Bowling for fun

The day after Thanksgiving was a day for a little bowling.

Jeremy and Carter did pretty well.  Carrie and Luke...not so much (Luke was NOT happy with his low scores).

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving at Great-Grandpa, Great-Grandma and Aunt Janine's house.

There was food and fun.

Carter and Papa were handling the dishes (pretty sure Papa was sharing some grand story with Carter).  Brayden was hanging out.

While Luke was learning all about Fantasy Football (he was glued).

We tried to get Brayden to smile.

Aunt Janine, Carter and Luke were acting crazy and laughing so hard...yes the picture is blurry they were that crazy (and I have video).

We had family trying to get everyone to smile...being silly.

Elder William Brewster

The third grade classes of Waterford elementary invited family to a trip on the Mayflower and to take part in the first Thanksgiving.

First the students invited the parents outside for the Mayflower.  Seats for the family to "come aboard" and the students in a large V to help with the shape of the boat.  The students recited a skit about the troubles of traveling oversees back in the day.

After the boat trip, we headed inside where the students greeted the families and escorted them to their place setting.  Then we were treated to a play about those early settlers and first Thanksgiving.  Carter was Elder William Brewster.

We feasted on a real Thanksgiving dinner, complete with all the fixings, that the students prepared during the week (only the turkey was done by parents at home).  Carter was the most excited about the pumpkin pie they made.

At the conclusion of the dinner, we watched a video.  The students made pictures and talked about what they were thankful for and the teachers told a little bit about each students.  Super cute video and quite a production to make a very special day.

Map it - Luke

For American education week, the first grade classes of Waterford (the whole 2 classes) invite the parents into the classroom to create a map of the child's room.

The night before Luke and I searched the house for some good objects to create his room.  He had to include superhero stickers since his room has superheros around for decorating.

He loved the glue, he was pretty meticulous in deciding where everything needed to be placed.  Of course, he thought his map was the best.

Did anyone know it was hunting season?

Yikes.

Staying up Late

Was a good idea but no one followed through.

I think it was only 9:00 p.m.

Port Discovery

A couple of days off from school.  We head to Baltimore Inner Harbor for Port Discovery Children's Museum.

Oh it was fun.  A water room, store with working registers and scale, gas station, soccer field, art room, PBS room for singing, diner, and the best thing a three-story tree house with tunnels, slides, rock-walls, ropes, etc.

Hours of fun, then headed to lunch at Hard Rock Cafe.

When it gets too quiet

You know something is up.  A beautiful fall day, Carter and Luke were outside for hours.  After few hours, I realized that I had not heard from them.  They usually come in and out looking for food, drinks and things for project/game.

I found out what they were doing.  A special needs jogger stroller is being stored in our barn (in the back of our property).  The stroller is large, too big for Brayden at the moment, about the size for a large child.

At some point, the boys thought it would be a great idea to push each other, and then the dog, down the hill in the special needs jogger.  The hill in our backyard is a steep hill. Some how they convinced the dog over and over again to go for a ride.

Telling the dog to load, pushing/running down the hill and the dog bailing at the bottom.

I missed some the best rides, I was running in to get the cameras.
But it looks like the dog might be going sledding this year...

Football Season 2011

Halloween is best at Masquerade in the Village

Waterford does Halloween like no other place.  The little historic village of Waterford is decorated and filled with candy (no one trick or treats in their neighborhood, everyone donates candy to the village).  Probably one of the most anticipated events in Waterford.

Carter was Darth Vader.

Luke was Obe Wan Kenobi (could not find a Luke Skywalker in time).

Brayden was Yoda.

The elementary school decorates several houses, this year based upon story books:

K - Splat the Cat

1st - Magic Tree House, which is Luke's grade a probably some of Carter and Luke's favorite books have been Magic Tree House.

2nd - Skippyjon Jones

3rd - Sisters Grimm, Carter's grade

4th - Gregor the Overlander

5th - Septimus Heap

Those houses decorated by the grades of WES are amongst other houses that have a little movie theater showing old Halloween cartoons, Harry Potter, smoke machines, etc.  For the fun this year, Mimi, Papa and Grammy joined us for the fun!

The big deal of the night, Luke's pumpkin won Best of Show!  He was thrilled, he printed out a picture and carried it with him to school...would not put it in his backpack he was going to carry the picture for all to see.