The flight

So Sean came home from Young Men's about a month ago with an Airhog remote control airplane; brand new, in the box.  Apparently they spent the evening cleaning out the scout trailer and this was one of the finds.  Sean ended up being the only one that wanted it.

Since then he has taken the plane out maybe 6 or 7 times.  It was a huge hit, generally attracting a gang of neighbor kids that would chase after the plane on each flight.  Three of those flights, however, ended with the plane landing on a neighbors roof.  Each time a different roof that surrounded the park he was flying at.  Generally too high to retrieve, we would check on the plane several times a day in the days that followed.  Since the plane is made of foam and is very light, it would get blown around by the wind and eventually get close enough to the edge that Sean could reach it with the extendo-duster.

Good way to meet your neighbors!

So, you can't actually see the plane.  Just pretend it's there flying 10 feet in front of Catherine

Camping

We had an awesome weekend.  Catherine has been begging us for some time to take her camping.  Apparently our annual camping ventures ended when she was born so she was feeling very deprived.  Since it IS her birthday week we decided to summon the energy to get out of the house.

Well, I would do it again in a heartbeat.  Thank goodness for a little girl that won't let a thing go 'til she gets her way ;)  Upon recommendation of one of my co-workers, we found just the spot.  A campsite just steps from a lake with a little beach perfect for wading and setting out on the kayak, and also right by a bathroom with flushing toilets.  Although many of the larger trees were felled a few years ago because of a beetle infestation (meaning not a lot of privacy from other campers or shade), it was still a beautiful location.

We got in some beach play, kayaking and dinner with sunny skies before the nightly thunderstorm (to which we have become accustomed this summer) set in.  The rain gave us a chance to snuggle together in the tent and read together ('City of Ember').  At one point the wind was so intense poor Brandon was nearly smothered by the side of the tent and then our raincover came loose so Brandon and I had to go out in the elements for repairs.  After that it held tight though, the wind died down and we just got to enjoy the sounds of nature: grasshoppers, rain, and the occasional car alarm... All's well that ends well, right?

Luckily we awoke dry.  When I opened my eyes, all were still asleep and calm.  I tried to be still, but keen to movements, Henry quickly realized I was up and soon covered me in kisses.  Ahhh, to be loved.  

While out hiking at one point on the first day we discovered hole 10 of a frisbee golf course.  As luck would have it we happened to have 2 frisbees in the car, so on the way out of town with just a little looking, we found the beginning of the course (at an adjoining City of Frisco park) and decided to play. In all my years of randomly coming upon these courses, and it has happened quite a few times, I have never seen more than one other player on them.  Here there was a back up and new people showing up every few minutes with their backpack of frisbee assortments.  Are there different sizes for different lengths like in golf? Perhaps Andy could chime in here...  Anyhow, to stay out of others ways, we decided to cut through and start somewhere in the middle where we found a vacant hole.  We ended up playing holes 15-18 in teams and finished neck-to-neck.  An honest tie.  I won't say how many OVER par.

Maybe this camping thing isn't sooo bad.  Might even try it again next year.

How many Eyre's does it take to put up a tent?  We soon found out, every single one.

Thomas and Sean strolling back from the lake

Thomas, Rin and Sean wading out to the 'island' on a sand bar... a little deeper than they thought

Okay, so this is actually at Thomas' school, but climbing trees is naturey so I thought I'd throw it in.

Shannon

Happy Birthday

 to the greatest and most awesome big sister ever!

Talent Show

For family home evening last night we had some memorable moments.  In May we determined to have a family talent show and set the date.  After pizza at Anthony's and then putting some brownies in the oven at home, we began.  I started with a spanish poem recitation that I've memorized.  I actually got to do it twice as Thomas asked for the English interpretation after.  Thomas then showed off his climbing skills around and over our staircase, Brandon and I did a fiddlin' piece as a cello/banjo duet (bet you haven't seen that before!) and the kids showed off some tinker toy creations followed by Brandon showing some warrior/ninja drawings that he had done when he was Sean's age.

The best part came next as the kids performed a song I didn't even know they'd been working on.  Something they'd found online about an old guitar.  Sean began singing with his guitar, then Milla came in singing and playing maracas, the Catherine with her ukelele and then Thomas with his (tupperware) drum.  Phasing in and out it was lovely...all I could do was smile.  My happiest moment this summer.  No one even balked at the fact that we videotaped the whole thing (but I can't post it at the moment as the video is lengthy and I'd have to edit it down).

We ended with Milla leading a 'boom chicka boom' song where she'd sing and we'd copy.  Dancing, singing, attitude.  Everyone smiling.  Ahhh.  Definitely need to do this again next year.

Week of Parkour

After Alyssa mentioned off hand last year that Thomas might like parkour, I began a search for camps in our area.  I hadn't ever heard of parkour, despite the fact that our family, on occasion loves watching American Ninja Warrior (whose contestants are often trained in parkour).  Anyhow, I could only find one place around here that offered classes, and it was on the other side of Denver in Englewood, but decided to sign Thomas up for a camp anyhow.  Ended up being a good excuse to get out of the house for all of the kids.  

Day 1 I went up alone with Thomas.  After getting past the initial tears of nervousness, Thomas was fully engaged...chasing kids, running up a curve- like half pipe going up the wall and sliding back down, climbing over obstacles, maneuvering a pipe jungle gym, and best of all, FOAM PIT.  Swinging from an overhead pipe, rolling in backwards off the edge, 'dodge foam', or just leaping full force.  All good fun.  Never have I seen Thomas so completely exhausted, sweaty, and yet energized as at the end of each day this week. 

I really only got pictures of  freetime on the last day of camp when the instructor let the siblings in.

So, of course, Sean was mostly just taking foam shots at people.  He always was good with the little kids.

Rin giving me the 'enough pictures already' look before figuring out how to climb out of her hole.


Day 2 On Tuesday during Parkour, I took the older 3 to the Science and Nature Museum downtown.  Our pass expired the next day, thought we should get one more visit in!  We usually just pick 1 or 2 exhibits to focus on when we go and this time we went to where they had animal dioramas from all over the world.  Apparently most of the animals were obtained back in the 20's when the museum sponsored expeditions.  I never tire of looking at them.  Being so close you realize just how immense polar bears, walrus and Grizzlies really are.  Also got close ups of monotremes and learned that although their babies do drink milk, they don't suck on nipples. Instead the mother secretes milk from glands under the skin and the babies lap it up off of the fur.

Day 4  Rin stayed with a friend and, as the temple is out that way, Milla, Sean and I went to drop in baptisms after leaving Thomas at Parkour.  All went smoothly.  Such a peaceful and sweet experience to have with the kids.  Milla was told that the names she was confirmed for came from the area of Slovakia hundreds of years ago.  We've also been well entertained in the car.  We did a lot of stories where each person adds a word at a time.  Many giggles as story lines get jumbled.  Can't even remember now...

Day 5 we discovered the Museum of Outdoor Arts that the city of Englewood has been installing over the years.  4 sculptures were inside, but the rest were scattered around outside.  We only discovered a portion of them...maybe 15.  It was set up so that you could call a phone number and code in each piece and it would tell you a short bit about the work of art.  Only got a few pics but we came up with some pretty good art interpretations of our own and enjoyed each other.

The splash pad among the art

The gryphon that has been moved around Englewood for many years, and now watches over the Civic Center

Saturday was Colorado Cares day which is a day of community service in Colorado.  We joined in picking up trash on some nearby trails.  While out, Sean came across this very plump Monarch caterpillar that seemed near pupa-ing. ;)  Happy week.