Wax Museum

Luke chose a famous American to research and portray for his class wax museum. He chose Walt Disney.

Both sets of grandparents were in town  and got to see him perform!

Here is his speech:

My name is Walter Disney, but people call me Walt. I was born in 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. But when I was five years old , my parents moved us to a farm in Missouri.

From the time I was young, I loved to draw. One day, my younger sister and I decided to draw pictures on the side of our farm house with some sticky tar and sticks we found. The tar was so sticky that it would not wash off. My dad was NOT happy about that! I kept drawing though and even sold a picture of a horse to my neighbor, Doc Sherwood, for 25 cents. That was the first picture I ever sold.

I began to take drawing classes when I was 14. When I was 16 I became an ambulance driver for the Red Cross. I was even sent to France for awhile, but I never stopped wanting to be an artist.

I started a company that made animated films with another artist in the 1920s, but we couldn't make enough money to stay in business. I didn't know how to make the movies I wanted to. Then I moved to Hollywood, CA where my brother, Roy, and I started Disney Brothers Studio. This time, my business was a success.

My company, now called Walt Disney Studios, needed a new cartoon character. I decided it should be a mouse. I called him Mortimer, but when my wife heard that name, she said it didn't sound friendly at all. She suggested Mickey and that's how Mickey Mouse came to be.

I went on to create many full length animated films, live action films, and a very popular amusement park before I died in 1966 at the age of 65.

He did a great job!

Halloween 2015

I know, I'm out of order. I've been fighting off nasty illness for a month, so I barely celebrated Halloween. But my children all had costumes and had a great time of it themselves.

This is what you get when you stay at home with the baby and ask Dad to take pictures at the 

Trunk 'or' Treat...

Luke was...ta da...Luke Skywalker. Because, and I quote, "It will be kind of easy beacause I look like him and we have the same name."

Kadie was the Cheshire cat.

Aidan was Link from Legend of Zelda.

Reilly was a person from the Capital in the Hunger Games. She volunteered to help out with face painting.

Kadie had a theme going with her friends. Here she is with Alice (aka the other Cady)

Miles didn't make it to the Trunk 'or' Treat because he had an accident on the drive there and his mom was so busy making sure two chilis, two dozen cupcakes, and five costumed children got to the church on time that she forgot to pack back-up clothes. (And did I mention I was under the weather?)

He was dressed as a little basketball player. He wore his costume on actual Halloween day. He was very upset that we were giving our candy away to anyone who rang the doorbell. There were actual tears and wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then he got to go trick or treating himself and decided it was all cool.

Eight is Great!

Luke turned 8! He wanted a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.And pizza for dinner.

You know what is great about turning 8?

Well, for one thing, your grandparents fly across the country to come and see you.

And then you get to be baptized by your father, your sisters sing you a special musical number, and both your grandpas give talks at your baptism.

Luke:

Loves music

Is taking a dance class

Likes science and math

Is very serious and literal

Has handsome brown eyes

Likes to swim

Often sings things instead of saying them (He makes real life musicals)

Knows all the names of the new Bionicles

Reads Bad Kitty (Over and Over)

Is a sweerheart

Happy Birthday!

Fire! Fire! Fire!

Miles and I went to the fire station for play group. I made the mistake of telling him we were going to see a fire truck the night before we were actually going. Let's just say he is not the patient type. 

We picked up some friends before heading to what turned out to be the wrong fire station. Scheduling mix-up. They graciously waited to start the tour until we got to the right fire station.

Miles loved the fire station dog, Cinder. Miles also loves the red plastic fire hat the fireman gave him.

Miles did not like close proximity to the fire truck, or all the other children and adults that showed up for the tour.

Miles did like that the fire truck got a call and had to leave with lights flashing and his excursion to the firehouse bathroom.

Victory!

Aidan and Luke were victorious in their game of Risk versus Ken. They wanted their feat documented.

Two is Terrific!

 Baby boy turned two!

Things about the sweet boy:

*He loves sports...a lot, especially basketball. He has many basketballs and he spends a good part of his day dribbling and shooting them. When he gets tired of that, he plays soccer.

*He is a very good communicator.

*He can sing the jingle for O'Reilly auto parts. He frequently sings it and substitutes each of his immediate family member's names in the "Reilly" place.

*His best friends are Mom and Dad.

*He enjoys loving/torturing our cats.

*He adores smoothies and chocolate.

*He can fit behind my curved head board and he sometimes smuggles contraband back there and has parties.

*He is a handsome little man.

*We love him dearly!

A Little Sunday Afternoon Photo Action