@ rock and star

Jasper and I had nature camp this week at Croydon Creek Nature Center. It was a lot of fun! After he familiarized himself with the building the first day, Jasper was excited to run around the say good morning to all of the animals (especially the snapping turtle) and to walk around to see the different animal prints etched into the tile floor.

We studied amphibians the first day—we tried hopping like frogs on lily pads and pretended we were catching bugs (bubbles) with our tongues (party blowers). We also got to pet a toad and then go find one in the forest (he was under a log).

The second day we studied insects, did a ladybug craft, and then went outside to learn how to use a sweep net to find bugs and look at them in our magnifying boxes. Jasper’s favorite part of this activity, I think, was opening the box to let the bugs out!

We learned about plants, planted a flower, and did tree bark rubbings yesterday.

Today was Jasper’s favorite one. We studied birds. They brought in a screech owl for the kids to see, and then they made binoculars to take outside to go birdwatching. The naturalist showed us a bird box that had week-old baby bluebirds in it! It was very cool.

After camp today, Jasper and I took a nature walk to go find the creek. He’s determined to bring Daddy back soon to show him too.

“Mommy, look! I am going to do something really interesting.”

At the pool recently: “Mom, this is swell.”

This week was soccer camp. The 90-minute sessions each day were a little long for some of the boys (the girls didn’t seem to have a problem at all, but I won’t comment on that), but we had a fun week of soccer training with Coach John. He was great with the kids and really kept them entertained. (And he was British, so we know he must be a good soccer player.)

Today, on the last day of camp, all of the kids wore their t-shirts and were given patches to sew onto them. Jasper was very excited about his and wanted me to sew it on right then and there. I explained to him that I did not have the necessary supplies with me—which just goes to show you that while he may see Mommy knit, he’s never seen Mommy sew.

p.s. A few more pictures are up on Facebook.

“Only girls see pink.”

This past Friday, we journeyed up to New Jersey to visit Jasper’s cousins in Maplewood. Our ulterior motive was cousin Zachary’s birthday party on Saturday in Chappaqua.

Friday night, Jasper and William had a slumber party. (Jasper was invited back for Saturday night, but that night the bed got “too bouncy”.)

On Saturday, we spent the afternoon celebrating with Zachary and lots of family.

Zachary’s Bubbe and Zayde with their three grandsons: Shayne, Zach, and Judah. Shayne brought along his fingerboard set, which the younger boys found most intriguing.

Jasper tried out the sprinkle pool (even though we forgot both his bathing suit and a change of clothes).

Zachary gave Jasper a set of Golden Books, which included this make-your-own Golden Book Jasper read to us on the ride home. It had something to do with a doggy, but I’m not sure…

We were so glad to be able to celebrate Zach’s birthday with him, and we had a great time seeing everyone and feasting at his house. Thanks for having us, and we can’t wait to spend more time together at the beach in August!

p.s. A few more, less Jasper-centric, photos from Zach’s party are up on Facebook.

On the first day of soccer camp:

“My soccer coach was really, really funny.”

We spent yesterday (and I mean it—we were there for almost five hours!) at the National Zoo with our friends Micah and Sara.

Some of the main attractions were not animals. (The mister, the flowers, and of course, the soft serve are all pretty compelling on a late spring day.)

And some were. The animals were enjoying the outdoors too. We got to see the Nile Hippo go for a swim (as Jasper pointed out when I misspoke this morning—a hippo cannot jump into the water because his legs are not made for jumping), and Kandula toss his ball into the water.

But most of all we just enjoyed being outside on such a rare, perfect-weather Washington day!

While riding in the car this morning:

“Mommy, I smell something. Did you take a shower?”

This morning Jasper and I hit Mommy and Me on the Square in Rockville.

Elmo was there (boy, he’s a lot taller than I imagined), and the highlight for us was the hands-on international instrument demo.

Jasper tried out lots of different instruments, including a wooden xylophone, several drums, and these cool rain sticks.

Our friends Micah and Sarah were there too, but I didn’t get any pictures of the crew together, as we were very busy keeping up with all three of them!

