Soundbridge

Yesterday, because we weren’t tired enough from the birthday party, we skipped church and went to the symphony instead. The Seattle Stmphony does a special show a few times a year where they have one musician come play kid songs, answer questions, and interact with the audience. It’s called Soundbridge. We saw a French horn player. The big boys sat on bean bags at the front of the room while Stuart stuck his fingers into every hole and crevice at the back of the room. During the question time, Elliot asked the musician to play his highest and lowest notes. Then the musician played portions from Harry Potter, Frozen, and Star Wars. Everybody was happy. 

Before and after the show, the kids got to play instruments in a separate room. They had fun and were well-behaved! 

Real instruments on display. 

Stuart “played” musical puzzle pieces. 

Banging tubes together = music. 

After the symphony, we walked to the waterfront to check out the new Ferris wheel. Travis wanted to ride it so he went up with Fletch. 

Elliot was too scared, so he stayed with me and looked through a telescope. But of course, halfway through, he decided that he *did* want to ride. It was too late by then. 

Stuart played “pick up my toy” until I was ready to pitch myself off the end of the pier. 

It was a lovely weekend. 

Creeper Battle!

We celebrated Elliot’s 7th birthday yesterday with a Lego Minecraft party. Here are some outtakes from the occasion. The kids made motorized creepers. Then they had creeper battles and creeped all over the room. Stuart creeped around trying to find sympathy for his teething problem. You can imagine that the engineering and brick-laying that took place was wonderful fun for all of the kids. After the class, we had chocolate cake and a piñata for the kids. “They” don’t make Minecraft party supplies, so we had to buy a homemade piñata. The thing would not break! The kids had fun trying to get it open. Afterward, we took the gifts home to open them. Elliot and Travis put together about three lego sets. Heavenly!

The Space Habitat

Elliot: We’re playing a game where we separate the stufties into habitats. So far, we have forest, tundra, jungle, air, farm, African, Australian, arctic, underwater, and space. 

Me: Who lives in space? 
Elliot: Trav wanted to add Yoda. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Travis: Jurassic forest fires are really rare. 

The spy who turned 5

Travis turned 5 years old today. Hard to believe! He woke up and opened presents from family. Then he had a “spy” party at Dizzy’s Tumblebus, a gymnastics studio that is in an old school bus. Travis wanted a vanilla cake with vanilla icing and black letters (black is a spy color). He chose the cake recipe and helped make the cake and icing. The party was a success! Even the parents said they loved the cake! The boys broke open a TNT piñata, then said goodbye while wearing funny eye glasses. They looked so silly! We brought Trav’s gifts from his friends home to open. Trav and Elliot played with the toys while Stuart slept off all the excitement. Travis appreciated all the phone calls, gifts, and attention he received today. 

Too sunny! 

Nonchalance. 

Spies! 

This is the sweetest boy. 

Hello

One sweet angel was sick today and slept for hours on the couch.

The other one I tried to keep quiet, but it was not easy to do! 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRg8JBkeXJ0&w=320&h=266]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzYHA1bZt8M