Gladiators

Someone had the bright idea to give Pete and Sam some weapons and permission to start whacking one another.


Of course, Pete declared himself the winner.

Warm-up

Sam: I'm cold

Dad: Go run a few laps, and that will warm you up

[Sam runs a few laps, then starts slowing down]

Sam: I'm tired. Can you carry me and run some more laps?

Sorry

Dad: What did you do this afternoon?
Pete: I won a game of Sorry against Sam
Dad: Wow, you got Sam to make it through an entire game of Sorry?
Pete: Well, he left about half-way through, but I finished the game by playing for both of us.
Dad: Oh. Did you always make the best possible move for Sam?
Pete: Sometimes I did, sometimes I didn't.

Pumpkin Patch - Corn Maze

No trip to the pumpkin patch would be complete without a run through the corn maze. Sam did a great job, walking the whole way. We did the medium of the three routes through the maze. It took about 30 minutes to make it through. Pete and Sam took turns being the "leader". Sam was the leader when we emerged from the maze. Then it was time for a drink and a gem hunt in the sandbox.

Pete took some great pictures in the maze. The second one below is one of the all-time best photos of Sam.

Pumpkin Patch - Zip Line

Pete and Sam had a blast riding on the zip lines at the pumpkin patch. We knew this would be fun for Pete:

but had no idea that Sam would be able to make it across all by himself.

Sam even went back during the campfire to do some night riding on the zip lines.

Trampoline Hair

I noticed one day that Pete and Sam had some cool hair after rolling around on the trampoline.

Keeping It Level

Here are the framed photos of Pete and Sam on the wall outside the playroom:

It may seem like a lucky happenstance that they are at roughly the same height. But in fact, this is not a random result. We used to have them staggered, but discovered that so long as one of them was one millimeter higher than the other, there was great outrage expressed by the oppressed individual.

Tooth Trouble

Pete: Dad, can you grab me a flosser?

Dad: Sure, why do you need it in bed?

Pete: I got a piece of bookmark stuck in my teeth.

Nightly Checklist

On Sunday, we instituted the rule that you have to finish the "Nightly Checklist" before you are eligible for dessert.


This started out pretty well. However, after about 45 seconds we were discouraged to discover that Pete lost the checklist.

Pumpkin Patch - Rope Swings

When we heard there would be rope swings at the Pumpkin Patch, it was even odds that Pete would go head first into a haystack.


As you can see, Pete kept it pretty basic. Actually, this was before he decided to try to jump and grab the rope while it was swinging. Fortunately, we were able to convince him to go to the pig races before he started doing flips from the rope.

New Game

We invented a new game at dinner the other night. You ask Sam a question, and if he says "why" you win.

Some winning examples:

"Sam, my drink is wet on the outside"

"Sam, I'm going to play tomorrow at Corey's house"

"Sam, this blue crayon is naked"

Actually, this is a pretty easy game to win. He will say why to almost anything these days.

Closed or Open?

Me: Good night, Pete. Do you want your door closed or open?
Pete: Closedpen
Me: What?
Pete: That's half closed, half-open
Me: How am I supposed to do that?
Pete: I don't know, try a clothespin

Evolution of a Back Flip

After years of practice, and no training, Pete is now able to do a standing back flip on solid ground. He does about 15-20 varieties of front and back flips on the trampoline, but doing it on the ground is another thing entirely. Below is a brief history of his flipping via video links:

Age 5: Assisted back roll in karate class

Age 5: Running front flip on a blanket

Age 6: Front flip on couch

Age 6: Front flip on trampoline

Age 7: Back flip on solid ground

Pumpkin Patch - Rope Ladder

We finally made it this year to join our friends at the Belvedere Plantation pumpkin patch. Since it was a sunny warm day in September, it was not crowded and we had a great time.

Here are Pete and Sam climbing the rope ladders:



Sam actually developed a knack for these ladders and made it all the way to the top later in the day. Of course, Pete had no trouble scaling the ladders.

Note, Mom and Dad were able to make it about half way up the ladder.

Magtastik

One day Pete and Mom were at a karate tournament, so Dad and Sam built some Magtastik sculptures. Of course, we had to take some pictures to show Pete when he gets home.

Kings Dominion - Rides

We split up Pete and Sam for most of the day at Kings Dominion, so they could each go on appropriate rides.

Above is Sam on the carousel. This was the funnest ride of the day, because Pete waved to us each time we came around. Then he started running alongside the ride. Then Sarah and Kyle joined in. Sam was very special to have such a posse of friends running and waving to him each time around.

Pete is the daredevil, which you already know. He will ride any ride that is permitted by law and park regulations. He rode Rebel Yell, forward and backwards. He rode Drop Zone. It will be interesting to see if Sam will be willing to join on these rides when he is tall enough.

It was pretty hot for September. Pete and Kyle took a quick break for a drink. Then it was time for some more roller coasters.

Kings Dominion - Lunch

Our trip to King's Dominion included a pre-paid lunch at the pavillion.

Sam had a hamburger bun and some water. If he ever goes to prison, and they feed him bread and water, that will not be a hardship for him.


Here is Pete eating a cheeseburger. He usually likes it with only pickles, but on this day he decided to try lettuce (some of which appears to have remained on the burger). He did finish the burger, which qualified him for dessert. Then it was off to the Scooby Doo haunted house ride.

Sword Stick

Sam found a very cool stick that looks very much like a sword at the train museum. It has a little handle and everything (although hard to see in Sam's hand). To the treasure box!

Can't Spell Pete Without P.E.

Pete had two exciting developments at school recently in P.E.


First, he was selected star P.E. student of the month for the school. This is his second year in a row winning this prestigious honor. We talked to the head P.E. teacher on Back To School night. She said normally she will not allow the same student to win twice, but they had a new teacher picking the winners this year and he chose Pete without knowing who the past winners were, so she decided to go with his selection. We asked what the criteria are. She said he's just a fun kid and he has a genuine joy for all of the activities that they do.


Second, Pete almost became a Husky by doing 5 pull-ups. You need to do 6 to be a husky. There are only about 20 kids in the whole school who have achieved this. Pete can try again soon to do 6. Note, he also selected the "harder" type of pull-up, which is the overhand kind.

Shirt-ja Vu

Here is Sam playing at a playground in Overland Park, across the street from a geocache he went to with Dad. Note that he is continuing to enjoy his favorite Power Rangers shirt. We bought him a second one, so now he actually has two of this same shirt.

Mystery Craft

It's craft time. I think sam is making cards with little hearts for sending to his relatives.

Pete is performing his standard service of running around and heckling everyone.

Train Museum

We had a fun time with the Cub Scouts at the local train museum in Fairfax Station, VA.

We arrived early, so grabbed a quick geocache in the wooded area by the museum. Pete and Sam spotted it.

The caboose was fun to climb around in. Note that, since it was a football Sunday, Pete insisted on wearing his Eagles clothes and not his cub scouts uniform.


Sam enjoyed playing on the caboose also.


Someone tied Sam to the tracks with some invisible rope, but we were able to rescue him in time.

Ready For Halloween

Hopefully we are ready for Halloween, now that Pete and Sam have their Power Rangers costumes.

Of course, with costumes like that, you need a little fight action.