Science Party

Sunday was party day for Hannah. The whole class was at Az's 7th birthday and the party was hosted by Carmelo the Science Fellow (no, I'm not kidding). All the children handled various creepy-crawlies and hairy critters, and did lots of experiments including this one where I think the blue powder is supposed to turn white. Hannah came home with a party bag full of gooey stuff that sticks to the furniture, more blue powder that might turn white one day, and a thing that looks like a centipede, called a mealworm. Great! We are promised that if we feed this worm-thing with oats and apple it will turn into a proper beetle. Fantastic! I guess we are going to have to name it - any ideas?

The End of Winter?

In the middle of a busy Saturday, Sam and Jackie-Boy take time out to don bicycle helmets, climb up on an armchair, and launch themselves into the air. What else are you going to do when it is -10C and the ground is covered with ice? Roll on spring!

Archie's Getting Married, Archie's Getting Married

In our wedding album, there is a photograph of the "reception" that shows lots of happy people dancing, chatting, drinking, having a good time. And in the centre is the still, silent figure of Archie Mundegar, looking reflective, or, perhaps, pensive. It's a look that says, "This is a lot of fun. I want some of this. When do I get some?" The answer has arrived. August 25, 2007 in Vittel, France! Woohoo! Archie will be marrying the incomparably beautiful Marie on that day, and you can see all the details (as well as an itty-bitty picture of the happy couple) here. We would love to be there, but we are probably going to be in Australia at that time, checking out Nana and Grandpa's new house and cheering the Bombers on to glory.

By the way, if you or your business needs a coach, Archie is the man.

License Plate King

Sam has established a reputation in the neighborhood as the state license plate expert. He gets very excited when he sees a plate for the first time. Last week, he spotted a New Mexico and he talked about it for days. He still hasn't seen an Idaho, an Alaska, or, the Holy Grail, a Hawaii (an Hawaii??). Of course, we need to make sure we keep a check on these enthusiasms, otherwise he may spend his teenage years contributing to websites like this.

Impressions

Last summer, on our way to Maine, we stayed with Claire and Jon Davies in Boston, and also met up with Julie and Chris Lile and their children. On the Sunday morning we all went for a swim at Walden Pond, where this book was written. We had a most enjoyable weekend, but for one of the party, it seems to have been the best time of her life.

Hannah's class are "publishing" books throughout the year. They have each written a couple of works of fiction and now they are writing true stories. Hannah's true story, published on Friday, was dedicated to Jon and Claire. It described, with accompanying illustrations, their wonderful big yellow house, the delicious barbecued sausages (the best meal she had ever had), and the most restful night's sleep she had had in "about a year." Phew - looks like we provide inadequate dining and sleeping facilities around here. Maybe we can get Jon to FedEx those sausages down to us each week. And perhaps some bedding too...

Where Did You Get That Hat?

We are not noted for our fashion sense. It doesn't matter much in the UK where our friends are mostly teachers, engineers, and other fashion-challenged professionals. Here, we get pointed at by giggling photographers, set designers, and hairdressers-to-the-stars as we walk the streets of Park Slope. But one item of apparel attracts attention where ever we go in New York City. Strangers stop us on the subway, in the parks, in stores and say, "Nice hat," "I like that hat," and, inevitably, "Where did you get that hat?" This is its third winter and it is still going strong. Where did we get it? We didn't buy it. These guys did (well, their parents did anyway.)