No Fires Here

Here are a whole bunch of photos taken at a friend's super fun birthday at the local fire department. Ben loved pretending to drive the ladder truck!

Recipe for Haycorn Soup

Ben has been collecting acorns in our neighborhood, usually to throw in the river, and he's been reading some classic Winnie the Pooh stories. That's how I came up with the idea of Haycorn Soup, and Ben assisted me in writing the recipe. Here it is.

I would suggest an ingredient, and Ben would tell me how many. Then he helped me with the directions. FYI, we did not yell when we pretended to eat it.

Here's Ben collecting acorns.

Here is Ben in the wooded area by our house inspecting the crabapples. They were the only challenge, as they were too high up, so I had to precariously perch on the kitchen stepstool and yank on the branches.

Whew! Back from woods shopping.

Here's Ben mixing it up on the back porch.

Bon Appetit!

Summertime Adventures Finale Extravaganza Part Bazillion: Elevator Birthday Party of Awesomeness

On the morning of his party, Ben happily awakes and explores the decorative birthday wonderland and backporch elevator village. He opens his fantastic aircraft carrier toy. Daddy shows him how it works and tries to keep from stealing it away to play with it himself.

Guests arrive! Popcorn and lunch are eaten. The kids play so well and quietly that I'm in shock.

Hey, Chris, what's wrong? Did you get lost?

Anyway, time for the elevator birthday cake, as Chris clearly needs some sugar to wake him up a bit. The Happy Birthday song is accompanied by Ben and Madeline's impromptu dance.

Then it's pinata time.

Are elevators the easiest, weirdest, and best birthday party theme ever? Possibly.

Summer Adventures Part 3: A Whole Buncha Stuff

Here is Ben, playing in the sprinkler:

Reading Llama Llama books to sick animals in bed:

Cruising on the Casco Bay Ferry:

Taking a hike on Macworth Island:

Eating Rainbow Jello Cookies:

And attending Campfire Storytime in pajamas at our library: