Busy at school with the kids

This year Valentine's Day and the Chinese New Year were on the same day. I helped to organize a party in Jacob's class. They painted Chinese couplets, decorated cookies, learned about the legends of the Chinese New Year, ate Panda Express and made chocolate dipped fortune cookies. It was a lot of fun hanging out with the kids.

As a fundraiser this year, the school hosted a silent auction of art. Each class made a piece of art with the help of a professional artist. The turn out was of course low but the event was well done. I bid on both boys art work but was out bid at the last minute on Jacob's.

This is Jacob's class painting. Jacob was in the "yellow" group.

This is the winning art work from Jackson's class. I believe Jackson's piece is on the white matting in the lower left corner.

Science Fair Projects

This year, Jacob's project was about crystals. He disolved alum, a pickling spice, in water until it was a saturated solution. Then he poured it into a clean eggshell. As the water evaporated, crystals formed. Pretty cool.

Jackson's project was on volcano's, again!

Two Pyro's

These days the boys have discovered fire. They crumble, they toss, they poke to build the biggest fire. It sure keeps them occupied and quiet. I'm going to have to change the name of my blog to "Two Pyro's".

I can't complain, we actually had a lovely Friday night. The boys and I made movie munch cookies. These cookies got rave reviews and include chocolate covered raisins, Recess's Pieces, and peanut M&M's. Then we, including Aron, made home made pizza. I think we finally perfected our recipe. On recommendation from a friend, I went to Whole Foods for the the dough instead of TJ's. What a difference, it was easy to work with and cooked in the right amount of time. So with pizza and sauce from WF's and quattro formaggi, pepperoni, arugula, and prosciutto from TJ's we are good to go. On a whim, since I had left over prosciutto from Christmas's chicken saltimboca I used it topped with arugula. Wow, was it good.

I prefer to eat dinner without the TV, but sometimes rules are made for braking. So like in my childhood and for many other families for many years past, we ate pizza and enjoyed cookies while watching "Cloudy with a change of meatballs" in the "good" living room. (funny movie, really liked it)
And so went a simple evening that was good because of the people I spent it with. I know one day not too far off the boys will think it's lame to cook with me and will want to watch horror movies alone in their room. I also know that I wear myself out with the daily routine of "should's" and "must's" and take for granted that the boys will be their another day eager to hear me ask if they would like to play a game or have a story read to them. All I can do is continue to try to do better.

Something to remember

" Dad, I want grandma's Lexus."
"Why?"
"I want something to remember her by."
"Think smaller, much smaller if you want something to keep of grandma's"
...................(long pause)..............."okay, I'll take Pepper."

Playing Around

It's always great to see Dane, Kevin and Leslie. We had a great time visiting and babysitting Dane. The boys drew pictures and wrestled with Uncle Kevin. Dane's a sweet boy, good job mama and papa.

Christmas 2009

This year we decorated the tree with Nonna, and built a train around the tree. The boys loved playing with it. They thought they broke it when they made the whistle sound. It's always a fun day putting up the tree.

Here are some choice photos of Christmas. Santa was good to the boys and brought Jackson a bike, not sure what Jacob was so excited about. The boys are still trying to catch Santa. Jacob tried to stay up all night December 23rd to practice. He didn't think that one through all the way because he was really sleepy come Christmas Eve. Santa eluded them once again.

Aunt Gina bought the boys magic tricks which went over big. They had lots of bright ideas with them, ha-ha. So far the only one who fell for the jelly bean trick was Grandma, and boy did Jacob get her good on Christmas day.

Christmas was wonderful this year! We had a fest on Christmas and finally finished the left overs by New Years. It was great to visit with Aunt Gina and meet her boyfriend David. I just wished she lived closer so we could see her more often.

Gingerbread House Decorating

I believe this was our 4th year decorating a gingerbread house. We went to our neighbors house to decorate with Emily and her girlfriends. The boys are experts now. While the girls were willy-nilly with the icing and candies, my boys were meticulous about following directions. I do enjoy a symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing house though I suppose I should be sad that I've stomped out their creativity. This one I think I can live with.

Once the kids were done creating they went in the yard with their sugar high and played. Of course my boys climbed to the top of the playhouse and ruled the world....at least until it was time to go. That's my boys, already practicing to be king of the castle.