Big Big Update

Okay, LOTS has happened since the last installment. I am sharing it with you in no particular order. 

Sleepover with Sam W

One of Sam's friends is Sam W, who is in school with Sam C. They've been friends for a couple of years now. Sam W is must larger and at least a year older and somehow that helps their personalities mesh well; Sam W is very laid back. 

So they had a sleepover Friday night. MOSTLY this meant extra screen time playing a little graphical adventure game, Terraria. Fun thing is that those two plus Josh were all able to be in the same "world". That was a huge treat for Josh who is often left out of the big boy games.

To my delight they agreed to play their (and my) very first game of Clue, which Pearl gave Sam last year. What a fun game! Sam W pasted his character token to the top of a remote-controlled car and drove his toke from room to room. Sam really liked it and insisted on playing again with the family the next day. And Josh is JUST old enough to put up with the whole thing. 

Sam W pulling out the winning accusation, with only a 1 in 8 chance!

Thanksgiving

Since we are going to Columbus for Christmas we stayed here for Thanksgiving. The Elliots kindly invited us to join them and happily their daughter and oldest son (and wife) were there. The food was delicious, and it was fun to join in their traditions. The first tradition was putting anonymous slips of paper with things we were thankful for into a bowl. The bowl is then passed around and each person draws one and tries to guess the author. Both funny and touching.

We also had a Malbec blind tasting contest where we tried to rank five bottles. Turns out if you don't know Malbecs this is challenging! Lesson learned. :-)

The evening was rounded out by Josh accidentally setting fire to a cloth napkin. Turns out to be a great way to make an exit. 

Josh playing with a sticker book with Juli and Andy's daughter Corinne. 

Sam playing Two-Cushion Bumper Shot--he's an ace at that

Son Drew as well as Juli

Josh giving "high threes" to everyone, including Mel, Drew's wife.

Josh wandered upstairs and found a barn with little animal figures and tractors in it, on their third floor. He also found a secret entrance to their attic. :-)

Josh, reclining in front of the fire: "I feel like I am at a beach!"

Susan and Sam with a Very Hard Puzzle.

The Science Museum

I took the boys to the science museum and saw some fun exhibits. I can't remember where Susan was. This exhibit projected from above a topographical map. The cool thing: the table was covered in sand, and the computer detected the height of the sand and dynamically changed the map to match where the kids pushed the sand, instantly reflecting their newly made mountains, rivers, valleys and plateaus. 

I don't have a picture of it, but Sam convinced me to take them to the planetarium for a holiday-museum laser-light show. It was 45 minutes long and I wasn't sure Josh could sit still that long, but they both had a GREAT and memorable time, and we three enjoyed the music. The best visual part came when they released cold steam into the planetarium and aimed the lasers level so they oscillated in a plane slicing through the mist. This revealed all the vortices and flow patterns in the air. I haven't ever seen anything like it.

Gingerbread houses

During an Aunt Amy visit Susan (and Amy?) made two gingerbread houses which the boys decorated with them. The boys really enjoyed the decoration process, which is darned good considering just making the houses took SIX HOURS. 

That was also the day of the big OSU-Michigan game. For the first time ever, Sam and I watched at least half of it together. WHAT AN EXCITING GAME! Double overtime and simply wild plays. So much fun to share that with him. 

The Tree

Sam's Metal Bird

Sam is loving art this year and is doing really well. Several pieces of art from his grade were chosen for display at a local Barnes and Noble. His was one of only four metal birds--a blue and green dodo. We are very proud of him. :-)

Sunday School

This is from the door to Josh's Sunday school classroom. He's thankful for Grandma (by which I think he means Nana). :-)

Second photo is of the class, led by Heidi Z, singing the song they sing at the end of every class. So cute. He loves Mrs. Z and that class.

Baytrail Middle-School Concert

Quoth Susan: "A great sixth grade concert tonight. The first pic shows Sam just before the chorus sang, standing next to a friend who could be his twin. The second pic is Sam enjoying a post-concert Doritos Locos Taco, in the tradition of great musicians from time immemorial..."

Josh's Store

From Susan: "SHHH. Josh and I are counterfeiting. Turns out it's not that hard; you just download a PDF of fake bills, print, and cut. Presto.

But it's for a good cause: he's setting up a toy shop in our family room."

This is adorable. Did you know that in addition to counterfeiting, you can make fake receipts online? Note the property tax as well.

Monster Trap

Snow day, so Josh made a monster trap for his bedroom, inspired by an Amanda Pig story.

Volunteering at Baytrail for Harvest of the Month

Irony for the day: nothing says, "Hey, that's my mom!" like diving under the cafeteria table when your mom approaches with a tray of roasted cauliflower samples.

The photos are actually from Sam's birthday party...

Sam Turns 11!

From Susan: "My baby turned 11 yesterday! Almost managed to kiss him in front of 10 party guests but he dodged me just in time. Happy birthday Sam - you're such a huge blessing and joy to us!" The party was held at a trampoline park (yes, there is such a thing). It was on a Monday night (Sam's birthday), which meant the place was nearly deserted, which was great for us. :-)

Miscellany:

A peaceful after-school time today... one doing homework, the other enjoying his first issue of Highlights.

Josh helping Susan make lasagna

From Susan,

A political discussion at our dinner table tonight:

Younger Child, pointing at my shirt: Why is there a safety pin there?

Me: Recent election...blah blah blah... Muslims, immigrants, feeling unsafe...blah blah...showing support...blah blah. [Transition to British politics via The Crown...] Of course, the queen of England doesn't actually run the country anymore. Most kings and queens these days are just figureheads.

Older Child: But why is that?

Me: Elected officials...blah blah...prime minister is like the president...blah blah blah...importance to history, blah blah...

Younger Child: Your eyeball is upside down.

And then we kind of stalled.

He has a gift! He is the Chosen One!

Out of respect for the Chosen One, please pretend that his face is clean.

* * *

The note below was slipped under the bathroom door during my shower this morning (I covered the name for privacy's sake).

I said, "Show me the puppy dog eyes." Older Child said, "I don't have puppy dog eyes. That's why I wrote them down."

Playdate

...with Josh's good friend Jack, painting dinosaurs:

Hallowe'en

The photos sort of speak for themselves. Both kids were wizards. The weather was nice and we left Dianka to "man" the door while Susan walked with Sam and his friend Sam W and I went around with Josh. Josh tired first and so I took him home and then swapped with Susan. Both boys had a whale of a time.

Raiding the candy the morning after

Our pumpkins

WOW. That's the update!