Rockets and Rabbits

 

It was a dry weekend albeit cloudy and cool.  There was enough promise of spring or maybe just desire for the whole clan to grill out on the patio Friday and top of the evening with a big game of kickball and a short post postprandial stroll with a great football toss.  Saturday was equally fun, Merrick headed over to a friend's house for some skateboarding and in the afternoon we finally launched the big rocket.  It was going on its third summer based on our fear that it was too much rocket for our launching field.  It took us two trips to the field, the first being aborted due to faulty launch batteries, but then after we trimmed the parachute to limit the float/drift we sent it off.  There were smiles all around and then the rocket floated out over some houses.  The kids were sent around the block to retrieve the errant rocket and Amy and I followed in the chase vehicle.  We then trimmed the parachute (rocket surgery) some more and were able to launch several more times and keep the reentry inside of the field.  We wandered back home for some good old fashioned yard fun and even 'found' a rabbit that was still good enough to turn into Sunday's dinner.  We did the old skin stretch on its hide and talked not only about respecting what you eat but also the Wisconsin fur trapping history.  Saturday night however was a manicotti feast.  In the morning we hiked Baird's creek a built a cairn out of some freshly cut popple trees that must have crossed the trail.  The kids built their own fort and climbed in the trees before we headed off to the coffee shop for some oversized board games and hot chocolate.  The weekend rounded off with two obligatory birthday parties.  Sophia and I went and ran some errands as well as stopped at a new park to play for a while before heading back to the Children's Museum to retrieve Merrick from his party.  Everyone is getting healthy again and with the organizational meetings in full swing for soccer, spring is surely getting closer.


(Sophia's Entry):  On Friday Amy and the girls came up to hang out with us. We had chicken on the grill. We also played kick ball kids vs. adults. Totally awesome! Kids totally denominated the adults. We took a walk and through the football around. Then we settled into bed and fell asleep. The next morning we watched cartoons until everyone got up we ate breakfast and got ready for the day. Dad went to a soccer meeting for Merrick while Amy watched us. the kids played orphanage run away and made a really cool fort. Dad helped a "little" with the fort. (Really he just did every thing for us by getting the tarps and stapling them to all of the walls while we sat in side the fort and watch him put the walls up.) It was so dark in there. We pretended that evil people were comig to take us. We looked out the peep hole to see if they were coming. Once Ella and I even had to ride our bikes to get away from the bad guys.