adventure park

Walking up to it, it reminds me of the wide shot of the Ewok village in Return of the Jedi. Minus the angry but lovable little critters throwing rocks at you. 

Last month after wrapping up official homeschool work until fall, we met up with some old friends and spent an afternoon climbing and crossing and zipping at the Adventure Park At Sandy Spring School. 

Ok, I say we loosely. Zach and his friends did it all. I hung out with the little Miss on terra firma chasing bugs and running in the woods.

We came to this very place with these very friends about 2 years ago. it's amazing how much the kids have grown and how much their confidence and skills have evolved in that time. Last time they were barely making it through with loads of adult help. This time they were confidently making their way through each course and then racing back to the start to try a new one. I am kind of glad I have Naia as an excuse not to tag along at this point. Not totally sure how I'd feel dangling up there. I am happy to stay on the forest floor snapping photos. 

Celebrating Zach

Celebrating my boy was such an easy, mellow, sweet time just like this easy, mellow sweet kid.

After our usual traditions at home, he wanted to invite some friends for a fishing birthday party. I have to say I was pretty hesitant at first. Fishing is sort of a solo endeavor. Quiet, solitary, and ok, kind of boring. I was worried Zach would be in his fishing Zen place and his friends would be bored to tears. Thankfully I was wrong.

We decided on a fishing lake that was supposed to be stocked. The idea was that this way there would be a better chance for the kids to actually catch something, making it a little more exciting. Plus there was a park right there for kids who didn't want to fish or just got bored with it.  The bad news is, nobody really caught anything. A few small ones and an accidental turtle (who was set free unharmed) and that was it. The good news is that the kids had a blast anyhow.

I even set up a few fishing themed crafts in case the anyone got bored. We had some fish printing on little sewn flags and making lures. In the end the dads ended up partaking in the crafts more than anyone, they were cranking out the homemade lures.

Fishing and playing and canoeing and just soaking in the beautiful day, it was such a perfect day to celebrate Zach. Ten years old. Amazing.

Zach is 10!

I am sort of at a loss for words at the moment. My baby boy is 10. I have been parenting for a decade. And every time I look at him I am just in awe at what a good kid he is. I count my lucky stars every day that he is by my side, teaching me, making me laugh, helping me, and just being his sweet little self.

(New baby Zach, 3 days old when he first came home to the boat...)

I am woefully behind on downloading and going through photos from the last few weeks. Fun outings, a birthday party, time with friends, so much goodness in these days. In time, it will come.

I adore this kind hearted, shy, curious, messy, creative, beautiful boy. Happy 10th Birthday kiddo!

plus five

During the winter our boat feels so small. We press our noses against the hatches and count the days until spring. Yet during the summer we suddenly have all the space in the world. A couple of weeks ago our dear friends the Taylor family came for a visit, all five of them. Had it been January, I would have said no way! But because they are a fabulous family and because it's summer, two adults and three 12 year olds seamlessly came aboard and stayed and sailed and it was no big deal sharing essentially 325 square feet between 9 people.

So away we went...

Of course it's all so easy when everyone on board knows what they're doing as far as boats go, and even better can help with chasing Naia and making food happen. Each big kid took a turn at the helm at some point or another...

And Naia was not going to be left out of the action... of course.

What was funny was that for the first time probably ever... Doug was able to take a snooze while underway on the boat. We've been in kid wrangling mode since buying this boat, always short handed while chasing someone small, so he's always on duty in some form or another either at the helm or with a kid. But with our guests eager to take over and sail the boat, Doug actually got to relax and doze off underway. When he woke up he remarked, "Wow, this boat is really so smooth!"

We anchored out up the Chester River and met up with our marina neighbors. At one point we had 13 people aboard for dinner, but it never felt crowded. Food was the only time the kids sat still for more than 5 minutes. Other than that they were a blur of swinging, swimming, dinghy riding, kayaking, and general summer mayhem.

That's our trusty Mantus Anchor holding both boats in place!

And there is nothing quite as sweet as having somebody who is not you get your little one to go down for a rare nap. Thank you Wendy!