Unforgivable Taste

Ela has been a pop music princess since she was in diapers.  Credit/blame belongs to the Mayor who's had a strong, albeit quiet, taste for pop music since he was in diapers.  It was really just a matter of time before they joined forces in music.  Tonight, the Hobbit Wife asked to be excused to another room after the Mayor and Ela took turns hitting repeat on the undeniably pop CCM anthem, "Pushing Back the Dark" by Josh Wilson.  The Mayor is looking forward to attending pop concerts with his little girl in the coming years! :-)

Military Alphabet

While Boookie quizzed the Hobbit Wife on the military alphabet, Seimi piped up, "No-vember! Yes-vember!"

Officially Fall

We enjoyed the summer up to the very end.  Here are some pictures of the hobbitlings playing outside with the last bits of summer.

 We celebrated the last day of summer/first day of fall with our traditional "hobbit feast".  Here's the east half of the table.

 And here's the west half of the table.

 Here are the hobbitling costumes for Halloween this year.  Leading things off is our very own 3-year-old Cap 'Merica!  He's shown here holding a small Cap 'Merica figurine that is his favorite bedtime toy.

And next is our six-year-old princess bride, with her stunning pink and white wedding dress ensemble.  The hoop skirt on the dress was the clincher at the store for this beauty.

 

And bringing up the platoon is our eight-year-old Navy SEAL.  He's bringing his map case for trick-or-treating this year because it will mean he's able to carry even more candy than in previous years!

Here are the brothers outside on a mission, Cap 'Merica helping out the brave Special Forces SEAL. Their mission: wait patiently while their sister finishes getting dressed.

 And here's the assembled, costumed hobbitlings.

And here's this year's band photo.

Wrapping Up Summer

It's been a rich and full summer at Michael Delving.  A year to the day after cutting up his pack to splint his ankle, the Mayor went and got a new pack.  Here he is showing off the capacity - it easily holds a 3-year old and his Lee.

Here are the three hobbitlings mugging poses in the summer sunshine.  Guns, dressup and lots of fruit were all in heavy rotation this season.

As one season ends, another begins.  Here is the brand-new math curriculum in the dehydrator after someone spilled their water bottle on the bag of school work on the way to the library.  Here's to a joyful fall!

the social perils of paleo

(loudly) "ooo!  look!  CROISSANTS!"
-ela, age 6, upon being served caesar salad croutons

(loudly) "oh, thank GOODNESS!-  mommy's buying ECLAIRS!"
-boookie, age 8, upon noticing a bag of english muffins in the shopping cart

(loudly) "mommy!  NO BREAD!"
-seimi, age 3, also upon noticing the english muffins in the shopping cart 

(i think we need to include a new homeschooling subject, don't you?-  BREAD 101: IDENTIFYING AND CONDONING CARBS WITH CRUMBS.)

Fabulous hair

Ela and the Hobbit Wife were discussing the hypothetical question, "Would you rather have $10,000 or perfect hair?"  Ela said, "I would take the money, since my hair is already amazing and one shouldn't be too stylish."

Boookie's 8th Birthday - TMNT Style!

Boookie's 8th birthday celebration started with camping with The Mayor on his actual birthday.

The Mayor's old camouflage hat and the knife the Mayor received on his 8th birthday from his father were passed on to the next warrior generation.  Added to the warrior gifts were dogtags and a map case.

"Cutie Kittie" the meerkat was an intrepid part of all the birthday celebrations, along with "Favie," Boookie's favorite blanket.

Preparations for the birthday party happened over several weekends.  Here's the Mayor's outside workship after finishing ninja weapon production.

The Hobbit Wife chipped in her touch to decorations and foodstuffs.

Leonardo portrait #1

 Leonardo portrait #2

Donatello portrait #1

 Donatello portrait #2

Michaelangeo portrait #1

 Michaelangelo portrait #2

 Rafael portrait #1

 Rafael portrait #2

The kickoff mission was for the turtles to defeat the evil Kraang balloons, which took no time at all, thanks to the awesome ninja turtle skills!

 Searching for any missing Kraang balloons...

 On to the next mission!

 Watching the action from inside, safe away from swinging weapons...

Here's a small sewer rat enjoying the party food.

Dessert was sewer dirt cake with toxic ooze Jello.

Everyone enjoying the dessert.

The Hobbit Wife's mad decorating skills were on full display.  The sewer lid was a true masterpiece in cardboard and paper bag.

Boookie/Leonardo thoroughly enjoyed time with his turtle and human friends.