SPIDERBYTE

We've Got the Fever!

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk...

Our playroom is complete!

I knew we've been missing something, but I couldn't quite place it.  Luckily, I stumbled upon it at a yard sale (well by "stumbled" I mean making my notoriously-yardsale-loathing husband pull over on our way to the beach on Saturday after spotting this treasure on the side of the road...even after he tried to distract me by washing the windshield). 

But I somehow convinced Jason that this framed little number of John Travolta wearing skin-tight polyester is just what we need to inspire our children in their playroom.  And look, it sure inspired LuLu!

In other weekend news, we managed to pull off two marathon beach sessions.  Summer = Happy Place.

Will, patiently waiting for the right wave

Will gives LuLu a lesson

Alpha Twin

Spiderbyte Goes Clubbing

Will Takes on the Big Leagues

In past posts, I've talked about Will & our Rock n' Roll tennis games. But in all seriousness, Will really (really!) loves tennis. 

This was part of the reason we decided to join a local "pool & tennis club."  After a mere two days in which the kids of Spiderbyte have been active members of The Club, I can safely predict that next year the swim & tennis club will be reevaluating it's admissions policy.

The upside - I have a hunch this new development will result in blog material a-plenty.  More details to come, I'm sure.

Blame It on the Rain

Possible Holiday Card

Rainy Day Blues

It's our first full week of summer vacation and things got a little loco already.  Rain, lightning, hail, heavy winds, antsy kids, and a mom who has yet to put together any rainy-day contingency plans.  Don't fret, we made due with some paper bag art & the pure entertainment of watching Bobby pose for blog photos...outside...in the hail...while I laughed at him.

I learned my lesson though.  I now plan to make a "Rainy Day Box"...no, not to lock the kids in, but rather full of rainy activities.  I'll put that on my to-do list right behind organizing my junk drawer (on list since '06) and finishing the puppets I started sewing for Easter '07.

How's the weather out there?

Take Me Out to the Ball Game (& the reunion & the birthday party & the...)

Buy Me Some Peanuts & Cracker Jacks

Dream Big

This weekend we were (very) overbooked.  The solution?  Divide & Conquer.

Sadly, we only own one camera.  As I had the foresight to hide the camera from my husband, I was able to take the camera with me to the ballgame to get some wonderful pictures of my day out with the older boys. 

Jason & the twins headed out solo to Cousin Nina's 13th birthday party (13!!??).  Although I have no pictures to share, they seemed to have had a wonderful day celebrating Nina's grand entrance into the teenage years.  Happy Birthday Nina!

Will hams it up for The Blog

I also regret to inform our readers that I have no photos to share of the high school reunion which I attended this weekend.  There's nothing quite like reuniting with classmates from a swanky New England prep school after xx years, but this video comes pretty darn close:

Tea Partay

Strawberry Fields Forever

The Perfect Pick

Sometimes (as in not all that often), the stars align for a brief moment and allow me to pull off an activity with the kids in which I feel like actual memories are being made.  Moods subside, weather cooperates, potty breaks happen in the appropriate place, things work.

Earlier this week, I took the kids further into the 'burbs for strawberry picking.  And for the 20 minutes their attention span permitted, they picked & laughed & frolicked & tasted & made my jamberry dreams come true. 

Picking out honey sticks

The Tractor Ride

Heavenly

Alpha Twin

LuLu Takes her New "Baby Doll" for a Walk

Therapy

Dynamic Duo to the Rescue!

The kids made it through their first month with a "chore chart", and thus earned their coveted reward: Bumper Cars!

I'm not sure how we even decided on this particular reward, since there is really so few things that our kids find universally fun (with the exception of the beach and a short list of shenanigans that we probably wouldn't allow them to do anyway).

But let me say, the bumper cars were perfect.  As a matter of fact, I think we all found it a bit therapeutic.   Head on collisions, full impact rear ending, intentional side swiping. Cleansing really.  Perhaps bumper cars in our own back yard would be a nice way to channel sibling angst (hmmm, possible addition to the Death Star?).

And all videotaped for your viewing pleasure:

Family Therapy

My Dad Could Beat Up Your Dad

Me & My Dad circa 1976, High Standards in the Making

In the realm of quality dads, the bar is set pretty high for me. For 26 years, I had one of the best dads to ever have walked the face of the planet (or all planets, if we’re comparing extraterrestrial dads as well).  And I’ll admit, I never thought I’d encounter other dads who held a candle to my own. 

But I'm pleased to say, I have come across a few.  And lucky for me and my gaggle of kids, they’re part of my family. 

Jason & Papa, thank you for loving my kids as much as I do and raising the bar for the next generation.

LuLu and Dad having a tea party

Papa loving the Minis 'a Bushel and a Peck'

Toot Box Hero & Other Friday Favorites

As usual, it's Friday cleanup (random bits I meant to post about & never did). 

My fave of the week is the following clip of Will & LuLu performing their new smash hit, "Toot Box Hero"....staying true to their passion for distorting the classics, like "Rockaway Peach" and "Opals & BaNoNos."

And some random photos, behind each was a really great, witty, blog-worthy story...you'll just have to take my word for it.  Happy Weekend.

Toot Box Hero

Life is a Stage

Portrait of 'Tweenhood

The Doldrums

Cooling Off in the City Sprinklers

A Boy & His Mallets

In my Post Traumatic Camping Recovery, I failed to follow up on yet another highlight of our weekend, Bobby’s band recital.

After listening to the drum portion of the evening’s program on a nightly basis since September right here in the comfort of my own home, I was anxious to hear what it sounded like magnified to its full potential.

And, magnified it was.  Take it from me, there is nothing quite like the unique sounds produced by a 5^th grade band.   

Here’s a snipit of Bobby’s  rockin’ drum solo.  (I think this is exactly how Neil Peart got his start).

For Those About to Rock