The Fort

Bruce built the boys this fort on Sunday with the palm fronds that have fallen in our yard.

The boys' new fort

The boys’ favorite activity is using kitchen scissors to cut “doors” (you can see some remnants on the ground). I’m not sure how long it’s going to last, but it’s super cool for now!

Squirrelly Cuteness

The boys were really sweet about our squirrel adventure yesterday. I forgot to mention in my previous post that Finn insisted on bringing a book in the car ride to the Humane Society because he thought the squirrel would like to look at the pictures. Ezra was sad because he didn’t get to hold the squirrel. (We would have let him hold him but we didn’t know he wanted to.) And, ever since we dropped him off they’ve been pretending to be baby squirrels. The first thing they did this morning when they woke up was ask to be wrapped up like a baby squirrel.

Two squirrels

Two squirrels

I should also mention that Bruce’s swaddling skills have not diminished in the last three and a half years since we stopped swaddling Finn.

Baby Squirrel Rescue

We heard some serious squeaking this afternoon coming from the front yard, but we couldn’t figure out what it was. Bruce and I thought we might have a nest of baby birds so we started looking, when Ezra spotted a tiny squirrel hobbling around in the planter. He (barring any gender determination, I’m going with “he”) made his way onto the walkway but was clearly not doing so well. Then we saw a neighborhood cat circling and decided we had to do something quick. We shooed away the cat, and jumped on the intergoogles to figure out what the heck you do for a sad little baby squirrel.

The site I found said the first thing to do is warm him up, so Bruce got a towel and wrapped him up. Cutest thing ever.

Baby squirrel rescue

We read about using a syringe to feed him and that he needed to be hydrated before any food was given. Then we decided to call the Pasadena Humane Society. The nice woman I talked to there said we could bring him in and they would take care of him. When we got there, we learned they work with a squirrel rescue group that will evaluate him and rehab him if possible, and then release him back into the wild. And by “wild” I’m assuming they mean the forests of Pasadena. With any luck maybe he’ll end up back in one of our oaks.

Reorganization

I took another step in the great toy reorganization (and purge) this morning while both boys were at school (the only time this sort of activity can happen). Thanks to Bruce’s super cool new shelf, the toy boxes are now organized (and labeled!) and ready for play.

Ezra's closet

Stuff from the iPad

Some of the games the boys like to play on the iPad allow them to make and save their creations — new superheroes, for example. I was syncing it the other day and stumbled on some treasures.

First, a couple of drawings from Ezra.

This green one is not surprising — green is his favorite color. The second one, I have to say I’m at a loss. Ever since he learned what abbreviations are, he’s been only writing the first letter of words. I’m guessing something is on fire here.

Here are two of Ezra’s superheroes.

Redblue Man

Fire Man

And, for the softer side, Finn’s princess.

Finn's princess

Pockets

We have come to the time when I can no longer do laundry without checking the boys’ pockets.

Ugh

This was an entire travel package of Kleenex after the wash cycle. And this is nothing compared to what ended up in the lint trap in the dryer.

Meh. It could have been worse; it could have been a crayon in the dryer. I count myself lucky.

Mixing Cement

Vanessa and Thomas came up on Friday for a play date and to give Ezra what he later deemed “the best present ever”: a cement mixer that mixes. The Banning kids came over, too, for an impromptu play date, and all the kids couldn’t wait to try out the new truck. We didn’t have any sand so the kids tried dirt instead. It didn’t really work, but they were undaunted. Here they are filling up the water tank. At first it was a very civilized affair.

New cement mixer

When that failed to work fast enough, they moved on to just sticking the hose in.

New cement mixer 2

Pretty soon they moved over to the mud pit area from last weekend.

New cement mixer 4

At first, Thomas stayed a safe distance away, preferring to ride the old trike.

Thomas on the tricycle

But it wasn’t long before he was mixing it up, too.

Mud!

Super Sundae

We went out to dinner on Thursday night and the boys got an ice cream sundae for dessert. But not just any sundae; this one came with little bowls and pitchers of accoutrements so they could make it themselves. They were in heaven. This picture looks like they got caught with their hands in the cookie jar, but I think they were just stunned at their good fortune.

Super Sundae

These are some happy boys.

Super Sundae 2

Super Sundae 3

Getting Back to Normal

I looked out my bedroom window this afternoon to see Ezra and Finn making a giant mud puddle in the backyard. One had the hose and the other was stirring with a shovel. Construction trucks were ready to go. When I came down to take some pictures, they were sinking the dump truck in the mud.

Mud

Mud 4

Bruce was over by the garage, building some shelving units for their closets.

Bruce builds

And, it occurred to me that I feel like we’ve officially settled in. Not that there aren’t unpacked boxes in almost every room and a ton of work to be done. But I feel like we actually live here now.

As for me, I got out for a long walk this morning — my first since the move and hopefully the beginning of getting back to my routine.

New Park

We went with some friends to the newly-finished Reese’s Retreat park today — a totally rad pirate-themed park. The kids had a blast.

Here’s Ezra at the front of the giant pirate ship play structure.

Ezra at the front of the ship

Finn didn’t climb up that high; he preferred to stay in the “basement” of the ship.

Finn in the ship's basement

Ezra also liked the pile of cannon balls. Interestingly enough, one little girl there said they were coconuts and one said they were cotton balls. Kids are so awesome.

Ezra takes a break on the cannon balls

When we got home, we saw what Bruce had been up to while we were gone — namely, organizing the garage so he can find the tools to build shelves for the boys’ closets. He hung up the bikes, and I just love the way Finn’s tiny bike looks next to the others.

Bike parking

Hail!

We had an awesome hail storm this morning — better than I’ve ever seen. The boys (once I pried them away from the pbskids.org game they were playing) were amazed. And they had a great time shoveling ice in the backyard when it was done.

What the Boys Are Up To

I haven’t kept up very well this week, so here’s one post with some of the stuff the boys have been doing.

Working in the yard …

Working in the backyard

Building up the soil around the garage

Swimming in the bathtub …

Swimming in the bathtub

Hanging out in a tree at Cottage …

Finn hangs out in a tree

And, composing a Batman song with Teacher Art …

Finn and Teacher Art

First Fire

Bruce and the boys decided to try out the fireplace tonight. Finn was very excited to show me their handiwork.

First fire - Finn shows off their handiwork

The boys really enjoyed watching the fire and, more so, throwing newspaper in to keep it going. We need to get a fireplace screen, but for the time being, the fireplace is a hit!

Admiring the flames

Finn examines the fire

And here’s a wider shot of the living room that I took last night. We made a lot of progress over the weekend, and we now have the beginnings of an actual living room! And curtains! Fishbowl, be gone!

Hey, it's a living room!

The New View

Our cold and rainy night translated into one of my favorite things — snow-capped mountains! We woke up to a lovely view from our bedroom window this morning.

Snow on the mountains

Snow on the mountains