Family

September’s woodworking class had the kids making prototypes of a project they wanted to build. For October, Bruce and Rob chose four of those projects and let the kids choose which ones they wanted to build. Here were their choices:

After Rob explained how it was all going to go …

… the kids (and parents) got to work.

This was a multi-step project so the kids didn’t finish them during the class, but they got a great start and we all had a good time. More importantly, there were plenty of drinks for those of us who had been on the Eaton Canyon hike that day … and for those of us who hadn’t for that matter. As always, woodworking class ended in a great party with great friends.

I volunteered to help wrangle Ezra’s class on photo day and ended up taking a few photos of my own. He chose his clothes very carefully that day. He wanted to make sure he wore his Shark Ray Alley t-shirt and the gray shorts that match.

And I sneaked one of the class being crazy.

Here’s the real class photo.

And Finn’s class, too.

The archery range that the boys (all three of them) enjoy nearly every weekend is under fire from some residents of Pasadena who would rather not have roving archers in the Arroyo. It’s a shame because it’s a local treasure in a beautiful setting that archers have enjoyed since 1935. The Pasadena Roving Archers are fighting to keep the range intact and started a campaign photographing as many archers as they can to show their support. Our friend and fabulous photographer (and fellow archer) Aaron Kiely took pictures of the Moisions for the campaign and they are terrific.

The first week of school also reunited our woodworking class! Our first project of the Fall session was prototypes. The kids had the chance to go through the process that Bruce and Rob go through for class — dream up an idea of something to build and work out the logistics using cardboard.

Bruce showed the kids how he sketches out a project and then cuts out the parts to put together, often making changes along the way.

Then the kids set to work.

I don’t know how I missed taking pictures of all the cutting and glueing, but alas, I have none. But I do have some pictures of “The Coolerator” — Bruce’s invention to combat the ridiculous September heat.

It’s basically a mister wound inside of a cage, so that when you’re inside it you get hit with a [fairly] gentle mist of cool water. The kids loved it.

After the projects were complete, we had a leisurely dinner on the lawn.

During dinner each woodworker presented their prototype to the group so they could vote on which ones they were most interested in building during future classes. It was so great to see all the creativity and to see the shyer kids work through their public speaking fears, sometimes with the help of a grownup.

Kai’s bed.

Ashlyn’s frame.

Sofia’s mailbox.

Amelia’s bird house.

Josie’s animal bench.

Jenner’s safe.

Caleb’s soccer game.

Marietta’s pet carrier.

Ezra’s Jackson cube.

Ruby’s bridge.

Terra’s doll gate.

Silvia’s balance beam (presented by Ashlyn with Silvia peaking out from the safety of her mom).

Finn’s glider.

Votes were taken …

… numbers tallied and a good time was had by all. Future projects to come!

As usual, the day after Labor Day brought us the first day of school — first and third grade! I got a shot before we left the house. The boys had decided to wear matching all-camo outfits.

Here’s Finn shaking hands with his new advisor, Ms. Thea.

And their first circle time.

Ezra’s new advisor, the fabulous Ms. Bondsmith, had a question on the whiteboard and some activities for the kids to help them get to know each other.

And I got to watch the first morning “core practice” where they did a breathing exercise from the MindUP program to help everyone get settled.

Ezra’s not a huge fan of this activity, but I’m hopeful that he will learn to relax and do it because I think it will really help him pull himself together and be ready for class.

Bruce has taken up archery as well and I went with them to a class last month. Here are some pictures. Never mind the archery, the setting is beautiful!

Finn wanted to try that day, too, but apparently he is left-eyed and Ezra is right-eyed so the bow Ezra was using wouldn’t work. He got to try this past weekend and loved it. Unfortunately, I have no photos but I’m sure we’ll get some soon.

A few years ago, Cari deemed summer Thursdays “Desperate Thursdays” and planned a bunch of activities to keep us all from losing our sanity. We reprised this idea a couple of weeks ago with a trip on the Metro to downtown L.A. The kids are always in favor of a train ride but I couldn’t get everyone smiling in one picture.

Our first stop was the Central Library, where we had a mostly pleasant lunch outside in the courtyard. Some very high maintenance man yelled at Ezra for chasing the birds because he was afraid they were going to poop on him. Perhaps he should have just moved out from under the tree instead of yelling at an 8-year-old, because about 15 minutes later he did, indeed, get pooped on. And then he yelled at me for smirking.

