Dr. Dolittle
Over the past few weeks we have been reading The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle for the bedtime reading story. What an amazing hit! A naturalist–learning to talk to animals–exploring the world–exploring the ocean floor. I mean, my goodness! why don’t I just make a wish list for Evan and Grayson and request a book be written! We have summarized, made predictions, and been sorry when it was time for lights out every evening. What fun! Evan said tonight that this book would be ours forever.
We are already looking forward to another Doctor Dolittle story. I’m so glad there are several!!
These pictures show Doctor Dolittle with his parrot, Polynesia, and his dog, Jip.
Green Frog
I have not worked on pastels all summer! Since the fall season is coming (yeah!) I need to get cracking and get the emporiums stocked up. Inspired by my nature-loving children, I started out this time with salamanders. After doing three types, I wanted to try a frog. I am so excited that it looks like a frog! I’ve been playing around with some new techniques–using acrylics in the beginning stages and using water to change the pastel chalks. I’ve also worked with a pen to sharpen some of the outer lines. These are things I have wanted to try for a while. It’s been fun to get started again.
One wheel is all it takes
I used to have a unicycle, long ago, maybe when I was 14 or 15. I can remember lots of trying and not too much progress being made for a while; though it was enough to keep me trying. I did learn to ride it and I was proud of the fact that I could do this thing (I knew no one else who could ride a unicycle).
Now, it’s many years later, and I requested a unicycle for my birthday this year. Andrea may not have known whether I was serious, but she took me at my word and gave me one! It sits and waits for me to ride it , and I practice when I can. So far, my top distance is about 20 feet, and usually I go about 5 before falling. But I have to say, it’s a thrill to ride it and I will keep at it. It’s a thrill to learn something new in a setting where the boys are learning, too. They are out riding their bikes as I practice on the unicycle, and they are excited by it. They shout, “go again, Dad!” and I try again. I fell off today and scratched my finger, and it was Evan who ran in to get a bandaid. 
Here’s me riding today. I got pretty far…
Bendy Grayson
We were practicing some yoga positions in the floor yesterday. Grayson is much more bendy than I am.
Grayson’s first day
Grayson was really ready to start his first day of Mommy and Me Preschool. He looks so big! He told me this morning that he was really feeling like a big boy. The sunglasses before heading out the door just cracked me up. He acted very shy when we got to Danielle’s house, but he was ready to go again the next day even though it wasn’t a Mommy and Me day.
The Three Weissmanns of Westport
Beatrice and Virgil
Making the Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat
Catching Fire (Hunger Games, #2)
The Girl Who Chased the Moon
The Ambiguity Advantage: What Great Leaders Are Great At
The Complete Book of Pilates for Men: The Lifetime Plan for Strength, Power & Peak Performance
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
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