While Q continued to refine the original robot, Spy boldly pressed forward to create:

Still not walking, this robot has two new features. As before, two servos allow the arms to move up and down – these arms come with flashlight and propeller capabilities (complete the circuit, and the propeller spins as the arm goes up and down). Spygrandpa pulled out more servos for Spy and Q to improve their robots, but Q was too slow or too busy with other projects. Spy grabbed the extra two.

With the addition of a third servo, Soda Bottle Robot can now turn his head (all the better for the red LED eyes to see you, my dear).

(Why yes, that is my old ear bud holder.)

(Flashlight and propeller on above.)

And the fourth servo enabled Spy’s robot to wag his tail. You know, “so you can tell if he’s happy with you or not”.

Did I not warn you all last year that remote control cars were just the beginning? Mark my words, next year there will be wheels.

Once again Spy and Q are in their underground engineering lab working on their fledgling skills to take over the world using robots.

This time, they’ve actually managed to animate their creation. Spy did the design work and and Q provided the labor.

Up from the cellar come Spy and Q (safety glasses shoved onto their foreheads) with this joint creation:

With all the appropriate mechanical creaky sounds, his arms MOVE!

The arm on the right sports a toothpaste gun.

Inside beats a red light indicating a connection to the remote control which Q uses to control each arm’s movement separately.

And those glowing green eyes? Here’s a view from the top.

Next time, plans are to make the robot walk.

My little Spy gave to me:

No. It’s not what you think it is.

Spy stashed four chocolate gelt coins down his PJs inside his overnight pull-ups to “melt them”. Apparently he intended to consume them later in the privacy of his own room.

Well. He forgot.

The next morning he complained, “My butt itches.”

Well, gold foil in your underware will do that to you. Even with a chocolate lubricant.

Spy and Q have both been writing stories inspired by a collection of ‘Haunted House Foam Stickers’. Q’s is a bit more involved and not yet ready for ‘publication’.

Spy, however, has 5 chapters in his. All done on his own, no help from spymom or Q. Since they are Halloween-themed, I bring you chapter 1.

A Haunted House

“I went to the Haunted House.” The house itself is modeled after a sticker, the rest of the drawings are all his. I love how he says ‘duh’ for ‘the’ and writes it as a ‘D’. Since its a new sight word in Kindergarten, I expect this spelling to soon fade.

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“I went in the Haunted House.”

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“I was in the Haunted House.”  Here he is standing at the end of a long hallway with a door all the way at the other end. I’m still dumbfounded that Spy has figured out how to draw perspective lines already.

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“I went up the stairs.” This particular haunted house has a set of spiral stairs leading to the second story.

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“I was on the top of the Haunted House.” Here you see the floor plan. Spy has just reached the top of the spiral staircase and it is there he sees the creepiest sight: Five words with at least one of the letters written backwards (Spy explained this was done on purpose). Mat, Hat, Bat, Cat and Dog.

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Next up? Chapter 4: The Evil Book.

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