Emily is now a bachelorette of the arts!

Took Josh and Sam and trundled off to Columbus this weekend to watch Emily metriculate (which ought to mean "calculate using metric units"). The graduation ceremony was held in the OSU stadium. It can hold 90k people; Sunday there were upwards of 11k graduates and associated family:

Stu and Sue got there very early and got us rock-star seating:

It was in the high 80s, no shade. I was lucky enough to sit next to Josh Jones, Em's significant other, and we joked about how the weather would reach out its right hand to bestow breezey blessings only to smack us with the left hand of bright sunshine. 

Nice to get a taste of summer.

Archie Griffin, two-time Heisman trophy winner and three-time all-american for the Buckeyes, gave a funny and moving address where he recounted some of his highs and lows, urging the graduates not to be defined by their failures. 

We managed to find Emily in the mass of graduates, with her help. Here she is about to receive her diploma:

...and outside the library, having received it:

And afterward we all made it over to Stu and Sue's for a celebratory shindig (where, blessedly, ALL the food was Sam-safe!). Here Emily is with her friends, smiling because she is about to play with little Josh's face:

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And here are Sam and Josh with Sue's nephews Jon and Reagan:

The boys all got along, Sam and Jon and Reagan especially, since they all speak Minecraft.

All in all a great weekend. Emily is appropriately celebrating with her housemates on a beach in North Carolina.

Annual quarry trip

A mile from our house is a quarry where they mine for dolomiite to be used in asphalt. They also have various crystals, and gypsum. And once a year they have an open house and let the public in to hunt for rocks and have rides in their BIG DUMP TRUCK.

I brought the boys--in fact, we all went together. Got there around 9 AM and stayed for an hour and a half, smashing rocks looking for nice crystals. Got some, too. Here's a so-so photo of the best one I found. A nice old rock hound gave Sam and Josh some window-pane calcite. It was a nice day and there were loads of people wandering around in hard hats with hammers and chisels and even some circular saws meant for cutting into rock. 

Parties and such

Last weekend Sam had his friend Sam over for a sleepover. Susan let all three boys make and top their own pizzas (though Sam declined, happy to let Mommy do it). Josh and Sam really got into it. 

An overnight is a chance for them to have a lot of joint screen time, which they certainly dad. And Susan kindly allowed that when they woke up they could sneak down to the family room and play together. 

Unexpectedly, Sam's friend woke at 4 AM and woke our Sam and they went down together to play! Susan woke and discovered what was up, suggested guest Sam go back to bed, and then had to convince our Sam of the same, despite his assurances had he'd really had enough sleep.

Sadly, his lack of sleep was probably behind the virus he succumbed to Monday. He's all better now. 

This is just Josh being an alien

I thought Josh might enjoy tasting how tart a lemon is. I was very surprised when he wanted to eat the whole thing!

Got out from the basement a Playmobil castle which both boys were delighted to play with

Even now, Sam is at a "minecraft birthday party" which is just that--a young woman, serving as part coordinator, takes them through a bunch of challenges and teaches them new things. The party's for Ayden, who is in Sam's class at school. Susan, who is with them now, says Sam is in heaven. :-)

Easter and other recent events

Easter!

Andy and Juli Elliot joined us for Easter dinner. Juli outdid herself by making two cakes, one of them in the shape of a bunny. The boys flipped when the saw the bunny cake.

Coincidentally on Easter some friends from church gave Josh a doll "house" they are done with. Josh really enjoyed it. And he used it just like a boy would--by invading it with flesh-eating dinosaurs.

Juli and Andy. 

The second cake.

The T-rex is looking hungrily through the living-room window

Susan made a delicious ham which lasted many days, finally finding its end in this pizza.

Miscellany

Okay, some random photos. This is from this week. Josh likes cold baths, and Sam likes them very hot.

Before J's birthday I took the boys to a local party supply store, where Sam found these.

One of the boys' babysitters did this activity with Sam: you make an ink blot and blow through a straw to form monsters.

This is Sam W., a friend of Sam's. In this picture our Sam is under the pile on his bed. (Don't ask why.)

This is Sam and his teacher Howard doing a duet at Sam's recent recital. Sam does great at these--doesn't seem to have the concept of stage fright yet. Lately Sam's been enjoying playing, too.

So much has come and gone! Recently Sam's class had "Colonial Trade Days", wherein they chose a trade, wrote a report on it, did a presentation with props, made a trade sign (wood--Sam used the jigsaw, with supervision) and wore clothes which make you think of colonial days. Oh, and there was a presentation for the parents, complete with authentic dancing and singing. Sam did quite well.

Recently took J to the zoo while Sam was off sing a movie with his friend Ian. It was a cold day, but sunny and it was fun to get out with J alone. Here J's interacting with a volunteer who's teaching him about camouflage. 

This sea lions were glad to see Josh.

Yet another outing, back before the snow'd gone: On a Sunday afternoon Sam had a playdate with his friend Zoe, and it culminated in a hike at the nearby Corbett's Glen. 

All the news that's fit to print. Hopefully it won't be so long until the next update...

Josh's birfday

Better late than never? Below are some photos from Josh's birthday almost a month ago. Josh had a great time. Highlights included the Thomas-the-Tank-Engine cake and decorations, and the visit from Aunt Amy. He also had a friend over from school, Carter. It was fun to see how well they play together and how similar their dispositions are. 

Susan's creation--wow! (Josh helped a little with it; he put the stones next to the pond.)

Josh and Carter. Susan was originally going to let J invite a group of friends, but once J realized what was up he nixed it RIGHT AWAY. One friend is plenty.

I don't recall how their ended up being a second cake, but here it is. This one was shared with his Sunday-school class. 

The aforementioned Aunt Aunt.

Josh got some great gifts, including not a few trains and tracks.

Impromptu Columbus trip

Last week was winter break so Susan, anticipating cabin fever, suggested we head south for a one-day trip to see kin. The kin were very accommodating and we had a great time. 

And the timing was good: driving was fine Friday and Sunday, and on Saturday they had a snow storm, which made everything pretty without the pressure of having to go anyplace.

Though we did manage to eat at Le Chatelaine, and Sam and I joined Uncle Stu and Cousin Kevin for Saturday-morning bowling. 

A good time was had by all.

Nana and Aunt Amy reading to Josh

Uncle Stu spent quite some time outside with Sam and Josh, throwing snowballs and making David the Snowman. 

Daytona 500

Two photos from this year's Daytona 500.

This is an annual event at Cobbles where students of all grades run the track, and invite friends and relatives to join them, with the goal of beating last year's record. Hundreds of miles are logged, and the students get a chance to see their parents exercising, which is a great thing. 

Plus, it's fun. 

This year I went one morning and Susan went another. (It runs all week.) (No pun intended.) It lasts 40 minutes, and about a quarter of that time you are running laps. At first it feels good to stretch your legs, but by the end I, at least, am generally lying on the floor panting.

Maybe it's *not* such a good example for the kids!

On the right is Sam's friend Sam Weaver. They get together weekly for a "hang", and last week had two sleepovers in a row.