Welcome to the Umbrestaurant

In the spring we finally redid the surface of our back deck.  It was overdue for some repairs and had caused too many trips, falls, and splinters.  The weather however wasn't cooperating this spring and it seemed that each time Patrick would step out to work, it would begin to rain.  He had to persevere though rain or shine because once we tore out the old deck, we had a sudden drop out the back door until the new surface was in place.

He had plenty of volunteers.  At first, the job was to hold an umbrella over where Daddy was working with the power tools.  But that got boring quickly.

 

I was summoned from the house to come see... this....

The rain let up and a musical, dancing troop of boys took off.  They danced, they marched, they twirled umbrellas, they had a great time.

Lunch break was served outside in what Cooper termed, 'The Umbrestaurant'.  He's been toying with the idea that he'll run a restaurant some day and frequently has new ideas for theme restaurants, menu options and specialty equipment he's planning to invent, like the 'Food-o-matic 3000'.  

Outside of the Box

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 There  is just something fun about a cardboard box!

Especially one that suddenly starts to move!

A couple of boxes can entertain two boys for a LONG time.

How about three boys?

It's beginning to feel like the story of the apples up on top...."how about one more, say, can we do four?"

Party Time Proof

Duncan recently had a birthday.  It's true...

I realize that it wasn't blogged about immediately and since as my sister puts it... if it isn't blogged about, it didn't really happen!  So.  I will finally update some of the blog posts so that these things can happen.


(Of course it was a little over a month ago, but we had a super deluxe, extra chocolatey, chocolate cake.  We all sang and he officially turned 7!  He's growing up way too fast.

That's a birthday crown his friend made him, not a bandage!

We'd had a fairly relaxing day.  The Connolly's were here for the day and it was lovely outside.  They all tried juggling sticks and then they put on a little performance with tickets and refreshments to show off their new juggling skills.

The weather was warm still and the kids decided to sleep on the deck as a fun way to celebrate the end of Duncan's birthday!  Whittaker was only out there for bedtime and then he was whisked away to his crib!   Much to the other children's dismay.  The deck may have a railing all the way around that make it a large crib as they argued but I stood my ground that he didn't get to stay outside!  It was only for the big kids!

Duncan had so wanted to have a friend party this year and we had decided that we would have a 'let's go fly a kite' party.  I had little kites for each of his friends, planned out some little games and activities and decided to have it at the park near the house since flying kites would need a large field.  So we were all ready for the party, except,  how do you have a kite flying party?  You require an important element... Wind!  How could I send out invitations not knowing which afternoon would be a windy one?  That was only one issue!  The second..... Duncan didn't really have many friends.  He has lots of little friends that he knows... but they're all girls and other than one of them... they don't really hang out with him much... they have other little girl friends they like to hang out with.  He had it in his mind that a friend party would have lots of people.  He just didn't seem to know who these lots of people would be.  So, inviting a bunch of kids over that aren't typically ones that hang out around here with the invitation to come on over on the next warm, windy afternoon doesn't really fly.  (hee hee)

This is why some time passed after his birthday without a party.  I did finally get him to understand that if a warm windy day in early October happened, we would quickly call all his little girl friends and see if they could meet us at the park, but not to be disappointed if they were at dance and couldn't make it during the gust!

All my preparations and chats with him were for naught.  The correct weather conditions didn't present themselves during daylight hours, when we were home and not busy, for many weeks.  And so.... that is why on Oct. 23rd, an entire month after Duncan seventh birthday we finally planned a different sort of Birthday party!  We also had another birthday boy!  Derek had turned 5 only two days previous.  So we referred to it as the Double D bash!

A bash for two boys only one week before Halloween was the perfect opportunity for us to get our pumkins carved, 'and call it a party!!'.  We decorated the house with balloons and streamers and put out the pumpkins and carving tools on the table.  We had games on the counter for early finishing carvers and other activities planned.  The wait for the guests was all that remained!

Guests arrived and we got down to business.  Some more eagerly scooped out the pulp than others.  Even late arrival guests got down and dirty.

We created a lovely, spooky, assortment of great jack-o-lanterns!

With the table still busy with some of the more detailed carvers, and others needing more to do than the games at the counter of halloween 'don't eat pete' and a matching game, we decided to serve our dinner in shifts and then move on to the next activity in small groups.  Dinner was yummy macaroni and cheese.  Thanks to Bailey, we drank a delicious and lovely to behold, throw it together in a matter of minutes from all the juices and fruit on hand punch.  The punch was a hit! (hee, hee)

The next activity was definitely better as a small group activity!  We decided to bob for apples!  It didn't take long for the kids to get excited about this game!   I hadn't given any thought to how to fill the tub when it was time.  So a few minutes were spent with the logistics.  Do we fill pitcher after pitcher and run them outside to the porch?  Will the tub be too heavy if we fill it in the bath to carry out to the porch... oh wait... of course.  There is a hose spiggot, only 2 feet from the tub on the front porch, just fill it from the hose outside!  Easier said than done when the front yard pants are involved!!  The pants were cooperative and agreed to assist with filling the tub if we would be willing to carry the tub to them!  

Once the tub was filled, the kids didn't waste any time getting into this game!  Duncan managed to snag an apple right away... by the stem..  We immediately removed all the stems and made him try again.  Everyone had a turn and the game was on!  It was a lot of fun.  I had wondered if the kids would tire of it or not want to stick their face in the tub of water outside on the porch in the cool evening, but not one complained.  Sarah required an outfit change afterwards but I think that had something to do with her bobbing method.  Cheers erupted as each child succeeded!  

 

We were glad to head back inside after the bobbing was complete to warm up and open presents. 

Bailey had made a point of getting up and shooing everyone out of the kitchen for a few hours in the morning to create her masterpiece twin dinosaur birthday cakes for the birthday boys!!  They were so excited!  The cakes were way yummy also!  

If this wasn't enough fun, we also had a movie planned!  How to Train your Dragon was showing in the downstairs birthday cinema!  A little popcorn and a movie was a great end  to our night.  Just over five hours of partying and we had some tuckered out party goers!  Thankfully it was bedtime and once the guests were all sent  home, our crew fell happily into their beds!  I think that the change of plans birthday party was a success.  Now I have a bunch of kites, still waiting for a warm windy day....  Perhaps Miles would like a kite flying party in March?