We had great fun today with Gibson and Sullivan at Butler’s Orchard!

We put our little Nationals fans to work in the strawberry fields right away.

They did very well—our group picked more than 10 pounds (and not too many icky ones in there either)!

A quick break to contemplate your toes, and then back to work boys!

Then on to the sugar snap peas. They weren’t too interested in tasting those, but they sure did a great job picking them for Mom and Dad!

We had so much fun, maybe we’ll return later this summer for one of the other crops…berries, of course.

Before:

“I’m really looking forward to that donut.”

and after:

“I am not a donut. It smells like donut inside me.”

Jasper’s interest in watercolors has waned a bit, but he is still producing some lovely paintings. These are from the last couple of weeks:

His medium and method of choice at the moment seems to be marker on post-it-note, which, somehow, is proving much messier than watercolors.

I am now on Facebook! If I have not found you there yet, it’s not because I haven’t been trying…come and say hello. For all you knitters, my fiberous life can be tracked on Ravelry too. There you have it! Talk to you soon.

Yesterday was Mom/Nana’s birthday, and Emily arrived in town just in time to jump in on the wonderful treat Mom’s friend Susie had planned for birthday dinner—i Ricchi!

It was the most delicious Italian food I have had in this country (I won’t compare it to Alec and Giuliana’s wedding banquet in Venice. That just doesn’t seem right.).

We met Christianne Ricchi (Susie suggested i Ricchi, not only because it’s delicious, but also because she knows Chris. Lucky us!)

I will go there again. Chris missed a fabulous meal, so I feel I owe it to him. (Nice excuse, no?)

Yesterday was Jasper, Gibson, and Chandler’s last day of soccer.

Even through the heat (yesterday’s high here was 98!), they scrimmaged.

Then the kids were presented with trophies! It was Jasper’s first. He was very excited to receive it.

My question is: Which will he miss most? The game? Or his coaches?

In response to being told that he smelled like a flower:

“People don’t smell…well, some people do.”

Today is the fourth launch of the BlogBlast for Peace.

See the action on Technorati.

See all the peace globes.

Create your own.

Join people around the world blogging for peace today.

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. -Isaac Asimov

If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace. -John Lennon

Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war. -Maria Montessori

Either war is obsolete or men are. -Buckminster Fuller

I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do. -Helen Keller

As you can tell from the photos, it was really crowded. Could school stay in session for the rest of the summer, please?

One boy, one spray bottle, one bag of veggie booty. That was all we needed!

On waking up Daddy:

“If it’s night time, you sleep.
You don’t sleep in the middle of the day!
Is Daddy nocturnal?”

“I’m a little guy, so I jump a lot.”

First sprinkler experience of the season, followed by the requisite bubble blowing:

Jasper kept talking about how great it was that he was playing and making the grass happy at the same time. (The little turkey seemed to think I needed an excuse to allow him to play in the sprinkler or something!)

Yesterday we celebrated the holiday weekend with two cookouts! (I didn’t take any pictures at the second one, at our neighbor’s house, because I was too pooped by then and only had the energy to sit and eat more.)

Our first cookout was at Nana and Pop Pop’s house. Zachary was there! He is looking (and being) cuter than ever, and even let his Mom and Dad each take a turn playing soccer with Jasper, while he watched intently. Next year at this time, we’ll have teams!

The second cookout had the older boys from next door, who were great sports about including Jasper in their outdoor games. He was already tired enough to be in bed, but somehow found the energy to chase them around for quite a while (I know, I should have taken pictures! It was really cute.).

The day after all of this activity, Jasper is still exhausted. Oh, and if anyone finds his sunglasses—let us know! Thanks.

We had another beautiful day for soccer today. Six weeks into the session, we even saw some participation in the warm-up. Some.

Jasper and Gibson did a lot of chasing each other, but often the one in front was chasing the ball, so that counts as playing, right?

Matt was kind enough to send me the two bottom pics. Can you tell who has the spiffier camera? I just LOVE the last picture. I think I will be needing a print of that one. Thanks Matt!