squirt guns

We finally had a nice hot day today, so after school I stopped at Walgreen's and bought the kids a couple of squirt guns to play outside in the yard. At first Cooper didn't want to be squirted ("what fun is that?" said Kestrel), but he came around later and got a little wet. Who seemed to like it the most? Harrison our water dog, of course!

Now, an hour late, we're sitting inside and there's a severe thunderstorm warning/tornado watch in effect. That's the Midwest for you!

Here is a short video I made of Kestrel playing with Harrison with the squirt gun. And by short, I mean less then 20 seconds, so go ahead and watch it.

a culmination

Cooper's class had their "Project Culmination Event" yesterday. Their class studied communication this semester, so they showed us all the things they were doing related to communication. Cooper's small project group focused on "communication without talking". Here he is with his group, performing "This Little Piggy" in sign language.


One of Cooper's classmates had an end-of-the-school-year party after school today (their last day of school is Monday). Here is Cooper with several friends riding a Barbie jeep. Sitting next to him in the jeep is his good buddy Elise.

not the kids nor the dog

Park City, UT.

Paul is in Utah for a couple of days for work. He sent me this picture he took with his phone of the view from his hotel .

One of the hibiscus flowers in front of our house.

walk in the park

This afternoon I took the kids (and pup) for a walk in a wooded park in a nearby town. Kestrel's friend Amy came along. These are just some phone pictures I snapped in the botanical gardens.

fauxhawk

Friday afternoon I took Cooper to get a haircut. A few days earlier he saw his friend Ethan, who arrived at the park with his new haircut, a "Mohawk". Cooper was very impressed, and as we walked into the salon he announced to everyone that he was getting a Mohawk! We went with the Fauxhawk, as you can see. It looked pretty cute Friday all gelled up, but we haven't spiked it up since (looks just like one of his regular haircuts now).
He was talking to my mom on the phone right before his haircut, and she told him to tell me to take a picture of it. So, this is for you, Mom.

at the library yesterday

because it's my blog and i can post whatever i want

I think you're going to see a lot of posts like this over the next several months.

Kestrel and her friend Amy just love to run around in the backyard with Harrison.

under the swing set

Cooper was complaining that I didn't take any pictures of him, but then when I went out there to take some he said I was "too late" and tried to make it difficult. Still, I managed to get his cute smile.

sign on the door of a local music store

Cooper has his piano lessons in one of the back rooms of this store. The store is packed full of all kinds of musical instruments. Cooper can't seem to keep his hands off the pianos and drums.

Lessons are going well, and Cooper loves to practice, although sometimes he has a hard time sitting still for the half hour lesson. Sometimes I'd swear they must have slipped him the espresso...

happy mother's day

Bagels and coffee for breakfast,

horesback riding,

lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings,

a Speed Racer Matinee.

Hope you all are having a fun Mother's Day!

big bowl of ice cream

During dinner (which was tacos, by the way, happy Cinco de Mayo) we were discussing the fact that daddy bought Rocky Road ice cream yesterday. After Kestrel had eaten enough to earn desert, she was trying to tell us what she wanted.

Kestrel: I'm going to have a bowl of ice cream and put one of the big cookies in it.
Paul: Pick one desert.
Kestrel: But you said I could put the cookie in the ice cream.
Paul: OK, but then I'm only going to give you a very little bit of ice cream. Otherwise it will be too much.
Kestrel: Then, I think I'll just have a big bowl of ice cream.

We were all laughing at what a shrewd negotiator Kestrel is, and how she thinks she finagled a big bowl of ice cream. Meanwhile, Paul went to get her ice cream and, ever the funny guy, served it up in a "big bowl". We were all laughing so hard I had to get the camera and grab a shot.
When Cooper finally ate all his food and earned desert (which doesn't really happen that often), of course he had to have a big bowl too. What a bunch of goofballs!

big, but lovable, dog

Here are a few pictures I snapped of the kids (all 3 of them) in the yard yesterday. Harry is growing up - 6 1/2 months old now!

Don't blame Harrison - Kestrel stuck her hand in his mouth...
When we were looking at the pictures right after I took them, Kestrel, Cooper and I were laughing about how Harrison looks like he's being stangled in most them. He was a good sport!

When Kestrel saw this pictures, she told me to "put it on the blog, and label it 'big, but lovable, dog'". OK!