Puppies and Chuck E. Cheese?

Okay, we have reached the end of our rope of the summer and are running out of activities. That is how Jacob talked me into going to Chuck E.Cheese today and Jordyn heartily agreed because she could go hold the puppies at the pet store next to Chuck E.Cheese! This would be the 3rd day in a row that she has talked us into going to fairfax to hold puppies!

A work of Art

Ice Skating in August

We discovered something last weekend...Ice Skating is great in August! It was so refreshing to leave the 90 degree heat and cool off at the rink.

Pittsburgh

We had a fun visit to Pittsburgh this summer to visit cousins, three generations of cousins :) Had fun at the Science museum with Kenny and Paige and their mom, Jenna. We stayed with Sharon and had a visit from Aunt Faye, too. Here are some pics...a little sparse since we lost our real camera.

R2D2 at the robotics display

Paige and Jordyn are aerodynamic!

Kenny and Jacob play with the Ball Fountain

Jordyn visits the turtle

Sharon had a life-sized Pooh in her room!

Jacob and Jordyn make their first digital animation video

"Jacob and Jordyn Productions", with help from Sam, created a video last weekend. They made the characters out of clay, wooden people, and pipe cleaners. They made up a story and then took pictures of the story frame.by.frame. and "voila"...

Here is the aftermath

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMf7q_kPvYg

Here's the link to their masterpiece!!

New Garage Door?!

Okay, so it doesn't sound very interesting. But, we use our garage a million times a day. So, a new "whisper" sounding garage door is very exciting. Here's Sam cleaning out the garage...huh?

We had to go out to eat to celebrate...Lucky's again. Hey, the "kids" are entertained by the arcade attached to the restaurant.

A Summer Day

So today, Jordyn went to her friend Erin's house and Jacob's friends were not available. So, we had a quiet day at home (ie. no arguing). I got a lot of paperwork cleaned from last school year. Jacob's greatest thing that happened today was that he set up an art station on his desk. He didn't actually draw anything, but he set it up in case the inspiration hits him.

Jordyn came home and the fighting started! "Luckily" it is kids night at Lucky's on Wednesday nights. Phew!

Who would guess this cute spotted puppy was whiney and argumentative minutes before. What miracles a face painting can make!

Legoland

We saved Legoland for our last day in California. It was a really neat park, fun for kids of all ages. Jacob got to program a Lego robot. We saw "Clutch Powers" in 4-D, rode a pragrammed "claw" (my favorite)-especially because Jordyn was only tall enough to ride the "mild" level, took a tour of Miniland (all made out of Legos), and raced hand-made Lego cars.

Miniland

Waiting in line "antics"

San Diego Visit A Walk to the Tide Pools

What an amazing view!

We spent this week in San Diego, CA visiting Sam's brother Elliot and his family. We met up with them in La Jolla to see the "tide pools" at low tide.

We are Kings of the World

boy smirks!







Exploring

Exploring...

The long walk back...

Cracker Jack Dive Meet

Wow, Jordyn keeps getting better at diving! She had a beautiful back fall-in today. Of course, I didn't quite capture it on film. She almost broke 30 pts. for her 3 dives: Front dive, Back fall-in, and Front jump (w/four step hurdle). Good job, Pie!

Boy Scout Centennial Parade

Today, Jacob got to march in the Centennial Parade (the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts). They even got special permission to add an extra parade to the 4 allowed National parades in Washington, DC per year. It was hot, hot, hot, but Jacob had fun!

Fashion Show!

Friday was Jordyn's last day at Fashion Camp, which means it was Fashion Show Day! Jordyn got to model her "refashioned" outfit and the borrowed clothes from Target. She even got to choreograph her modeling with a partner and music! She did great-did not look nervous at all.