A lot going on for a Tuesday. This morning I found this bat in the living room hanging from the curtain rod. I captured him using Jeanine’s tupperware technique and Maya did the honors of liberating him on the outdoor marble table. Before he flew off, I grabed my camera for this closeup. Children; do not try this at home. I believe there will be a significantly fewer doors left wide open all day after the kids take a close look at this photo.

Kyle had a school assignment to construct a mask which revealed something about himself. Most of the symbols need no explanation. The name of his soccer team is the Stars. The bug going into his mouth is a termite which he and I ate on our coming of age adventure to Belize.

This week’s theme for the photo contest I occassionally enter is “Mechanical Marvels”. This is the inside of a hard disk drive and is my entry for the week. I will update the post if I make it to the finals.

Nicolai is all packed up for 3 days at a leadership training camp in the Ossipee Mountains of New Hampshire. He will be attending with his middle school classmates and teachers under the guidance of the staff at Camp Merrowvista. After reviewing the itinerary and activities I was ready to pack my bag. Regretably they do not take parents.

The final product was delicious.

For family night this evening we all cooked dinner together. Pictured here is phase one of a bowtie pasta, bacon, and green pea salad. I was in charge of the bacon bits. Maya and friend Julie prepared a salad, Nicolai handled the pasta, Kyle provided help with several components, and Jeanine focused on the apple crisp desert.

I took portraits of all the kids present. This was my favorite and the rest can be seen here.

Before the party ended, most of the adults joined the children in the pool, either intentionally or by coercion. Our sweeper was able to avoid immersion by tactical use of a lawn chair. I wound up in the water in my clothes but did have the foresight to set my camera equipment and valuables aside beforehand.

After my match this morning, (we won 2-1) the team and their families got together for a cookout and pool party. I picked up Maya and Nicolai from church and they joined me while Jeanine took Kyle to an away match (his team defeated Puma, a long time nemesis, by a 1-0 margin).

Short haired Maya showing the boys how soccer is played. Actually, Maya was a little off her game today. During practice this week she took a ball to the face and got a bloody nose. She definitely played more cautiously than normal today.

The new Maya. We could not be any prouder of her for her act of kindness.

The harvest.

Today was a big day for Maya. She decided she wanted to contribute her hair to Locks of Love. This charity provides hair prosthetics for people battling cancer. This is the before photo.

Kyle had back to back soccer practices this evening with his club and school teams. When I arrived to pick him up, the sky was amazing. One minute after I got this shot, the sky went totally gray.

It is easy to find pairs of swans on the water.  Not so common to observe them tending to their feet.

Today after work, Jeanine met me at Great Meadow and we enjoyed a moment away from the kids surrounded by nature. This Great Blue Heron was out looking for dinner.

This morning was quite foggy and I decided to stop on the way in to work for a couple of photos of the horse farm across the street.

I just love Nicolai’s freckles.

Little Miss Maya practicing the piano.

There is starting to be a hint of fall in the air.

Kyle had a great game today. His team beat a tough opponent 4-1 (the same team beat them last season). Here, Kyle get’s a shot off between two defenders. His midfield play was excellent and he directly set up two of the goals. My team won it’s match decisively with a 6-1 victory.

Nico’s coach looks on as he tackles the ball.

Later in the day Nicolai plays his season opener primarily at center midfield. He set up and got the assist for both of his teams goals. Unfortunately it was not enough to win and they lost the match 4-2. Notice the angle of his crutches. In this photo he has just made a radical change in direction and has raked the ball to carry it with him. I was standing near the opposing goalie and could here him call for “triple teaming” whenever Nico came in range. The defense would collapse on Nico and he would lay the ball off to an open forward who could attack the net undefended.

Wouldn’t be a real parade without an antique fire truck.

“Does your dragon bite?”

Here is the “float” from Maya’s music school. Although everything is scaled down, Concord throws a great parade.

This morning was the Concord Fun Festival in which Maya and Lydia marched in the all kazoo band with signs publicizing the Concord Conservatory of Music. Here they warm up before the parade.

This evening was the neighborhood block party which Jeanine has helped organize for two years now. Because I had to pick up Kyle from soccer practice I did not arrive till dusk and it was very difficult to shoot with available light. We set up Nicolai’s PA system and several of the neighborhood kids entertained us with Karaoke singing.

A quiet moment of reflection. 

Maya wore a dress to school today. She is starting to look very grown up to me.

Today was the first day of school for Maya and Nicolai. Maya, who will be in second grade this year, chose to ride her bicycle trailer to school with her mother instead of taking the bus.