Pumpkin Patch 2016

We made our annual trek to Critzer's Farm to pick out our pumpkins last week:

I Build My Sukkah at Night...

Or, at least that's what it seems like. We've been super busy each of the last 3 years on Sukkot and have ending up building it at night, usually after the holiday has already begun:

Half birthday cupcakes in the half-finished sukkah

We gave up building for the night and decided to decorate instead

Liberty Mills Corn Maze

We decided to try a new corn maze this year. On the suggestion of friends, we headed out to Orange to try out Liberty Mills Farm, which has the largest corn maze on the East Coast:

Ready to tackle the maze

This is the maze -- 26 acres - behind Benji. We did the smaller maze and it took us an hour and 45 minutes. Next year we may tackle the bigger maze

After we found our way out, we had a picnic lunch and spent a little time in the activity area. Benji, as always, likes a good hay pyramid:

The kids also checked out the hay tunnel and the tic-tac-toe boards, and the "left turn maze" where you had to try to find your way out making only left turns (they were not successful):

We finished up the day with a hay ride to the farm store, where they sell "John Deere" ice cream -- the ice cream churn in hooked up to an antique John Deere tractor to turn it! The flavor was pumpkin, of course:

Hay Ride

The kids were eager for ice cream

Yom Kippur 2016

A little late getting this up, but here are the kids ready for temple on Yom Kippur:

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

From in front of our house, after the rain:

Let's Go to the Movies

Last Sunday, I had double movie dates with the kids. Benji had really wanted to see a movie at the old theater downtown (it is not a movie theater, but they sometimes show films on Sundays). Since they were showing Aladdin this week, we decided to go:

Movie selfie

Almost right after this show, I had to turn around and take Abby and her girl scout troop to see Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.  No picture there, but several of the girls called the movie "life-changing."

Back to School Night

Benji was very disappointed when he found out that he was not giving us a tour of the classroom (not sure where he got that idea from). Kevin couldn't go, so Benji asked me to take pictures of all of his stuff.

Selfies

The kids apparently got hold of my phone and left me this:

Stem Lab

Benji's class is working on a STEM project in the garden. They don't know it yet, but they are going to engineer boxes for the lettuce they just planted:

Slide Show

One of Benji's favorite things is to make slide show presentations on Google Slides.  He has now figured out how to "present" them on the big screen. Here he is presenting his "Games Benjamin P. Paquette Likes to Play" presentation, complete with rules for each game:

Find the Frog

Spotted in our driveway.

Whittling Chip

In their last den meeting, Benji's den learned knife skills. They each received a wooden handknife to put together and practice with. Benji was very proud:

In order to complete the badge, the boys each need to whittle something at home. Benji was anxious to start:

He's lost some interest since this picture and the block of soap is sitting unfinished on his desk, but hopefully he will turn back to it soon.

New Dress

Doing her algebra homework

Sketching

Ice Skating

We wanted Benji to learn to ice skate before this winter, so we stuck him in a learn-to-skate class this fall.  He is about halfway through and has made a ton of improvement (he could not even stand up the first week).  I brought my camera to last week's lesson so I could catch him in action:

Fall Ball

After talking to a few friends, Benji asked last minute if he could play baseball this fall.  Kevin was thrilled and signed him up right away. But a difference a couple of years makes! he has been attentive and excited this season and has played very well:

On deck

At the plate

On base

Heading back to the dugout after scoring a run

Abby likes to help organize the team

Abby and I missed the first game for a bat mitzvah, but were able to make the second game, where Benji had 2 solid hits and made 3 outs in the field.  For his excellent play, he was awarded the game ball that week, of which he was very proud:

Add caption

I brought my camera again for the third game last weekend, which we played on our home field, Penn Park:

In the ready position

Fielding

He;s getting better at throwing the ball

Another at bat

I did not realize until I looked at these pictures that he closes his eyes as he swings....

Coming home

Eyes closed again

Running to first

Abby waiting patiently

Team photo: