The Exquisite Corpse

Who knew the Library of Congress was so hip? They're everywhere these days: starring in Dan Brown's new The Lost Symbol, uploading amazing, copyright-free images on Flickr for graphic designers and history buffs everywhere, and now hosting this awesome reading adventure. . .

Our "Exquisite Corpse Adventure" works this way: Jon Scieszka, the National
Ambassador for Young People's Literature, has written the first episode. . . He has passed it on to a cast of celebrated writers and illustrators, who must eventually bring the story to an end. Every two weeks, there will be a new episode and a new
illustration. The story will conclude a year from now. -- from Read.gov

The Library of Congress obviously has dusted off it's old, tattered leather covers and is showing its younger, more colorful content!

Read the first episode here. . .

Find educational links and ideas to go along with it here. . .

this morning, 8:45 a.m.

"Hey, Luce. . . where are you going?"

"Pee-school!"
"What are you holding?"

"Three Balls!"
"Turn around and show me your backpack."

"Packpack!"

"What's in your backpack?"

"'Nother one balls!"

itsy, bitsy spider

Who is lazier. . . the funnel-web spider who got a head start on his funnel by finding a tunnel. . . or the homeowners who let him build his masterpiece on the exterior ledge of the kitchen window? Close-up:

some more birthday pics

So, we had a birthday party for Lucy. . . a while ago. I'm running behind on my posts. I'm not going to even try to catch up. But I need to post these great pics from my friend, Katherine, who has such an amazing eye for a shot and obviously knows her way around a camera.

The party was carnival themed. . . and we served

We had a photo-booth for all the clowns. . .

Cupcakes. . . which Lucy LOVES. The candles? Not so much.

We also had a jump house/waterslide which Lucy still talks about.

It was huge. I guess I estimated wrong when they told me the dimensions over the phone. It took up most of the backyard!

Ned (aka Oliver's Dad) made balloon animals. . .

We had a few other carnival games around for the kids to do. A fishing pond which mostly held ducks. . .

A ball toss. . . knock down the tower of cans. (I'd been saving the cans we used for about a month. I only had to open one extra to complete the pyramid. What can I say, I guess we eat a lot of black beans!)

Opening gifts. . .

And best of all, we had a bunch of cute guests . . .

And after all that excitement, Lucy couldn't sleep. She was up till 4:00 am!

vote for me!

Spoonflower is hosting a Christmas Fabric of the Week contest. . . the winner's fabric is available for a limited time to purchase on Etsy. Fun, huh! Now I need to think of a design for the Halloween challenge. . .