Shoot for the Moon

Saturday, September 18, 2010 was International Observe the Moon Night. What, you didn't get the memo?

Owen's teacher sent home a note about a contest being hosted by the Fernbank Science Center and Planetarium. The children were encouraged to photograph the moon in the early evening sky and try to take a creative shot like balancing the moon on your head or something similar. Not surprising, considering his interest in all things planetary, Owen REALLY wanted to stay up and try to photograph the moon. I'll admit that he might have been slightly motivated by the fact that the paper indicated "the best 10 photographs will win a prize."

After brainstorming different approaches, he settled on trying to catch the moon in a cup and trying to pinch it betweeen chopsticks. He was very clear on the fact that he had to take the picture completely on his own. While OUR camera undoubtedly captured a better and closer shot, he couldn't handle it totally by himself. So, he switched to his own digital camera and directed the shots to his liking.

"Higher, mommy. No, lower. Ok, now open the chopsticks more. Wait! Don't move! Now, move closer to me..."

Here is the resulting image.

Well, whaddya know. We got an email on Monday from the Science Museum with the following message:

"Thanks so much, Owen! No one else in our contest thought of using chopsticks on the Moon, and your photo is absolutely wonderful! Congratulations on winning a Lady in the Moon night light as a thank-you gift. Great work!"

He was thrilled, to say the least...very proud of himself. And though the nightlight is certainly NOT the Lego set he was convinced they would hand out, I'm sure he'll appreciate it nonetheless.

Really?

Tonight was Math Night at Owen's school. Originally on my calendar as a parent study group, I learned that students were included as well and would be demonstrating some of their recent math lessons to the parents in attendance.
Ok, so...ummm...I didn't fully comprehend until I arrived to sit at Owen's station for a lesson. My son then proceeded to instruct me, and tens of other parents rotating through his station, on 'commutative law'. Yeah, that.

And he got it. Like got it. And if you sat down for a lesson, he wasn't letting you leave the station until you got it too. "It doesn't work on subtraction you know. It doesn't make sense. Just addition and multiplication. Lemme show you."

All the kids were just fantastic. You know, they can surprise the hell out of you if you just let them.

Really.

Bananarama

Often, when we end up with some overripe bananas, I turn them into some tasty banana nut bread. Yesterday, the boys noticed that we had 3 perfect bananas and suggested that I make some bread for their afternoon snack. Instead, I mentioned that I wanted to try a new banana cake recipe.

Owen immediately jumped up and began to lobby for he and Bennett to make the cake themselves! "We'd be like scientists, mommy! Cooking is like science, you know." I conceded and they both ran off to grab their chef hats and set to work. Yes, they have chef hats. And they clearly know when it's appropriate to use them. So, hush.

I decided to take a step back, embrace the mess and just let them do the whole job. It took a few tries for O to separate the egg whites/egg yolks but they did the measuring, stirring, mixing and pouring...all themselves.

I took the finished product to a morning meeting today and the consensus was a thumbs up! I didn't mention that there just MIGHT have been a few licked fingers during the process. Details, details.

It just is.

In the past, when I've experienced a lull in blog posts (or more to the point, a complete hiatus in blog posts), I typically resume with some lengthy explanation or justification for my absence. Not this time. It can easily be explained by my current mantra.

It is what it is.

So, maybe I'll get the blog back up and running. Maybe I won't. Maybe I'll just continue to limp along, keeping it going with only a post or 2 per year. Maybe I won't. Maybe I'll appeal to the now-disinterested grandparents with a funny/charming/sentimental family anecdote now and then. Maybe I won't.

Either way...

It is what it is. And I'm okay with that.

Spoiled much?

Bennett, in the car this morning with an overly dramatic fake cough.

Me: "Stop, Ben. That's enough."

B: "But I need to cough to be sick so you will get me somefing to make me feel better."

Sigh.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Oh, deer

In an attempt to break from our usual haunts and get outside for something a bit different, we paid a visit to a local game ranch this past weekend. Long time blog viewers may recall the first (and only other time) we visited this place...4 years ago, when Owen was "got by a goat." Refresh your memory HERE.

Though we felt the need to wash our hands multiple times and bathe in hand sanitizer upon leaving, the boys did have a good time and we were able to snap some good pics of close-up animal encounters. The facility is in need of some upkeep and I think we won't feel the need to visit again for at least another 4 years or so. But, as with most adventures, the boys were none the wiser...that's all that matters I suppose.

