10 Darling Detectives

Nine of Dude's 4 and 5 year old compadres showed up at the beautiful Carson Nature Center on Saturday to partaaaay, detective style.  Darling, is how I would summarize the day.  Absolutely darling.  The party kicked off with a stream of energetic children getting acquainted by running in circles around the party room, with your birthday boy as the leader of the chaos.  Which was a perfect segway for the nature leader, Norah, to ask them to sit in a circle and listen .  Sorry Norah. 
   

The kids were told that they had to solve some nature crimes and look for clues at different spots along the river. They were all given magnifying glasses and we provided animal masks to aid in their hunting (or rather, make them blind as bats and fall on their faces). They had to stay together as the main rule. Put a group of 5 year old boys on a wide open path and see how well that works for ya. Other than ignoring that small detail, they all did great and got into the whole thing more than I had envisioned they would. There was lots of "detecting" going on and you'll be pleased to know the crimes were solved. Norah showed them some animal furs and other natury stuff after the hike and we ended the day with cupcakes and presents. A good day for the Dude and I think the kiddos all went home happy and worn out. I know mine did - he slept for 3 hours that afternoon. 

My little birthday cow. 

Jack and Brady are "detecting."  A giant piece of dog poo.

As you can see, most of the masks were removed by this point.  Holden stayed in tiger form the entire hike.  A plastic magnifying glass had just plummeted into the river, thus the 3 boys attempting to follow it.  I'm sure Norah was thrilled with the additional of plastic to their nature preserve.

And now I present the cutest little girl ever born.  Squirt was about the most irresistible she has ever been that day.  She's barking at a passing dog in this shot.

Mr. Greg has officially become her first man crush.  She chose him over me to snuggle up to on the hike - I can't imagine why?

Their first crime scene.  Who chopped the tree down?  I'll save you the suspense.  It was a beaver.

Brady found some rather interesting cloud formations. 

Crime scene #2.  Yet another magnifying glass fell into the river. 

This was break time.  Actually, I'm pretty sure the kids saw rocks and took off.  Norah called it break time.

This was the average space cushion between the boys and girls.  Funny how the girls did what they were told and walked with their leader....

  Our child loves, openly and honestly.  Trever responded with a "YUCK!"  Some day Dude will stop kissing everyone and anyone. 

Love the spelling game from Jack.  Perfect for where Dude's at right now.

Hannah came.  And all was well with the world.

A 300 piece space puzzle from Nolan - we've already assembled a good chunk of it.  The kid is amazing with puzzles. 

Look at that sweet smile on Riley's face - she was so proud of the card she made for Dude.  I had just finished reading it out loud and praising her talents. 

These two.  Besties forever.

They could be siblings huh?  I get the feeling that Daisy's feeling a bit smothered.  Just a hunch.  Again, Dude's a lover.

The crew.  Pretty darn cute.

And I couldn't leave out the crew PLUS Squirt.  She was lovin being a part of the big kids.

It's worth watching this just for the priceless harmonies found at the end.

This concludes the birthday related posts. I promise.