Tent

Leah made a VERY LARGE tent/fort with the queen air mattress for a floor & the couch and credenza as walls in the living room.

 She even slept in it Saturday night. And, yes, she had seen the new episodes of Bluey.

Here the first thing that came up when I searched the blog for "tent": https://babybuffaloe.blogspot.com/2014/08/play-tent.html  (2014!!)

And this is a too-small tent built by James during remote schooling times: https://babybuffaloe.blogspot.com/2020/05/homeschool-week-8.html

Smoky Mountain Trip

Here's another post from a while ago that was sitting in the drafts folder! James went on a big Smoky Mountain science trip with the 5th grade. Here is the very long line of kids & parents waiting to check them in at the admin building. They chartered big nice busses & drove overnight so the kids could sleep & arrive at their destination in TN in the AM.  

They happened to meet up with Sam's coworker at drop-off, whose son was also going on the trip & they were accidentally twins: 

And then at the 11th hour, James found out his friend would be able to come after all - he'd been 1st on the waitlist until the morning of the trip & found out at school that day that he'd be able to go. The teachers who were on the trip uploaded a bunch (and I mean a BUNCH) of photos every night. We stalked through them & here are few!

Look at all the science they are doing! 

I think he had a good time! 

Beetlejuice (the musical)

Sam took the big kids to the Fabulous Fox Theater in St Louis to see Beetlejuice (the musical). They prepared by listening to the soundtrack over and over. (Last year! I think I was waiting on Sam to make some comments about it for the blog, but I've given up.) 

They dressed up (a teeny bit). James reports that other people in the audience were wearing Beetlejuice costumes & suits. 

How cool! 

Snow Day

Actually an ice day. CPS is closed & MU went remote & even the library closed. James has been out sliding around. Amelie is working on a paper for English. Sam is working from home. Leah is marathon watching TV as she has RSV and is puny. 

Here’s some pictures from earlier in the month when we did get some snow - just an inch or two, though! They'd predicted maybe up to 8 inches in advance of the front. It was a slushy mess!

But that didn't stop them from using the trampoline (See James throwing snowballs over the net). 

They did get across to the park where there was maybe almost enough for a few sled runs!

Christmas 2023

Another Christmas in the books!  Spark doesn't know what all the fuss is about. 

James with his stocking and Santa hat. 

Look at me & Sam in the mirror! We made it in the picture, too. 

Sam made them pause for YET ANOTHER photo before he would let them open their presents.  

Spark with his toy. See how well-behaved he is. 

James and his Pokemon cards. He took his Christmas money to the mall and got even more Pokemon cards later. 

Amelie went ahead & got started on one of her new books. 

Leah got a spirograph. It took a little figuring out. 

 

 

Amelie was quite pleased with her N plushie (from the web series Murder Drones). 

Sam got a headlamp & a make-your-own hot sauce kit. 

Leah was VERY EXCITED about her books (mainly the new Cat Kid Comic Club). 

Sam framed a 1960 daily menu from Maxim's de Paris that I found in the recycling bin. 

Here's a pic of the inside - before it was framed.

Spark was longsuffering. He only got one present and made none of this mess. 

A short video:

Sam made 5 GIANT cinnamon rolls.

Then we all ate cinnamon rolls. You see Amelie is reading one of her Christmas books.

Here's the link to last year. 

Christmas Eve

We went to the regular candlelight service at church this year (and not the interactive kids’ pageant) in part because I'd hoped to convince my Grandma Doris to come with us & partially because it worked out better schedule-wise.

Leah made this observation: They SAID it was going to be a story about Jesus. But it was just CAROLS.

Sam: Do you think perhaps you were not paying attention while the grownups were speaking between the songs?

Leah: (pause) well MAYBE. I was very sleepy. 

Our friend Megan took a terrible photo of us in front of the Christmas Ficus (as is tradition, at least some of the time) - I promise Amelie enjoyed the service & holding the real candle! She just (apparently) was not enthused about the photo afterward. 

Here's a picture from the Christmas Eve meal with my side. We didn't get a photo with Sam's bunch the next day! 

Amelie set the table:

Here's Leah with her favorite present - a bed tent from Nana Jana: 

 

Sam recorded a video: 

All ready for the big day!