Worthwhile

Glanced up while reading a bedtime story to the Boy and saw this on his easel. I'm the luckiest mom in the world!

Easter Experiments

This year, the Boy and I decided to get crazy with the Easter eggs: instead of using a packaged dyeing kit, we chopped and mixed and boiled a number of other common substances to make dye baths for the little guys. Here's Superboy hard at work coercing some orange peel into service:

Extolling the virtues of my Tupperware orange-peeling tool:

Which can also be used as a display device:

The next day: preparing for the unveiling. We used vinegar as a mordant in all six dye baths, for which we used (from left to right) turmeric, beets, red cabbage, grape juice, coffee and orange peel. They all worked to some extent except the orange peel, which was a total flop. I chalk this off to method of preparing the dye bath--macerating the peel in boiling water. Perhaps it would have worked much better if we'd boiled the peel in the water.

Ta da!

They turned out so cool, we decided to do more research and do it again next year. The Boy has deemed the color of the blue eggs (courtesy of our friend the humble red cabbage) the most beautiful, and I must say, I think I agree.

Boob Tube

Ah, yes, the television...I've never been a huge fan myself, and when each of my kids was born I just couldn't imagine it would have much of a place in their lives. Which, thankfully, it doesn't. However...as many parents of young children know, it is hard to resist the precious extra few moments a well-chosen television program can buy for them to, say, eat? Bathe? Brush their teeth? Sigh. I am no exception. I snapped this not-so-flattering shot of Supergirl zoned out on Sesame Street not long ago, which reminded me of a couple I'd taken of the Boy years ago now. Let's hope no lasting damage is done!

Cannonball Smith

A. and I got gutsy and took both kids to see the circus when it came to town. Superboy was very impressed with the man who shot himself out of a cannon, so after the show we went down on the floor to meet him. What a nice guy! David Smith has been doing this for decades, and a few of his 11 children have gone on to become human cannonballs themselves. It seemed to get some wheels turning in the Boy's head when I explained that this is how Mr. Smith makes his living...

Ratty Girl

I wouldn't have predicted that both of my children would have a predilection for toy rats, but, well, there you have it. Supergirl has been working on a hands-free method for transporting the rat around the house. As luck would have it, the rat's anatomy made this a pretty easy method to refine.

Birthday

Superboy lovingly wishing Daddy a Happy Birthday last month

A. giving me his best sincere camera smile. Oh, how he loves to have his picture taken!

Supergirl getting ready for some serious two-fisted cake and ice cream eating!

Shiny Happy Baby hopped up on sugar and chocolate

Gingerbread House: The Sequel

This face is so funny. It's just like one his dad makes!

Actually, the fork and knife just didn't cut the mustard, so we broke out a chisel and the hammer that came with an excavate-the-dinosaur kit sent to the Boy by Grandma S. and Grandpa J. Now that did the trick. Why didn't I get a shot of the demolition?

Here goes!

Believe it or not, we are still here and doing fine, despite our disappearance from the blogosphere. For some reason, November and December were absolutely crummy months for good pictures, but it doesn't seem right to just leave them out completely. So, in the interest of getting back in the swing of blog-things, here's a little of what I've got from then. No way to do it but to just dive in! I'm not even gonna go back and check for typos.

Superboy and I were heading out for the library one afternoon and happened upon a neighborhood Christmas parade, so we stopped for a while, and the Boy even ran into a friend.



A very special visitor came by when the Boy's class was practicing for their Holiday program (which I have no still shots of as I was shooting live video. If I ever, ever get around to reading the manual for the video camera, I'll start posting live footage. But don't hold your breath!)

Supergirl intrigued by a display of Mr. and Mrs. after the Boy's program.

This holiday season, like last, we headed to the mountains in pursuit of a wild Christmas tree. See those snowy peaks off in the distance? That's more or less where we're headed, after we make a pit-stop in a rural town to pick up a new outfit for Superboy--down to the underwear--on whom a cracked water bottle slowly leaked about 4 cups of water in the car. Why he didn't say something until he was completely soaked, we'll never know.

We found a beautiful 10-ft. Ponderosa pine, which we slaughtered for a good cause. I always feel a little guilty about that! Here's A. trying to get it back to the car.

Cavorting monkeys. Note that I had the proper foresight to bring snow boots for the Girl, because I am always absolutely on TOP of things!

Where's Daddy?



Supergirl happy and warm and dry back in the sunny car. Not long after this was taken, we got quite stuck. Good thing we thought to leave the chains at home! A. and I had to call on all of our long-latent midwestern snow coping skillz to turn the car around and head back where we knew there was no snow.

Superboy made all of his gifts for Daddy this year, and a darn fine job he did, too! Here he is painting the canisters for a desk organizer he made for Daddy to take to work. It turned out FABULOUS. Note that the Girl is sadly watching on from the doorway, having been restricted access to all of the truly fun stuff.

If you look closely, you can see she is still there, poor little thing!

Our dear friend Dr. A. made gorgeous gluten-free gingerbread houses for the kids, which we decorated with all-natural candy, fruit, and other goodies. AND she volunteered her kitchen for the spectacle, fearless woman that she is. They had so much fun! Superboy does not notice here that J. (a.k.a. "Entropy Girl") is sneaking up on his decorating candy.



Supergirl was more interested in gobbling up all accessible stray bits of gingerbread than she was in decorating anything. Why waste your time beautifying things when you can fill your belly?


Christmas Morning



Superboy's new vehicle, a Skuut bike from Grandma S. and Grandpa J. (as was Supergirl's adorable wheelie bug in the picture above) This is the coolest thing!


Whew! Well, at least that's started. Now, if I can just keep the momentum!