Ocean Habitat Diorama

Garrett's diorama. 

That's a top of a fresh pineapple we just happen to have for dinner the night we were making this.

It looks just like an under sea plant to me. 

It's not spectacular, but really, it's a third grade project. 

The teachers don't expect or even want spectacular. 

They want a third grade diorama. 

Third grade we can do.

Justin's pretty good too.

Justin had to get in on the etch-a-sketch action.
So here's his drawing.

He's not as fast as Ian, but
He's pretty good too. :)

Garrett's First Pinewood Derby!

Here we go again! It's Garrett's turn!

We looked on the internet for ideas. You can find soooo many ideas there. But Garrett wasn't really excited about any of them.
He kept wanting to do a school bus, but Mom (who is always worried about everyone FEELINGS) thought he might not like it when he got to the derby and everyone had cooler cars.

I know....MOM, RELAX!
But Garrett's biggest interest right now is not sports cars. It's Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He can draw the the characters as good as the author can!

So a school bus was the perfect thing for him to showcase his interest AND his drawing skills!

 Drawing on wood was super hard. I ended up having to copy all of Garrett's drawings that he'd do on a paper. But I copied exactly what he drew and put where he told me to. So, it's essentially all Garrett's design!

And it wasn't even slow!!!

 Our Cub Master is amazing. There was popcorn and even nachos for the spectators!

 This was a great Derby! Proud of my boy!

Halloween 2011

Here we have
Lego Indiana Jones
and
Lego Captain America!

We didn't do the lego head because I don't like covering the kids faces. 

I think they'd have been more identifiable as LEGO characters if we had...

but oh, well. 

They were very happy with their costumes.

It was Daniel's idea. 

He did the costume construction. We both did the painting.

This is the lovely Pirate Gypsy girl. 

And then we have...the hairy guy and Jebediah Bosiefus! (That's Ian's made up person name. I hope he doesn't name one of his kids that!)

Owen got to dress up for school too! He was supposed to dress as a character from a book. 

We thought about having him be Calvin and Hobbs (but that didn't prove to be a very fun costume). 

Finally we chose Hogula, Dread Pig of the Night!

Have you heard of this book? 

It's really funny. Hogula is a vampire pig who has no friends. He get's a friend in the end: Elvis Ann. She kisses people......you have to read it, I guess.

My kids are sort of "into" pigs lately. I think it has to do with Angry Birds. They love the pigs.

 So being a pig vampire for Halloween was fun for Owen. :) 

I did prep him before we got there. 

"If the kids laugh at you, that's GOOD because your costume is supposed to be FUNNY!" 

He got it. And they did laugh and my Super Sensitive Owen did not cry. 

PHEW!

I used to think Halloween was kind of dumb. But having kids who LOVE it... well?

What a fun day!

Owen Photography again

Owen really wanted an action shot of me flipping the pancake.

Are you ready?

Missed it. Sort of.