The Lion, the Fairy, and the Wizard

The lesser-known Narnia book comes to life in Fairfax VA. The small lion went on search for a pot of chocolate and lollipops. In case of danger, she brings along a fearless fairy and a daring wizard. This is their story:

Ooh! The littlest lion could not find her growly roar, but she did have a smile that turned every evildoer into a giver of candy. This is a very powerful gift.

The fairy's rosy cheeks gave great cheer to the little lion. She flitted about in her sparkly shoes, tripping only once or twice or ten times, while she gleefully protected the little lion and gathered her own sweets.

And then there was Harry: Fearless Wizard, Brave Brother, and Lover of All Things Sugary. His brave magic saved us all.

And there was another hero of the day, the gifted clairvoyant, who saw it all. Much candy, much fun, much danger, much laughter. . .

A tired lion, and a sleepy fairy.

The End.

(Check out Wolverine in the back--Daman was so mad he had just cut his hair, he could have totally pulled that look off. He knows exactly what he'll do next year--watch out Mr. Jackman)

Why I Am Glad We Are Not Amish:

I guess we could have taught them all to make their own clothes, but two of these kids had just cried for an hour straight, even when the professional play therapist did his best. So thank you Disney, thank you.

Arcimboldo

Arcimboldo is a 16th Century painter known for creating hodge-podge portraits from objects. He was brought to life in "Boldo" a character from the movie "Tale of Desperaux"

Right now Arcimboldo's work is on display in the National Gallery of Art downtown. So, we decided to capitalize on that opportunity. For school one day, we looked at pictures of Arcimboldo's paintings and learned about him and then created a work of art of our own.

Behold. . . . Tigress (or Tigara if you ask Lucy)

This picture doesn't do it justice, and perhaps it is no Arcimboldo, but I was really impressed and it was such a fun project. Lucy picked out what food to put in her belly, Isaac designed her hair, cutting out several different types of hair, and drew a pokeball for her to hold in her hand. One foot had several different shoes that Isaac cut out, the other was just a bare foot picture I found (I am also to blame for the busty sports bra chest shot--it was the best I could do). It was interesting to watch what the kids came up with. I think Arcimboldo would be proud. And then of course, we went to see the real masterpieces.

It was a day that made me love homeschooling and living in Northern Virginia. There are so many talented folks in the world, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn about them.

BOO! The Ghost Train!

Burke Lake is one of our favorite spots. Three playgrounds, walking trails, and hungry geese that will honk for cheap bread. What is not to love? And Halloween season brought the Ghost Train, a much too short ride through the woods, whizzing by various college students in costume quickly acting out movie/story scenes as we ride by. It would have been wonderful if we'd paused a bit at each vignette, but the kids still had a great time. And there was a free moon bounce and a herd of dancing penguins, so we were happy.

I think Emma enjoyed it, anyway.

Say Boo!

We are finally riding the Burke Lake Train!!!! All my dreams are coming true.
(That is my interpretation of this picture)

Bring. It. On.

Trains and Ponies? I am in Heaven.

To Infinity and Beyond!

We'd been to the Air and Space Museum on the Mall downtown many times, but we'd heard about the Udvar-Hazy museum and never gone. Something called paid parking kept getting in my way. The nerve. Then I discovered that parking is free after 4pm! Hop in the car kids, we've got a shuttle to see. . .

Besides the shuttle, this place was chock full of wonderful things. It is an enormous hangar full of every type of plane imaginable, and an R2-D2 mailbox (almost as cool as the shuttle). And if all that wasn't awe-inspiring enough, there was an authentic pee-tube that boy astronauts get to use in space. The girls? They have to wear a diaper. Cross that job off my dream list.

(As a side note, I discovered that the real reason for free after 4:00 parking is because they know that when you leave at 5:30 closing time you are smack dab in the middle of rush hour/airport/commuter traffic. It was a loooong drive home)

Zoobeedoobeedoo. . . .

Roarrrrrr!!!
Fear the Lucy Rex

Isaac looks a little too happy inside that T-Rex skull

That is why you never let your guard down around a T-Rex, you just never know when he'll eat you.

Field Trips!!

We are really enjoying homeschooling this year with Isaac. We are still finding our rhythm, but overall I love the simpler pace it gives our family, and Isaac loves so much reading time. And one of the best perks is field trips! Here are a couple we've recently enjoyed:

Loudon County Heritage Farm Museum

This was a great museum and there was a fun homeschooling group there. The lady showed us all around the museum and they had this fantastic old store they had torn down and rebuilt inside the museum with fun food, old letters, and even an old cash register the kids got to use. They learned about different tools and the lives of kids on farms through the years. It was a really wonderful place, if we lived closer we'd definitely be regulars!

Not many people could pull off the ballerina look on a John Deere, but I think Lucy nails it.


Manassas Battlefield National Park

It was "History" day and so while Lucy was at playgroup, I took Isaac to the first battlefield of the Civil War. Having grown up in North Carolina, Civil War History is a required passion. I grew up knowing it as The Battle of Bull Run (Southerners named the battles by the nearest river or natural landmark, Northerners by the nearest city) Both sides thought it would be a quick end to the war, one nice neat battle to settle this thing once and for all. So many young, inexperienced solders ended the day very surprised. Isaac learned all about cannons (above he is loading the gunpowder) and then we walked a bit through the battlefield, peeking in the windows of the house that stood right in the middle of it all. It was so fun to be there with Isaac, watching him experiencing history in such an active way.

This monument was erected in 1865 by Union veterans, honoring those who had fallen in that first battle.

Fire!!!

To Cox Farms We Go. . .

Cox Farms is this hokey, corny family farm with barn slides, haystacks, cows to milk, and a hayride through assorted painted wooden images from the 70's. And we love it. The hayride was really bumpy and Lucy got a little nervous when the alien ran out to the Star Wars soundtrack, but Isaac loved going through the corn maze just him and Dad--the tough guys. Emma slid over and over and over and I loved the huge dinosaur slide. This was the first year Daman got to go with us, and it was so much more fun with him around. It is a Fall tradition that I think we'll stick to wherever we roam on the East Coast.

We Made It!!!

JUMP!!!

King of the (Hay) Mountain!!

Not sure if this was the 1st or 50th time, they all got pretty much the same reaction

Princesses off to the Ball. . .

Emma loves princess stuff more even than Lucy and wore this Snow White get-up for two days straight I think. Is that a problem??

Insert Tarzan Yell Here___________

Such a look of longing on that little face. . .we really pine for the rural life in the Reynolds home sometimes