Monday, August 22, 2011

The Dog Days

Ah Summer, where have you gone? Summer answers: "Nowhere, I'm staying forever."
It's been 100+ degrees here for nearly three months and it shows no signs of breaking. Today was the first day of school and I believe we hit 105. I had sweat running down my back before we even got from the car to the school doors. Anyway, I thought you all might enjoy seeing some pictures from our last summer frolics.


As you can imagine, the kids have spent a lot of time in the lame little pool that we got them at the beginning of June. They've been really good sports about it too.



We set up the slip and slide and break out the twirly sprinkler and then it's really a party. Asher really loves the little pool and will gladly climb right in with all his clothes on if you aren't fast enough to catch him. After every swim, the kids enjoy a Popsicle and usually finish it all before it drips down their arms and off their elbows.







A few nights ago we decide we needed to have a campout. However, as we went down the list of things that we either didn't have (air mattresses, enough sleeping bags, where is the tent?, etc.) or didn't want to do (sleep outside when it's still 101 at 11pm), we decided to just eat s'mores and call it good. However, when we went outside to roast the marshmallows over the grill, our feet were burning on the patio, the chocolate was melting before you could get it out of the packages, and our grill's gas tube sprung a leak. So we went back inside for plan B. You may think that we wimped out on this point, but did I mention that it's really hot here? Anyway, Bren roasted our marshmallows over two candles (a la The Sandlot) and we had a good time anyway.









Despite the horrible heat, Bren and the boys have spent plenty of time in the garage constructing a variety of things. Bren has the shop set up pretty nicely now. (He doesn't like this picture though)



Bren managed to get most of his "collection" organized and sorted. It's kind of pretty all put together like that. I've got to hand it to him though, for picking most of it out of trash heaps and old guy's garages, he's got a pretty good assortment of wood.



As he was sorting all the wood bits, Bren put scraps in a cardboard box for the boys to have. Aidan and Asher spent the good part of one morning sawing, hammering, and getting completely filthy. (Aidan did the sawing) Aidan ended up with a pretty impressive hot wheel track with ramps and little tiny warning signs all nailed together. Asher was just dirty... but he had fun.





LOVE.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Lucky Number 7

Today Aidan turned 7. Since it was an odd year (7) for him, he got to choose a party theme and invite some friends over. Pirates won over Legos, Star Wars and Power Rangers this year. It was a great time, complete with attacking crabs, pirate duds, balloon swords, a treasure hunt and chocolate cupcake ships.




Here are the cupcakes and treasure maps with compasses. The picture is super blurry (sorry Whitney) but it's the best one I got. I think you can still make out the cupcake cuteness... or fierceness as they were pirate cupcakes.



Here's Asher trying to steal some pirate booty before the guests arrived.



After finding treasure trapped within the evil crabs, the kids purchased pirate garb from "Ye Old Pirate Shop" run by Miss Daphne.



Aidan getting into character and Asher in full pirate duds with balloon sword.





The girls wouldn't hold still long enough to get their pictures taken. Daphne was busy organizing and facilitating, and Sophie was just busy. I do wish that I had been fast enough to get a picture of Sophie and the pinata. She beat the snot out of it. The biggest challenge of the morning was keeping Asher out of the pile of captured "evil crab" balloons. He kept taking flying leaps into the pile.



Bren made Aidan an amazing wooden sword and put together an electronics kit complete with motors, LEDs, batteries, wires and switches. They are planning to make a UFO out of wood and then light it all up with the LEDs. (Although Aidan is now adamant that Whitney should be involved - hint hint)





Happy Birthday Aidan!