Overheard #4

Some new cute ones from the mouth of Aidan:

#1. In the car: "Mom you'd better turn on the wipeshields." (windshield wipers)

#2. Looking for a game to play: "Can we play Ponopoly?"

#3. Playing with his friend, looking for props: "Mom, can you set up the pee-tent?" (it took me a while to figure out what this meant, especially since Aidan and his little friend seem to have an odd fascination of wanting to watch each other pee...but I finally figured out he meant teepee.)

Which Captain?

A little Halloween sneak peek for you.

I finished the jacket today, completing the Captain Hook costume. We even went and bought a black curly wig. The kid is beside himself. However, I realized with horror that my five year old resembles a different Captain altogether. See the resemblance below:

Overheard #2 - Another Beatles Song

Song: I'm So Tired, by the Beatles

Actual Lyrics: "I'll give you anything I've got for a little peace of mind."

Aidan's Interpretation: "I'll give you anything I've got for a little piece of pie." (We did just make apple pie the other day, guess he really liked it.)

Asbury Street Folk Festival

My brother Jeff decided it would be a good idea to have a folk festival in his backyard. I thought he was certifiably crazy, but upon attending, I get it. What an awesome idea. Just a bunch of cool folks, music lovers and musically inclined, getting up and performing for each other with no pressure and lots of fun (and kids!) There were 80 or so people there, about 30 or more were kids. They also turned it into a benefit for their friend Amy Taylor who is battling cancer. (For more info on this extraordinary woman go to her caringbridge site.) It was a great day, with beautiful weather and fun people to meet. Mini-Ringo and Red-headed John put on a couple of stellar performances, hopefully to be uploaded to YouTube soon.

Thanks Jeff and Kara! Hope to do it again next year!

The "VonMarrtrick" Family Singers sing "I'll Fly Away" Jan(Nonnie), Kara, Amy w/Tim (Boppa) and his guitar Larry accompanying.


Mini-Ringo and Red-Headed John perform "Yellow Submarine"


Anna and Taylor perform "Traveling Soldier" accompanied by Jeff on guitar and Aidan on egg shaker and winter squash.


Rowan, Nonnie & Garrett enjoying the children's sing- along.

Geez, by these pictures it looks like it was just our family, but I swear there were tons of other people there! What fun!

Clock Logic

So we purchased new clock for our kitchen today while at Target. Our other one, which fell off the wall and broke, only had an hour hand and minute hand. While putting the new clock up when we got home, Aidan noticed that the it had an extra hand. I said "Yes, that's the second hand." He rolled his eyes at me and gave me that "Duh, mom" look and shot right back, "Actually, Mom, that's the third hand."

The kid is right you know. Think about it.

Fisherman & Mini-Fisherman

Here's a fishing pic from our camping trip. Fitty cooked 'em up and they were YUMMY!

Overheard: New Beatles/Ringo Starr Lyrics

Song: "Oh My My" by Ringo Starr

Actual Lyrics: "Oh my my, Oh my my, Can you boogie? Can you Slide?"

Aidan's Interpretation: "Obama, Obama, Can you boogie? Can you Slide?" (I think they should use it in his campaign...)

Song: "I am the Walrus" by the Beatles

Actual Lyrics: "Semolina pilchard, Climbing up the Eiffel Tower" (Whatever than means...)

Aidan's Interpretation: "Sitting in a Bone Chair, Climbing up the Eiffel Tower" (How very Halloween of him.)

Song: "Day Tripper" by the Beatles

Actual Lyrics: "She's a big teaser..."

Aidan's Interpretation: "She dropped the pizza...." (Better than being a big teaser I guess.)

Ringo Drawing

I wish I could get this scanned in bigger....oh well. It's Aidan's drawing of Ringo in concert. I just love it...all the details, the crowd, the pegs on the guitar, the sunglasses. The kid just cracks me up, what can I say?

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time....

...but maybe we should have tried camping in the backyard first before we set out on a camping adventure. Never EVER assume just because the first child could do it at 1 year that the second child can too.

So yes, we set out to Ely for a little family getaway. We stopped in Virginia on the way there to see Mineview in the Sky. For those of you who know Rowan well and his passion for all things wheels, this was almost too much for him. He let out one of his low guttural growls and of course went up to see if he could spin them. I'd love to see that.

Some pictures of Rowan's Wheel Heaven:

























After said stop, we stopped at our friends' Kevin & Tara's from which Kevin, Fitty and Aidan left to go fishing. They caught us seven nice walleyes for dinner! YUM! Tara and Rowan and I tooled around town then went to the campground. Being in a remote place did not stop Rowan's wanderlust or inquisitive nature. He was intent on three things: eating small rocks, throwing his toys into the weeds and then getting mad, and trying to walk up the hill (not so successfully.) It was a cold cold night. Aidan was a trooper, but Rowan didn't make it. At midnight he and I bailed to the warm confines of Kevin and Tara's in town. Figured the other campers probably didn't appreciate the screaming. Thank God for Tara, she got up with Rowan and let me sleep and extra 1 1/2 hours. We did join up again with the campers (Kevin stayed out at the campground with Fitty and Aidan) and enjoyed breakfast, a drive up the Echo trail, and a hike at Kawishiwi Falls. Fun, but exhausting. Perhaps Rowan will be ready next year??? Aidan, on the other hand, is a born camper!

Here are some more pictures!

Aidan watching Kevin clean fish.


Tara to the rescue!!!


Rowan liked the tent when he didn't have to sleep in it!



Kawishiwi falls.

Will post fish pictures when we get them!

What does Ringo Starr have for breakfast?

Why, Life Cereal and carrots, of course. That is what my five-year old matter-of-factly responded after telling me he wanted what Ringo eats for breakfast and I asked him exactly what that might be. He eats it to be healthy for his concerts, apparently. And the leftover birthday cake on our counter? That is apparently not from a five-year old's birthday, but from his 68th birthday that he just had. Welcome to Ringo land. For most kids it's dinosaurs and Spider Man. For us, it's a kid who puts on 5 concerts and day and periodically will flash the peace sign and say "peace and love." And who wears his Sgt. Pepper uniform or a tie most days. Oh yeah, and this kid who doesn't like to wipe himself after using the bathroom did today. I was proud of him and said "Wow, you must be five!" and he replied "No, I'm sixty-eight!" Apparently, in Ringo land he will do anything.

And as long as we're talking about the Beatles, I am fairly certain that my second born is going to be a Beatle freak too. This morning he was up earlier than his brother, and we were in the kitchen, listening to the morning show on MPR. Plenty of peppy songs playing, but the one that got him waving his arms and laughing (it actually kind of looked like he was drumming...eeek) was "Ticket to Ride." After the song was over, he went back to spinning his wheels.

All I know, is I am NOT buying two drum sets. They will have to learn to share. Should I start saving now to add a soundproof room in the basement?