Another Good Quick Book

The Invention Of Hugo Cabret,  a great little/big book.  

Interesting story, innovative format.  Well worth the hour or so reading it.  

Some background websites are also intriguing. 

www.fi.edu/learn/sci-tech/automaton/automaton.php?cts=instrumentation 

(this one looks boring, but scroll down and it gets good.)

www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm

Also, don't know if any of you have been reading, or have read some of The Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini.  The third book, Brisingr, I thought was not for children.  You may 

want to read it first before you hand it to an eager child.

Summer Catch-Up

Before summer ended, we had the chance to accompany Dad while he had to be out of town.

We did family stuff on the weekends, but otherwise, while Daddy was working, we girls got to play.  

Here are some of the things we did.

We went to a Renaissance Fair to ride an elephant, meet a Fairy, get creative, and fall off a ladder.

We went to the Zoo and got a bit silly.

My cousin came to town and we hung out and took a "little hike." 

http://www.inclineclub.com/incline/

We hiked around Garden of the Gods as a family too.

Wow! this post is way too long, and we haven't shown you the radio show, or the Olympic

 Training Center.  Plus, this summers Children's Theatre, more family visiting, back to school,

 a Santa Fe trip...  guess I'll have to stop procrastinating.  More later.   :)   Topper

Big Red is into Apes

Big Red had a birthday this past weekend.  She had monkey games and a gorilla on her birthday

cake.  She had a simple backyard birthday party with friends from near and not as near.  Everyone

had a great time.  "Backyard Birthdays" are now being requested by the other girls as well.

Sometimes simplest is best. 

We are so proud of our little girl.  She is such a blessing.

Gila Cliff Dwellings

One of the absolute best things we have done while here in the southwest, is visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings.  

It is one of the few cliff dwelling sites that allow you to walk around inside them.

It was just over a mile hike and well worth it!  I hope we go back.

Insufferable Logic Game

Yes, my friends, you deserve more than another teaser blog entry, 

but check this out!  

We're always on the lookout for educational websites with games 

to trick our kids into using their brains a bit. This is a link to one 

such site that has a horrendous game on it. 

http://www.mathplayground.com/hexagon.html

Try it out, don't throw anything or teach your children any new

expletives.  No, the computer is not out to get you personally, so 

name calling is also not appropriate.  

     But someone, please figure it out, we know you are all smarter

 than us.  

Good Read

I picked up a great little book today in Chickadee's classroom.  It's a quick read (couple hours),

 and a great one.  Young girl, autistic brother, growing pains - Super! -made me cry.  

Rules-(Newbery-Honor-Book)

Another Birthday Girl!

So, over the summer, our Little Red turned 5.  Wow.  We had a family party at Chuck-E-Cheese

 and everyone had fun.  She's so big now, she loves to tie her shoes, she is learning to ride a

 bike, and she loves Kindergarten, except when she hates it.  She is an all around joy to her

 family!   I don't know anyone who can resist her charms. 

 Happy Birthday Sweet Cakes!

(I know, the pics are crooked, I'm still figuring out the software on our new comp. 

 I'm going to have to fix them in the camera 'til I figure it out. Sorry)