Father's Day 2012 = Man vs. Food Challenge....!

Happy Father's Day King Tony!

And, to celebrate, we grabbed Alec's Godparents, Uncle Regis & Auntie Laurie, and headed over to Eagles Deli so the fathers in our lives could test their courage, strength and iron stomachs with a Man vs. Food Challenge: The Reilly. (3lbs. hamburger, 12 slices of cheese and 2lbs. of french fries; eaten within an hour).

Tony and Regis concocted this crazy idea after Tony saw Adam Richman (Man V. Food) take on not only the East Coast Grill's Hell Night as well as the Eagles Deli food challenges.  Tony endured Hell Night with Auntie Abra and Uncle Peter, and brought a take-out serving of the world's hottest pasta to Regis, who endured the suffering as they had. The next step, the Eagles Deli Challenge.

So, on this gorgeous summer day, we headed into Boston (kids in tow).

The situation was looking grim after about 20 minutes. Tony had all but stopped eating (with a stack of burger/bun/fries still to go), yet Uncle Regis continued efforts to power thru. We couldn't imagine that either was long for the challenge as their food-to-mouth activity began to diminish rather quickly....

 Here they are at the start.   Look at those stacks of burgers and fries. ICK!

 Uncle Regis dives in.....



The remains of Uncle Regis' Reilly Challenge burger. Too much meat for anyone to consume... In the end, neither man could manage the Reilly. It was just too much to consume. Additional photos to be added soon, after the dust has settled, the food properly digested, and memories of this glutinous event, long forgotten.




Alec and RJ enjoy some chicken fingers. Both of them with their own Man v. Food-style game faces! :)

Sum, Sum, Summertime!

Let's just say, the royal kidlets are as happy as can be. School is out for summer, and this week, we started our first week of homeschool, focusing on the FARM. We've learned about where our food comes from, we planted some seeds and are watching them grow. We learned about farm animals and how they contribute to our nutrition/diet. And, we topped off the week with a visit to Davis Farmland in Sterling, Mass. as our field trip to put things altogether.  Yesterday afternoon, we enjoyed the splash pad and a snack, after delivering our end of year teacher gifts (below) to all that have helped us learn and grow this year. An educational, albeit fun week, for sure. Videos to come!!

 

Welcome summer 2012!!

I'm as Smart as a Cookie thanks to you! :)

Twin Sundaes. Ready for summer and baseball!

You are A&Wesome rootbeer mugs, candy, and soda!

Tea Time Bouquet for those that opt for tea v. coffee. HOW can they??? :)

 

Value of Homeschool....

She's come a long way, baby!!

Our beautiful Princess, when just 2. 5 years, was a Down syndrome phenom, with her uncanny ability to communicate using sign language and smiles. Her adorable cuteness stole many hearts, including those at Signing Time, a business that could see her skills from a mile away, and cast her in their series of DVDs to teach sign language.  As summer approaches, we've already started our afternoons of home schooling, and Queen Wendy's curriculum for summer is growing in its intensity with several more field trips/adventures combined within accelerated mathematics, science and money lessons. Hopefully the kids will enjoy!

Today, Abby continued her work on handwriting, addition, subtraction, rhyming and reading. She perseveres even when she doesn't feel her best, or when she tires, just as she did several years ago as she stunned everyone with her mad signing skills!

 Alec and Aramis fell into the fray after their morning of real school, having come off of their own homework project (Star of the Day). We added some really cool non-permanent chalk boards to our kitchen walls, so the kids can continue to work on their handwriting, drawing and math skills even when mom makes dinner or dad is doing dishes! Poor kids are never gonna catch a break! :(

Queen Wendy is also working to expand her business offerings (www.periodpacks.com) and thanks to a local gal pal's baby shower, created a first-of-its-kind Mommy Coupon Bouquet!  Add in some lovely pacifiers, BoogeyWipes(TM), sock flowers (so fun to make) and a handful of gift cards, this was delivered with love by several girlfriends who pitched in to make it possible.  Definitely one of the cooler things created in the household. THANKS go to designer Janette Drost, whose artwork I borrowed to enhance the coupons. (http://janette.drost.ca/)

We closed our weekend with a delivery of gift cards (a gift card bouquet #2) to a dear friend who is fighting cancer. He and his family are amazing and have been invaluable to not only our family, but thousands of others through the volunteer work they do with the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, Morning Travelers, and many other locales.  Good people and we're praying for the most optimal outcome...and hope that our little bouquet brought some good cheer. :)