pm - Check out all those bags full of gift cards and Kids Care Club made scrolls with cool notes on them for the teachers.

mommu

Happy Mother's Day Mommu! A Gran Gran who always shares her smiles, her scissors, and her silliness with all of us! We love you!