An unconventional way to descend a staircase

J. in Chicago

Susan's made it to Chicago! Two-hour flight which she says went well. Phew. Josh is in her lap. Above, Josh waiting in Chicago to board. United overbooked the flight and we were unable to confirm a seat last night, so were very grateful when the gate agents managed to move people around to make room for them!

Hoping Josh naps during the 1.5 hours to Sioux Falls...

Pre-birthday Birthday Party

Saturday we had Sam's birthday party. Last year, after having it at a party facility with 15 other kids, we decided to have it at our home and have only a few kids.

This year we managed one of those two goals; we had it at home. (No facility fees! An excuse to clean house top to bottom first!)  But despite much effort we ended up concluding that it was worth it to call upon ourselves a plague of seven-year-olds rather than exclude old-school friends, new-school-chums, Church friends or neighborhood friends. 

All went well. It was a simple schedule: (3:00) Win It In a Minute; (3:30) Storyteller; (4:00) cake & pizza.

WIIAM is three games in which each kid tries to do something tough in 60 seconds:

Stacking spice container using chopsticks

Stacking dice on a tongue depressor

Blowing white ping-pong balls--but not the red one--off a pizza sheet. (Josh is helping one of the contestants.)

The storyteller is the husband of a teacher at Sam's old Montessori. He works at a Barnes & Noble and does this on the side. He's a real natural and did a good job controlling such a large group of kids. 

He told two stories. At Sam's request, one was spooky, the other funny. He had the kids in stitches.

Susan baked two cakes, one vanilla, one chocolate. She put on them these little plastic figures called "Go-gos". They are collectables, popular with the elementary set.

Sam and his posse eating pizza.

Susan with cake #1 and the birthday boy.

The photographer was Aunt Amy, to whom a great deal of credit goes for not only helping us get the house ready, but doing crowd and toddler control during the event.  It's unlikely we could have pulled it off without her. Thank you, Amy!

Next year: a small party plus movie evening with two friends. Really!

Happy Hallowe'en!

Halowe'en!

Sam was a dinosaur, and Joshie wore a glow-in-the-dark skeleton sweatshirt. Cool night, but no wind or rain.

Dianka babysat Josh and handed out candy while Susan and Sam went out trick-or-treating. Quoth Dianka, "Watching Joshie the almost two year old put candy in his little bag ad the take it all out only to do it again. Lol very funny!"

skype captures

Skyping from Providence...

Josh is tickled. Shortly thereafter tries to grab the screen. Susan convinces him to wave instead

Sam is an old hand at this

Sam playing with his ears unselfconsciously. Have to have at least a few photos he'll be embarrassed by when he's older.

While Susan's putting Josh down Sam and I chat--which means Sam describes to be in detail all  his recent Pokemon trades

Skyping with Susan later, after (we thought) the boys were down: Susan models her reward for a harrowing 48 hours!

More to come...

Pre-Sandy

Sam and Josh on the fold-out bed in the family room (one floor safer in case the giant oak out back decides to donate some large branches) watching Shawn the Sheep as the storm bears down on Rochester

Notice that Rochester is unnervingly close to the center of the projected hurricane path as it tromps across the Northeast

And here's the view of downtown Providence from my hotel room where I sit, wishing I were home with the family!

Breaking news: Now forecast to go directly over Rochester on Hallowe'en. Fortunately by then it will have weakened to a Tropical Depression (aw) and will have much slower winds