Is that a ROCKET you're building?

Why, yes, yes it is.

Eric thought that it would make for a great family tradition to shoot rockets off after Thanksgiving (apparently, my annual pilgrimage to JoAnn's at 6 am isn't a good enough tradition). Which ment that we got to build 3 sets of rockets on Thanksgiving morning. I'm pretty sure Eric forgot how long it took to build a rocket, and the kids we're not prepared for waiting for glue to dry before moving on to the fun part: painting and then launching.

The boys got to pick out their own rockets, and they each designed their paint colors too. They loved it. Eme even got to have a rocket (it was more like the "family" rocket), we had to get one that had a launch pad so we could safely launch them all.

It was a fun way to spend Thanksgiving morning. I had already done my dinner contributions the day before, so I didn't mind the extra company in the kitchen.

Random verbage

Last week (after a long week prior with very sick kids), the kids were unusually rowdy (isn't that always the way?) I had gone upstairs to make beds, leaving Eric downstairs. I heard a rather loud "QUIET", followed by a lot of laughing. Apparently, Eric had put his head in his hands and told the kids his head hurt. To which Eme replied: "Mommy's head is going to explode. Let's watch." The funny part was that Eme said this to ERIC not me.
(BTW, I often tell the kids that my head is going to explode when they are particularly boisterous)

Yesterday the kids' school was hosting a flu clinic for H1N1, we had signed the kids up (even though we are 95% sure they both had it two weeks ago). Both the mist and shot were available, and for some reason, they let the kids decide if their parents hadn't specified. Not thinking that either of my boys would pick a shot over the mist, I hadn't specified, perhaps I should have. Aidan picked the mist. Davin picked a shot. Why? Because at their doctor's office, when they get a shot they can pick a prize from the bucket. Davin was sorely (literally) dissapointed when there was no prize to be had other than a sticker.

Land of the Dragons, or our adventure at the zoo

We thought it would be so much fun to surprise the kids with a trip to the zoo Saturday morning to get a "members-only" sneak preview of their newest exhibit: 2 komodo dragons! We were going to load everyone up in the car to run an "errand," like what we did on our way to LA for Shelby's blessing, only to tell them what we were doing later. Davin changed our plans when he asked so nicely during breakfast if we could please go to the zoo today. We didn't have the heart to say no, and then go as a surprise, so we just went.

Maddie trying to see the iguanas

Unfortunately for us, there was some sort of cancer walk that shut down the entire cross-street before the zoo. It took us an additional 15-20 minutes to figure out how far across we had to go to be able to get in front of/behind this walk to be able to take the back road into the zoo. Eric may know his way around Phoenix, but I know my way around this part of town-we're at the zoo twice a month, and I've taken both ways in and out of the zoo before. (Eric promising NEVER to support any group we saw, including the ARRL who was doing communications support for the walk, it was rather frustrating)

something stinky

We are in LOVE with the two komodo dragons! So great, and boy are they HUGE! And the drool, just teaming with bacteria and venom, yuck! The zoo's also gotten in some new gibbons, and they are so active, it's great. Aidan had asked last week why some monkeys have tails, and some don't. That lead us to a discussion of "old world" vs "new world" monkeys. I had him tell me, without looking at the signs, which monkeys were which.

looing into the komodo dragon enclosure

And just for you Dan, remember that weird "ostrich" toe knife that you brought back from your mission? Well, it turns out, it's not from an ostich, but a Rhea. It looks more like an Emu in size and coloring, but those toes are the same. So, just for you, here are some pictures of the Rheas at our zoo.

Maddie's first hair cut

If you think that it's hard to get a picture of Maddie's haircut, just think of how hard it was to give her a haircut!

And although I only cut her bangs, I love the curls so I had to share.

All Hallow's Eve

Here's how the troops looked as we let them loose to beg our neighbors for candy.

The girls:

Maddie's a fairy, for the second year in a row, and Eme is a princess (eme went sans l/s shirt for trick-or-treating, and maddie went w/o the tights).

The boys:

Aidan is Indian Jones (from Raiders of the Lost Ark-I think). And Davin is, well...(sigh)...an Arab (better known as the Masked Bandit Swordsman from Raiders of the Lost Ark). We tried to get him to pick something else, but to no avail. For the most part, no one knew what he was, Aidan introduced everyone. But one person asked if he was someone from Lawrence of Arabia (oops).

Davin's other top choices were: a Thuggee warrior (Temple of Doom) or a Hovitos Tribesman (complete with loin cloth). Based on these choices, I think we made the best one.

Eme's costume-my first one!

I thought that since I made the girls each a dress at Easter (my first attempt at 3-D sewing, quilts are flat), that didn't end up with two head holes and only one arm, that I could make Eme a Halloween costume. My hope was to spend less on the fabric than a new costume, and end up with a far superior product. Thankfully JoAnn's had their costume fabric at 50% off, and the pattern was only 99 cents, so I spent about $15 in total. Eme picked out the fabric herself, with my guidance: purple with a green and purple skirt.

After sewing two layers of tule, 180 inches, two times (1 for basting, 1 for gathering), and two layers of underskirt, 150 inches, three times (1 for basting, 2 for gathering), and then having to sew through ALL those layers to attach it to the bodice, I'm just grateful it's all over. I tried the dress on Eme this morning, and now she won't take it off! I'm doubting whether this dress will survive until next year.

Oh, and this is what Maddie was up to while I sewed all day yesterday:

School Pics, a month late

So we're a bit slow in getting these up, but here they are: the boys' school pictures! Aidan the big 4th grader, at least it's not his chipmonk smile.

Davin's first school pic, I think he was trying to not laugh.

Not to worry mom, yours will be in the mail on Monday!