Banshee

Banshee
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Last Sunday we went to the Irish Festival. We went early because they had mass (in Gaelic and English), it was free if you entered before 11am and it was going to be a hot day. Despite our efforts to avoid the heat, it was so warm we bypassed most of the kids activities.

To hide from the heat, we ducked into an Irish Magic Show. Michael really wanted to be picked, but fate had other ideas. However, Alejandro was able to be a volunteer for "Tears of the Banshee." Actually, I think it was Alex trying to figure out how the trick worked that black-balled Michael; Alex was supposed to hold a sign flush to a funnel, so as to catch the Banshee's tears that streamed out. Alex, being a curious young man, kept separating the poster and funnel because he wanted to see the banshee cry.
RAP (8.11.2006)

Can We Dig It

Can We Dig It
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Alex has had many one liners lately, but unfortunately I can not remember any now. The important thing is that his wit and wisdom are not waning at all. He always has a zinger or two ready, and usually they provide some sort of insight. Alex prefers to have others read to him, but he is reading quite well for his age. Some of it is memorization of favorite books, but he read the subtitles on the TV the other night.
RAP (8.10.2006)

Water Warriors

Water Warriors
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

The last week of July/first week of August is typically the hottest time of year, and 2006 has been true to form. In addition to cooling off at the pool there are other options, and on this hot, hazy day Michael and Alex went to the Homestead Park with their friends and their squirt guns. If you inspect the image you can see that Alex's shirt is soaked which either makes him the big loser (got hit the most), or big winner (was smart enough to allow himself to be hit to cool off!). Michael chose the smartest path; bathing suit only. It was cool as it could be, yet dries fast.
RAP (8.9.2006)

Candy Stop

Candy Stop
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

have been working all weekend in preparation for our trip to Los Angeles. However, I made time on Saturday to take the boys, Michael's best friend (John) and his clone (Luke) to see "Barnyard." Instead of buying popcorn, I took them to Kroger's, in the same way that my dad used to take me to the IGA on West Broad Street.

I think the kids liked it; all the kids chose skittle's gum, but they also got one other item each. Alex picked a Nestle Crunch bar, John and Luke chose Hershey bars and Michael brought some Whole Foods dark chocolate. Besides costing less, the absence of soda and popcorn had another benefit: they all made it through the movie without having to go to the bathroom!
RAP (8.8.2006)

Let It Rip

Let It Rip
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Once we had exhausted the Star Wars Exhibition, we enjoyed as much of the rest of COSI as possible. Of all the different things we did, the boys seemed to dig anything that made something levitate the most. It did not matter if it was floating on magnetic force, air or a stream of water; it was floating they loved it. This picture is in the area where plastic balls floated on air; Michael was having fun pitching them high and watching them be sucked into a giant contraption.
RAP (8.04.2006)

Triumph

Triumph
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Back in June I had to prod Alex off the diving board, but not anymore. I may have mentioned it before, but now Alex is a deep end diving fool. He runs off at top speed, gets out and lines up again. It has been good to see his confidence and swimming ability grow.

His reading has also been growing this summer, but we have been having a hard time finding enough age appropriote material; he has read the stuff he can that we have, and goes through his library books too quickly. His reading is by no means perfect, but he is getting better every day.
R.A.Patton (8.03.2006)

Star Wars

Star Wars
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Friday night we went to the Star Wars exhibit at COSI. Columbus is the second town after Boston to host it; it has been a very big deal and the museum has received a much need boost from it. The exhibition has been here since Memorial Day, and will leave on Labor Day.

It was a worthwhile adventure; the kids rode a speeder that floated on air, were lectured about Robots by C3-PO and rode in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. Plus their were hundreds of props from six films. The kids had a good time, but their mother, despite the wheelchair, seemed to enjoy it even more!
RAP (8.01.2006)