Back to the Real Stars

Gabriel's evening silliness. Such a night owl!

A few Sundays ago, we went to the park. Ephraim is such a climber now. I don't have to hover under him, helping him climb.

 Ephraim put the punching gloves on his feet.

Gabriel wrote a story as part of his homework last week. It starred a dragon named Mike and his friend Jon (does Gabriel love his uncles or what?!).

Mommy Time

Taking a break from the kids for a moment:
I started taking a Basic Sewing class at the local adult ed school. I'm pretty sure I know the basics that mom has taught me over the years, but it's an excuse to get out of the house one night a week for two months. We will be making pajama pants from a pattern. The teacher gave us all coupons to JoAnn's Fabrics, so over the weekend I went to find flannel for the boys' pants. While I was there, I was overwhelmed with excitement and inspiration. I went to buy a few supplies for the class, but I could not find a box or bag I liked to put them in. So I found a cheap pattern for a bag I liked. For two days I've been working on this. Mom just happened to already have the exact bias tape for the edging that I needed. How perfect! Instant gratification! So proud of myself. heehee!

Nobody look too closely please, the photo should be just fuzzy enough I hope...

(thanks mom, for sharing this)

Ephraim was student of the week (again).  The teacher said that he listens, follows instructions, etc. (we know this).  He got a reward and picked out a trick or treat bucket. She also said that they are having to challenge him, since he knows the work from class, and are starting to have him read. What will happen when he gets to Kindergarten?  What a smart kid. In the car, when Ephraim was telling Gabriel that he was student of the week, Gabriel very maturely said something like, "That's because you pay attention and do what the teachers ask."

The other night, while I was putting Gabriel to bed, one of the cats jumped on the bed and was playing with one of Gabriel's bouncy balls.

Gabriel (watching the cat play with one of HIS toys): Mom, cats are really cute but sometimes they can be very pesty.
Me: Kinda how I feel about kids: cute but sometimes pesty.
(Yeah, we both had a really good laugh over that!!)

Zombies and Spiders

Gabriel poses with his expression as reaction for how big his train set is.

Boys are gross. Gabriel, with his own zombie face, shows off his drawing of a bad spider eating a guy's arm with a Halloween moon.

Here is a wizard zapping a zombie (too much blood for my taste... see his arm bone sticking out?). Personally I'm waiting for society to get over this zombie fad.

On a happier note: the boys each made their own board games. Gabriel's Lego Star Wars set was first.

First step in the game is to follow his drawn directions for putting together your Lego character.

Later Ephraim did something similar using our Lego superhero characters. He drew a map on the piece of paper. When I asked him what it was, he said it was "Batman's laboratory." When I pointed out that laboratory was a big word for a 4 year old, he shrugged it off like it was nothing.

Ahhh... clean brothers after their baths. It was a long hard day for Gabriel and he has been very snuggly this afternoon and evening.

Pictures from grandma:

 Gabriel and his robot spiders

Ephraim's robot spider too (can I just mention I sometimes stare in amazement at his perfect posture!)

Playing in the playhouse

 Playing in the jungle of the huge fig tree

School Starts Again

School has started, a week apart for each of them. I seriously find it hard to believe that Gabriel is in 2nd grade. How did he get so old? Both boys got sick the week before they started school. Gabriel got it first, fever and fatigue. Then Ephraim: he put himself to bed early, no time to change into pjs. So sweet!

Lego creations are awesome. Gabriel made some fruit. Here he is eating his cherry.

I went to see the Counting Crows in concert in Berkeley with my friend Julia. Best night ever! So thankful to check something off my bucket list. I would see them again in concert in a heartbeat!

 

We celebrated the last day of summer before school starts with a fancy dinner. (Gabriel had to take a break from dinner to work on Legos, see him in the background?)

 

Gabriel's first day of school: August 18, 2014.

 

Ephraim is ready for an adventure: backpack and binoculars munching an apple.

We eat our meatballs for strong muscles!

My aunt Margaret had bought the kids umbrellas when we visited them. The boys have been anxious to use the umbrellas, so we played for a few minutes in the shower before their last bath. They were both so excited! Come on rainy season!

 

August Garden and Pool

Summer has been wonderful. Our garden started out with these first pickings:

Giant yellow zucchini!

 

Ephraim went to a birthday party and I was amazed to see him climb this pole and then slide down. It was a welcome change to see him playing with kids/friends his own age instead of in Gabriel's shadow.

Oh, my birthday present arrived too. I love my new bedframe. For the last 12 years, my mattress has either been directly on the floor or on a squeaky basic metal frame that looks and sounds like it's going to give out. This one is made of beautiful cherry colored wood with four drawers under it. I am pleased.

Lots of pool time. I love these action shots:

 

I think Ephraim will be a great professional swimmer. He has NO problem diving in, getting his face wet, and swimming from one side to the other. Since I am unable to watch/hold two boys at once in deeper water, they've never been in a pool without floatation devices. Perhaps next year we'll get an upgrade and I can teach the kids really how to swim.

 Yoga in the pool.

 Ahhh, the sun evaporates the shivers.

So many vegetables to pick!

 

Cousin Everett came to spend the night. First sleep over was a huge success!! Yes, part of the time was video games.

But they were happy to climb the walls too. Here are all three boys before bedtime! Look at those muscles at work!

I recently learned how to play Yahtzee from my friend Kim, and I taught the boys. 

Any place is a good place to read.

What did we do today? Nothing much, just hung around!

Gabriel and I picked as many tomatoes as we could and we boiled them down into sauce. (Anyone else think Gabriel looks about 12 years old here! yikes)

Ephraim's school made graduation hats. He technically has another year of preschool before he starts kindergarten, which is hard for me to believe because he is so incredibly smart now.