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2012-02-02T08:33:00.001-05:00

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"Faux hawk day!"

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2012-01-30T19:16:00.001-05:00

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""this should be an elevator...a small one""

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2012-01-27T09:23:00.001-05:00

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"Anybody recognize that gadget?"

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2012-01-14T18:39:00.001-05:00

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"Spare time!"

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2012-01-08T19:22:00.001-05:00

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"Carriage doors coming along nicely!"

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2012-01-06T17:16:00.001-05:00

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"When is bedtime in Tibet, anyway?"

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2012-01-05T08:41:00.000-05:00

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"Our new view from the bedroom"

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2012-01-01T12:41:00.000-05:00

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"Send in the Clones"

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iancamera shared an Instagram photo with you

2011-12-31T21:27:00.001-05:00

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"Two generations playing play mobile "

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2011-12-17T13:13:00.001-05:00

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"Can you guess the significance of the slingshot?"

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2011-12-16T15:40:00.001-05:00

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"Two boys in the family room"

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2011-12-16T15:38:00.001-05:00

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"Trying out the new room"

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2011-11-15T16:05:00.001-05:00

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"Do I need a beard trim?"
(taken at The Barber Shop)

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Rollin' Rollin' Rollin' ...

2011-10-17T17:59:00.001-05:00

iancamera shared an Instagram photo with you

2011-10-08T17:47:00.001-05:00

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"Ear scratches by the fire"

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I am a lucky guy!

2011-09-27T17:11:00.000-05:00

Because I have a friend as creative and generous as Martha, and a mother who is thoughtful enough to save this for *many* years. Click on the pictures to see them in a larger view.

iancamera shared an Instagram photo with you

2011-09-08T18:37:00.001-05:00

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"Guess who read Eloise last night at bedtime?"

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iancamera shared an Instagram photo with you

2011-09-04T17:48:00.001-05:00

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"Awesome...Awesome...Awesome"
(taken at Tri-county Fair)

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2011-08-25T14:00:00.001-05:00

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"Jonas rides a hurl-o-copter"
(taken at Golden Gate Park Children's Playground)

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iancamera shared an Instagram photo with you

2011-08-25T12:57:00.001-05:00

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"Guess who?"
(taken at Golden Gate Park Children's Playground)

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Hanging an Axe

2011-08-14T22:37:00.000-05:00

Ok, so it is a hatchet, really. Which I learned that I should never use, when I was passing my axe test with Dave Martin at TL in 1983. The problem with a hatchet is that one can use it with only one hand. Which leaves the other hand free to get chopped by the blade.

I should never be trusted with such a tool, given my history with axes. Ok, so that was a splitting maul, really, but I didn't follow my Woodsman axe test rules, and it got me into a lot of trouble (didn't it, Dutcher?). But I digress.

This is a little hatchet, quite the opposite of that maul that I tangled with so many years ago. We bought it last summer, or the summer before, in a moment of weakness while camping in Vermont. It is made by Collins, and it has a cool hammer head on the back side that is for driving wooden pegs, I'm sure. Oh, and a little notch in the bottom of the blade, the purpose of which I really cannot guess.

Anyway, last summer I tried to use the hatchet like an axe, and broke the handle. I almost didn't bring it home, but my pack rat instincts got the better of me and I hauled it back. Today, in a fit of preparation, I bought a hickory handle for it. Tonight, when all else was quiet, I went downstairs to hang it (meaning put the handle and the head together) and the memories came flooding back...

First, of course, of Grandpa's shop in the Adirondacks. Where most of my tools come from, and my earliest memories of woodworking. The rasp that I ended up using tonight is very likely the same one that I used to shape so many swords and rubber band guns while under his (and Dad's) watchful eye. Grandpa, did you know that shaping a wooden sword would prepare me for fitting handle to head? I bet you did. And I love you for it. So quietly preparing for the next step, even as you complete this one with focus and care.

Next to the old Packard shed at TL, where I learned to hang and sharpen an axe. The cool shade and the dirt floor of that old tumbledown building are etched in my memory, so much so that when I sharpen a forestry tool in broad daylight I am still a bit confused. To feel really at home, I suppose I should splash green paint across the cheek of this thing. Oh, and I need a bucket of linseed oil to finish the job properly.