Anyway, after lunch we went into the library where the kids proceeded to look at every penguin book in the children’s collection.

And Finn took a look around.

We also walked over and rode on Angel’s Flight …

… walked through the Grand Central Market, and then fumbled our way to the nearest Metro station to get back to Union Station. There, Ezra and Finn experienced their first cinnamon pretzel from Wetzel’s. A little bit of heaven on earth.

A few weeks ago, I tagged along with some much more organized moms to a music and art event for kids at the Hollywood Bowl. The musical performance was fun, and while it wasn’t actually in the Bowl, the kids got a tour of it. The boys were impressed with the Philharmonic which was rehearsing at the time, but most thrilling was that they got to ride on this:

After the musical performance the kids got to choose from a list of crafts to do. Ezra and Finn both chose to decorate eggs.

After they were done, the facilitator interviewed the kids who wanted to talk about their eggs. It’s a little hard to hear, but here is the boys’ interview.

Origami has become a craze in our house — we have bagfuls of fish, oblong boxes, foxes and penguins. Ezra made these large penguins protecting their egg, and the box stand for the egg.

And last week he made this tiny penguin family at camp after he heard that there are new baby penguins at the Aquarium.

Coincidentally, the boys have been thinking about ways to make money lately, and these two things merged one day: Origami for sale on the front steps.

They sorted out their paper and weighted it down with rocks.

Then they set out their instructions and proceeded to fold.

They filled the boxes with rocks, too.

Sadly, there were no takers that afternoon. But they did receive an order by mail.

Of course, they have yet to actually fulfill the order (follow through is not a strong suit), but I’m hopeful it will happen soon.

UPDATE!

Order fulfilled and in the mail today!

Cari and I took the kids to the Science Center last month so we could all see Endeavor. The boys had gone with Bruce when the exhibit first opened, but I hadn’t seen it since it flew over JPL that day last September, so I was happy that they wanted to go back. It’s enormous! (And difficult to get a good photograph in the room.)

Of course we also checked out a bunch of other exhibits, but I didn’t take many photos. My other highlight was the Hubble 3D movie — which the boys loved too.

It inspired us to watch Apollo 13 which always makes me cry. Finn was pretty upset by it until Bruce told him everyone was going to be fine. Then he settled in and enjoyed the movie. Ezra’s been talking about a “successful failure” ever since.

We’re trying out a new summer camp this year called Steve and Kate’s Camp. It’s been hit and miss but over the last few weeks the boys have really started to love it. I think Finn’s always been a fan since it’s right up his alley — lots of kids around to chat with. He’s also discovered foosball and has fallen in love. Ezra’s a little tougher, but he’s had some really good days. I think the camp won him over the day they let him get in a mud fight with another camper. When I went to pick him up, this is what he looked like (actually, this was after I told him to go wash his hands and arms).

He also likes these razor tricycle things.

And they’ve both made a few movies. Here’s Ezra’s “The Blorg.”

And Finn’s, untitled.

Cari and I took the kids on a Metro ride to Grand Park earlier this month. There’s a huge water fountain and splash area and the kids had a blast.

I also discovered that they have little libraries there. Cari hadn’t noticed them when she was there a month or so before, and they weren’t very well stocked so I’m assuming they are new. And super cute!

After the park festivities, we decided we’d make dinner easy on ourselves and went to La Grande Orange. The best part, in my opinion, was this pair of glasses Finn and I made with the Wikki Sticks they give out.

He even fell asleep with them on during the car ride home.

The boys and I went to the Aquarium of the Pacific in late June, mainly because they have Magellanic Penguins there and we are all — thanks to Ezra — obsessed with penguins. Here are the boys looking for them.

They were (as you can see) up on the rocks and there weren’t very many of them out that day. The boys were content for the moment to pose with the fake ones at the display.

Later in the day when we came back to the penguin area, the birds were in the water, much to the delight of two little boys.

Ezra couldn’t get close enough. He would jump in there with them if he could.

We saw lots of other sea animals and spent some time in the Lorikeet Forest. Ezra fed the birds.

Finn wasn’t too happy in there — the birds kept swooping down around us and it freaked him out.

We just found out there are two baby penguins now, so we’ll be making a return trip soon.