As discovered on a crumpled piece of paper in the bottom of Jared’s backpack:

1. Say bad words less often (that means you big boys)

2. Stop assassins from destroying earth with nuclear bombs.

3. Say hi to more people.

Editor’s Note: what bad words???

A total lunar eclipse on the Winter Solstice!

We were all psyched except Glen who grumpily went to bed by 10. The rest of us peeked outside to see if it would possibly be clear enough to see anything. It was! The sky was partly clear and the clouds – from big mountains of thick cotton to merry swirling wisps – were moving fast. This only added to the suspense. Is that a shadow?! Or just a cloud?! Did you see that move?! Or has it been there a while.

Matthew had lots of questions about what an eclipse was. Inspired by Grandpa Jim’s teaching techniques, we used the kids’ heads as planets and tried to show Matthew how the Earth would come between the Moon and the Sun, casting a shadow.

The curve of road in front of our house is midway between streetlights, so we could have observed from there, but our neighbors’ front porch light was very bright so we decided to find darker viewing. We walked around the block and decided that we would walk back to the darkest part of Laurel’s playground, to the play structure closest to the creek.

We brought a blanket and a couple chairs. Some books to read. Ethan brought his telescope and managed to set it up in the dark! I told and told Matthew and Jared to bring warm clothes but, as Matthew likes to tell me, he has recently “leveled up” and can no longer feel cold. Hmmph. Guess whose coat and hat he was wearing 35 minutes later?

By 10:15 we were all set up and watching the drama unfold through Ethan’s telescope. My funniest memory is of watching Jared’s silhouette; he was wearing another coat of mine, dancing like a crazy marionette in the yellow glaring lights of the buildings. By 10:45 the boys were too sleepy to stay up, but the moon had turned a musty red except for a tiny sliver at the top (or on the bottom when viewed through the telescope).

We trooped home, shed all outer clothing in the hallway, and Ethan and Jared fell into bed. Matthew stayed up with me another 30 minutes to see the complete picture although he was so sleepy by that time I doubt he remembers.

But we won’t forget this Winter Solstice for a long time!

Matthew: Jared, do you want to go to heaven or hell?

Jared: Neither. They’re both boring.

Matthew: No! In heaven you get to sit on a cloud with a harp!

Jared: Yeah, boring!

Note from mommy: I’m thinking they’re getting this from Tom & Jerry. !!!??

Today I woke up had breakfast, and wrote some blog posts. I also finished my summaries, and predictions. I read some of my book, and played some computer. Then I jumped in the pool with my brothers. We played with Matthew’s new ball. Then we all got out of the pool. Jared left with Dad, and Nana to keep score of their golf game. Matthew, and I were going bowling,and to a science museum. When we got to the bowling alley mom said that she forgot her socks so she couldn’t go bowling. I beat Matthew both of the two games, but I pretended he did so he would feel good. In the first game I got 4 spares, and 1 strike. In the second game I got 1 spare, and no strikes. I really only beat Matthew by 1 point this game. Then I went to the science museum. We didn’t go in the museum but we went in the park. It was fun, and there wee water guns to cool us off. Then I found this cool video game station thing. Matthew, and I had fun, but I got bored so we got on chair swings instead. Mom pushed us but then she said we were going on a nature trail. It was boring. Really, really boring. when we got back it was almost time to leave so we went home. Then we had dinner, and went to sleep.

Today I woke up, had breakfast, and got ready to go jet skiing. I was really excited because I was going to drive one. I did some homework, and then I read for one and a half hours.  When it was time to go dads phone wouldn’t turn on so we stopped a Verizon wireless. Then Daddy said Bapu didn’t want to go jet skiing so when we finally got there we went to go get some food, and  then we swam out to the ocean. My rash started hurting so we got in the pool. While we were in the pool dad told a really good story from our trip to Lake Tahoe. Then we had some down time at Nana’s house. Mommy, and Matthew got back so we went out to dinner. Then we went out for ice cream. I felt like I was suffocating in there. so we ate our ice cream outside. Mine had way too many sprinkles. Then we went to sleep.

