On the way home from my soccer match this morning (we won 3-0 to cap an undefeated season,) we came across this Garter snake. This was Nicolai’s first encounter with a snake in the wild (for the record it was crossing the road and I am not sure this qualifies) and he was quite intent on studying it for a while. Total length was about 3ft and it was not agressive. He did strike this rather serious pose when I climbed down on the ground to get a close up. Nicolai was poised with a large stick to protect me should that have become necessary. Click on the photo for a closer view.

Maya returned from a trip to the New England aquarium with a stuffed baby seal she has named Stormy. I am prepared to speculate that this child is going to have a career that involves animals.

Nicolai’s end of the season soccer celebration afforded me an oppotunity to photograph the team and coaches as well as the kids and their parents.

Nicolai’s soccer team won its ninth straight game this evening. Nicolai had one goal and one assist to aid the 5-1 win. There are few things Nico can not do on the field and just as many that no one else can match.

Maya refines her baseball catching technique using a tennis ball surogate.

Although I helped a little with the camera settings, Maya demonstrates her talent as a photographer with this photo of her father in profile.

Maya had her face painted at the Carnival. Anyone care to guess what she requested? Did I hear guinea pig?

Jeanine volunteered to run the skeetball event.

Kyle and his friends return from the Willard playground spattered in cake (click the photo for a larger image) and some wild story about marauding 8th graders.

Nicolai consults with his friend before attempting the ring toss.

Maya showing fine form at the football toss. Speaking of football, my soccer team was in action this morning. We defeated Hopkinton 3-0 after a scoreless first half. The win secures our promotion into division 2 next season. Our league is divided into 7 divisions with the top team in each division moving up and the bottom team moving down.

Today is the annual Willard Fun Carnival fund raiser. I escorted Maya and her friends Lydia and Sarinnagh through the various activities. At one point, I turned around to discover they had stuffed themselves into these lockers.  Too funny.

Seth Bird is one of Kyle’s friends and is often over to the house.

Nicolai hosts an “airsoft” battle. Jeanine, of all people, was the first to buy one of these air pellet guns for Nico. Now everyone in the neighborhood has one and the boys can regularly be seen engaged in battle. Fortunately they all take eye safety seriously.