Can't sit still...

This year we had our shortest visit to the Fun Fair ever. It was too cold, started to sprinkle, and since Dave's back wasn't doing well, we left after Abby's dance performance. But not before the yearly ride on the ponys. It will be a sad day for Caleb and Abby when they are too big to ride the ponys.

Abby's dance class performed at the Fun Fair. She was thrilled beyond belief to be able to wear her costume.

Here is a video of her performance. It is to a Sandra Boynton song - Personal Penguin. She is the little cutie second from the left.

The most hilarious part of the event was watching Abby watch the other dancers. That girl has rhythm in her blood. She was trying to mimic the moves of the other dances as she was watching them. I wish I was tech-y enough to have a split screen - where you could see the performance on one side and Abby's interpretation on the other. For your enjoyment: (It gets really good around :34)

We love our tiny dancer. - April

Wet paint

"Hey look! They're painting that dog thing-y!"

"Why is it called a dog thingy?"
"Because dogs pee on it."

Another lesson from Abby.

Two B's

Caleb has been busy the past week. It started last Thursday. He took the reading part of the MSP - standardized state-wide testing. He was so nervous he didn't get to sleep until almost 11pm. So much for a good night's rest! After the test in school, he got to take his next belt test for Taekwondo. This time he tested for, and received, his green belt.
Maybe next belt test I'll remember to take a video of his form. They are starting to get very complicated, and the moves are almost dance-like. I really enjoy watching them.
Next, on Tuesday Caleb received his Bear badge in Cub Scouts. Here he is taking his badge off of Akela's collar. And here he is pining me with the Bear pin. That night, as I was tucking him into bed, he told me that he was really proud of himself for getting his Bear. Both Dave and I are grateful that he really loves scouts.

Finally, yesterday he took the math portion of the MSP. He fell asleep much easier Wednesday night. I think it helped that we were able to help Caleb see that he had prepared his best for both the belt test and the MSP tests, and that since he did his best, he could be proud of his effort and the outcome. - April

Misunderstanding

While driving through town a few months back, Abby says to me, "Mom. Will we get to see the exploding cow today?"
"Exploding cow? Abby, I have no idea what your talking about."
"Yes you do. We saw it before. It's right by where I have dance."
"Abby, we have never seen an exploding cow. I do not know what you're talking about."
Here is where she turns to Caleb for support. She explains to him the exploding cow and asks him to tell me that he has seen it too. Caleb is just as clueless as I am. I can tell that Abby is getting quite frustrated. She is saying it over and over again, is very near tears and I'm just about to let loose with my own tears, when we drive by this:

And then I get it. Thinking I was helping Abby, the first time we saw this, instead of calling it by its' proper name - an inflatable cow - I called it a blow-up cow. Her little mind confused blow-up and exploding. This is now forever the exploding cow. - April

TOFW

I just spent a fantastic 36 hours with my younger sister, Rachel.
We stayed here:


We ran here:

We dined here:

We were fed spiritually here:
I had a great "Time Out". - April

Cabin fever

With the rain, and the no school, and the rain, and both kids at home, and well, did I mention the rain? Wednesday night I just knew that we had cabin fever and had to get out of Dodge, so to speak. Once I mentioned to Caleb that the Pacific Science Center had a Star Wars exhibit, the decision was made to go there.
This was the view of the Space needle as we walked from our car to the PCS. Anyone else see that tiny spot of blue on the left hand side?

Abby was thrilled to stand in line for 30 minutes to see the butterflies. Well, not so much the standing in line as the end result. There were so many. I was glad they had a guide to help us identify them. Although we didn't see the one below on the list, and I sure wish I knew what kind it is.

This was the last stop of the day. I was as excited as the kids to see this part. We were humming this as we were standing in line. It was a fantastically cool exhibit. Not only were there loads of costumes and props, but there were also hands on stations where we built magnet propelled LEGO ships, and a robot that actually rolled. My favorite part would have to be the interactive stations where we built a Water Farm on Tatooine.

This is the Darth Vader from Episode III. Abby looks the way she does because she is imitating the sound Darth Vader makes. Say it with me, hooooh, heeeeh, hooooh, heeeeh....
Have fun at this exhibit, you will. Go, you must. Learn much, you will.

Abby was thrilled to see something from Princess Leia displayed. I was hoping for the Jabba the Hut scene, but I guess R2D2 and C3PO are quite a bit smaller to transport than the fat green thing! - April

save a finger, lose a ring

Here's a funny series of events for you. Tuesday night Caleb came home with the next step in his taekwondo progression - sparring gear.
All this foam allows him to be protected as he practices contact sparring (read: fighting) with his fellow tkd mates. Caleb tried it all on, and he was showing off his stuff while attacking Dave and protecting himself against his dad's best shots. In the end, Dave got the short end of a wrist pad, and a jammed knuckle.

Fast forward to Wednesday afternoon. Dave calls me and says, "How would you like to buy me a new wedding band?" Whaaat?! Apparently the jammed knuckle from the previous night's activities rendered his ring finger the size of a kumquat (my guestimation, not his), and he was losing feeling in the finger. Since he works with sheet metal and conveniently had a metal saw nearby, he proceeded to cut the ring from his finger. We decided it would be better to lose the ring to save the finger. This is the result of his handiwork:

Next stop: the goldsmith at Kluh's Jewelry to see what magic he can come up with. I hope he can fix it. I really, really like Dave's ring.