The girls switch positions in the field nearly every inning, so they get to try it all, which is nice. It’s fast pitch, but most are balls and there are a lot of walks. The girls’ skills aren’t well developed, but the games are fun to watch and probably more fun to play. They all seem to have a great time and get along with each other well.

It’s fun to sit and talk to the other parents. I have really enjoyed cheering for Skye and her teammates.

Skye and I play catch in the yard nearly every day. She is very good at throwing and her catching has improved dramatically since the start of the season a few short weeks ago. It’s nice to see her progressing and refining her skills. It’s been a nice time for us to spend together doing something we both enjoy.

Slugger Skye

Skye is in scoring position

Skye trots home (BB RBI)

Skye on second base

Skye is ready in center field

Skye watches the pitch

Skye swings for the fences

The end of an inning

Fossils are the remainings of an animal covered in rock and dirt. Palaeontoligists are the people that dig up these amazing fossils and give them to the museum because the museum gives them money to find them.

Some popular places for a mammal to be dug up, are in a cave, a stream, or a good place where they can be covered without being ruined or eaten by a carnivore. That’s why a lot of palaeontoligists dig in those places. They can find fossils better.

Before they take them to the museum, they study them. When the palaeontoligists find big fossils, they take them apart and put them back together at the museum. It’s like a puzzle. If they are small fossils, they don’t take them apart. It’s a really cool process.

You know how you have a family tree with all your uncles, aunts, grandpas, grandmas, dad, mom, brothers, sisters, and cousins? It’s the same with apes. They have a family tree with their different species. We’re on the ape family tree because we are a species of apes. There are hundreds of species of apes. There’s neandertals, australopithecines, paranthropus, homo erectus, homo sapiens, homo antecessor, and a whole bunch of others. Our tree is full of ape species.

Most ape species come from Africa and climb trees. We apes, evolved through time. Instead of walking on four hands and climbing trees, we walk on two feet. It’s amazing how we can get new techniques as we evolve. We apes now have better speech and technology, thanks to evolution.

Walking to Starbucks

This morning our whole family walked to Starbucks in Saco to enjoy the beautiful weather, wonderful Starbucks concoctions, our books and each other. Along the way Kirsten and I demonstrated to Jenna the intricacies of sidewalk navigation and how to be a good and safe pedestrian. It was a glorious morning, and the sun was warming the air to an unseasonably warm temperature.

At Starbucks we ordered our drinks, found some comfortable chairs and began to read, play our iPod/iPhones and talk. It was wonderful. After a little while Hayley looked quite tired, so I offered to hold her on my lap as I read. She squirmed around a bit to get comfortable and dozed off to a restful sleep. Then she puked. All. Over. Me. Where in the hell did all that oatmeal come from, and how did two oatmeal packets turn into quarts of oatmeal vomit?

Photo: Kirsten Uhler

Dorothy, a frequent Starbucks customer and barista, kindly got me two clean wet washcloths so I could begin to remedy this embarrassing and completely disgustingly awful situation. When the worst of the vomit was off the chair and floor I went to the bathroom to clean myself. Kirsten had already rushed Hayley off to the women’s restroom so she could continue to purge the putrid oatmeal from her unusually gargantuan stomach.

After the chunks were off my shirt and shorts I walked home to get the car–alone, and soaking wet.

Hayley and I have now showered and life has returned to its usual blissful state. Hayley seems to be feeling well, but is carrying a bowl, just in case.

When they got back on the boat in the afternoon we drove up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain where we took pictures and ran around the rocky slope.

Jenna Loves Whales

Patsy and Richard

Patsy Is A Gamer Geek

Richard and Patsy

After lunch we stopped for ice cream. Mmmmm. Wicked delish.

Hayley enjoys her ice cream while I tweet

Bah Hahbah and Crown Princess

Yeah, it was Sofa King cold at the summit of Cadillac Mountain

Skye

Ain't we cute?

Richard and Patsy's ship, Crown Princess

Jenna, Hayley and Skye...and a boat

The loves of my life.

A bit past peak, but still gorgeous

Jenna is part mountain goat. She loves to prance on the rocks.

Kirsten

These girls are used to being posed

Skye. And a boat.

Jenna LOVES to dress up and be photographed.

Kirsten and Jenna atop Cadillac Mountain

Yes, I am the man.

Hayley

Skye tried hard to look like a gangstah. I don't think it worked.

Us

Yeah, I did good. Kirsten's, like, super hot.

Saturday morning we drove to the summit of Cadillac Mountain but it was completely enshrined in a cloud and fierce winds. Jenna and I walked around a bit before we retreated to the car.

The summit of Cadillac Mountain was IN a cloud. Wicked windy!

It was a wonderful weekend. I’m glad we were able to visit with Richard and Patsy again.

First we went to nearby Saco Heath Preserve, which is a short 3.6 miles from our house. The hike through the woods and out into the heath were ideal. Skye and Hayley took copious notes on every sensation they experienced, including smell, touch, see and hear. They frequently stopped to sit on the boardwalk to search for frogs or to snack on the trail mix they had each prepared prior to our departure.

