Silly boys
Sometimes when Ben gets home the boys are off the woods or tucked into a book and can hardly notice. OTHER times, they are all over him. They were getting so silly yesterday that I had to grab the camera.
Evan’s Apple Tree
Several weeks ago, our friends Bill and Margaret began thinking about Evan’s birthday in December. They were going to be visiting us in October and wanted to bring what Evan wanted when they came our way. Evan spent at least three weeks pondering the question of what he might like to have for a gift. One day, while we were in the van driving, he said to me, “Mom, trees are better than toys.” I was so touched by his sentiment and we talked about the ways that trees help people as we drove down the road.
About a week after that, Evan asked if I thought Bill and Margaret would get him an apple tree for his birthday. We called to see and they were excited by his unexpected request. They spent some time researching trees that would do well in our area and chose one to be sent from a farm in Georgia and that was big enough to possibly give a few apples next year. How exciting when that box was delivered!
When Bill and Margaret arrived a few days after the tree, we had a spot chosen for it and had started preparing the ground. Bill helped Evan and Grayson to get the tree settled in the ground for the fall.
Later, Evan asked if we could use apples from his tree to make apple crisp and applesauce next year. You bet we can! Yum!
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.
Poem
Evan keeps a journal in his class at school. In it, there is space to draw as well as to write. When he came home, he said that he had drawn a book in his journal and then had written a poem inside of it:
I can read
I can write
I can tell a trilobite
Turtles are welcome here!
The boys were outside playing this morning, before it got really hot. Andrea looked out the window and saw them near this box turtle. They hadn’t seen it yet. 
Then Evan drew this very cool picture of himself and several turtles in our yard:
Biking as a family
We went biking together as a family today. Was it really the first time? It was the first time we were all riding our own bikes for the duration of the trip.
Washing the car!
Yes, we really did it!
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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