Daniel, Isaac & Oliver: October 2007

Solar Decathlon

Last weekend we attended the Solar Decathlon on the National Mall

http://www.solardecathlon.org/

Marc checking out the solar panals.

The boys watching the fish -They weren't too interested anything else.

Isaac learning how to be energy efficient.

Kind-of hard to do when your condo was built in the the 1890's -

At lease we have our acrylic windows from Jerold!

The winning house - Yes it was from Germany.

But second place went to the University of Maryland.

Hay Ride

We ended the day with a fun hayride.

Dad with his boys

A view of all the tractor and Daniel's preschool friends.

My two little pigs - well, not too little.

Pumpkin picking

We also picked some pumpkins

Isaac had so much fun playing with this pumpkin.

Here's Daniel joining-in on all the fun.

Daniel trying to carry the goods.

Here's Isaac trying not to trip on all the vines.

They both loved being on the farm - I hope our urban life isn't depriving them

Apple picking

Daniel's Preschool had a fun Saturday picking apples in Maryland

Trying to get a group photo

Isaac picking apples from the ground - usually rotten ones. . .

and putting them in the bag - once again usually the rotten one.

Daniel has found his usual companion - a stick.

National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

Some more preparation for China -

Notice the splashes - They both reached in there and threw some rocks before I could stop them.

The moon gate & Isaac walking around like he owns the place.

The boys in a Chinese Garden.

Caution: Isaac has found a rock.

Daniel with the pomegranate tree.

Capitol Columns

The boys at the old Capitol columns

They were both fasinated by the school children.

They also loved this fountain and they both threw a tantrum when we left.

More peppers

US National Arboretum: Herb garden

Another trip to the Arboretum

Daniel prepping for China - a visit with the Kio Fish

Visiting the herb gardens

The boys learning about peppers - and how we don't pick and eat other people's plants.

You can see the pepper in Isaac's hand. Obviously my teaching was well received.

The pumpkin patch.

Conference weekend

General Conference weekend

Isaac enjoying the talks.

I love the Internet - now we don't have to go to church for 8 hours.

Daniel's chosen activity while listening to the talks. He's clearly the spiritual one.

He still refuses to wear clothing in the house. Only his spiderman underwear.

He loves Spiderman - I'm not sure where the obsession started. He has never seen any of the movies and we only have a couple books about him. I've recently let him see a few 1960 cartoons on Youtube but his love was already solidified long before he saw them. I guess a love for action figures is a nature over nurture manifestation.

FDR w/ Grandparents

Daniel's preschool had a field trip to the FDR memorial so we decided to visit again.

He taught us all about wheelchairs, braille, Fala (Pres. Roosevelt's dog), and Eleanor's pockets.

He also told us that Eleanor Roosevelt had a billfold in her pocket. Needless to say, "billfold" is a word from Daniel's teacher (which describes her in so many ways).

There's my parents trying to keep up with Daniel. He was so excited to show us everything.

The boys trying to go for a swim.

Daniel with Fala

Potomac River

My parents flew in for the day - Thanks to Johnny's flight benefits.

We spent the afternoon touring the Potomac River.

I love Daniel's shorts, especially the hole that lets you see his Spiderman underwear- One of his proudest possessions.

I don't have any pictures of my parents - sorry.

More of the River with Roosevelt Island in the background.

Protest

You know you're in DC when you run into some random protest.

This protest represented about every cause you can think of - Anti -Iraq war, heath care reform, breast cancer research, and immigration reform - To name the ones we saw.

National Book Festival

On Sept 29 the Library of Congress hosted the National Book Festival on the Mall.

It was super crowed & hot so we didn't last long very long.

Yes - Isaac still has his blanket in 90 degree weather.

The boys with some PBS character -

Fortunately/unfortunately, We don't have TV so we don't really know who she is.

Target hosted activities for children in this tent. They each colored a bag for their library books. Too bad that whenever we visit the library, they're more interested in fighting over the stuffed monkey than picking out any new books.

To DC NE library Library, Please hide the monkey before the Cook boys visit.