Third to the campcraft area of TL, which at that point was out beyond the meeting circle. Dave took a few of us out there to learn about axes. I didn't know I was being tested, of course, until Dave said "you pass". "What?" I asked. "You passed your axe test" he explained. Classic Dave. Didn't even give me a chance to get nervous, just taught until we were done. Of course, it was days later, still, that I learned that that quiet, friendly, expert man was running the place!

All this should feel like distant memories. I mean, I'm now old enough that my son Jonas is getting letters from camp from his friend Reid, who was a camper there this summer (thanks, Reid, he loved it!). And other friends are asking about Farm and WIlderness, wondering if it would be a match for their kids. And unless my math is really faulty, I'm older now than Dad was on that fateful day with the splitting maul (14 + 22, right, Dad?). But the rip of the rasp through the handle, and the feel of the wedge sinking in, telescopes time quite effectively.

One more day of prep, and that little hatchet will go with us on a grand swing through Maine and southern Vermont. I will use it more carefully, this time. Like a hatchet instead of an axe. And maybe next summer we will take it to the 'dacks!

iancamera shared an Instagram photo with you

2011-08-11T20:58:00.001-05:00

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"Look, a pool AND a hot tub!"

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"Which Pokemon are you?"

2011-08-04T08:42:00.003-05:00

Jonas took this quiz on line. I ridiculed such things as vapid. Then he got these results:

"PSYCHIC! You are intelligent, socially adept, manually dexterous, a quick learner, a deep thinker - the list goes on! You are capable of just about anything, but you often battle fruitlessly against yourself."

I stand corrected.

Pesto!

2011-08-02T11:40:00.001-05:00

Garlic, cashews, asiago, olive oil as the base.

One batch we added arugula, the other cilantro, parsely and balsamic vinegar.

Jonas' choices on the herbs.

W00T!

iancamera shared an Instagram photo with you

2011-07-26T15:35:00.000-05:00

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"I say I say I say boy..."

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2011-07-26T10:20:00.001-05:00

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"Lady liberty"
(taken at Statue of Liberty)

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Thoughts from NYC

2011-07-26T10:03:00.001-05:00

Since 1986...

The subways have improved immensely! AC, smooth operation, clear PA systems. Except the swipe cards are not an improvement. At least with tokens we knew how many rides we had left. And they always worked.

Times square looks very shiny. But I'm not sure the M&M store is any better than what use to be here.

Lady Liberty looks fantastic.

The Brooklyn Bridge still blows my mind.

To judge by all the big corporations in times square, all the Black men that haven't been incarcerated by our backasswards CJ system are working as security guards. It is a bizarre and sad dichotomy. Some strange correlate to the virgin-whore split that women have faced for so long, I guess.

People are just as friendly as they always were. On the subway, on the ferry, on the street. Civilians, police, train staff.

Speaking of which, some things run in the family. A clean cut young man just asked me for directions. And I knew the answer!

:-)

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2011-07-25T20:06:00.000-05:00

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"The end of the world as I know it"

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iancamera shared an Instagram photo with you

2011-07-25T10:54:00.001-05:00

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"I <3 subway tile art"

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2011-07-17T13:30:00.001-05:00

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"It doesn't suck to be a Camera kid in the summer..."

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iancamera shared an Instagram photo with you

2011-07-14T19:49:00.001-05:00

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"Riding double"

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J&I? I&J?

2011-07-09T15:43:00.001-05:00

(see full image)

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A new bedtime routine?

2011-07-01T19:30:00.000-05:00

Daddy brushes hair, Jonas reads the book, Julian listens closely.

iancamera shared an Instagram photo with you

2011-06-22T15:01:00.001-05:00

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"Summertime and the living is easy"

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iancamera shared an Instagram photo with you

2011-06-21T07:50:00.001-05:00

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"I think she could concentrate anywhere"

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2011-06-19T11:03:00.001-05:00

Good thing we brought the mitts, because the bees chased us out of
the garden!

Father's day visit to Zaide

2011-06-19T11:00:00.000-05:00

Complete with chocolate chip scones baked by Sam, gardening tools, and baseball mitts. Fun stuff!

While brushing teeth tonight

2011-06-11T20:35:00.001-05:00

Julian: did you know you are stepping on lava, Jonas?

(wrong color tiles? I don't know)

Mr. Clean

2011-06-08T21:38:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, Julian helped me fix our downstairs toilet, which was running constantly. Turns out that the gaskets inside it were disintegrating, leaving a black oily residue all over my hands. Julian was warily helpful, he was interested in how it all worked, but didn't want anything to do with that gunk.

