Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

The kids worked hard on Daddy’s present (a one-of-a-kind book), and rehearsed his birthday song with lots of gusto – days in advance (video #1). This morning however, they performed a much sweeter rendition (video #2) and we all ate birthday cake for breakfast.

Despite today’s sweltering heat (96°F, which felt like 102°F/39°C), we met up with Team Baker Stohlmann for a backyard BBQ dinner. Food and company were terrific, but all of us quietly dissolved into puddles. Good thing the kids enjoyed playing so much that they didn’t get cranky … just sticky.

Bruno came over for a last play date before our big summer break. We won’t see each other again until early September, when the boys start preschool … and Bruno is becoming a big brother (!)

Have a great summer and stay cool … on every level. xoxo

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

I’ve been wanting to post a video of Mika “solving” a Rubik’s Cube for awhile and thankfully, I got my chance. She’s a natural at it!

Today was the last day at summer camp for Tobin. Bruno already finished his run last week, but Henry will stay one more week while we’re already traveling. Overall, it was a great decision to send the boys in preparation for September’s start of their actual preschool program. This week, Tobin and Henry have already been so excited to get to school that they happily ran away from us and into the classroom!

Tobin has been scribbling and painting his potatoheads – along with a whole bunch of abstract experiments/doodles – for the past months. Today, out of a sudden, emerged a new, recognizable subject: CARS.

It seems like a logical step, given how obsessed he is with all vehicles in our neighborhood. Above you see in order of their creation: the “Broccoli Car” with red head- and tail lights, the “Red Mustang“ from our block, and a “Yellow School Bus” with a bunch of red kids riding it. To be continued, i am sure…

Play dates with Mika and Mica tend to get crafty as both girls love to draw, paint, and tinker around with all sorts of materials. This time, Mika remembered the fun time we had with our “surgical glove chicken” during bath time. The girls created a whole flock of “CHIKIN” and even went on to draw a barn and some chicken feed on paper.

Stuffed animals are being treated like family members around here. Mika and Tobin work up elaborate picnic outings where they get to sit with their friends (a group of bunnies, a group of cats, etc.), get served appropriate foods (carrots & fruit, fish sandwich), and clad in custom made bibs (“except for the older animals, who don’t need bibs anymore”).

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

Mika has been constantly working on arts & craft projects since she learned to use scissors at less than 3 years of age. Lately, she’s ventured more and more into 3-D creations. Tape and plain paper are the materials of her choice, and she’s built countless masks, glasses, little cups, houses, and mail boxes. Her output is so frequent, that we don’t even pay too much attention to the individual object anymore – except for today: she had misplaced her pink balloon pump and quietly manufactured a new one entirely out of paper. With moving parts.

This is what happens when Tobin wants to play with the big girls: if he’s lucky, he’s allowed in their room and they close the door to adult witnesses. In turn, he has to be their living dress-up doll whenever they please. He’s gonna love these pictures 10 years from now…

Henry has been car pooling with us this week. First stop of my round trip is “little kid” summer camp at Choo Choo Train. Mika loves playing a few minutes with the boys at drop off. The three of them usually whip up a quick breakfast before Mika and i have to head over to “big kid” summer camp at Wortspiele.

The vines have been growing a lot in the past months and Luna’s favorite new, cool spot is right inside the planter – on the shady side of her garden. It’s the perfect elevation to spy on both birds (on the roof across) and feral cats (in the street and back yards below).