campus

On our last morning in town, we checked out of the hotel and cruised over to campus for a late breakfast.  It was fun to see the sunny campus spots that are so familiar.  The boys were excited to be in wildcat country.

meet the author

We are Kids Place Live XM radio fans in our cruise mobile.  The van is filled with the top kid's songs, the Story Pirates radio show, and interviews with cool authors and musicians.  This particular afternoon Aiden was excited to hear about a new book series called Origami Yoda and his paper puppet pals.  They are chapter books written about a kid who talks through his finger puppet paper Yoda.  They were taking calls to talk to the author.  Aiden always asks to call and so I pulled into our driveway and made the call (just like I always do to appease him although I never get through).  Believe it our not on my second try, Absolutely Mindy picked up - I threw the phone at Aiden and he told her his name - she put him on hold and thennnn Aiden's cheek accidently turned the phone off somehow!  Ug, Aiden stayed amazingly calm while I called back over and over again, thinking that the excitement was lost - but, by some miracle I got through again!  He waited for his turn to talk and share his idea.  The author claims he gets his best ideas from his fans, so Aiden thought he needed a character called Darth Inkious.

When he got through and introduced himself he was smiling ear to ear.  That giant smile grew wider when he shared his idea and the author went nuts with excitement and called Aiden an inspiration.  Then he asked what his favorite part of the book was and Aiden shared that he hadn't read it yet - they were surprised and said to turn straight around and head to the library or bookstore.  Aiden shared that we were already parked in our driveway. ;).  He said he'd get the books soon though... He hung up and was flying high with excitement.  

He was psyched the next day to go to a local book signing, drawing, origami folding with the author.  We were some of the first people there and my guys were pumped.  Aiden dug into the book while we waited.  Keaton marched around pretending to be Yoda while I tried to keep him quiet.  When Tom arrived with his very distinctive, loud voice, Keaton thought he also needed to be told to use his indoor voice.  Tom really thought Keaton was funny and even took his special request to draw a Yoda - but then when adding his name he ignored Aiden's spelling and pretended his name was Larry.  Every kid became Larry at that point.  

He was pretty funny and even introduced his other books.  The funniest was when he asked the kids what they would do with the power of the 'fake mustache' - some would buy a big house, another would learn to drive, but Aiden said he would get a credit card - ha!  It was pretty fun and he even taught them how to fold their own origami yoda finger puppet.  We left with a new set of signed books.

Here is a link to Aiden describing the fun:

Here is Aiden describing how Tom taught him to make an origami yoda in five folds:

desert walks

Despite the big drives all around town, it was so nice to stay out in the foothills. The sunrise out of our balcony was like "a rainbow rise" and our sunset hike around the property was on a beautiful clear night. (There was a bride and groom there and I had flashbacks to the very first wedding I photographed in Tucson at that same spot.) The mountains really agree with these giddy guys.

mountain

The boys were hyped to climb the big mountain in our monster truck.  So we juiced up at Jamba and started our way up the mountain.  The boys were excited to go higher and higher up the windy mountain and pointed out how the cool cactus disappeared the higher we went. Inspiration point (J and I have many photos up there from back in the day) was uber windy and the gritted teeth smiles were out. The wildfires that went through Mount Lemmon seem like a long time ago now, and the little town is mostly rebuilt. The Cookie Cabin was back with maybe a little less charm (and more unfriendly signs), but we still gobbled some cookies.  

desert brothers

These guys were pretty excited to be on a vacation and it felt like those first few weeks of summer when they love each other and really want to play.

party

Our Wild Kratt loving, wild guy was wrapped up in birthday excitement for weeks.  He helped put the dots on the power paw suits for the creature power discs a few weeks ago.  The day of the party, we were so lucky to have Gran here to help us create some fun creatures.  Her handy work went into that fabulous pineapple owl - whoos birthday is it?  Daddy helped frost the cake while Aiden did his own sprinkles.  Pinterest gave us tons of fun ideas for the hedgehog watermelon, bug pretzels and cheese, cucumber snake in a pepper carrot forest, and party snacks with creature pod labels (like J's original -Bugles as rhino horns, fish and rabbit crackers, gummy worms, you get the idea...). Thanks to my dad for helping carry tons of stuff and taking photos.  Thanks to our naturalist Val for introducing us to some fun creatures and their powers (feeding the snapping turtle and bearded lizard were favorites), taking us on a dusk nature walk, and a little bunny craft. Thanks to Aiden's classroom friends for coming and all the fun gifts (fun crafts and five Lego sets to keep him busy on the days off from school!)

mission

The mission right along 19 on the way to Nana and Grampa's has gone through a transformation since the last time we were in town.  It is so fresh just like the majority of Tucson.

six

This was the birthday of Wild Kratt's creature powers and Imaginext.  You asked for a bat cave but then said, "I have a better idea, can I just have a credit card for my birthday?!"  When I laughed, you said, "You know, I can't pay for it, but you could right?"  Right buddy...riiiight.

Your party at the nature center was led by a naturalist.  It was what one mom called "pure comedy" hearing you guys respond to her questions about animals.  An example, the naturalist asked the kids if there was any kind of animal that liked to eat everything, you replied with "My dad!"

Would you rather never play or play but always lose?
Play but always lose because I still want to play!

Would you rather have to sit all day or stand all day?
Sit because standing all day is kinda uncomfortable for me.

Would you rather be a parent or a child?
Child because I already am one and I want to stay like this forever.

Would you rather super strong or super fast?
Super strong because I already am super fast!

Would you rather be chased by five zombies or one werewolf?
Five zombies because zombies can't run that fast.

Would you rather get 20 of your favorite treats on Halloween or 50 treats that aren't your favorite?
20 favorite treats because I wouldn't really want to eat all 50 of the others.

Would you rather sleep in a coffin or live in a giant pumpkin?
Live in a giant pumpkin because then I could make hundreds of jack o lanterns every halloween because I could just take chunks of my pumpkin and carve it.

Would you rather wear your Halloween costume to school every day until Thanksgiving or have to wear a jack o lantern over your head to school for the first three days of November?
I would wear my costume because the jack o lantern would be disgusting with my head where all the seeds and stringy bits are...ug.

Would you rather get to go on a one week vacation anywhere you want or go on a month long vacation but within 200 miles of your house?
Month long vacation close to home because then I could take my legos.

Would you rather be able to give your teacher a report card or be able to write your own report card?
Neither because I don't really know what a report card is...

Would you rather go on a long hike in the woods without any shoes or have to spend a day at the beach in your winter coat?
Spend a day at the beach in my winter coat because there might be thorns in the woods!

Would you rather receive just socks or just dictionaries for your birthday?
Just socks because dictionaries are boring because all you do is learn words.

Six years old - I can't even get started on the 'how is that possible' [!], because I always end up with a lump in my throat. Whereas you are already telling me what you'd like the theme of your next party to be ;)  The years are flying by and regardless of how old you are I hope you hold onto one thing. One thing that is so essential - Your enthusiasm.  You have a certain zest that I hope shines and never dulls with age.  I'm betting that it's just an essential part of who you are - I will do the best I can to polish it when it needs it, but mostly just let it shine.