Counting Quarters

See the intensity? This is no job for the innattentive. My guys are counting and rolling quarters, thank you very much. And they are using Benny's prized coin rolling machine. You drop in the coins, it sorts them into the appropriate funnel, and out they come in neat wrappers.

Marty keeps a jar of change on the dresser, and every so often he gets it out and he and Benny count up and roll the change. Benny enjoys it and so do I. I think it appeals to his math sense and his desire to sort things out and see them organized. He is a most focused man when he's on the job.

And for the record, we ended up with forty dollars in quarters!

Drama in the Leaves

The boys have enjoyed playing in the leaves this fall. But do they go out and simply jump in the pile? No. There are productions. There are rules. There are procedures.

Last week they called me out to see the "show" they had planned. I filmed it. It was brief and puzzling but appeared to make perfect sense to them. I cut it off when Sam whacked his face on a branch, but that was okay as the show was over anyway (and Sam was fine.) They laughed, they caught their breath, they played some more.

Enjoy!

Video Test

I have a new gadget...it's a Flip Video. I am running a test blog today to see if my video clip will show up here. Since the boys are not home my only active subject was Spike, the hamster. So I filmed him. So here he is, if it works. And if it does work, then there will be family video clips to come!

Tumbling

Have I mentioned that my boys are active? True, we have periods where everyone sprawls in front of the TV and eats and otherwise does not move. And Sam does spend some time on the computer playing some beloved video game lately. But overall, this is the life they prefer.

Tumbling, flipping, bouncing, and as always, challenging themselves and each other.

You can't really tell, but you better believe the trampoline has a net all the way around it!

Yesterday they were bouncing like crazy on the trampoline and I had the harmless notion I'd take a few pictures. Well, the minute they saw the camera, I had two directors on my hands. "Wait. Not yet. I'm going to do a flip with a twist and you catch me in mid-air. There. Did you get it? Did you? Let me see. No, no, now we have to do it over. Do it again. Watch. Are you watching? Ready? One, two, THREE!"

And of course with the excitement came pushing and bumping.

I had to leave because the directing was getting a bit much for me. And once the camera disappeared, the boys returned to true Boy-Code passtime: Trying to knock each other down without using their hands!

It sounds brutal, but they really have perfected the art of the leg sweep, and the giggling and laughing and shrieks of delight put my mind at ease. I raked leaves while they wore themselves to a frazzle, then we all went inside for some cold drinks.

On a side note, you know one of the downsides of the Mom Job Description? Having to say "no" to some of their eager brainstorms. Like yesterday. Granted it was only 65 degrees out, but do I really want them to get out the hose and spray themselves all over while jumping on the trampoline in the middle of November? Not really. Naturally the response is a dejected, "But WHY?" Which is another question that is just part of the Mom Job Description.

Lately on Facebook my Aunt Martha has been encouraging us to reflect on things we're thankful for. Yesterday, listening to the boys laugh and laugh and laugh, I reflected on how thankful I am to hear that sound.

Bustin' Wood

Today was a great fall day; the perfect day for building a fire in the fireplace. But do have a fire, first you have to 'bust some wood.'

Benny loves it when Marty announces it is time to bust up some wood. Benny has been dying to use the axe and chop wood just like Marty. Well today, now that he is nine, it was finally time for him to give it a try.





The axe was heavier than he thought, and it was all harder than he thought, but he did an excellent job. He heaved that axe high and really had good aim at the spot Marty indicated.

We had a lovely blazing fire this evening, thanks to the two woodsmen!

Mug Shot

The thing about having a Mom with a new camera is......

She is ALWAYS taking your picture!!!

Love the resigned look. I took this after Benny's musical last week, while we were waiting for the singing star to emerge from backstage. My new camera was still burning a hole in my pocket and I was itching to try it out in all different lights. Sam humoured me, but I don't think he was thrilled.

I tell him it's his own fault for being so photogenic.

Nine Is Fine

It's that time of year again. Already. Happy Birthday Benny!!!

Gram and Grandad came up for a wonderful family birthday party. Gram and Grandad always make it special!


Hot dogs and burgers on the new grill, some birthday cake, and did we say "presents?" What more could a nine-year old ask for?

Afterwards Benny put together a giant, and I mean, giant, Lego set. It is a Coast Guard ship and tower and dock and he did it all by himself. Tomorrow he will put together the life raft and helicopter that goes with it.

Seems like yesterday Benny was a new nine pound baby in my arms, born the day after Election Day when I went to bed not knowing who the next President of the United States was going to be, as the results were too close to call.

And now here it is nine years later. He's growing up so fast!