After a while he stepped away and said, "I'm going outside to swing. You could come out and give me *one* push...(pauses for a second)...you could wash your hands and come out and give me one push."

I like the way he thinks things through. And the hand washing hint makes a dad-nurse proud!

Finished up at Southeast Street!

2011-05-20T11:06:00.002-05:00

Julian has officially moved from his little running bike to a real pedal bike. He made it look easy! We did a couple of practice sessions at the parking lot for the Potwine lane soccer fields, and today he was ready for the big time!

Starting off from station road...

2011-05-20T10:46:00.000-05:00

Notice any themes?

2011-04-13T05:53:00.001-05:00

Words to live by on the Tube

2011-03-18T18:12:00.001-05:00

Gratuitous bread pics for Zaide

2011-03-18T18:11:00.001-05:00

Greenwich playground part II

2011-03-18T18:10:00.001-05:00

Happy kids at the playground in Greenwich!

2011-03-18T18:09:00.000-05:00

Something fitting about getting dizzy at the birthplace of longitude ...

HDR shot from my iPhone

2011-03-18T18:08:00.000-05:00

Of the observatory at Greenwich. What a spot!

Runs in the family

2011-03-16T15:27:00.001-05:00

The movie of the night ? Back to the future. We get to the scene when Marty's dad goes into the soda shop to ask out his mom, and Jonas leaves the room saying "this is going to be too embarrassing". That's my boy!

Great day at the tower of London

2011-03-15T18:48:00.001-05:00

Kids have gotten Interested in taking some of

The nightly dose

2011-03-15T14:27:00.001-05:00

Of BBC streamed over the intertubes. Tonight it is Shaun the Sheep. With much merriment.

Jonas on the half shell

2011-03-14T15:04:00.001-05:00

From our visit to the London Zoo. It is an awesome place, with great tradition and brand new exhibits. The giraffe house has been inhabited since 1836. What else does one do, after all, with a building that has doors 5 meters tall?

The rain forest exhibit has a big central room, which allows an unobstructed view of the primates and birds that live in the enclosure. It takes a very patient Keeper to hand-feed a sloth!

Their house

2011-03-14T15:01:00.000-05:00

Dano tells me that, until (relatively) recently, one's mailing address was the name of one's house, rather than a number. This is the name of theirs.

Phone test

2011-03-14T14:58:00.001-05:00

Here is a test from my iPhone to see if I can post from it.

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Hello from London!

2011-03-14T14:49:00.001-05:00

Jonas and I are visiting Dano, Annie, Reid, and Meiyie in London. It is wonderful to see their life here, and get to see the splendid sites of this amazing city. This is a test post from my iPad, if it works I'll post some more from my phone, with pictures.

The last item on my list, checked off!

2011-01-27T22:01:00.000-05:00

That shot is the view from my new cross country skis. This was the last remaining thing on my list of "things I'll never do again because of arthritis". Guess I was wrong :-)

Latest from Mana's time with Julian

2010-12-19T22:18:00.000-05:00

He often watches me do my shoulder exercises with 1# cans if pumpkin and 3 # weights. I have a picture from Liz I use.

Yesterday morning I started with the weights, and he picked up the cans and copied me perfectly. He was quite accurate and strong. He said, "We don't need the directions today" noticing I didn't have them out. Then we did some yoga hip-openers which he studied really hard and hung in with.
Most satisfying....
xoxox

If only Jonas and Julian could get along this well!

2010-12-19T21:11:00.000-05:00

GG's recipe!

2010-12-18T17:46:00.001-05:00

Off to the CT science museum!

2010-11-11T10:30:00.001-05:00

Caught Red Handed

2010-10-22T22:04:00.001-05:00

The other day Julian fell asleep at Mountainbrook and took a little
nap. This meant, of course, that he couldn't fall asleep on time.
Finally, he learned about how exciting our world is after he goes to
sleep.

In this case, he saw me ironing my scrubs to go to clinicals the next
day. Julian *really* likes steam irons, specifically the steam part.
He Is fascinated by machines that emit smoke, or fire, or steam. This
time, however, he saw past the steam part. His voice was only slightly
accusatory.

"You never iron my clothes!"

Julian as a muse

2010-10-17T19:55:00.000-05:00

So, I have had the experience of making less music since my kids were born. I think this is pretty common. However, there is a point at which things can turn around...

