Nice November

On November 18, I got to join Gabriel on his class field trip to the new Exploratorium. Only a few exhibits were the same as I remember, so many new and improved things! Gabriel loved touching and trying everything. He loves science and it was great to see him exploring. The "black dirt" and magnets were a big hit, as well as the whole sound section.

Gabriel is cool!

The kids pushed the bunk bed away from the wall and made it a stage. They hung a blanket over the top bunk as a curtain. It was awesome! Ephraim got stage fright trying to take direction from big brother (who was director, extra characters, stage manager, and script writer).

Ephraim LOVES puzzles. I thought this map puzzle would be too hard for him but he found it on a top shelf and welcomed the challenge. He amazes me. He is reading already and loves to compete with his brother.

Gabriel made a double-decker sandwich with chicken, bread, and lettuce. I love how he grabs handfuls of lettuce to make a salad (and eats it all with ranch dressing!).

While waiting to go over Grandma and Grandpa's house for Thanksgiving, we got out our Christmas decorations. The kids immediately remembered the snowmen foam sticker kit and wanted to make scenes again.

Everyone is in the holiday mood:
Gabriel

Mommy and Ephraim

And the kitty cats

 Are we excited about Christmas coming?!

Scary October

I introduced Ephraim to Jenga and we had a blast. He was so good at it, very steady hands. His expressions were priceless. 

We were having a bad day the other day. So I made waffles for dinner (perfect comfort food). While the boys watched Mickey's Three Musketeers, I made homemade brownies. It was the perfect end to a difficult day.

Ephraim decided to be a cat for Halloween. He wore the ears and tail every day since I bought them ($5 at Target, yay). Here is a picture of my three cats. :)

A little dark mascara as face paint and we're set. So adorable!!!

Add some black socks for paws. Cheapest and most loved costume ever!

At the beginning of October, Gabriel wanted to be a zombie. Sweet, easiest to make. We took some pants he had outgrown and an old shirt and cut them up. He does the face so well!

Sadly, Gabriel caught a cold for Halloween and didn't like his zombie idea any more, so he stayed home from school that day (with me, home sick with the same cold). Ephraim's goodie bag from school had some teeth in it. He didn't know what they were for, so I had to show him.

Welcome to November. The weather has been crisp lately, I'm ready for Christmas with my boys. After church today, we had a picnic at the local park and then drove to the Oakland temple. It was a gorgeous day. The boys loved the Visitor's Center. We saw a model of the city of Jerusalem that lit up as it told us highlights from Jesus' life in that location. We walked around the grounds. The boys were so sweet to each other, I was amazed.

 

 

Video of Gabriel's loose tooth 11/02/14  (WARNING: not for the faint of heart).

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!