Dinner in Utopia

Booth with our own flat screen tv tuned to nick jr, real firemen seated next to us (went to the truck to retrieve fire hats for us) and mommy/daddy let us split chocolate cake for dessert! Can we do this every weekend??
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Flashback Friday: Just Ordinary Days

So, I had planned to post about Bennett's last birthday party (2 years old) for this week's Flashback Friday. Considering that I blogged about a past party for Owen last week, I thought it was only fair.

But then, I received an email today from a friend.

This email was like so many others that we all get. One with the subject line that contains that telltale "FW:", which indicates that this particular link/anecdote/joke/etc has been around the block a few times before. I will admit that many of these forwards get deleted or given a cursory glance at best.

Today, I watched the video link. And am so glad I did.

It was nothing earth shattering. Nothing that we haven't heard or seen before in different words through different mouths. Just poignant for me today. A nice reminder to stop and take it in.

So, for this week's Flashback Friday, I present to you both the video link that moved me so and a series of shots from very ordinary days.

Happy Friday, everyone.

Click here to learn The gift of an ordinary day.

Happy Love Day!

We are wrapping up a great Valentine's weekend and hope you are too!

In the spirit of the holiday, it seems an appropriate time to share that Owen is experiencing his first real crush. He is very sweet on one little girl at school and has even blushed a couple of times now in response to talking about her. ("She's so pretty. And so nice too!") On Friday, we joined some friends...this particular little girl included...for a puppet show. At one point during the show, her mom and I look over to see her head on Owen's shoulder and his arm wrapped around her! So sweet. Let's see how long the romance lasts at 5.

Happy Valentine's Day to all our family and friends! We hope you had a great day with the ones you love the most.

Hard at work on his Valentines

The finished product

So proud of all that work. His little hand was SO tired! If you ask him though, it's because "Mommy wouldn't let me write in print!"

He was even MORE proud of his Valentine box this year. Would love to tell you how he "discovered" how to cut the teeth and feet to make them look the most monster like.

Flashback Friday--September 2008

This morning, we joined several friends for a show at the Center for Puppetry Arts (CPA). We are particularly fond of this theater and I find it to be a really unique and very worthwhile addition to our 'children's programming.' In fact, when we discovered CPA for the first time, we liked it so much that we booked Owen's 4th birthday party there. Hence the topic for this week's Flashback Friday...

September 2008

While I have to admit that out of all of the shows we've seen, the show that was running during his birthday was my LEAST favorite yet (it was a trippy day-glo kinda show about a little cockroach). That said, the actual party might have been one of my favorites yet!

Owen and all his friends gathered in the front rows on the theater for the one hour puppet show. Afterward, we made our way to the party room where Owen had his very own throne (he didn't enjoy that much at all) for cake and more entertainment.

We brought in the juggler/balloon guy/magician that always plays the mime for French Day at Owen's school. He was so great to work with...very laid back and very flexible...and was just the right mix of funny and captivating for the kiddos.

While I have enjoyed making both invitations and birthday favors for all the parties, I must say that the ones for this party were, by far, my favorites of all. These invitations were probably the most time intensive but SO worth it!

Making personalized puppets became my goal for the party and I was so very happy with how they turned out! Part of the fun was picking out all the "outfits" for each one. No 2 puppet kids had on the exact same patterened paper outfit. Yes, it's a sickness (but many of YOU suffer from the same disease, so...nah.)

While I was on a massive handmade kick for this event, I went ahead and made the coordinating cupcake picks...SUPER easy...and loved how they turned out too. ( I did NOT make the cake...that's a skill I have yet to tackle...but would like to!)

And while we are reminiscing, take a look at little Bennett. I do miss my guys in that 'baby' phase. :(

All in all, a fantastic party and Owen still talks about it to this day. Good to know Mommy's work wasn't in vain. Really was lots of fun for all of us!

Winter Wonderland

So, when I heard we were getting snow today, I wasn't fully prepared for the amount that ultimately came down. We are talking REAL SNOW. This Florida girl...now Atlanta mommy...is still in awe when the snow accumulates enough for snowballs, snowmen and such.

A family first today will be remembered for a long time to come...our first snowball war! Mommy and Owen paired up against Daddy and Bennett. We built up our arsenals and then went to town. So much fun...we were all laughing and freezing together.

This kind of day makes all the cold weather worth it!

For all the photos, click HERE.