Party on the Highway

MoDOT completed the new Highway 40/I-64, and to celebrate they opened up the highway to pedestrians and bicyclists for one day before opening it up to vehicles. I did not want to miss an opportunity to walk on the highway, and the boys were giddy about the chance to ride the shuttle bus. We walked on westbound 40/64 (bicyclists filled the eastbound lanes) from the Hampton entrance ramp to the Tamm Avenue overpass where an American flag flew from the raised ladders of a pair of firetrucks parked on each side of the highway.

Quinn took off running down the middle lane toward the firetruck.

Will enjoying the view from atop the median.

Quinn taking it all in while laying in the far right lane.

One of many dogs who walked the highway, Giz the Terrier came to the celebration appropriately dressed in hard hat and reflective vest.

LOL

Robert Munsch is a favorite author around our house. The boys chose "We Share Everything!" as one of their bedtime stories tonight.

Trimming the Tree

It is tradition at our house to "deck the halls" the day after Thanksgiving. The boys helped carry the tree and all of the Christmas boxes upstairs. With some assistance from Quinn, Will put the tree together. Once I strung the lights, the boys got started hanging the ornaments.

Quinn wanted no help getting the ornaments on the tree. With this particular one, he was persistent and finally got it to stay on the branch after several tries.

Grandma and I had some good laughs, as the boys each concentrated on one particular area of the tree. They hung the majority of the ornaments on just a few specific branches.

Will concentrated on the lower front branches while Quinn focused on the branches on the middle right.

When the boys tired of hanging ornaments, JJ and I finished the decorating. I moved a "few" ornaments around so that each had its own space.

Will said, "We did all this hard work, and it looks just beautiful!"

"Just Like Jackie Paper"

With his new haircut Quinn says, "Now I look just like Jackie Paper*." Will on the other hand keeps telling Quinn, "You look like a 6 year old now."

*Jackie Paper is the friend of Peter, Paul & Mary's "Puff the Magic Dragon."

A Monarch Success

Since late August Will has had his heart set on catching a monarch butterfly. We saw many of them, especially during the mass migration in late September, but we were not always properly equipped or more often just not fast enough with our nets.

Seeing that it was late November I figured the catch would have to wait until next year, but Will spotted one on a bush at the creek. "MOM! MOM! A monarch! Quick! Catch it if you can!"

I managed to catch the monarch with one of our nets and carefully placed it in our "bug box." Will spent some time admiring the butterfly. "Look how beautiful! He is orange and black with white spots."


When Will decided it "was time to let him go back to his friends at the creek," I assisted the butterfly out of the box using the stick of our net. Before taking flight, the monarch posed for a few pictures.

I completely agree, Will! What a beautiful creature!

JUMP!

Squirrel-Like

The boys have been collecting acorns for the last few weeks. I am not so sure what they plan to do with them, and quite honestly I do not believe they have any plans beyond collection. For now, a few have made their way to our Nature Table, many are being found in the boys' pockets, and a layer of acorns covers the floor in the backseat of our car.