Digging for Dinosaurs

Graham was so excited today when the mail came because he got a special delivery of a Dinosaur Excavation Kit. He's been asking about it for two weeks since we ordered it at the school book sale. It's not really a book, so I'm not quite sure how it ended up in the school book sale, but whatever. He and Carter spent 30 minutes carefully excavating the bones of a t-rex with cool archeological tools that came with the kit. Graham was very particular about wearing his safety goggles. Maybe he has a future in paleontology.

Spring Fever

We're headed to the beach this weekend. But the boys couldn't wait. As we were cleaning up after dinner last night, I walked into the living room to this...

Honestly...

Mixed Blessings

I don't know whether to be proud or mortified.


Carter received a good deal of money for his birthday on February 3, which he promptly put into his savings account. I'm not sure where he learned that, because he has more in savings that we do. So he's been thinking about what to do with all that money and early this week, he figured it out. He wanted to get Graham his own ipod.


You may remember that Carter purchased his own ipod last summer with money he earned after a holding a garage sale with all the stuff he cleaned out of his room before painting it. Well, ever since, Graham has admired Carter's electronic gadget and wanted one of his own.


So we went to Best Buy yesterday (after they got out of school because of bad weather but before it got really bad) and Carter bought Graham an ipod shuffle.

I'm so proud of Carter's generosity but I'm a little disturbed at his eagerness for consumerism. But I just had to laugh when last night Graham disappeared for a while and I found him rocking out in his room with his new ipod.

Overheard at Creative Montessori Parents Night...

Once a year, the elementary students at CMS invite parents to come and watch the kids do various lessons. Tonight Carter and his friend Dagan worked multiplication problems using a checkerboard and beads (classic Montessori tools - you can see some in the background of this picture). Although we were all very tired, it was a good night and we were reminded again of how much we love Montessori.

Although we don't have any pictures, we heard some pretty cool things and I wanted to share a few...

Graham to a friend after visiting the "Dissecting a Flower" lesson: "Hey Oliver, you gotta see this. It's freakin' awesome!"

Brian, a 2nd grader, while working with bead bars, "10's are the easiest, but 9's are cool too. You just add the units together to make 9 to make sure you're right. 9x1=9; 9x2=18; 9x3=27; 9x4=36; 9x5=45 and so on."

Carter, on the way home after showing off his 4 digit multiplication skills to Graham, who seemed a bit anxious about entering the first grade in August, : "You know Graham, when I went to first grade, I didn't have a big brother to tell me that it was going to be OK and I was smart enough to do the lessons. You're SOOOOOOO lucky to have me around."

What great kids!

Carter and Harper's Birthday

Last Friday, we had a joint birthday celebration for Harper (who turned 1 on Feb 2) and Carter (who turned 9 on Feb 3). February is a busy month for our family.

Here's Carter helping Harper blow out the candles!

Harper was pretty hungry!

She loved the cake!

Carter loved the presents!

Jackson and Graham loved helping Carter open them.

Stay tuned...Jackson turns 3 on February 14th!

Carter is 9!!!!!

Which is much harder on me that it is on him.

Yes, last Saturday, Carter and several of his friends had a High School Musical party. They watched the movie and then sang several selections on his new kareoke machine (thanks to his fairy godmothers!).

Even some college aged folks got in on the action - check out Mary Page and the boys... We only wish Beth could have kareoked with us.

It was a blast but I don't think the Norton Theater will ever be the same.

Kristin's Home and We're Moving On

Well, Kristin is home. The boys both stayed out of school last Thursday morning to go to the airport and greet her. Things are pretty much back to normal at home, the missing DVD from the library that was supposed to be returned in her absence has been located in a toy cabinet and has been returned and the fine has been paid. Thank you Public Library for fine limits.

After returning from one of her extended trips there is a sense of euphoria on every one's part and then a sense of reality that is hardest on Kristin to be sure. We are just glad that she still likes us during this period as she readjusts to our life of peace and serenity.

Right now we are hard at work on Carter's soon to be 9th birthday party. He has opted for a High Schoool Musical theme party and we are going to have a screening of the movie at a theater on campus, have a real concession stand for our guest's to get Cokes and Popcorn and then have sing-a-long slides and karaoke. Should be a blast. We wish cousin Beth was here to take part. Carter keeps practicing what he will say at various points in the proceedings and has some elaborate ticket scheme where only those with lucky numbers will get to visit the concession stand but it is rigged so that everyone gets to go. Graham's only reaction is to start planning his own birthday party which is still months away. (Photo is of Carter's eight year birthday at school preparing for the earth to go round the sun.)

