Snails & Friends

I turn my back from one minute and there is a snail on my kitchen countertop...

Okay, that's a slight exaggeration, but sometimes it feels like that! O & R (along w/ neighbor friends E & H) found a snail the other day and apparently he was special enough to warrant their special attention. First he got a name: Connor Brewster Mezger - O picked Connor, E picked Brewster, and Mezger was a given because he was found at our house and therefore part of our backyard. Next he got a home - a plastic sliced cheese tray from our recycle bin filled with leaves, flowers, grass, water. At first they were content to watch him suction himself to the clear lid, but soon that wasn't enough. Can you see the trail of slime??? Look hard, its there.

 After a little disinfecting I was happy to move this party outside.

Maggie begging me to take her picture.

 Rebecca begging me to let her drink my sparkling water. (Or just drinking it without asking.)

Then E & H came over to reunite with their pal Connor Brewster.

 Snail break for a little sisterly huggin...

On H.

 On E.

 E & O discussing snails and legos and which is cooler?

 Everybody's interested...because somebody (small) did his business (not small).

 Such good times.

 I have to admit he's kind of cute. As long as someone else is holding him.

 Having a chat w/ H.

 E thinking about the meaning of life.

 Not sure what this face means, but its not the first time I've seen it...

 And I'm sure it won't be the last.

 Picking leaves for CBM's new home (temporarily in a zip lock baggie) at E & H's house.

 I never get tired of the cheese face.

 Getting Maggie all riled up making animal noises.

 Don't have one for snail? Just growl.

I guess the end of mosquito season means the beginning of snail season. And I'm okay with that. :)

Six Years Old + Four Boys = Pure Awesomeness

We gave Owen the chance this year to have a "normal" birthday party - the usual themed gathering of family and friends, OR a sleepover with just a couple of little boys. He chose sleepover! 

Even though he's had lots of experience sleeping places other than home (thanks to so many awesome local family members and friends) we realize that this isn't standard for a lot of 5 or 6 year olds. We wanted to do our best to make sure everyone had a good time at possibly their first sleepover (added perk: we keep our sanity), so we kept it really small. Owen invited 3 little boys over and of course there had to be a theme...

WE'VE GOT THE TENT, MARSHMALLOWS AND STICKS. 

BRING YOUR SLEEPING BAG, 'CAUSE OWEN IS SIX!

The boys started off with a little archery practice.

About that time Daddy got home to give some instruction.

 Before long it was time to put up the tent (background) and eat s'mores (foreground).

 While they waited on our elaborate dinner of hotdogs and tator tots they painted wooden snakes and played with a new (birthday present) lego kit from one of the little boys. They were all so excited to build the batmobile together and about 1.5 hours later they finished it! That's teamwork! They also chased each other around with another great birthday present - a remote control snake (these kids sure do know Owen!)

Left to ride: O, H, G, N.

S'mores!

In the tent with their flashlights.

 Ready for a little "Planet Earth" - they watched the cave one which has some icky/spooky parts (bats, weird worms that catch things w/ saliva, etc.) so we kept talking throughout and making sure they were all okay with it -- at the end one of the little guys said it was "okay" but he wanted to watch one with some "big predators!"

 The light show before bedtime.

 The craziest part was when we said it was bedtime they went from wound-up and crazy to crashed out and silent in a matter of minutes. It was seriously too easy. (One little boy went home before the movie - he had never spent the night away before and wasn't quite ready - which his folks prepared us for.)

 My favorite part was breakfast...

 Owen was told to come outside for a little surprise...

 He had to work for his food. And so did his friends.

 You can eat your donut. But you can't use your hands.

 H getting smacked in the eye.

 N reading for it!

 Success! If your donut fall on the ground you get to eat it - victory!

 A little more tent time before the parents came.

   I am fairly certain Owen and his buddies had a great time. I am 100% certain that this may have been one of my favorite birthday parties. Yes - birthday party season for us runs June through October so by Owen's I'm a little worn out - but even if this one hadn't been so easy - it was so much fun!!! (Rebecca and Maggie got to have their own special little night w/ Bee and JoJo which helped us just focus on the boys and that was a huge help.) I am already thinking of other excuses to make people eat food hanging from string in the backyard....

Happy Birthday Party Day Owen! SIX!!!