Pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving, Part VI
On to the 15th!
Big cubes… built Connor-tough! See this image larger.
*Hi, I’d like to borrow these if you don’t mind.* See this image larger.
*They look like they’d make good drums.* See this image larger.
*Or a chair!* See this image larger.
Hundreds of years in the evolution of weaponry, have turned this classic, non-compound bow design into something as deadly as it is delicious… the marshmallow bow. I’m not kidding. It shoots marshmallows. See this image larger.
Video games. Engaging young minds since… well some time ago. I’d look it up but, I’m watching video games… See this image larger.
Our little angel, after many hours of play with his cousins. This nap courtesy of Grampa Ray! See this image larger.
Next entry will wrap up this holiday! Stay tuned for Part VII!!
Here we are back in the action. If I’m not mistaken this should be the last entry for the 14th of November… Here Kaylee reads a story to Grandma Barb and – she’s great, she’ll talk on and on about what happens in the book — she almost sounds like she’s actually reading it! 
At some point, the pipe insulation we use as baby-bumpers on some of our sharp corners became weapons of mass destruction, and then look out! Doggie pile! 
The little cousins win this battle, but not the war! 
Yup, somebody loves his cousin… hehe! 
It was like watching a pirate swordfight, only without the clang of steel on steel. 
It was more like the wap and thud of foam on skull, now that I think about it. 
Mommy smiles as the battle rages on. I wish we could get that top button to stay buttoned on Ian’s pajamas! 
Connor faked a fall-down at one point and while Ian circled, Kaylee saw weakness and struck quickly! GETTIM! Aunt Melanie got a lot of this on video, and I have a copy of it… I’ll try to get some of it on the site someday. 
The gang heads indoors… You have to admit that it was pretty nice that we could go outside in the middle of November in Michigan, though, right? Here there’s a fun game of “get Kaylee’s ball from Ian.” 
Ok so it was fun while we recognized that it was Kaylee’s ball… sigh… Ian, give it back. 
You’re going to see a lot of “jumping up and down on the bed” pictures in this Thanksgiving, trust me! Mostly I admit to either telling them to or letting them. You get some good smiles that way. 
Just then the ghost of mattresses past arose from the comforters… 
Ooop. False alarm, it was Connor. 
I swear nobody got hurt… at least nothing permanent. 
He’s going to learn to keep that tongue in pretty soon, the hard way. 
The boys get some air with their trucks. 
Kaylee got stuck trying on clothes… har har! 
*Hey kids, what are you watching? Hey, kids? Um, hello?* 
*Connor can you check on those kids and find out what they are watching? Hello? Connor? Kids?* 
The 14th continues… around here, or maybe a bit earlier, the ladies left the boys all alone with the kids so that they could go shopping. I know this might sound like punishment, but believe me when I say, the shopping that was going on benefits everybody… or at least that’s what I was told to say. (I’m kidding.) 
Connor and Ian checked the sandbox for fun and found a little inside. 
Rare photographic proof that somebody else was at this gathering other than the three stars of our show, pictured here riding a plastic turtle! 
Ray took these with his camera, and managed to pull this shot off, which is great considering how long these three squirmers were willing to hold still. 
Sitting on the deck, kinda. 
Really they’re sitting on a big hunk of plastic that wasn’t meant to be sat on, is that comfortable Ian? After this it was time to come inside… I think we’ve only got another 2-3 entries for the 14th of November!! :O 
The morning of the 14th, and Ian enjoys drawing with Kaylee. 
*Yes, drawing is fun I suppose…* 
*But wouldn’t a road rally be even more enjoyable?* 
I want to take this opportunity to say that Connor was brilliant throughout the trip. He was patient and engaging with Ian, and never looked down on him for being little or in awe, which the little guy was. Connor was also patient with me, as I had a lot of grown up things to do and couldn’t play video games as much as I wanted to with him. A big thank you to Connor, I hope he sees this. 
Can you tell Ian is having the time of his life? 
*Let’s build a ramp!* *Yup!* 
*Let’s roll this truck down the ramp!* *Yup!* 
*There it goes!* 
*Yup!* 
Breakfast break! 
Connor made the biggest ramp possible on our chair! 
…which Ian tried to climb. 
They built a rocket-ship, and Ian looked so cute in it… 
…that after a little modification, it turned into a group photo opportunity! 
Same shot, but from Aunt Melanie’s camera! 
