Egg Dyeing
We did some egg dyeing with the Heffernans and Nuccio/Dyes yesterday. The kids had a messy blast.
And the end product.
Month: April 2012
Angry Birds Slingshot Prototype
Bruce’s latest project: Angry Birds slingshots. Here’s Finn showing off the prototype.
Then he ditched the water ballon and launched Yellow Bird.
And, of course, I have video.
Signs of Spring
Our new garden is off to a roaring start with blooms in so many colors I felt compelled to take some pictures today. I’m encouraged by the early growth of these baby plants that have only been in the ground a couple of months, and I can’t wait to see what the next few years bring us!
Ezra’s Projects
Ezra’s been doing some fairly elaborate sticker projects the last couple of days. Here are some pictures.
Bruce liked them so much he asked Ezra if he could take one of them to put up in his office.
On another note, Ezra had his 7 year-old checkup last week. Everything is on track — 20/20 vision, 24th percentile in weight (46.9 lbs) and 25th percentile in height (46.75 in). He gained 3.5 pounds and grew 2.5 inches last year.
Aveson Camping Trip 2012
It’s that time of year again … Spring Break! And, year two of Aveson’s Anza Borrego camping trip. This year we camped again with the Bannings and Heffernans, and we added the Kimbles and Pintos to the fun.
Ezra and Finn were very excited about the trip and did a little pre-camping in the backyard the day before.
The desert wasn’t the blooming mass of wild flowers I was hoping for, but the ocotillos were stunning.
We all trickled in to the campsite in the late afternoon, and after being booted out of our first sites for not being handicapped (who knew it wasn’t just handicapped-accessible but rather handicapped-only), we settled in another set of campsites. We got all the tents up and got dinner ready while the kids played and rode bikes and scooters around the loop.
Here are Ezra and Jack.
Here are Charlie, Finn, Chapin, Ruby and Lucy (giving herself a cheer, perhaps).
While the kids enjoyed their hotdogs and mac & cheese, the grownups had chicken chili. And maybe some wine.
After dark, Bruce rolled out his shadow puppet show — The Three Billy goats Gruff …
… to an appreciate audience.
Of course, we had a campfire and s’mores, too. And then we were off to bed, knowing the kids would be up at the crack of dawn.
The next morning we (eventually) joined the rest of the Aveson group on a hike up the Palm Canyon Trail to an oasis. It was hot. Finn walked a lot, but also got some rides from Bruce.
Ezra led some of the kids (and adults) up the rocky side of the mountain.
Finn did a little milder climbing.
Finally, we made the 1.5 mile trip to the oasis. Here’s Finn walking toward the pool.
The kids (and some adults) had a great time swimming.
After a lunch break, Bruce and Ezra went a little further up the trail with some others. Finn and I stayed behind, and Finn spent about a half hour “mopping” this rock with wet palm fronds.
Then he turned the rock into a rocket ship and counted down to blast off.
Finally we started the trek back to the trail head. Here are Ezra and some friends on a rock about halfway down the trail.
On the way, Ezra and I saw this little baby Bighorn Sheep drinking from the stream.
Finn, who walked the whole way back instead of begging for shoulder rides, promptly passed out in the car on our way to buy ice in town.
That evening when the wind picked up, the Heffs, Kimbles and Pintos broke camp and headed home, fearing a bad night. The die-hard Bannings and Moisions hung in there and had an eventful but not unpleasant night. The scattered rain drops, thankfully, did not turn into a full blown storm. And, hey, who doesn’t enjoy putting up the rain fly at 2:00 a.m.?
The next morning was crystal clear, chilly and beautiful.
We had a feast of scones, bacon and hot chocolate before packing up and heading home.
