Just Finn
Just a couple of pictures of my littlest Moision. First, as a “police” as he calls it.
And now just his feet. Still cute.
Feeling the Beat
While Finn was at Cottage doing Stone Soup Day, Ezra and I had the morning to ourselves, so I let him choose what we would do. He picked a movie: Happy Feet 2 (which is an interesting choice because we hadn’t yet seen the original Happy Feet). Anyway, he loved it and let me tell you, that boy has the music in him. He loved, loved, loved the “beat” from lead penguin Mumble and was desperate to recreate it all afternoon. He and Finn begged for pots, pans and sticks so they could have a drum-fest. Here are the results.
The start.
Starting to get into the feeling.
Getting serious.
And of course, I have video.
Soon, Finn was dancing.
And I finally got him to show off some of his break dancing skills.
Later we watched Happy Feet, which I’d recently recorded. Ezra loved it; Finn was terrified. Nothing new there.
A Few Random Shots
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.
A Bouncy Egg
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.
The Elves’ Faire
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.
Writing
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?
Some Pictures from the Week
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.
It’s a Small World …
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.
A Tale of Two Pumpkin Heads
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!)
Weekend at Jamma’s, Part II
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!
Weekend at Jamma’s, Part I
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.
Wednesday Morning Carpool
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.
Compound Words
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.
A Short Date with Jamma
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!
Little Finn
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.