Lately Julian has been really excited about playing music. He pulls out his ukelele, which he calls his "guitar" (he knows the difference, he just has redefined it to put it in parallel with my instrument). He *insisted* that we buy him a case for it (Sam took him in to pick one out). The two instruments are stored under the reading seat in our living room.

Every day or two he summons me; "Hey dad, let's play some music".

Most recently, while Sam and Jonas were at soccer, we sat facing each other across a copy of Rise Up Singing on the coffee table. I played through some of my favorites in the "play" section, and he plinked along on his uke, smiling as big a smile as I have ever seen on his face.

What could possibly be a better motivation to get out my guitar again?

Latest quote from Julian

2010-09-09T07:41:00.000-05:00

Via Mana:

Today's quote from Jules:

J2: When I grow up I want to be a tractor driver. Pause. No, I just want to be a plain grown up.

Mana: Actually, you can be both.

J2: Yeah. Gideon is both.

Who does this remind you of?

2010-08-29T21:24:00.000-05:00

Fabulous set of pictures from a friend of Mom's included this gem. Uncle Jaime provided the key prop, apparently. Gosh, that kid looks familiar...

2010-08-19T21:17:00.000-05:00

I've been asking Julian if he has his ears "turned on" lately, to
avoid that feeling of being ignored. It seems to get his attention
sometimes, which is nice.

Recently he turned the tables and asked Sam if her ears were turned
on. She replied (accurately, I would say) "honey, my ears are always
turned on". His reply? "your batteries are going to run out!"

Braids and Tintin at bedtime

2010-07-28T18:18:00.000-05:00

Awesome!

2010-07-21T22:48:00.001-05:00

Found this on a link from daringfireball.net

I think it says a lot of important stuff.

Including the corollary.

http://www.paulgraham.com/top.html

Julian on the swing

2010-06-14T16:43:00.000-05:00

Busy mother's day weekend!

2010-05-09T18:31:00.000-05:00

Great and busy weekend, with nice mother's day meals with Michael, Anita, Jennie, Gerry, Jon, and Jodie. Was great to see Dad out and about!

The boys and I went for a nice but chilly bike ride with the Leonobards (is that how Annie spells it?). Julian was behind me on the tag-along. He is a *machine*. His pedaling felt very much like having my 250 watt electric assist along. Awesome. I was using the brakes to avoid running over the big kids. At one point I added my pedaling into the mix just to let him go as fast as he wanted to. We went racing by the other kids and he giggled like a mad scientist.

Even better, he didn't even seem to be tired. Wow. Born to pedal.

Jonas has been in star wars land full time all weekend, since he watched episode 6 with Reid and friends on Friday. He's building weaponry out of K'nex just like Ben Neylon and I used to do with mini-connecto's. Ah, brings back memories.

Julian's observation of the day

2010-04-07T22:05:00.002-05:00

(getting out of the car, looking through the open-design rims on the Pontiac parked next to us).

"That car has really rusty brakes."

Pop-pop Matty would be so proud!

Julian's question of the day

2010-04-07T22:03:00.002-05:00

Mom, what if people didn't have tongues?

Mommy's little helper

2010-03-24T17:38:00.000-05:00

Quotes of the day from Julian the observer of all:

"Mom, what ARE you doing?" Mom turns around "Uh, going for a bike ride," "No yer not silly, you don't have your helmet on."

When driving away from the Blaise' house last night: "Hey mom, your lights aren't on!"

and last but not least...a quote of a different sort, "Mom, is this duck tape or goose tape?"

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone

2010-03-17T09:15:00.000-05:00

Jonas is never one to miss a holiday about magical little people! Here is what he wore to school today:

Outfit selected by Sam, hat and shoecovers by Mana.

For Eli :-)

2010-03-14T14:37:00.001-05:00

Latest from Julian

2010-02-21T21:04:00.000-05:00

"The people in the movie today were real" (lunch table conversation).

Translation "Mana took us to see a play yesterday".

Took a minute to figure that one out :-)

Sweet Steam!

2010-02-20T19:28:00.000-05:00

There are some days that are so good, you don't have to be looking back on them to know how good you've got it.

We had such a day at Meghan, Jay and Leah's house today :-)

Sugar, steam and sunshine are a wonderful mix...

20 questions

2010-02-09T14:00:00.001-05:00

We were playing 20 questions in the car the other day:

Sam: I think it is Julian's turn.
J2: um...it's a reptile.
J1: cheetah?
J2: Right!

;-)

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7 beans left!

