Chess

This is Madison playing her first game of chess.  She caught on pretty quick, for the most part, although repeat playings might help her learn about thinking ahead and of course the basics of which piece does which move.  It's a complicated game.  Play at this level, there's no ordinary venue.  It's the ultimate test of cerebral fitness!

Daddy and Madison were taking a break from our hard work today, which wasn't all that hard.  We were preparing costumes for the new LEGO series, mainly the hats.  We went to Party City, and got ourselves some white trucker hats, about seven of them.  And upon each of the bills of the hats, we glued some LEGO creations:  a car, a helicopter, a house, a snail and more.  Madison and Daddy started out with a pile of LEGO bricks, and just started to create things off the top of our heads, although the snail came from a booklet we saw.  Each of these look great on top of these hats now, and we're really looking forward to the new series tomorrow!

We went to the pool for a bit today, playing catch and swimming underwater for a bit, using the snorkel as well.  Oh, and Marco Polo.  That game doesn't get old to Madison, who shrieks when she discovers that Daddy was right behind her suddenly!  The weather was nice outside tonight when we were in the pool, just right really.

Upon getting home, it was time for popcorn and more of the Jules Verne Fest.  We watched, "In Search of the Castaways," which was a fun viewing for the three of us.  Although you sort of laugh at the fact that the entire trip to South America was pointless as a result of Maurice Chevalier.  Just remember if you're traveling anywhere with Maurice Chevalier, don't trust him.  He's got this happy face and a friendly French demeanor, but he'll lead you so off course, you'll find yourself amongst tribes of Indians on an entirely different continent!  Fortunately, it all worked out in the end, as it usually does for Disney movies.  It was fun!

We went to bed a little earlier tonight, ready for our new series in the morning.  We did read from "The Hidden Staircase" a bit more, getting closer to our answer of whodunnit.  We'll find out soon enough - I think we'll finish the book tomorrow.  Madison is really into Nancy Drew right now, wanting to even read another one soon enough.  

And so, off to bed we go, dreaming of hidden staircases, but watching out for LEGO bricks on the floor in the dark.  Those hurt!