Jenna explores the Saco Heath Preserve

Hayley takes notes, like a good explorer

Sisters. Buddies.

Hayley in the Heath

These two enjoyed sharing their discoveries in the Heath

Hayley loves to hike

Maine and Dunkin Donuts. Bliss.

Jenna, Skye and Hayley love to hike

Taking a break in the Saco Heath Preserve

After we were done at the Heath we drove to Cascade Falls in Saco. The trail has changed much since we were there last due to development. We hiked around a bit, frustrated by “No Tresspassing” signs, before we finally found the new trailhead. The hike is very short now, but the falls are the same.

Cascade Falls, Saco, Maine

Hayley is so cute. She loves to explore.

Me at Cascade Falls, Saco. Photo: Skye

When we eventually got to the Falls, the girls snacked

Skye enjoyed exploring, and taking notes

Next we drove north to South Windham to spend some time at Babbs Covered Bridge, which spans the Presumpscott River. The foliage colors weren’t quite peak, but pretty, nonetheless. Again I was faced with a “No Tresspassing” sign at the trailhead leading to the prime photo spot for the bridge. Grrrrr. The girls enjoyed throwing acorns into the river and hiking through the woods.

Presumpscott River

Babbs Covered Bridge

Jenna hung out with me for a bit. I love that kid!

We ended the day at my favorite place, Fort Williams State Park in Cape Elizabeth. The sunset was glorious. The girls enjoyed running around in the grass and jagged granite cliffs while I snapped a few pictures and advised the tourists.

Portland Head Light

Skye was very safe. She listened intently as I briefed her on safety procedures, range rules and firearm operations. She primarily shot with my Ruger Mark III Hunter .22 pistol. When that got heavy she switched to my Glock G26 9mm, but she didn’t like the harder recoil.

Her shots early were high and to the right. After discussing techniques to improve her accuracy she was able to shoot a loose grouping around the center of the target. I was quite proud.

We had a great time. She says she wants to go again, which I think is terrific. She’s an excellent shooter.

Skye was very excited to shoot guns for the first time

Skye enjoyed loading magazines

Skye did a great job with both accuracy and safety

Skye had a great time with me at the range

Skye was thrilled one of her shots was in the bullseye

The 9mm Glock G26 was a bit much for Skye

I enjoyed shooting at my new club with Skye

Safe and ready to go

Supra-Orbital Craniotomy
Kirsten Uhler, Cogitations, August 23, 2009

We climbed on the rocks before playing wiffleball

I didn't read long before I had to join in the fun.

Keep your eye on the ball, Jenna

Keep those eyes open

Jenna got the hang of it and did very well

We had a great time at Fort Williams

We ate at Joe’s New York Pizza on Fore Street for lunch. It was wicked delish! I’ll definitely have to take Kirsten. Every night is ladies night. :)

We’ve had so many rainy days this summer it is almost a requirement that we spend non-rainy days engaged in outdoor activities. :)

The Moxie Festival Parade in Lisbon Falls, Maine

Jenna enjoyed the Moxie Festival Parade

Moxie: the official soft drink of Maine

Portland Head Light

Kirsten is cute in hats

I wonder what the reception is like with a rock phone

Hayley asked me to take her picture

The Dyer Library here in Saco hosted a Harry Potter Extravaganza: a film premier party for the upcoming “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Jenna was especially excited about it because she has been reading and enjoying the Harry Potter series. She just started the seventh and final book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”

The Harry Potter Extravaganza was well done, and the girls had a good time. They had their fortunes told by Professor Trelawney, played games, colored Harry Potter pictures, and made wands. Hayley dressed as Hermione Granger, Jenna dressed up as Cho Chang, and Skye as Ron Weasley. The girls even convinced me to dress up as Professor McGonagall.

Cho, Ron, and Hermione

Professor Trelawney (in background) just told Jenna's fortune.

Coloring

Professor McGonagall, Professor Trelawney, and the head of the Slytherin house conducted a “sorting ceremony.” The kids each appeared in front of them, announced their character name, and were then sorted to the appropriate Hogwarts house. When Skye introduced herself, she said “Bloody hell, I’m Ron Weasley!” (in a British accent) Everyone laughed. She won two Cinemagic movie tickets for best costume, and decided she would bring Brent to see the upcoming Harry Potter film.

Skye being sorted into the Gryffindor house

Professor Trelawney, Professor McGonagall, and head of the Slytherin house conducting the sorting ceremony

Jenna as Cho Chang during the sorting ceremony

At one station the kids were instructed to estimate the number of jelly beans (“Bertie Bott’s Beans”) in three different jars. Hayley correctly guessed amount of beans (300) in the largest jar, and won the jar of beans. She’s quite the little math whiz! She was so excited. When she told Brent about it later, she said she “earned” the beans.

Hayley estimates the number of Bertie Bott's Beans in the jar.

Hayley and her prize

Skye enjoys the cauldron cakes, acid pops, licorice wands, and pumpkin juice.

We love the library, and usually go twice a week. The Dyer library does a great job with their programs. It’s nice that we can walk there, too. :-)