2010-01-18T16:33:00.000-05:00

Knitting lessons

2010-01-18T14:20:00.001-05:00

Pliated woodpeckers

2010-01-15T12:30:00.001-05:00

We couldn't play with Xander and Juliette today, because I can't figure out what is upsetting Julian's tummy. He was well enough to come with me and Jonas when we chased a trio of Piliated woodpeckers around our block :-)

Where to find Sam's posts

2010-01-13T11:04:00.002-05:00

Sam is posting on her blog from last year's trip to Indonesia, in case you want to follow here there.

One source of info about Sam's trip and travels

2010-01-12T09:26:00.001-05:00

Written by her friend and traveling companion, Julienne:

http://emmabearinindonesia.blogspot.com/

While licking cookie batter off a beater together

2010-01-11T16:33:00.000-05:00

Julian to Jonas "when you get older you will go to Indonesia and I
will eat this batter all by myself."

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For mama :-)

2010-01-10T12:05:00.001-05:00

One down, sixteen to go :-)

2010-01-09T10:20:00.000-05:00

She's off!

2010-01-09T09:21:00.001-05:00

Jonas' poster at school

2010-01-08T21:29:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the visitation from "Mr. Blurrycam" but I think this is still fun to see. It is posted, along with those of his classmates, outside his room at school. I'm thinking Sam definitely got top billing on the family member list :-)

Sledding

2010-01-02T11:11:00.003-05:00

Sledding 1/2/10 11:08 AM

McCamWeiss Christmas 09

2009-12-26T11:18:00.004-05:00

Pictures from yesterday

Quality time at the breakfast table

2009-12-09T09:21:00.000-05:00

On a family snow day...

Julian, apparently, calls these...

2009-12-08T21:27:00.002-05:00

...tractor eggs.

Mana gave us a really cool paper punch kit

2009-12-08T21:22:00.002-05:00

...and Julian and Sam made me a lovely collage!

Christmas lists

2009-12-08T21:19:00.000-05:00

Jonas spent some time writing Christmas lists. One is his, the other is one for the rest of the family.

Here are some hints for what is written there. Several of Jonas' items can be found here. This will explain the entry for my list. Oh, and this

Julian seemed to give Jonas a list of things he liked that were visible in the room, mostly.

What happened to Sam's? He got distracted. Luckily, I compiled one for her. She never knows what she wants for Christmas.

Jonas' list:

Other people's list:

Quick- Think up a word that starts with "F", works as many different parts of speech, and makes people laugh.

2009-12-05T12:36:00.000-05:00

Now, assume you are seven.

Julian, this morning...

2009-12-05T12:04:00.000-05:00

...in response to a beautiful pair of striped socks picked out by Sam:

"I"m not wearing those socks. They're too wobbly".

They appeared to be a bit big for him. Further questioning didn't reveal what exactly that meant.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

2009-11-26T09:16:00.002-05:00

As good as they ever have been :-)

2009-11-25T09:07:00.001-05:00

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/11/best-music-video-ever-the-muppets-do-bohemian-rhapsody/

Good thinking, Julian

2009-11-23T21:59:00.000-05:00

I came home early today, because of a migraine. It didn't ever really get going, glad to say.

Consequently, I was lying on the couch in the living room when Julian came home with Mana. He was pleasantly surprised to find me at home, and I explained that I wasn't feeling well so I left school early.

"Were you coughing at school?" he asked? This must be a child of the great Swine Flu Scare of 'aught-nine!

Jonas' question of the day

2009-11-22T20:51:00.000-05:00

"Mom, why does that sign say "Alcoholic Beverages Prohibited" (upon arrival at Groff Park)?

We're making good progress on the reading front.

Tonight, when I said it was time to stop reading our chapter book, he took it from me and started in on the next chapter. Awesome.

Many thanks to Ms. Foley, Mrs. Fay, Mrs. Vontz, Grandparents, friends and family who have sent, given, and read so many books to him, and Pop-pop and Mum-mum, who provided the ipod on which he has practiced *so many* sight words.

Soon it will be time for New Yorker cartoons.

Soon we will get to sleep in more :-)

Happy Busy Sunday Morning...

2009-11-08T19:21:00.002-05:00

Many thanks to Uncle Scott for the camera and lens, I couldn't have done this (particularly the inside shots) before...

Halloween costumes

2009-11-01T09:40:00.000-05:00

Just a couple of shots to show off this year's costumes. Julian's is sooo black, it is hard to capture on Halloween night (he is a spider).