Atlantic Beach
Wow! What a week we have had! Ben’s Uncle Pete and Aunt Jeri had a second week at a time share that they weren’t going to need and they offered it to us!! Too exciting. So, we took the boys out of school for a week and spent that week at Atlantic Beach instead. We swam in a heated pool every day, went to the aquarium several times and spent lots and lots of time out on the beach, shelling.
Lucky Lizzerd
Evan came home with a story he wrote in school. I thought you would enjoy reading it. I tried to stay true to his spellings, but had to leave out the two illustrations, one of Scar’s teeth and one of Lucky Lizzerd:
Lucky Lizzerd was a lizzerd that lived under a log with his sister. His sister’s name was Lizzie Lizzerd and Lucky Lizzerd loved his sister very much. He loved her so much that he would do just about anything to ceep her from being eaten by the King of the Jungle witch was a Boaconstrictor named Scar. Scar lived high in the tree tops where no-body could disturb him. Lucky Lizzerd and Lizzie Lizzerd new never to go up to ask him a question because anyone who did was in big trouble! One day Lucky Lizzerd was out for a run in the jungle. He had left Lizzie Lizzerd at home to wash the acorn dishes at home. He said to Lizzie Lizzerd before he had left that he would be back soon. He was still walking when sudenly he was face to face with Scar!!! Hello said Scar with his deadly fangs how are you doing today? In his gruf voise. U…u…u I was…going for a walk in the woods for a little while. WELL THEN WHERE IS YOUR SISTER!!! Boomed the Boa as Lucky Lizzerd shrank to the ground in pure fright. But finely he found his-self again liying on the forest flore. Then he said that she was at home. Meanwhile Lizzie Lizzerd had been wondering where her brother was for it had been 2 hours sence he had left! She decided that she had better go and find her brother because she was sure that Scar had captured him. Lizzie Lizzerd got the best of tools so she might be able to defete the jiant boa. She got 3 old porqupine quils that she and Lucky Lizzerd had found on many walks before. A big tooth that a tiger had lost while brushing his teeth under a tree. Two long ropes that she had made and last of all Lizzie Lizzerd dug a discios (disguise) out of the big tree trunk. The costume was a bit to big for her but she was brave so she put it on and discovered that it was a boa-constricter discise! She was so happy that she thout she had all the right things and she did! She hid all the quils, teeth and rope in her pocets and set of for her brother. She hadent gon far before she was standing right befor the masive boa. Before Scar could do anything he was tide up in rope from head to toe and weeping heavely. Lucky Lizzerd cheerd for by then he knew who the visiter was by the size and the way she acted. Lizzie Lizzerd stabed the quils into the snakes nose and was done. Scar was put in jail for 8 years. When Scar got out of jail he was quite old and cind by then. Lucky Lizzerd bad become King by then and was very happy. Lizzie Lizzerd was his Queen. A year later Scar died and the two Lizzerds lived a long happy life.
Gift ideas 2009
Evan’s birthday seems to be sneaking up on me faster than usual. Two people have asked for ideas, so I am hoping this list is helpful for that as well as Christmas. It is interesting each year to try to figure out what the boys are spending time thinking about. In case it would be helpful for you, here are some ideas:
Evan:
rock polisher
legos — a “good” set since Grayson has all the “good” ones (ok, those are Evan’s words 
) pirates, castles, Star Wars
art supplies
gift certificate to amazon.com or to Barnes and Noble (book lover!)
ear warmers
wrist watch (not a digital one, please)
prism
digital camera (not a children’s one–the pics are too grainy to print)
Evan continues to love science–rocks, gems, amphibians, dinosaurs, fossils, reptiles, space…
subscription to National Geographic KIDS magazine
Grayson:
Legos — especially if they include dragons, castles, trolls, monsters, Star Wars… that sort of thing.
dot to dots (not super easy ones) maybe ones that go to 30 or so
art supplies
house shoes (size 12/13)
ear warmers
DVD Ponyo on the Cliffs by the Sea –widescreen version
50 to 100 piece puzzles
magazine subscription — ideas for a kindergartner?
Other ideas:
games
Junior Scrabble?
Number Quest — would probably have to find used or on ebay — Evan’s teacher has this math game he loves it
If there is something you would like to claim from the list to give as a gift, you could either leave a comment or let me know and I can take it off the list.
The Rat King
Both boys have gone round and round about what they want to be for Halloween. It started out as a dragon (Grayson) and a knight (Evan). It progressed through vampires, wolves, and then the Nutcracker. Grayson finally decided he didn’t want to be the Nutcracker, he really wanted to be the Rat King. Evan then decided HE wanted to be the Nutcracker Prince. Still thinking about all this yesterday, Grayson came home, opened a cardboard box he’s been saving since his birthday back in April, plopped down and drew the cutest Rat King I had ever seen.
Daddy’s Little Helper
Grayson is definitely into helping with the yard. If Ben is outside, Grayson is outside. He was so excited when we got out the blade mower this year and he was really mowing instead of pushing a plastic one. When they were out mowing this past weekend. I just couldn’t resist grabbing the camera.
Sweet Girls
Today while eating a snack, Grayson says, “Mom, I think girls are sweeter than boys.”
Aww, I think.
“What makes you think that sweetie?”
“Because girls are always getting bug bites.”
Ah! 
Tour to Tanglewood
In Winston Salem, there is a great opportunity to support research for Multiple Sclerosis in a biking fund raiser. Ben has done this for five or six years, always wanting me to join. This was the first year I was up to trying. I can’t believe it, but together we raised just over $1000! Can you believe it?! We did many training rides leading up to the big ride, finding some new places to ride along the way. In the end, I had to take the 22 mile option because I just couldn’t ride 45 miles in one day yet. Here are some pictures from our ride. Did I mention that is was pretty cold and rainy that day? Maybe next year will be dry. Thank you so very much to all the friends and family members who were able to support us in this event.
Just starting out
Ben somewhere along the longer route
Here we are at the end of the ride. We are soaked!
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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