an afternoon adventure

Yesterday we had Cooper's birthday party with his friends. Lately Cooper's hero is Indiana Jones, so he asked for an Indiana Jones party.

We decided to turn our swing set into a cave (tented drop clothes over the frame), and decorated the inside with lots of snakes, spiderwebs, and skeletons.

We started with a treasure hunt. They all got shoulder bags to carry their treasures and instructions on what to find.

The birthday boy checking out his found treasures.

Playing Pass the Crystal Skull, or "Hot Crystal Skull" as Cooper called it.

Friends and cake - what could be more fun?

We made a Lost Ark and filled it with candy. The kids got to come get candy out of the ark.

Under the swing set checking out their candy loot, and making a few trades.

cooper is 6!

Today is Cooper's birthday. We tried to make the day special for him. He made a special request for Trix cereal for breakfast, which he got. Cooper spent the day at Intersession Camp (both of them are off of school for a 3 week intersession) at a local recreation center. He brought cupcakes to share with the other campers. We had an early dinner at Jupiters (a restaurant that has pizza and games), and then after Kestrel's soccer game we came home for cake and presents.



Cooper got a Nintendo DS from Mom and Dad and a fish tank from Kestrel. He had been asking for a fish for quite a while, and Kestrel really wanted to be the one to give him the tank. She helped me pick it out, and she chose the gravel and plants to go in it. After we get it set up we'll take Cooper to the pet store so he can pick out his fish.
Kestrel set her alarm so she can get up early tomorrow and play with Cooper on their Nintendos (it was too late tonight).

a pair of performers

Have I mentioned our children are fearless? This afternoon the kid's school had an open house to celebrate it's 10 year birthday. They asked for interested students to come and play an instrument or showcase any other talent. Both Kestrel and Cooper wanted to play the piano at the event. They each picked out a song they wanted to play and practiced it over and over the past few days. They were both very proud to be performing. Neither one of them were nervous.

Here are a couple of very short clips of each of them playing this afternoon. I took the video on my phone, and it will only do about 30 seconds, so their songs are cut off. Remember that Cooper just started lessons in the spring, and Kestrel started in the summer.

Kestrel playing "Go For The Gold" (above). She's proud of this song because its the last song in her first lesson book.

Cooper playing "Star Quest". This is his favorite song in his lesson book.

kestrel saves a cicada

A few days ago Kestrel was outside playing when she rang the doorbell to introduce me to her new friend. She said she saved this cicada. She saw it struggling on its back, and she was afraid a cicada killer wasp was going to get it (we've been seeing very large, scary looking wasps around this summer and found out they were called Cicada Killer wasps). She turned the cicada over and it flew right up onto her. The cicada stayed on her for quite a while, never even trying to leave. She was convinced it wanted to be her friend because she helped it. Eventually she put it up in a tree.

She loves all animals and wants to save them all. We're not even allowed to swat flies in our house. One must catch the fly and put it outside.

fall soccer, etc.

Oops. It's been a while again, hasn't it?
I meant to post about soccer over a week ago. Kestrel started fall soccer. Last spring her team was just 2nd graders. This year she is on a team with 3rd, 4th and 5th grade girls. She's really enjoying it so far, but just as in the spring, the rain has put a damper on things. Her first game was the Saturday before last. She was a little nervous because they only had 1 practice due to their 2nd practice being rained out. She had fun at the game, though. They were supposed to have a game this past Saturday, but it was cancelled because the field was too wet. Let's hope that's the last of the rain cancellations!

Here's a picture of her before her first game, when her team was warming up (and Cooper in the background).


And just for fun, here's Harrison later that same day flying down the side of our play set. In all the years we lived here Huxley never once attempted to go up it, but Harrison does it a lot. I tried to get a picture of him up in it, but he ran down too quickly. I think he sometimes goes up there to steal a toy the kids have left behind. This time he got a frisbee.

Later this same day Harrison dug himself under our deck, and got stuck. We couldn't get him out, so Paul had to get the shovel and dig him out. Yup, all covered with clay-like mud all deep in his fur. Lucky me I got to hose him off. I still can't get all the mud stains out of my shirt. He did really enjoy being hosed off, though. That's probably why he did it again the next day...

a walk in the woods

Monday afternoon (Labor Day) we decided to go to the state park near here (same one we where we went canoeing earlier this summer). First we let Harrison swim in one of the lakes. He loved it, and had fun chasing after sticks we were throwing in for him, but he got pretty dirty from the mucky lake water. Then we took a walk through the woods.



When we got home Kestrel gave Harrison a bath. She did a great job at it. She is very good with Harrison.


Our governor has decided to close this state park, along with 10 other state parks. We're hoping he changes his mind!