Kristin Please Come Home Now

We started our afternoon after school going to Lowes for Drain Opener. The kitchen sink is clogged and the water is backing up out of the washing machine drain. It may be of interest to know that most of the boys clothes are wet and in the washing machine. (see January 4 post re: my great system of staying on top of the laundry.)

As we are getting into the car to come home, I overhear Carter whispering to Graham that the way to get to go to McDonalds for supper is "to butter Dad up." After explaining to Graham what buttering Dad up means, I explain that one need not even bother with buttering anyone up, I am taking the path of least resistance and that path happens to be right through the drive-thru at McDonalds.

We get home and I use my extra strength drain opener which promptly begins to spew and foam and roar out of the washing machine drain all down the wall of the kitchen and onto the floor. I am mopping it up and wondering if I should evacuate and call the fire department but right as I am about to throw in the towel, it stops.

The house now smells like I imagine a meth lab smells, the boys are playing next door having proclaimed that the smell makes the litterbox smell good in comparison and the plumber is on the way-- should be here before eleven p.m.

Kristin, please come home.

High School Musical

Carter and Graham consult Marta Map to determine our route and destination.



















We then headed to the Varsity for naked dogs and Frosted Oranges and paper Varsity Hats.



Then it was a short walk to the Fox, which we thought was very cool. It reminded us of our church, which it should since it was designed by the same person.
The show was great, better than the movie Carter declared.

We got cool High School Musical Tee Shirts and had to put them on right at the Fox Theater and wear them to the show. We couldn't wait. The only thing missing from our great day was Mom who we look forward to seeing in just over a week.

Buenos Dias from Ecuador!

Yes, that´s right. I am in Ecuador with a group of students from BSC and instead of hiking up a volcano or biking along to see some of this area´s 30 waterfalls, I am at an internet cafe posting to my blog. I don´t know whether to be proud or disturbed.

Our trip has gone very well. We have a great group of 14 students and two faculty members who are lots of fun to travel with. We have learned about sustainable development efforts in the highlands of Ecuador and next week (after our weekend of relaxation here in Banos) we begin our service projects in a community known as Pataloma. I wish I could post some pictures, because I have about 400 already.

Even though every moment of this project has been rich and rewarding, I miss my family very much. I have talked to them about every three days and that helps but I´m totally bummed to have to miss the High School Musical show in Atlanta on Monday. (I´m totally singing Breaking Free to myself right now - not outloud, I´m in an internet cafe in Ecuador!)

I will plan to post the best pictures and stories when I return. In the meantime, maybe Reggie can juggle caring for two kids, a cat, a house, and another post.

Hasta Luego!

Missing Mom Already

Kristin left this morning for Ecuador where she will be for most of the month. This means a couple of things -- most frighteningly that the Family Manager is gone and the boys are left to their own survival devices. Meals we can take care of (thank you Super Suppers) -- other things like remembering where just about anything is located in our house can be a problem. Right now I am wondering where the list of things that must be done by a certain day and time is. I know Kristin showed it to me, I just don't know what she did with it. Fortunately there is a well marked calender with most of the same information and it is still firmly attached to the fridge which I am certain is still in the kitchen. Anyway, I am proud to say while I may have lost a list or two, I have yet to lose one of the boys.

I do resort to my own household managerial system that may lack style but goes off the scale in functionality. For example, who needs clothes hampers and laundry baskets. Dirty clothes go right into the washing machine when they come off and we wash many small loads -- Good thing we have that energy efficent, water saving front loader. Also who needs drawers (as in chest of drawers, not underpants) ? My system --Out of the dryer, neatly folded onto the air hockey table/laundry center. Before this Christmas when were given the Air Hockey table, I had to dedicate one half of the dining table to the laundry center. Hey, it works. I have discovered that as long as I stay on top of things like dishes and laundry, I am okay. It falls apart when I let things pile up and then I get overwhelmed and it only mounds up even more.

My final survival system is bribes. I pay the boys dearly to help out with things that they should be doing anyway and they make out like bandits and there is little to no whining. You do what you have to do.

Kristin is slightly crazy for about 48 hours before departure on these interim trips. We try to give her wide berth as she packs and does all that last minute preparations. During those 48 hours we are really ready for her to go, then she does leave and we call her about six times between when she leaves the house and boards her international flight. Then a full eight hours after she is gone it sets in we miss her terribly.