Today I woke up, and did some summaries and predictions. Then I had something to eat. While I was eating I remembered that we were going snorkeling with Bapu today. I was really excited. I got my swimming clothes on. I read Jurassic Park for a few minutes, but I got bored so I played some games with Jared. Finally, it was time to go. When we got there Bapu said that he didn’t want to go snorkeling and that he wanted to go to “Butterfly World”. I felt depressed. We were going to a non-interactive park where we would do nothing but watch butterflies fly. Then when we got there the person at the front desk gave me a checklist, and my dad bought me a multicolored pen. I thought maybe it won’t be terrible. I saw so many butterflies. some where huge, others were puny. I was marking them off fast. Then we got near the end, and Daddy saw one flutter onto my hat. It was awesome. Then we got to the end… at least I thought it was the end but it was only the beginning. I saw a lot of birds. Then there was  a bird feeding place. I fed some. It was awesome till I found out they were peeing on me.  I was annoyed. Then we had ice cream, and left.

Today I had breakfast gathered my baseball stuff and got in the car. My brother and I  were going to play baseball with Bapu. I was up at bat first. Jared was pitching. He threw a ball, a ball, a ball then he barreled down a strike. I whacked it. I whacked it hard. It went about 25 yards. Then I hit a strong grounder. I hit more when we switched. I tried pitching, but I threw to many balls. Then after that my dad hit off Bapu’s pitching. He hit the ball, and it would go flying. I caught one, and fielded another. Then we went to a place where you would get pulled like you were holding on to a string attached to a motor boat. The only difference was that you were holding on to a string attached to a pulley above your head, but you had to 12. So, after that I pretty much went in the pool for a little and had dinner with Bapu.

Today I woke up ate breakfast and almost jumped in the pool when mom stopped me. She said that I had to pack because we where checking out of the hotel today. It was annoying but I dealt with it. Then we went to Nana’s house. We immediately  went to the club for a brunch. I saw Aunt Michele, Uncle Daniel, Molly, and Elizabeth. It was nice talking with them on the way there. By the time we got to the place I was hungry. I looked at the big fancy place, and thought in my mind this is gonna be expensive. It walked in and it looked extremely fancy. I ordered a soda and talked for a few minutes then looked for something to eat since it was self serve. I got waffles  and bacon. It was great. Then I tried a crepe. It was amazing. Then I had potatoes. This place just keeps getting better I thought. At this point my stomach was bulging like there was a cannonball in it. Then I found out there was dessert. There was every type of dessert you could imagine. It was the best dessert I ever had, no it was the best breakfast I ever had. After that I just swam in the pool the rest of the day.

Today I ate breakfast got in the pool and swam for a few hours. Then we got ready for the service. When the service started I found a seat next to someone I know. I sat next to Bopu. It was about 1.5 hours before anything happened. It was incredibly boring. When the 2 hour service was over I got on the bus. It was really loud. I kinda wanted someone to talk to. When we got there it was a blare of loud noise. It was like that for about a hour. Then they started karaoke. I sung “the Eye of the Tiger” and “Don’t Stop Believen’”. In the middle of “Don’t Stop Believen’” I tried to hand the mike to Noah but he wouldn’t take it. I found that weird because he’s the Barnitsfa boy for goodness sakes. So then the karaoke ended. Then loud music came on and everybody was dancing to it. During that part I just ate some pizza and had some soda. Then it was game time. I was in the final 4 groups in coke and Pepsi and my chair was the first to go in zero gravity. After that I just ate dessert and went to sleep.

Today I day woke up later than any other day in my life. I woke up at 8:45 in the morning… because Matthew woke up with an earache and he was screaming at the top of his lungs. After I had a sugary breakfast I jumped in the pool. I was in their till about 12:00 p.m. Then we walked about 50 feet to go to the beach. I love Florida beaches. They are warm, there aren’t as many riptides, and you can walk into the water for a really long time. Then Noah said he would go and get his skimmer board. He taught me how to use it. It was awesome. Pretty much after that we just hit the hay.