Salt Dough, Swim, & Singing

The kids started their week out with another fort.  This one was built despite aggressive hostility among the laborers.  It was a case of too many ideas, not enough listening.  However, when it was finally completed, it ended up being their favorite fort.  Benson liked this one as it had two openings and he could go in one and out the other.  Henry even caught Benson sleeping in it during the afternoon.  

Benson also enjoyed some water time with Josiah.  Quite a few nights this week, Josiah asked to "do water."  He rotated from the front to the backyard so that the grass in each could benefit from his fun.  When he was in the back, Benson joined him and had a lot of fun trying to drink the water.  

Josiah worked on a new Beatles set.  He used his Legos to recreate the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band album cover.  

He did Beatles chalk art.

He continued with concerts throughout the week.

And Caroline helped him give a concert this evening.  Josiah was Paul and Caroline was George.  He had stuffed animals sitting in for Ringo and John.  

Caroline started her swim lessons this week.  She really likes swim lessons.  But she made it very clear that she did not want to join the swim team.  For her first lesson, she showed her coach everything she knew.  He then taught them to swim to the wall, flip, and dolphin kick into the next stroke.  She got two lessons down and then the third day, 30 seconds after she sat on the bench, it thundered.  Class cancelled.  There were tears as she walked out of the pool area.  

Mid-week, Henry and Caroline made some salt dough.  Josiah was working with modeling clay, but joined their fun later on.  They've played with the salt dough all week, so it's gotten good use.  It's the stickier, heavier, less malleable version of playdough.  But they like it because they got to make it themselves.  

Caroline also wanted to make us lunch one day.  She insisted on doing all the steps in making pigs in a blanket.  I happily sat back and let her go to town.

Henry was able to pick up his summer reading trophy.  He was happy to earn it so quickly, but said  he'd rather read all the books at the beginning of June so he can be the first kid (in the county) to earn the trophy.  Next year goals.  

Towards the end of the week, the kids' friend Bobby came over for the afternoon.  They did all their usual activities.  Lightsaber battles, roller blades, video games, pillow fights.  The boys had asked me to make brownies for his visit.  At one point, they sat down for a snack.  I didn't realize the only part of their snack was brownies.  I was in the other room when I heard Bobby ask Henry how many brownies he had eaten.  When Henry answered, Five, I popped back in.    

We have a busy week ahead of us.  Henry starts a week-long sports camp in the morning.  He is happy to try the camp, but equally excited that he gets to have Pizza flavored Goldfish as his snack.