The Talens' Tales

It is Storybook Character Day time again. Joash had his last week and Mataya had hers today.  Joash, since he is really into Egypt really wanted to be a pharaoh. I managed to find a headdress at Value Village. We made the beard and the scepter things they used. Joash is trying to look very serious in this picture. Mataya wanted to be a bunny, so we found a storybook on our shelf with a bunny in it. I found the ears at Value Village, too and we made the tail that we taped to her shirt. And she found a nice carrot from our garden. The kids each had a fun day!

We had a great time celebrating Joash's 7th birthday. This year, he requested a cake that had a pyramid that looked like it was made out of Lego. He even made a model for me to use while I decorated the cake.  Joash and his gifts. Lego is still a favorite thing and he got his first Lego Technic set for this birthday, which was a big hit. He also really wanted a Nerf gun, so that was a gift as well. He also invited his best friend over during one of the PD days this week, and they had a great time.

M(om): Gideon! You are 18 month old! That is  1 1/2 years! G: It is pretty exciting, Mom. M: What have you been up too? G:Well, the thing that seems to make you the most excited is I have given walking a chance. And over all it works pretty good, but sometime crawling is still better.  M: It has been so fun to see to walk and how all the sudden one day you just decided to do it. What do you like to do with your days? G: I really like to drive anything around. Trucks, tractors, cars...anything with wheels. I also like to look at books and I trying to climb on the table. M: Yeah, that isn't my favorite activity of yours. Any new words? G: I am starting to say things a bit more clearly. I can say what's this, light, up and I baa for sheep and moo for a cow. M: I am looking forward to hearing more and more words from you in the coming months. Your thoughts on food? G: I love to eat. Last night you gave me carrots and meatballs and it was do yummy to eat. I al...

What is your favorite color? Blue and light green What is your favorite toy? lego What is your favorite food? jello What is your favorite tv show? Veggie Tales in the City What is your favorite outfit? ICS t-shirt and black gym pants What is your favorite game? I don't know What is your favorite animal? cat What is your favorite song? I don't know What is your favorite book? Ancient Egypt books and my encyclopedia Who is your best friend? Ben What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in the sandbox What is your favorite drink?   Juice What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Cowie and Hazel What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Grilled Cheese, bacon, jello What do you want to be when you grow up? construction worker with machinery

Joash and Wilbert worked very hard a few weeks ago on a little project. For months Joash had been talking about how he wanted a chest with a lock on it to put things in. Wilbert said it would need to wait until after corn silage was done. So, finally they made it. I don't think Wilbert knew at the beginning that Joash wanted a chest that looked like a pirate treasure chest with a curved top and everything. But, it turned out very well, I must say.

It w as t he summer of storms and strays and strangers. The summer that lightning struck the big oak tree in the front yard. The summer his mother died in a tragic accident--and young Samuel Chambers would have done anything to turn back time. Even today, he can hardly believe it all happened . . . Prompted by three strange carnival fortune-tellers and the surfacing of his mysterious and reclusive neighbor, Sam begins his search for the Tree of Life--the only thing that could possibly bring his mother back.  His quest to defeat death will entangle him and his best friend Abra in an ancient conflict, forcing Sam to grapple with an unwelcome question. Reading The Day the Angles Fell  by Shawn Smucker was a really interesting and engaging reading experience.  The magic realism he uses is fantastic. I love that it is set in our world, but that the spiritual world has a visible and  powerful presence in all of it. The writing was engaging and made for a quick read. I ...

One thing that we never got to this summer was going to Bonshaw Provincial Park.  So, when the weather looked very nice for Saturday, we decided to make that the day to go.  It was a lovely fall day. Cool, but not too cold. Sunny with clear blue skies and the tree just starting to turn color. We packed a picnic lunch and headed to the park in the morning. We walked a short trail before lunch. Then then kids played for a bit on the playground and we had lunch in the picnic area. Then we walked some longer trails in the park and went to the foot bridge and saw some fish in the river.  Overall, the kids did great. They were good hiker, though the did get impatient while we were looking for a geocache. We will have to go back later to find the geocaches in the park. This is a great park with nice trails, a neat playground and picnic area in a lovely part of PEI.