He's a good egg

Grom's school had it's annual Egg Drop event.

50 kids with incredible contraptions

designed to protect an egg from a two story drop.

Grom came up with his own design which was revised and refined as it was tested in our kitchen with him stand on our counter to launch.

Finally... a small snap lock container,

some bubble wrap and 6 balloons from the dollar store.

Our firemen came with their engine. They climbed up to the roof and then (kids don't try this at home) stood on top of a plastic box to get even higher.

Experiment after experiment confirmed the law of gravity.

Some landed with sad sounds that you just knew signaled bad news.

We couldn't know for sure until all the eggs flew.

Grom's egg survived.

And he already has a new plan for next year.

yon

another one!

What is three in Japanese?

Grom earned another bar for his obi.

Does that look like the face of a kid who doesn't enjoy karate?

Buddy Bowling

We got to go bowling for Grom's BuddE's 6th birthday.

Check out Grom's bowling style... he puts everything into it.
Skip, plant your feet, toss, fall.

That's my boy... notice he's rocking overalls.
Overalls go very well with bowling shoes dontcha know.
Size 12 bowling shoes are precious.
I wish I got a picture.

Bowling takes a while when you're six.
The ball moves s.l.o.w.l.y down the lane
You watch and watch...

and then watch the scoreboard to see the cartoon that shows how you did.

And are SHOCKED to find out you got a STRIKE!

High Fives all around.

All the cool kids...

do their school work at Starbucks.

When school gets hard, a change of scenery (and a cup of coffee for Mom) always seems to help.

Buddies

I took Grom and his buddy to see A Christmas Carol at the beginning of December. We had some fun taking pictures before the performance. I loved the metal backdrop.

These pictures and lunch were the best part of the day. The performance was a BALLET! Somehow we missed that detail. And because it was a matinee for school kids, they started the story in the middle. I know the story and I was lost. I don't know how the boys behaved so well. They did amazing and totally deserved dessert with their lunch.

Avocado - seed to tree

We've been eating a lot of avocados lately. Gogo loves guacamole. Surferman loves guacamole. Even Grom gets into it.

All those pits. Grom and I had to see if we could grow a tree. Watch along. We'll update as changes are observed.

October 5

Robin's Guacamole
2 avocados - peeled and smashed (keep 'em chunky)
1 clove of garlic pressed (I like to use the frozen cubes of garlic from TJs)
juice from 1/2 lemon
your favorite hot sauce to taste
salt and pepper to taste

First Days of School

Both Grom and Swiss Kid had their first day of school this week.

Our first grader

Can you tell I picked out his clothes today?

Grom decided he needs to use Surferman's big backpack this year.
Before it was Surferman's backpack it was Grom's diaper bag.
What goes around... comes around.

Our 11th grader.
He was so excited to finally get to go to class.
He was delayed by Labor Day Weekend.

I took his at school pictures from inside my van.
He appreciated me not embarrassing him.