Papa builds a playhouse

Tom (aka Papa) had plenty of help building this 4 x 4-foot dream house. A genuine wooden structure put together with lots of screws, bolts and washers, the kids didn't wait until it was fully erected to begin playing in it. Andy donned ski mask and gloves to more safely help in the construction. Last night Tom finished the structure complete with roof and topped with a wind vane. Sylvia had already managed to bar-b-que some hamburgers and corn on its tiny grill and transfer loads of sand to the house's tiny sink (what was the logic there? we didn't ask). A picture of the finished structure will follow in a later blog as it was dark by the time the house was completed.

Zoo-mazium

Emerging from a bout with the flu, persistent haking cough aside, Tom (aka Papa) and I (aka Nonna) took the kids to the Woodland Park Zoo on a Spring-ish day. We saw the new digs for the penguins (huge but where were the penguins basking in the pleasure of their new and improved home?), visited the gorillas (who were, of course, just sitting there watching us), observed the Flamingos, and then had lunch. After lunch we headed straight to the Zoomazium with all sorts of activities for the kids. It's popular. Lots of little kids bouncing around. Andy touched a real cockroach (Ewhhhh), Sylvia spotted then carried around her "mingo" (Flamingo). Both rode the bronze baby elephant though Sylvia actually filled her cupped hands with water from the fountain and "fed" it to the elephant (little puddle at her feet). It was a fun, albeit, short trip to the Zoo but with the Spring weather it just felt time to go.

Andy Turns 5

On Saturday Andy turned 5 years old. We forget what a big step is 5 years. In the fall he begins Kindergarten and it hardly seems possible to this grandmother. In any case, his Mom made sure that this was a birthday party Andy would not soon forget. She invited 17 of his friends, surprised him with a Scooby Doo bouncey house, painted dog faces on everyone, staged a wonderful series of mystery clues to find the missing cake (stolen by the masked bandit -- his dad) which led them through a lot of fun stomping balloons, wrapping themselves as mummies, knocking candies from a pinata, tossing balls into the bat hole and finally to the cake. Great birthday party Mom!

Old-fashioned theater

We took the grandkids to the Northwest Puppetry Theater located in the Maple Leaf area. Three generations do all of the work behind the curtain. We've taken Andy before but not Sylvia. This production was an adaptation of a Sicilian fairytale using authentic wooden puppets. We sat on the stairs in the very front and despite fire-breathing dragons, turkey-flying witches, and lots of sword fighting knights....and crying from a few frightened kids in the audience...Sylvia and Andy were quite enthralled. Afterwards, they made their way to the stage to make sure they touched and admired each puppet. The playground in the theater's front yard allows their patient pint-size audience to let out steam after the performance. We love this theater (www.nwpuppet.org).

Gymnastic fantastic

Turns out that Sylvia is a natural gymnast. Fearlessly balancing on the beam, swinging from bars, and bouncing on the trampolines. In fact, she's very bouncy. And cheerful from start to finish. Like I said, a real natural.

Snowcation and sleep over

We all took Friday off to head to the snow for some sledding and adventuring. An icicle that looks "just like a dinosaur" (Tom/Papa) and a snowball that "can't come home with us because it would end up as a sad little puddle" made Andy's day. Andy's close call with a creek and boots full of wet snow ended the outdoor adventure pretty quickly but not before we had hot chocolate and lunch. We ended the day with Andy's sleep-over favorite, a bath filled to the brim and beyond with bubbles.