Mugshots

With the impending fed gov shutdown today, we all went to get the boys' passports in motion, in prep for our trip to Panama over Christmas.  These photos, taken in our spare bedroom, are so funny I had to share.

Why dont we have a caption contest via the comments!?

Let us know what you think Alder and Heath are each "Wanted For..."

What about Alder

Last Friday afternoon, I picked up Heath from school, we got in the car, and I asked him, in a casual, tongue in cheek voice, anticipating his response, if he might like to um, maybe go get some ice cream?

"Yaaayyyyyyyy", he squealed.  And, then immediately, "But what about Alder?"
I knew Lesley had already gotten Alder off the bus and that they had gone to get ice cream.  And before Heath would return to excitedness, I had to assure him of this.

Lesley and I have so many mixed emotions when he shows such sincere love, flat out loyalty, to his brother.  Sadly, Alder would certainly not ask 'What about Heath?' if he were offered ice cream.  We know this is just the oldest versus youngest mentality, and then their personalities to some extent, though we do try to encourage them to always think of each other and others.  Its tough though.  And moreover, that Heath is missing Alder at his school so terribly these days.  To be sure Alder misses having his brother in that big strange place, and particularly on the playground where they were used to reuniting twice a day, but Alder is just not the type to vocalize that he misses Heath.  Heath on the other hand, daily, tells Alder and/or us how much he misses his brother now.  Its pretty heartbreaking.  There have been some tears shed on the way in, in the past couple of weeks.

We know they may never be in a school together again where they get to be together as when at Central Montessori.  What a wonderful aspect of that small school - though in different classes, twice a day, they got to the playground and played together with and without other friends.  I know Alder was missing this the first few days on the playground at his new school, when he shyly sat and watched.  Anyway... so, we are trying to make the most of it as a way to teach them both some important lessons about change, what we can and cannot control, and how we can and should make the most of what we are doing and where we are now.  But we are constantly reminded of how hard this is, for little boys and us.

Heath has also started taking gymnastics classes at this huge gym near the house.  I had no idea this was even there, and I CERtainly didnt realize what went on in there - a warehouse full of bouncing springy, lightning fast pre-teens, who obviously spend alot of time there.  

I was in awe to watch how they teach these kids from an early age to gradually become gravity-defying daredevils.  Who knows if Heath with stick with it.  He is essentially doing random sequences of things (only his second class) that leave us scratching our heads, but they are assessing strength, coordination, motivation, I guess so they can group them and start actually doing more gymnastics.  So fun to see Heath's little group, in the beginning of something, then 7-year-olds climbing ropes to the 30' ceiling, and then pre-teens all ablurr in twirls and flips before landing on their feet.

I do love watching him go through the excericises.  Its interesting to compare (yes, ok) how Alder can be so into Tae Kwon Do though aloof all the while, versus Heath, so attentive, eager and serious, though enjoying his thing just the same.

Favorite bag (or favorite box)

: noun /FAV-rit bag/  A very purposeful assemblage of (to adults) seemingly random objects.  It can include ANYthing.  This provides the foundation for various role play and make believe for one to several days.  It can be as small as a wallet-sized bag, or as large as a low-end fishing tackle box.

Alder and Heath each have a favorite bag/box at all times, ready for action, or in action.  This one, Alder's, has selected matchbox cars, a felt cat-head-shaped mini-pillow he sewed, a plastic animal-human warrior (missing his dedicated horse), a broken 1" by 6" board with a drawing of some other warriors, a few peics of quartz from here there and yonder, plastic animal figure, a lego ship, etc.

Summer Sunday ...

And I think I just realized that neither of them says "smoovie" anymore.

First Day of First Grade

September 3 was the boys' first day back to school.  Sadly Heath's was same ol' same ol', but his will be more exciting next year.  But, this was an especially big day for Alder: new school, MUCH bigger school, riding the school bus and all.  The school is about 1 mile from our house so a very short bus ride.  We have all been anticipating it for a long time, and once the day arrived, it happenned in a snap.

We had visited the school several times over the summer, and Alder's classroom last week, and he met his teacher Ms. Cross, etc. We braced ourselves for nervousness and fear.  As he walked through the laundry room to put on shoes, he said he was scared.  Gave him a quick smile and kiss, and a knowing look that I knew he would be alright.

We walked out to see the bus already at the stop (!!), then ran across the yard and managed to make it on.  Turns out it was much heavier for Mom and Dad, and Heath, than for Alder.

Dad got an official pic when he got off the bus that afternoon. He totally loves the school and all the novelty.  He is happy with it.  We are hoping we all will be as we learn more about it all.

And a very thoughtful neighbor grabbed the camera and took this one.

Funny story from day 2:  Alder came home, enthusaistic that he had a new friend.  When we asked about the friend's name, he said he wasnt sure.  When we asked what made them a new friend, he said that she liked star wars and he talked to her about it at lunch.  

As for Heath, he had a hard day watching Alder go to a new place.  Up until now, we have ridden to Central Montessori together everyday: the boys in the back, playing, drawing, talking, etc.  Those days are done.  Just like that!  Now Heath is alone in the car which is a little hard for him.  Being the youngest, he really prefers the company of big brother.  We like the opportunity to spend time alone with him, and even on day three, its getting better.  We talk, ask each other questions.  He actually may talk more to us now that Alder is not in the car.  So, this will be nice time together, but it will be gone in no time once he is off to a new school next year.  Then he will be riding with Alder again, but on the bus, which he wants to get on so so badly.

Grayson Highlands Addendum

So, Lesley wrote that sweet little post using only phone photos.  There were actually many gems on the real camera, so I have to add an addendum.  Wont be able to caption everything... :

On the way up the Pinnacle Trail loop...

 On Little Pinnacle. ..

 

(This expression:  in his head... he is killin' it right now)

I think Lesley and I must have been to poised for catching children in the wind on Big Pinnacle for Pics.  So, on the way down...

 So, in this meadow, was where perhaps the the first picture was ever taken of Lesley and I.  Pretty close to twelve years earlier.  We still have the pic.  My buddy Lane took it.  A hike into Massie Gap, which you can see from Big Pinnacle, where there are wild horses, where the AT passes through, where there are tons of native blueberreis shrubs (in the Heath family!), and which was so pleasantly breezy and warm on this day...

So, funny story:  after this picture, we were walking back down out of Massie Gap, and we realized that Alder had dropped his cat with the red cape.  So he, then we, had to walk back looking for it --- way back!  Then, Alder actually suggested this: "Daddy look at the pictures you were taking to see when I had it."  Sure enough I took a pic immediately after he dropped it.  We saw the pic then went straight to it.

Wilson Creek.  We went for a hike on morning straight from the campsite.  It was raining on and off.  We got really wet.  And this was one of the times that Lesley and I repeatedly revelled in the fact that we were in dripping lush woods and the boys didnt even comment about the fact that we were soaked.  Just a nice walk in what is.  Tough hike, we all loved.

Alder gets "projects" in his head al the time.  This is one.  He had to have this for his wrist and he wore it alot.  He also wore it to art camp the next week.  Good stuff.

Grayson was teeming with ripe blueberry bushes.  People were picking them by the gallon.  We easily, quickly picked a couple coffee mugs full and made a dessert with peaches too on the campstove one night.

Hike on the last day looking at a neat fungus.  We actually found and photographed a Dodder just below Big Pinnacle that turned out to be a state rare plant, which is now becoming part of the Virginia Natural Heritage Database.  Here is what Cuscuta rostrata looks like.  And if you really get excited, heres more.

Okay...!