Alex and Meyer (dogsitting)

Good practice for when we get a dog later this year.
Alex says his favorite part of having Meyer is "messin' with him" (playing ball and squeaky bone).
I enjoy watching them play together. Funny boys.

Word Building "ad"

I love his illustrations. Bad, with the guy reeling from a punch. Lad, with a bow tie. Dad, so tall you can't see his head... Love his perspective. So talented too!

Pickle-Nosed Snowman

The first real snow of the season!  February... long overdue.  Alex did all his work at school in record time (so proud of him) and we were still in a sort of celebratory mood when we got home.  I was thrilled to just play for a while.

We got all the snowball parts up and Alex said "now we need a carrot for his nose".  I told him that I didn't have a carrot, just carrot chips... he said "what about a pickle?"  Yup.  Pickles we have.

p.s. He's been planning the whole pickle-nosed snowman thing for a while - it was in one of his stories from school a while back.  Funny boy.

The Daredevil Next Door

A neighbor and classmate we've gotten to know is a daredevil.  She is truly fearless.  The exact opposite of Alex.  Her Mom and I have laughed many a time watching them play - and seeing how differently they react to the same world.

Yesterday, we all ended up at the park together.  Alex rode his bike, still fully dependent on training wheels.  Then she came zipping along without training wheels (day 2 her Mom informs me "I'm going to have a heart attack").  She whizzed past us, eager to show off this new skill.  And then it happened... the wobble. You know, the one that turns catastrophic.  Somehow, she managed to lift her legs and land squatting right next to her bike without a scratch.  Even she was a little shaken by the near miss as she crouched with both hands covering her mouth and her eyes the size of saucers!

Alex's reaction was fast too.  He turned to us and loudly stated "That's why I have training wheels!"

So, her Mom had a heart attack, and I nearly died of laughter.

What's So Special About Kansas?

Aliens, a multi-colored sun, pink trees, trampolines that make you say "we!", giant magnetic... uh, somethings, bees that "BZ!", and box turtles.

Might I humbly add: ALEX!!! One very cool and very creative kid!

January

This unseasonably mild weather called for a bike ride to the park and a snack in the open air. So, so lovely!

Stripes on a Rocket

Alex made a wizard's hat at school, but when it came home it turned into a rocket. For Stripes.

I love that he staged it then asked me to take the picture- I love how her got the perspective in the photo. He even had me take it a second time to get it just right!