Passover 2012

We spent the first night of Passover this week with our Maryland cousins:

The kids, as always, had fun playing around:

Everyone looks on as Jeffrey and Andrew sword fight

Benji snuggling into Leora

The family had to get an early flight the next morning, so we decided to head to Air and Space for a little while:

Abby really liked this Amelia Earhart exhibit

We had a quick Ethopian lunch (yum) and then headed home for second night Seder with our friends the Abrams-Garretts. Lots of kids (i.e., very short Seder):

Typing His Name

At school in his pjs, as usual

License to the Stars

Each year, the students at Greenbrier try to get their "license to the stars" by completing a series of math speed tests (this year, multiplication facts, 1-12). Abby gleefully showed me last week that she is the furthest on her license in the whole grade:

Lego Boy

Benji's newest obsession is these lego city sets. He would build one every day if he could. Here he is playing with the recycling plant and truck we found at lollipop shop:

DI Game Night

Even though their competition is done for the year, the team still wanted to host their game night fundraiser that had been snowed out in January. Turnout was low, since it was scheduled the same week as other school events (and mostly just consisted of team families). Abby spent most of her time collecting tickets (by choice - she loves to organize!):

Benji enjoyed the games:

Towards the end of the evening, the girls decided they would do a skit.  Which was mostly them just being silly:

St. Patty's Day

Just eking this one out before the week is done.  We had a good time preparing for the holiday.  Both kids wanted to make leprechaun traps this year:

Abby's leprechaun trap, with a false top and ladder

At Benji's request, Abby made him a trap out of legos

She thought these signs would trick them into entering and shutting the door (which had sticky tape) behind them.

Unfortunately, they did not work:

And the leprechauns did lots of mischief:

Both lovey and blue henry were tied to the bed with green string

They also hit the kitchen

And turned the milk green

But we had a celebratory day anyway:

Irish Soda Bread and rainbow fruit platter for breakfast

Abby with her new bow

Green pasta for dinner

Abby in her full dinner splendor

Reading Log Graffiti

Noticed that Abby had doodled all over her reading log this week.  I love her "graffiti":

Third Grade Science Night

Third and Fourth graders at Greenbrier get to participate in a special science night where they compete in fun events like penny barge, straw tower, paper airplane throw, and egg toss. Each child chooses a partner and an event and they spend the week preparing for the night-time competition. Abby and Emmelia chose to be partners in the egg drop and spent much of Wednesday afternoon at our house trying out various containers (and breaking many eggs). The big event was Thursday night, and excitement was in the air. Abby squealed when she got her first look at the ladder:

Ms. Brandt did the actual "tossing"

The girls were thrilled when their egg made it through both the 6 foot and 12 foot drops.  When the weather is nice again, Mr. Kyner (the principal) is going to throw the remaining contenders off the roof.

Victorious duo

Greensboro

We spent the weekend in Greensboro with our friends the LeWinters.  Didn't take too many pictures, but a good time was had by all:

Abby and Aviva drawing fairies

Benji and Maya up a tree

First Aid Badge

Girls are working their way through the "legacy" badges, taking turns leading the troop in earning them.  This week, one of the girls led First Aid and even brought in an ambulance!

Spring has sprung!

There are still little piles of snow left from the storm, but spring is definitely here.  Weather has been in the 50s all week and flowers have bloomed all over town.  Benji is particularly taken with our daffodils.

Frosty the Snowman

After our power (and heat!) came back on, we figured we should take advantage of what was clearly going to be the last snow of the year (and indeed, it is all melted now). Abby wanted a snowman, so Kevin and I helped her make a massive one:

The google eyes were her special touch (made with 2 snowballs).

Benji still wanted no part of the snow, but opted to take pictures from the bay window (further proof that he is his mother's son :) ):

The Big Storm

After a very quiet winter, we finally had our big storm the first week of March.  Abby was excited for one more chance to go sledding, and two days off of school.  Here she is measuring how deep it got (she is her father's child):

Benji had zero interest in sledding (he hates the cold, just like mom!) or even going outside, so Kevin took Abby down to Greenbrier for sledding and general snow fun (a snowball fight with some other students apparantly ensued):

Benji enjoyed the view from inside the (at that point) warm house:

We lost our power during the night on Tuesday and it did not come back until dinnertime Thursday, but the time passed quickly.  Our friend Allan was visiting from CA and our mutual friends the Rothmans came over as well.  Here are Elliot and Benji enjoying a show on the (battery powered) ipad:

It got pretty cold by the end of the day Thursday, but I think it is now officially spring!

Rainy Day

It was pouring this morning, and Benji had fun watching the cars and trucks splashing by:
 

Banana Head