Gymnastics

Griffin had his second skills meet a few weeks ago.  He continues to love gymnastics, and that's no small feat for our little curmudgeon!

Nico

Nico, otherwise known as  "Pico" or "Pie," has been a wonderful addition to our family.  It is so much fun to have a kitten around, and he still remains Griffin's special friend.

Griffin made Nico a collar on the day we decided to keep him.

Sometimes we wonder if he suffered a little brain damage at the hands of his overzealous buddy, because he behaves like a rag doll and will stay put in whatever weird position or place Griffin puts him.  ;-)

He also remains close to his substitute mama, Piper.

And after many weeks of trying to make friends with Kyra, I think he's finally won her over.

Yep, he just fits right in at our house!

Foster Kittens

I realized recently I had somehow missed blogging about one of our biggest adventures this summer!  In early July, we got a litter of three 3 week old foster kittens from Austin Pets Alive!  The N8 litter, also known as Nico, Napoleon, and Noble were guests in our home until mid-September.

When we first got them, they were tiny enough to fit in the palm of a hand.

They were tiny little balls of fur that pretty much just ate and slept.  But, after a few short days, they began to play!

The most amazing part for us was how Piper took to the kittens.  We don't know her history at all, since she was adopted from the animal shelter as an adult, but we suspect that she has experience as a mother.  She sure knew what to do with the kittens!  Mama Piper would bathe them, sleep with them, and even "nurse" them!  The first time we let them meet, she rolled straight on her side and the kittens latched right on.  I know it was uncomfortable for her, especially since there was no milk to be had (!), but she was such a good mama that she'd let them go on and on.  It was so sweet...and more that a little odd.

But another surprising relationship developed between Griffin and one of our foster kittens.  Griffin is fairly ambivalent toward our pets.  Sure he likes them okay, but mostly he ignores them.  So were were very surprised when he chose a favorite kitten and formed such a strong bond with him.  Nico became his baby, and one was never seen without the other.  And because he was handled so much, Nico tolerated -- and even seemed to like -- whatever attention Griffin showered on him.

Of course, all the kittens had plenty of love and lots of handling as they grew.  Who could resist snuggling with these little guys?

As they grew more and more playful, we all really enjoyed their sillyness.

Although, Piper sometimes might have grown a bit weary of her naughty kittens....

Eventually, the time came to let them go.  In the end, we decided to keep Griffin's special buddy, Nico.  But we wished we could have kept them all and we had a hard time saying good bye to sweet "Noble Bear" and "Sir Poe".  We'll forever remember those little guys, but it does make it a little easier to know that they were adopted into wonderful forever homes.

Napoleon

Noble

Nico

Voodoo Fall Ball

Just as Griffin's season wrapped up, Rhys's began!  The Voodoo has finally played their first two kid pitch tournaments!

The first tournament, the Monster Bash, was played in late October in southeast Austin. For a team that had no experience and not nearly enough team practice, they managed to look pretty good!  The Voodoo lost their first game by a close margin, but then won the rest, winning the championship!  Rhys pitched the semifinal game, and managed to pitch a complete game with only one hit and one walk.  We were so proud of him for staying so calm and relaxed under pressure and with first-timer nerves.  Go Rhys!

Then, last weekend, the Voodoo played their second tournament of the season.  This one was the Blue Santa tournament in Georgetown, and it was even more fun because Rhys's good friend David was playing in it too. We had a lot of fun watching both boys' games, and Avery sure loved hanging with one of her best friends, Aubry. It was certainly the first time I heard Avery cheer when she heard they'd be playing yet another game at the end of a long day!

The Voodoo played really well, but the competition was fierce.  They played in the 10U division, which is for 9 and 10 year olds who are playing their second year of kid pitch.  Our team is made up of 8 and 9 year olds (and even one 7 year old!) who have only played 4 kid pitch games total.  The Voodoo fought hard though, and ended up in the championship game of the consolation bracket (after going 3-1 in the tournament).  Unfortunately, it was a blow out.  But our boys kept their heads high and their sense of humor, and they got through with great attitudes.  

Rhys pitched the first game on Sunday, and after a some big hits in the first inning, he kept his wits about him and pitched a great game.  He managed to stay in and throw strikes for the entire game, which proved to be very important since we ended up in three games on Sunday!  

Crazy Sock Day

Griffin's fall season of baseball wrapped up a few weeks ago with Crazy Sock Day. We have nothing but good things to say about Griffin's baseball season.  His coaches were great; they were very positive, taught the kids a ton, and went above and beyond to make things extra fun. Hopefully the team can stay together in the spring!  But, for now, Griffin is in baseball hiatus.  Basketball is starting soon (which he's very excited about), and Griffin continues to do (and love) gymnastics.

 

Boo!

We skipped our traditional Halloween party this year in favor for a more mellow night of trick-or-treating with friends.  Avery was the Corpse Bride, Rhys was Severus Snape, and Griffin was black Spiderman.

Tales from the Academy - October edition

Another fun-filled month and lots more terrible quality cell phone pictures...

Trying to chunk balls with Peruvian slings they made.

Griffin and his buddies making "cave paintings."

Adventures in archaeology.

Griffin's sugar cube step pyramid.

Avery and Aubry get in on the action.

Co-op friends experimenting with moving heavy "Egyptian pyramid bricks."

Making a mummy!

Griffin's canopic jar for the mummy's organs.

Making paper.

We scrapped Math Club this month in favor of a World Series watching party.

The boys headed to a class on Owls at the Nature Center.

Avery and friends prepare for their debate tournaments with a conference call to an animal rights attorney/professor.

Enjoying time with friends after book club.