Kind of unorganized here, but I have a few pictures to share. First, Finn loves to use the melon baller.
Next, Ezra perusing the New Yorker. (Well, actually, just the comic on one page, but I like to think we’re indoctrinating him early.)
And last, Ezra got to spend the day with Finn at Cottage on Monday. When I got there to pick them up, they were engrossed in story time with Teacher Art.
The latest science experiment at our house was how to turn a regular egg into one that bounces. The process: soak a regular, uncooked egg in white vinegar for two days. Voila. So, how did it work? Well, see for yourself.
Of course, after trying out the bounce, we had to break it open to see what it looked like. At least they let me put it in a bowl first.
Yuck.
While I was at Cottage’s Open House showing off our awesome preschool to prospective families last Saturday, Bruce and the boys were at Waldorf School’s Elves’ Faire with every other family in a ten mile radius. The boys reported that they had a great time. Bruce didn’t have a camera, but someone at Altadenablog captured them in the drum circle, so I’m stealing their photo.
Afterwards, all they wanted to do was practice (and talk about) the bows and arrows they got at the faire. I took a few videos.
Ezra wrote a story in chalk on the patio table this week. I think it was an origin story for his and Finn’s superpowers. I couldn’t get the whole thing in one shot but this was my favorite part.
I love how he sounded out “experiment” to come up with the spelling.
Today he started writing a story on his whiteboard.
It’s patterned after Mo Willems’ The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! and meant to be interactive, so I’ll translate.
The Pigeon Wants a Meatloaf.
Hi, how are you?
Guess what I want?
[A meatloaf]
How did you guess? You are right I want a meatloaf.
[No.]
Why don’t I get anything?
It was a busy but not particularly exciting week around here, so I just have a few random shots. First up, Finn and his friend Amelia at Cottage. Amelia had accidentally fallen into the Lego box; Finn decided to join her. She has an awesome giggle.
Ezra was in full concentration mode working on the kids’ menu at Islands on Wednesday night.
I found some treasures in the boys’ laundry — it’s always an adventure.
This morning on the way to Aveson, I overheard this conversation from the backseat.
Finn [singing]: It’s a small world after all. It’s a small world after all …
[Pause.]
Finn: You know, it’s not a small world. It’s a big world.
Ezra: It’s a humongous world!
Finn: It’s our world.
Bruce in 2008 in JPL’s Halloween race.
Bruce in 2011 “carrying” Ezra’s pumpkin costume when Ezra got tired of wearing it because it was super heavy.
(Photo credit to Gary for the 2011 photo; no idea who took the 2008 one!)
Sunday brought us some rain, temps too chilly for the pool and a trip to the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert. Fun ensued.
First, how cute is this spontaneous hand-holding on the way to the museum entrance?
On the motorcycle.
Making a pizza.
Shopping.
Painting.
Examining a bird at the veterinary clinic.
Taking the bird for a walk.
And finally, running around like crazy people with hula hoops.
After a quick hodgepodge dinner, we headed home and hit a crazy storm — pouring rain, lightning that lit up the whole sky, pounding hail that created hail berms in between the freeway lanes. Scary but interesting, and best of all we made it home safe and sound. Thanks, Jamma!
We finally got our Jamma weekend before she heads back to Belize next week. The boys couldn’t wait to see her. Before we left our house Friday afternoon, Finn made me go back in to get his haircutting gear because he just had to give her a new ‘do. Shortly after we got there, he and Ezra sorted all the tools and started in on the haircut.
Later, Finn got his secret outing with Jamma — a trip to the pool. They started out in the “cajuzzi” (as Finn calls it) and, therefore, never made it to the big pool because even though it’s heated it’s just too cold by comparison. Needless to say, Finn was thrilled when he got back.
Saturday both boys couldn’t wait to get out to the pool. We held them off as long as we could because although it was sunny and gorgeous, it was pretty chilly outside. But we finally did get to the pool and had an afternoon full of swimming — both in the big pool and the cajuzzi.
Later, we ordered pizza for dinner and the boys had a picnic on the living room floor. Finn was spent from a busy day and he fell asleep quickly just after 7:00. Ezra, on the other hand, got his turn for his special outing with Jamma — they walked across the street to Rite Aid for a scoop of ice cream. He came back covered in blue cottom candy ice cream proclaiming that he had a new favorite flavor.
Jamma and I didn’t make the same mistake Saturday night as we did Friday night when we stayed up until midnight. We were both sound asleep by 10:00.
We’ve been doing a little carpooling to Cottage this year. Today I had a full house and decided I should take a picture. What a bunch of cuties.
Jerri was in the classroom at Aveson on Monday and sent me these pictures of Ezra’s compound word.
Love it. Especially the change in facial expression from man to manbat.
We got to see Jamma this weekend and the boys (and Bruce and I) were thrilled. In fact, on the way out there, Finn said, “Mommy, can you just drop me off at Jamma’s house?”
We had lunch at a local taco shop where Ezra peppered Jamma with stories and Finn chatted about the football game that was on the TV.
The boys did a little tree climbing. Finn needed some help; Jamma’s expression here mirrored my uneasiness with Finn being up in the tree.
Too short of a visit for my taste, but we get to have our longer Palm Springs weekend soon!
Finn was showing off his ninja moves this weekend. Here’s the video he asked me to take.
And here he is, all geared-up, after taking a spill on his bike. Since he fell on his knee, he requested that we find Ezra’s knee pads so he could use them. And then he put on the safety goggles for good measure.
He also had a cute moment in the front yard with the palm tree. He was “climbing” it and when I told him that I needed him and Ezra to come inside, he said, “It’s OK, Mommy, I’ll keep an eye on Ezra.” What a responsible little chap.
I’m out of order here, but Friday we had some Day of the Dead stuff going on. First, Ezra decorated a sugar skull at school — he’s very proud of it and doesn’t want anyone to touch it, lest it break.
That night we went with some friends to a Dia de los Muertos celebration in Pasadena. There were altars, dancers, crafts and activities, food, etc. Here are some pictures.
We had a great Halloween this year! We’d heard that our neighborhood is popular with the trick-or-treaters, and that is no joke! Here are the Jack-o’-Lantern and the Ghost as we started out.
The first stop was a house down the street with a couple of kids Ezra and Finn have befriended.
Ezra had a bit of hard time getting up the stairs in his costume and the pumpkin got heavy pretty quickly. Bruce carried it a lot. And sometimes he wore it.
The second house was super spooky (according to Finn) and the boys loved it.
What a cute little ghost.
After meeting up with the Goodmans, Fowlers and Carters, we hit this house on Michigan where the owner did magic tricks for the kids. As Ezra said, “That was SO cool!”
After about another block, the boys were done — Finn had stepped on his costume and ripped it, making it even harder to walk in. Ezra was tired of the heavy pumpkin. And they were both ready to start handing out candy at home. Here they are waiting for customers.
And here’s one of the many rushes.
They liked to inspect all the candy before giving it out.
We got lots of compliments on our spider and our jack-o’-lanterns. All in all a very good evening!
