How to make a jack-o-lantern in 4 steps

1. Pick out the perfect pumpkin.

2. Help mom scoop out the guts, but don't touch them.

3. Pause for refreshment, project supervision.

4. Enjoy!

Mark of Fridays: Apple picker

Mark of Fridays: A video letter

A few people have asked whether Mark actually knows his letters, so we promised to post some video.
And despite what the second video appears to show, we don't force him to spell words until he falls over. We swear.

Not funny

For Mark's birthday, Lynne and Matt got him crayons that can write in the bathtub. You know, so Mark can always be surrounded by letters. Of course, he loves the crayons. Who wouldn't?
But, one night when Matt wasn't home, Lynne gave Mark a bath. The next morning, when Matt got in the shower he found a note written on the bathroom wall.

Not funny, Lynne. Not funny.




(In case you missed the reference. Don't watch at night.)

Quotation Mark: Car Talk

A chat with our budding conversationalist, while he's munching on veggie sticks in the backseat on the way home from Blackberry Farm:

Mark: "Ta ta tar! Ta ta tar! TA TA TAR!"

Mom: "At the farm?"

Mark: "No."

Mom: "Drive the car?"

Mark: "No."

Mom: "Going far?"

Mark: "No."

Mom: "I'm sorry, honey, but I can't understand what you're trying to tell me."

Mark: "E-A-T in C-A-R."

Mom: "You're eating in the car?"

Mark: "Yep."

Turns out knowing all your letters does occasionally come in handy.

Mark of Fridays: Why, yes, those are some Manly Hats!

Mark got a few (okay, more than a few) hats at his hat birthday party! More to come...

Big Mark Little Mark 2011

Welcome to the second semi-annual game of Big Mark or Little Mark! We played this game two years ago, then took a year off for trips to Scandanavia. We're back and ready to challenge!
In honor of Big Mark's 61st birthday, we present the challenge: Does each statement describe Big Mark, Little Mark, Both Marks or Other Mark?
Post your guesses in the comments! Answers posted later this week!

1. 
   
   Mark fell asleep while watching Dumbo.


2. 
   
   Mark struggles to spell the word giraffe.


3. 
   
   Mark knows the entire alphabet, in order.
   


4. After he goes to bed, Mark stays up talking to himself.



5. Mark eats lots of oatmeal.



6. At Mark’s last birthday party, everyone wore something funny on their head.



7. Mark revised his Facebook page this year.



8. Mark read more than 25 books this year.



9. Mark met his hero this year.



10. Mark falls asleep with hands on his face.



11. Mark likes to run down hills.



12. Mark has more hair than last year.

Happy birthday Big Mark!