How they do it up north

Neil posted this to Facebook today:

took 5-year old Ben to my intro logic class today since his school was closed (wimps). We were doing a proof and needed to derive a contradiction, and two were easily available, (F and not F) and (G and not G). I asked the class which one they preferred. Ben said "F and not G." I told him that was not a contradiction. "It is in Canada," he said.

In other news, Ben performed in his second piano recital this evening!  In full costume!  He did beautifully.  Video to follow, as soon as I figure out how to edit video. 

The Costume

Here are some more pictures from when my parents were here for Ben's birthday.  (In fact, all four of Ben's grandparents were here -- lucky kid!)  We drove over to Lake Erie right before sunset and took in the views and the gentle breezes.  (That was before Sandy swept her ominous arms across the land -- right now we're being pelted by a driving rain, but it could be a lot worse.)

My mother is addicted to collecting rocks.  Ben keeps her supplied.

My father demonstrates proper stone skipping technique.

Aforementioned sunset

Nothing to do with my family, but had to share -- the Math Club's attempts at pumpkin artistry

And ... The Costume

Okay, so The Costume needs an explanation.  Several months ago Ben decided that he wanted to be Bugs Bunny for Halloween.  I heartily approved.  Not only do I like Bugs, but I figured we could get a costume online -- just whip out a credit card and we're done.  Then, about three weeks ago, Ben decided that he wanted to be ... The Sky.  Yes, the sky.  All of a sudden he's Nature Boy.  So, after a momentary panic, I said, "Okay, honey, that's a very creative idea.  What exactly do you have in mind?"  After a bit of back and forth, and with very little guidance from me, Ben came up with an elaborate design.  The pants would be the Day Sky, and the shirt would be the Night Sky.  There should be trees growing out of his feet, plus a rainbow going behind the sun.  I'm thinking a sweat suit adorned with felt.  (One small hitch is that nobody makes sky blue pants for boys.  We managed to find this pair in the girls department.)  I'm also thinking glue.  Because I just don't have time for a big sewing project.  Well, turns out that there's no glue short of Super Glue (which I figured was inappropriate) that sticks felt to fleece.  Apparently, from the felt's perspective, the primary role of glue is as a stiffening agent.  Very long story short, out comes the sewing machine, and there goes most of my weekend.  My perfectionist tendencies were constantly thwarted, and the result is not quite the Martha Stewart masterpiece I'd originally envisioned.  But the overall effect is pretty impressive, and Ben is delighted.  He made the cloud hat.  There is also "fog" in the form of a fringe of greyish blue yarn that hangs down from his arms, but we haven't put that on yet because it involves safety pins and Ben is a little freaked out by that.

Of course, it's looking more and more like Halloween is going to be washed out by Sandy this year.  We'll see.  If that's the worst of the storm damage, let's all count ourselves lucky.

Robert?!?

I spent much of this past weekend making Ben's Halloween costume.  But that's not what this blog post is about.  (Once I manage to get Ben to wear the darn thing, I'll post a pic.)  There was quite a lot of felt left over.  So Ben was urging Neil to use this to make his own costume.  Neil said that he could put a giant felt "N" on his shirt and go as Super Neil.  Ben liked this idea, but suggested that instead he go as Robert.  Robert?  Yes, Robert.  Another superhero, named Robert.  Y'know -- he doesn't fly, like Superman, but he's a superhero.  Named Robert.

Aaaaaaahhh -- Robin!!!

For whatever reason, Ben doesn't get much superhero exposure at home, but I'm sure he overhead talk of Batman and Robin at school.  Or slightly misheard, as the case may be.

There should be a superhero named Robert.  I wonder what his special power would be.

Picture Barrage

I'm going to try to make up for a total lack of recent blog posts by just plastering pictures all over the place.  Between work and preparing for Ben's birthday (the kid just turned five!!!), I've been a leetle busy lately.

Ben shows off his work at a Kindergarten Open House.

Okay, so I've taken to rewarding him with a doughnut after a good piano lesson.  His compliance and engagement during lessons has improved.

At the entrance to the corn maze at Harvest Hollow

With a school friend on the hay ride at Harvest Hollow

Ben's birthday party theme:  The Sorcerer's Apprentice

His specially requested birthday dinner:  Potato leek soup

Five years old?!?!?  How did that happen???

The ceremonial watching of The Sorcerer's Apprentice

The kids' party the next day:  Making sorcerer hats.  Note the Mickey Mouse cupcakes (cookies for ears).

The ceremonial watching of The Sorcerer's Apprentice, with friends.  Note the wands.

Make your own pizza!

More pizza assembly