Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Declan Hercules: March Madness

I've had another great month!  I'm still enjoying my "Butterfly Classroom" at Nature's Way Montessori in Napa.  I love my teacher, Miss Gloria, and my really good friends.  I'm learning to read, and although I much prefer engineering and science, I'm starting to get the hang of reading with a lot of effort.  Mama and Dada tell me that reading is the key that unlocks all the mysteries of the universe, so I'm really trying hard!  I otherwise focus my attention on swimming, skiing, gymnastics, and lots and lots and lots of science and engineering projects.  I'm really into making crystals right now, and also loving my aerodynamic experiments with paper airplanes.  Mama's craft bins come in handy as well - I use all sorts of her things for experiments and crafting projects.  Recently, I've also continued to hone my skills in the kitchen. I get a monthly "cooking box" subscription where I learn various recipes and skills each month.  
Aluminum sulfate and borate crystals
Mama says our dining room looks like a "math lab"...not sure what that means!

Cooking with Gee
Aerodynamics experiments!

My home-made abacus
We spent a really fun day at Lake Berryessa.  The Glory Hole is the overflow drain for the lake, and it hasn't drained for about 10 years.  With all the drain we've had this year, it's totally overflowing and it is pretty cool to watch.  We also spend the day hiking around the area and having a picnic lunch.










Mr. Bill & Clare also come over for an afternoon, and we enjoyed a Mexican lunch and then an afternoon at the park in Yountville. A few weekends later, we joined them in SF and spent an afternoon at my favorite museum, the Exploratorium!  

Me and Keevah Nyx
Wheeee!  Playing with Clare

Keevah has discovered how to navigate the playground!
Nyx with Mama on the teeter-totter
On the chair swing with Clare...shortly before we flew off. Whoops!
Sissy playing with trash while every other person enjoys an awesome playground
Nyx having fun with the light experiments at the Exploratorium. Did you know that white light is made of many colors??
The curved mirror is always so crazy

Tahoe was super fun in March as well.  We had a great group of friends up, and I hung out with Anna Sophia, Liam, Finley, Bea, and Teddy.  I'm almost as good as Dada with my skiing, and did a black diamond mogul run!!!  Watch for me in the Winter Olympics someday!

A lot of snow had melted (it was up to the railing)...but still enough to play king of the mountain!
A fun day skiing with Dada

A girl and her stick
Rocking big brother's old ski outfit
Mama and her girl!
Kids gone wild: Keevah, Declan, Finley, Liam, Bea and Anna Sophia
The Men: Dada, Mr. Tom, Mr. Josh, and Mr. Chris
Dada, Tom, Mama, Courtney, Josh, Bea & Keevah Nyx


Miss Nyx playing in the shoe cubbies
T-ball has started too!  Everyone on my team is from my school, so it's like a giant play-date twice a week for practice and games.  I'm not sure that Mama and Dada are loving the extra commitments, but I'm having a really fun time. 

My first glove and real bat


Taking a knee at practice; all the kids on my team are from my same school
He swings, he hits!
Cutest bat girl - collecting all the bats to the boys can't hit

We also spend some time just enjoying Napa, rain and shine!  Lots of walks and lots of goofing around at home. 

Crazy haired Nyx after a bath in the kitchen sink
Me and Levi at his 6th b-day party at the bowling alley
A walk in the rain to Oxbow Market & Copia

Keevah walking along the Napa Riverfront
Goofing off on the "big chair" at the Riverfront

Happy Birthday to Gee!  I made her a pretty butterfly painting with my handprints as the outline for the wings
Nyx being silly at the park

I love getting my teeth cleaned!  
At Mama's office getting our ears checked after our ear infection
Zooming Nyx around in my tonka truck
A girl and her truck;  can you tell you shouldn't mess with her when she has her truck?
Squeaky clean
A tiger and a monkey?
Keevah loves her blanket made by Great-Aunt Dana
A Tuesday visit from our Boston Friends; Sara Seo, Jonathan, Tracy, and baby Nora.

Giddy-up Rody


Grandpa indulging Keevah's insatiable craving to bounce and tumble
Now we just mess with her:  anytime anyone sings "giddy-up", she starts bouncing.
Being creative with our toys