All of us were sad at supper tonight and there were even some tears. Graham thinks Kristin shouldn't be flying this late at night. Who knows, we might have to move that laundry and play some air hockey.

Ho Ho Ho!

We have had a great Christmas holiday. Lots of time with family and friends and lots of new things to play with. Air hockey, race cars, Rokenbok, and even new underwear. Here's Graham and Carter on Christmas morning...

After checking out what Santa left...

Carter got in on the giving action and gave Graham $10 of his own money...

I think they had a great Christmas!

Isaac and Graham take Courtney's

Another Saturday morning, another trip to Courtney's. This time, we got to dine with Susan, Eric and Isaac. What a holiday treat. Carter spent the night out last night, so he couldn't join us but Graham and Isaac had fun enough for everyone. Isaac brought a truck and Percy and was really quite calm when Percy fell behind the booth. We had to disturb a table full of men who rode in on motorcycles to move the booth and retrieve poor Percy. Never a dull Saturday at Courtney's!

Welcome Benjamin & Elizabeth

We got to see our good friends Benjamin and Elizabeth yesterday and as if that wasn't treat enough, we went to the McWane Center and lunch together. The three boys brought lots of energy wherever they went. Here they are in a rare moment of stillness. It's hard to believe these boys are growing so fast.

Christmas cookies

Now that the boys are out of school for the holidays, we have lots of festive activities planned. First on our list was making Christmas cookies. OK, I admit, I bought the precut sugar cookies so we could concentrate on decorating and skip the rolling and cutting which usually ends up with someone screaming, someone crying and flour all over the floor. I think you'll agree that we look much more relaxed and the cookies are just as good.

Under Construction

Our church is undergoing some renovations in the fellowship hall. Carter and Graham got to ride on the bulldozer last week.

The workers have been ripping up the floor in the fellowship hall and discovered a couple of wells and an old drainage pipe. For some reason, we thought it would be fun for Carter and Graham to take a picture in the pipe. I guess so that they could say they were two of the very few people who had been in the drainage pipe under the church. Whatever. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Courtney's - under new management

Most Saturday mornings you can find a portion of the Harper Holder clan at Courtney's, a diner on Southside in Birmingham. Graham usually stacks creamers while waiting on his food.

Carter usually talks one of us into playing tic tac toe with him using straws, utensils and sugar packets.

Last Saturday, we were just about done when our friends came in. Virginia was kind enough to pose for a picture.

You never know who you'll meet at Courtney's. Most Saturdays we run into Marie Jeff and her daughter Gail. You may have heard of Marie's grandson, Tyler, who is quite well known in the blogging world. This Saturday we're meeting our friends the Crowbermillers - watch future postings for pictures. Even if you don't see anyone you know at Courtney's, the cinnamon rolls are still good.

Christmas Pageant

So this past Sunday was our annual Children's Christmas Pageant at our church. It was realitvely simple this year with two narrators, the congregation singing hymns, and children making different scenes (fancy name - tableaus). Carter sang "Still, Still, Still" beautifully and purely and Graham made his Christmas Pageant debut as a cow. In the story I believe they mention an ox but Graham insisted on being a cow, go figure.

Carter meets Carter

Last Friday, Carter and I had the opportunity to say a quick hello to President Jimmy Carter and get him to sign his latest book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. Our friend Sara took this picture and she was so excited she was shaking, but you can make out Carter standing there admiring the President's penmanship. (The man is a wizard - he signs 800 books an hour!) Jimmy thought Carter was a very handsome young man and told him to stay in school. Carter and I got a chance to talk about Palestine and Israel while we waited in line for about 90 minutes, although it's a complicated subject - maybe you need more than 90 minutes to explain it to an 8 year old. What Carter knows is that we named him for Jimmy because we admire his peace-building efforts (even in complicated situations like Palestine) and we want for Carter to be a part of peaceful efforts. He's got a good start.

But he went far...

So in Montessori preschool, there's this activity where kids draw a picture and then dictate a story about the picture to the teacher who writes it verbatim on the lines below the picture. Well, we have about a billion of them from both boys but yesterday, Graham brought home one that he wrote himself and I love it so much I just can't stand it. I will have to translate, since he has written in his own Graham-phonics language. When he read it with me last night, it went something like this:

"Once upon a time, there was a little boy and he went outside. He saw a big tree. There were lots of apples in it. And his mom told him to stay close by her house but he went far."




I think we'll definitely be having baked apples for dinner tonight.