Finally “the boys” built trains before we decided it was time to go outside. More next entry! 
The first to arrive were Grandma Barb and Grampa Ray, on November 13th… they took us out for dinner, and Ian showed everybody that the only thing he loves more than ribs, is big piece of cake for dessert! 
He dove right in and got as much as we’d let him. 
*Ian, you’ve got a little something… on your… yeah right there.* 
Anybody remember that movie from the 70’s called “Meteor?” (I’m pretty sure Ian’s eating it in this picture.) 
I figure if we had Boojamas, we can have flannel pajamas be flajamas. 
One more monkey jumpin’ on the bed! 
One of the few situations where complete joy seems to be the result, every time is when Ian gets to jump on the bed. 
BOING. 
BOING. 
Comfy rest. 
BOING. 
Hey how tall are you? 
And then a night-night book, and then to bed. 
BOING. 
When we last left our hero, he was waiting patiently… *seriously, people, I have a world to save, here.* 
What is it that feels “Wizard of Oz” about this picture? And so, the Jester, in search of a laugh, the kitten in search of a warm place, and the miniature super hero in search of something sweet, headed out down the grey cement road. 
It got cold quick. Grampa Dave and Grandma Marcia kindly stuck with us through our whole neighborhood, as we quietly shuffled from door to door. 
How well do his hat and mittens match his outfit? 
At this point I attempted to remind Ian of Kenny Rogers’ long-standing “Gambler” advice, however he ignored me and counted his money (candy) while sittin’ at the table. (wagon) 
Perhaps it will please you to know that I’ve eaten an awful lot of that candy since this image was taken. Just trying to save him from too much sugar mind you. 😉 
Home at last and starting to warm up, Ian tried another look. 
And yet another! 
And that was that! Thanks again to Grampa Dave and Grandma Marcia for sharing in our Halloween joy! 
Halloween night we were joined by Grampa Dave and Grandma Marcia! I stuffed my face with as many of Grandma Marcia’s cookies as I could while everybody was playing with Ian, and then we went out for Mexican food and had a great time! But then, apparently there was a super big problem, or perhaps some super letters needed to be found… because Ian again took up cape and tights in the name of justice! (Or whatever it is SuperWhy! believes in — perhaps a good paperback, I’m not sure.) 
*I see your camera flash, good sir, and I RAISE you a squinty grin!* 
But wait, Ian!– I mean, SuperWhy! You forgot your mask and Whywriter! Ruuuuun!!! 
Dun dun dun DUN! Dun dun da DUUUN! 
We bought the outfit a little big, and it paid off bigtime… it turned out to be extremely cold on Halloween night, and he ended up with a sweatshirt and sweatpants under his costume. Worked out well for a little while, anyway. 
*Come on you guys, what’s taking so long?* 
*Shhh… can you hear it? It is the cry of a thousand fun-size candy bars in need of rescue!* Will he get there in time? Find out in our next blog entry, Halloween 2009, Part II! 
Here’s some pictures of the Halloween party at Ian’s daycare. As you can see, there was plenty of sugar to be had! 
Looks like these were maybe even a little strong for Ian! 
Somewhere there’s a picture of me in my youth wearing a red turtleneck… Ian’s wearing an orange one here. I think the clothing, the blur, and a few other things about him in this picture make him look like I did when I was around his age. 
EDIT – Hmmm I think this is the picture I’m thinking of. The resemblance is actually a little less than I remember. I’ve seen a couple of other pictures with more similarity.
*Hurray for puddin’!* 
*Hey! That little girl still has puddin’!* 
Sensing a super big problem, and knowing that a super big problem needs us, the Super Readers… Ian dons his costume. 
*It’s for you, Mommy!* 
*I don’t remember much about the culprit, officer… just that he or she really had to pee.* Want to know more about Ian’s class? Spiderman (Jacob) there on the left is probably the one I see hanging out with Ian the most, the kid on the far left is Owen, and he seems like a really nice kid. Bryce, in the duck hunting outfit is either the class ruffian, or the class scape-goat, we haven’t figured out which. The kid standing right next to Ian is Quinn, he’s a couple pointy ears away from being one of Santa’s elves. The witch on the right (that is not facing the camera, unfortunately) is named Milee and she’s a real sweetheart — if I ever drop Ian off in the morning she always asks me “Where’s Ian’s Mommy?” 