Overheard

Evan, asking Ben about his (imaginary) invisible gadget watch:  How do you see the numbers on that invisible watch?
Ben: There's a special button you push to just show the numbers.
Evan: But how do you see the button?

Someone is catching up to his brother in the question department!

bye, 2011!

Hi, everybody!
I'm doing a photo show with my favorites from 2011!
I hope you had a great year, because I did!

aren't stairs one of your favorites?

welcome to space!

roll over, puppy evan!

it's a bug! it's a bot!

We can't wait to get on the moon again!

the shuttle launch!

I'd say that was the most

amazing thing we saw in 2011 

aww, kodi! so cute!

an awesome train layout for evan's birthday!

and of course, we couldn't forget the important

"no-more-pictures-chicken"!

bye, and happy new year!

-Ben

pumpkin patch

Yesterday, we went to the pumpkin patch and met lisa brookie, and carmen.
photos:

 Evan the pumpkin and Ben the...

guy squinting because of the bright sunlight.

 we also had fun feeding the animals.

 I'm on the sign for the corn maze!

 there I am , in the maze!

it was fun in the maze!!

last, we went on the hay ride. they had a bunch of cool

scenes and halloween things set up,

 but we didn't bring the camera.

Bye, Ben

Adventure!

Earlier today, we had an adventure!
We drove to frontenac state park.
It was really fun, but eventually Evan wasn't doing well (behaviorally) so we left.  {Mom says: totally not true!  We were all tired, and had to head home in time for 5:00 church.}
photos:

 Me and dad.

 We went down this trail that was very steep.

It was hard, so we didn't go all the way down.

 We love stairs!

 This is an amazing outlook view.

Family!!

(dad took the picture)

Bye, Ben 

{More from Mom:  We had such a great time!!  Frontenac is just over an hour away, and we drove along the river, criss-crossing from MN to WI & back again.  The park was terrific too - a nice, easy paved trail & some really steep hiking trails as well.  I was wearing danskos, and have trouble with the stairs in my own house, so I was not too sure about that steep trail.  We found easy-to-reach lookouts with amazing views in a few different spots.  My only complaint:  the art festival was on in Red Wing, making it impossible to turn left into DQ on our way home, so we didn't get any ice cream until Inver Grove Heights!  =)} 

Photo favorites show

Today, I have a few of my favorite pictures from all over the summer.
Here they are:

Smore!!

The pool is fun!

Legos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You're hungry right now,

aren't you?

Dooby dooby do wah

Dooby dooby do wah

Agent P

And we couldn't forget THE CHICKEN!

bye, Ben

Rock Painting

{Edited by Mom to add commentary & some pictures of the actual children... you're welcome, grandmas & aunts!!}
We painted rocks over 3 weeks ago
but I did a post today.
we had to wash the rocks first.
{This is the first time I can remember Evan sticking with something longer than Ben!  He washed & washed & scrubbed for over a 1/2 hour, but eventually he gave in to the temptation to just *play* in the water, just like Ben.  As expected, they both ended up soaking wet.  It is awesome not to mess with swim diapers or worse, bloated regular diapers!}

Anyway,
List of rock objects we made:
mom's: a ladybug, a rock with the word "home" written on it.
Evan's: various very colorful but abstract rocks, a ladybug
Ben's: A space ship (with painted-rock alien), A big rock with a paw print and the word "dogs" on it,
A purple jewel with glitter paint, A ladybug
So anyway, here's some photos:

 Evan's other rocks: butterfly, caterpillar, and orange...thing

(left to right) Evan's lady bug, his abstract rock, my gem,

mom's "home"rock, and my chiken nugget rock.

 Home is where the chicken nugget is!

Now which one of these is not like the others?

(hint: look to the RIGHT!)

Bye,Ben

{And a couple more pics from Mom.  That last one is the TWELFTH shot I took - that is how long it takes to get both of them looking & smiling at the same time!}

Space collages

Yesterday, for our final crafty monday, we made space collages. {Idea from here: Watercolor Outer Space Project}
First we made watercolor paintings that weren't of anything but were very colorful.
then, we let them dry and cut circles (planets) out of them.
Then we glued the planet circles onto black paper which we had splattered with white paint so that
there would be a background of stars.
the results were awesome, and really looked like space.
Photos:

 Me painting

 My painting (unfinished)

 Evan loves painting perry pictures!!

 Mom's planet source paper

Mom's completed project

 Evan's planets

My solar system, complete with

comet and asteroids!

Also, I started 4th grade!

I had a great first day!

Bye, Ben