October 31, 2008

Pumpkin Carving 101


Step One:  Draw face.

Step Two:  Remove top.

Step Three:  Do pre-carving calisthenics.

Step Four: Find outdoor resting place.

Step Five:  Place candle in pumpkin and light.

Step Six:  Pose with finished jack-o-lantern.
 
Final Step:  Worry whether smiley face jack-o-lantern offers adequate protection from malevolent spirits.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

October 29, 2008

Visiting Werewolf



To get in the Halloween spirit, I'm posting these pictures my brother just sent of a cute little werewolf, aka my nephew Howard.  

October 26, 2008

A Study in Avoidance

How'd you like to have to learn to write this in preschool?  Riley made his feelings about it clear this evening as he was working on his math and writing assignments.  He got through his first name just fine, but when he turned the page and saw that he was supposed to write his last name ten times, I heard this:  "Noooooo! Not 'Pickenpaugh'....I hate writing 'Pickenpaugh'...."  Poor kid.  Even his dad avoids writing the whole name out.  His signature is pretty much just a "P" followed by a squiggly line.

October 22, 2008

Hungry

Besides the P3, our house is peopled with seemingly animate toys.  I never know who or what I'm going to find when I step into a room.  

Apparently, it's no longer enough that we house these creatures. As you can see here, they are beginning to beg for food now, too.  

October 15, 2008

Get Smart

On the whole, we P3 are not proselytizers. We do advocate informed decision-making by all individuals, however. Thus, we offer this link regarding the 2008 Presidential candidates stances and general voting records on major issues:

CNN/Politic's "Er, Who's-It Running Thinks What Now?"

Okay, that not the official title, but you get gist, right? These are thumbnail encapsulations of where Obama's, McCain's, Biden's and Palin's respective "heads are at."

Dorky nomenclature aside, it's a very quick, easily digestible read, so do check it out.

Get smart, please.

Hey, it's only an enormously historical election in a time of expanding uncertainty.

Cheap Date

We've been tightening our metaphorical belts in the P3 household, preparing for things to get worse economically before they get better. In light of that fact, I've been looking for inexpensive, if not free, weekend excursions for Riley. Fortunately, he would be happy riding the Metro all day long, if I'd let him.


The following weekend, he begged to go on the train again, so I took him to Hollywood. We walked around the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and then shared a couple of cookies from the Nestle Tollhouse store. I'll say this for Riley, he may have a one-track mind, but he's a cheap date (and a cute one, too).

Last weekend, despite Riley's pleas to go on the train yet again, I took him to Vroman's bookstore in Pasadena for a free Debi Derryberry concert instead. You may recall that he went to one of her concerts last spring and fell in love. This time, Debi summoned him by name to come up on stage and help her perform the Freckle Song. Needless to say, he was thrilled. Unfortunately, I didn't bring the camera, but he did a great job pointing out freckles all over his body. He also got to play with Vroman's train table before the concert, so he got his train fix as well.

This coming weekend, we're headed to a Star Wars party for his friend Ben's 5th birthday. Thanks to his father's tutelage and musical accompaniment, Riley can sing the whole Star Wars theme song, so we're already getting in the spirit of the occasion. He serenaded me with the song on the way to preschool this morning and had me looking out for droids and starfighters.

October 09, 2008

More Modeling


This photo is for Bill, Cindy, and Howard, since Riley refused to try their gift on in Michigan and there is a good chance he will have outgrown it by the time we see you all again.

October 04, 2008

New Shirt Dance

I asked Riley to pose for a picture wearing the new tie-dye shirt his cousin Howard, aunt Kate, and Grandmother Susan made for him a couple of weeks ago.  He gave me this impromptu dance instead.





P.S.  Happy 40th birthday to Uncle Bear on Sunday!