This Week

"I grumpy."

Aaron reading history to Andrew (while Andrew builds swords).

So proud he can do some laundry all by himself

Here is one rack Alexander did all by himself

Alexander's coloring

Andrew chose the science experiment (water logged rocks)

See how many marbles the paper towel can hold dry

Then drop water drops on it

and see if it can hold the same

Of course it breaks
(The boys loved this experiment and did it three times.
Perhaps just because they don't get to use paper towels often?)

Andrew colored this cat to look very much like the cat on the coloring book cover

Andrew drew this great birthday cake.
Perhaps he is the next Dr. Suess?

Andrew's chess tutorial diagrams
(How to attack!
And how to stalemate when it seems all is lost.)
{Don't you feel more informed now?}

Condensation window art

Grandpa Jeff reading The Sword in the Tree

Groovy Grandparents showing a video to three grandsons

Nate spent a lot of time traveling and doing paperwork,
but he still found time to color with Alexander.

And Nate also took all the boys raspberry picking.
We made a peach-raspberry pie.
Andrew thought it should say I Love you on the top.

Rediscovered the magnetic Winnie-the-Poohs from Uncle Nathaniel.
Aaron decided to wear his.

Sometimes you need an easy dinner.

Three squishy cube chairs made for the playroom at the school.

The older two are trying to get full use out of their free chess site memberships.

They've been watching lots of videos and lessons and playing lots of puzzles and games.

The Time Three Weeks Flew Past Fast

We've been doing a lot of stuff recently, but I just couldn't find a chance to post the pictures.

Here are pictures from the last three weeks to catch up.

Last time we talked with Ben Aaron was playing a chess game.
Here is the results.

Alexander dressed up Mommy.

Andrew and his play dough dinosaur

Our anniversary

Making recycled chunk crayons

Alexander prefers to stack them

Making recycled marker paint

Painting with cornstarch sidewalk paint

Also Anna's toes made it in to this picture and
Andrew is sure you'd want to she her sparkly red 4th of July toenails

This boy

Reads

So Much!!!!!!!!
This past week he read 3 books from this series and 3 from the Sugar Creek Gang series
and several more books for fun, in addition to the books he's speeding through for hard reading.

Aaron's choice for a science experiment was water music

Aaron drew Julius Caesar fighting off pirates.
(This was based off of a story we read in our history book)

Andrew drew about the "ideal Roman" instead.
His name was Cicinnatus and he was both a farmer and
 a soldier so Andrew really liked the legend about him.

Andrew finishing the third Rush Revere book for his hard reading

Andrew got to choose the science experiment last week.
He chose floating a needle. He had to read the instructions
and explain how to do it to the rest of us.

The boys thought it was very cool they made a needle float.

The boys have been forming various and sundry music bands.
This was the Bowl Crashing Cymbal Band performing for groovy grandparents.

Lest you think this child is all work and no play........
Aaron sometimes wears boxes on his head for fun.

We jumped back over to ancient Chinese history and the boys built their versions of the great wall.

Oooooh................
Scary!

They also built the terracotta warriors out of playdough.

I like Andrew's army that has toothpick swords.

Boys playing and not fighting!

The boys decided the box from the white board made a good trampoline.
(Which is kind of funny, because cardboard on stone tile is still harder than American carpet.)

But they sure had fun.

Raspberry chocolate pie

Alexander baking muffins and cookies in his "oven."
Who needs easy bake?

Do you know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man?
Do you know the muffin man?
He lives in LOW-A-PING!!!!!!
(Taught him a few new songs recently and this is one of his favorites.
It is too cute to here him sing.)

Grandpa Jeff reading The Sword in the Tree

Guys exercising

Alexander always wants to "help"

Hard reading this week

Alexander proudly declared, "I read chapter 4!)

Andrew is reading more and more harder books.
And he is reading faster, having more fun, and remembering more and more as well.

Love note to you from Aaron

Love note to you from Andrew

Our weather has been so nice this summer, hovering around 80F and alternating
sun and rain pretty nicely.
Perfect for drinking iced flower tea and eating popsicles,
but not so hot we're wishing for air conditioning.
Beautiful!

One day while Nate was traveling we had a picnic in the living room.
The boys were so excited.

Nate's birthday cake

Birthday presents

On one of his days off recently Aaron read about four books.

And Andrew spent his time drawing pictures of Behemoth and Leviathon

One day a lemon permanent with health
Didn't you know?

The guys found a wild raspberry patch and have been picking raspberries several times.

Andrew helping to make raspberry meringue pie

Recycled marker paint

Things are starting to come together for the school.
We got a white board.

And 7 levels of teachers books

Painting furniture for the school.

Picking raspberries

Two storage benches and a large bookshelf all painted.

Alexander's favorite pastime recently is watching videos on the potty.
Not usually a very productive activity, but so much better than being terrified of the potty.

Andrew helping make raspberry banana cream pie

Funny Aaron

After lots of traveling this week Nate got a certificate and the go ahead to start the business.
There are still more steps and the more pressing matter of a visa,
but getting closer and closer.

Also he built a lock for the outside faucet at the business.

Now kids can't turn our water on and let it run into the street.