Singing in the Basement

He dug out his old Annie costume and was performing Newsies.

Art Connections/The Mask

Abby's piece for the Charlottesville ArtConnections student art show this year was a ram's head mask she made from paper mache ad painted with intricate patterns. We were not able to make it to the actual show, but she brought the mask home once the show was over. She's been finding fun ways to enjoy it around the house:

Last Minute Date Night

We've had several quiet weekends (about to come to an end), so last Saturday Kevin and I decided to check last minute for tickets to the Mumford and Sons concert at JPJ, and were surprised to find a set of very cheap seats available. Abby readily agreed to babysit, and off we went:

In our seats

Abby texted us this picture while we were at the concert. She is such a good egg.

Purim 2019

The holiday was Wednesday, but we celebrated early last Sunday:

Ready to watch the Purim Spiel

It was Frozen themed. That's Rabbi Tom as Olaf

Back home, we made hamentaschen

Magic Tricks

Benji has been practicing card tricks this week. He keeps asking us to volunteer to be "members of the audience." Abby has been a remarkably good sport:

Please cut the deck, ma'am

I will now flip until I find your card. Is this it?

St. Patrick's Day 2019

We made Irish Soda Bread on Saturday and had it for breakfast Sunday morning, followed by a St. Patrick's Day feast for dinner Sunday night:

Blue and Gold Banquet 2019

This year, Benji's Arrow of Light cohort bridged up to Boy Scouts and were welcomed by their new troops:

Receiving his Arrow of Light rank

Troopmaster Erickson, explaining the symbolism of the arrow

Parents were asked to remove the neckerchief and epaulets symbolizing the webelo rank

Ready to bridge

Saying goodbye to his old Denmaster and Pack Leader (Richard Serton)

Being received by his new troop mates in Troop 17, who presented him with his Boy Scout colors

Benji was eyeing the arrow on Nathaniel's plaque with a lot of skepticism as it swung near him

After the ceremony, the other boys were playing, but Benji sat down to read his new Boy Scout manual (of course)

Pi Day Breakfast

We had pie, of course -- one egg pie and one coffee cake/cinnamon roll pie:

Night Basketball

It is starting to get warmer and the outdoors is calling. We all had other things we were supposed to be doing, but it was beautiful and Benji asked if we could practice some basketball:

AVID College and Career Night

Annual event at Walker, which Kevin and Benji attended. They spent most of the night operating the photo booth, but Benji was fine with that. And they even got a picture:

Poker Night

We hosted a poker night last Saturday and Benji was eager to be the one to count out all the chips. He kept calling himself the pit boss:

Last of Cub Scouting

Tonight is Benji's Blue and Gold banquet, where he will bridge from the Cub Scouts to the Boy Scouts (sniff). In preparation, the parents have been sharing photos for a slide show and I found these pictures of Benji scouting this year that I had not previously seen:

Ivy Creek hike

Science experiments (this was the meeting led by Benji)

3D printing at the library

Saturday School 2019

Benji's class had a Saturday prayer service and torah learning this week instead of regular Sunday school:

Bowing lesson

Rabbi Tom discussing the torah with them

Mardi Gras 2019

We made special food to celebrate, enjoyed a king cake and listened to zydeco music on our echo:

Collard greens (southern style), hush puppies, veggie muffallatas and king cake

Benji, dancing to the swamp music before we sat down to eat

Abby claimed the beads I was using as decoration

Measuring Up

Not sure what got into him, but Benji insisted he had to get Abby's height: