Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from 

STAMPY CAT

(for those of you of a certain age, you might need to know that Stampy Cat is the online name and image used by a YouTube star who posts videos on how to play the game Minecraft.

Here's the LUMBERJACK (if you need any wood cut)

Eli Turns 8

Saturday was Eli's 8th Birthday. He celebrated with a family cookout at the river and a pool party with his friends. He had a great time - we all did! Eli is still fascinated with all things science and mechanical, but this summer he's added a big interest in sailing. He was inspired by the Swallows and Amazons book series, which we'd never heard of until we got the audio books, but these older, Britsh books have great kid-adventures.

Here is the annual look back....

First Day of School

Ezra went to Kindergarten today! He declared it awesome. This decision was influenced by the following: yummy lunch, short nap time, monkey bars on the playground, and checking out a book to bring home at the school library. In that order.

Planning Phase

On any random day, one of the boys at our house is in the planning phase for a project. Maybe two or three projects. Each. Maybe building a house, boat, treehouse, or rocket. Maybe a boat with a house, treehouse and rocket on it. You never know. When I see collaborative planning - that is when I really begin to get worried!

Blast Off! to Vacation

We started our vacation this year at the Air & Space museum in Hampton. It was a blast - literally! There were lots of simulators and planes to pretend to fly.

Stealth pilot Eli, you are ready for takeoff.

The Apollo 12 Landing Capsule was fun to see.

They had been looking forward to this 360-degree motion flight simulator for ages, but in the end flying themselves upside down was not a big hit. 

Then it was on to Nags Head. Here is Eli and his buddy Orville at the
Wright Brothers Memorial

In addition to aerospace, Eli has also been fascinated with sailing lately so the Elizabeth II was a lot of fun. Ezra had a really good time exploring the replica ship as well.

Who wouldn't like wearing armor?

Ezra put the wood crafting interpreter pretty well through his paces.

We got tired of chasing after them so we just buried them.

Flying homemade kites after the workshop at the Wright Memorial

At home again and on the river...Ezra and Chris.

And Eli doing his first solo paddle
(don't worry, Grandma, he stayed close to the shore out of the current!)

Ezra the Graduate

Ezra graduated from preschool this afternoon; he'll be off to kindergarten before we know it. All the graduates received superlatives. Ezra's was "Our Hardest Worker!" That fits!

In other news, Eli has his last day in the 1st grade tomorrow. They really should have just called it quits last week since dressing up as a pirate has pretty much been the educational highlight since then.....Ar! Matey!

Worker-man

I imagine you've all gotten the idea that Ezra is passionate about construction and "worker stuff." He adores This Old House. Now that he's gotten so big (he weighs almost as much as Eli!) he is really starting to be a worker. Here he is spreading mulch at home a couple of weeks ago. Last weekend at the farm, he shoveled mulch with a full-size shovel, scooped mud out of the springhouse and also helped clear the springhouse of "coconuts" (aka walnuts). I've got some new plants to put in and judging from the size of the hole he and Eli have made in the front yard, I know who to call to do my digging....

Happy 5th Birthday, Ezra!

Ezra celebrated his 5th birthday this past Thursday. Here's a little flash back....
                                      

...and our big boy!

Ezra continues to be obsessed with all manner of construction and the tools required. He can put away 4 slices of pineapple pizza, and you don't want to know how much cake or chocolate he would consume if it were available. He's funny and very friendly. He tells tall tales, complete with "storytelling" voice (his mouth cocked to one side). He loves cats and dogs. He can hammer a nail like you wouldn't believe and loves to snuggle.

 He was over the moon about his new, real workbench.

A few friends came over for a "building" party. Here they are making wooden toolboxes.

And eating cake!

Snow Day(s)!

Here are our snow days by the numbers:

• Number of days in which it has snowed since last Monday - 3
• Number of inches of snow in our yard - 14
• Number of very excited boys - 2
• Number of trips to scavenge bread from barren grocery store shelves - 1 (1 loaf found at the back of the bottom shelf)
• Number of days of missed/early released school since last Tuesday - 4
• Number that were actually necessary - 3 (and I'm being generous about that early release on Wednesday!)
• Number of cookies baked - 36
• Number of cookies remaining in the house - 0
• Number of huge bowls of popcorn eaten - 2
• Number of trips outside to play - untold
• Number of hours spent getting boys into snow clothes - infinite
• Number of snowmen attempted - 2
• Number of snowmen built from the fine powder - 0
• Number of huge snow piles made - 5 (2 by the boys, 3 by Chris and our tenant in digging the cars / driveway out, and 1 two-foot pile all the way down the street made by the town as they plowed )
• Trips down said hills on the saucer sleds - many!
• Number of adults ready to get back on schedule - 2