ClydeFEST

a few weeks ago, we had a grand outing with Just Jonas and Aunt Maggie at ClydeFEST, an art festival for children.

 Clyde is known for making 'critters' out of wood

 my friend hazel and her family were there too - Lucy (hazel's middle child is the girl in the green - she fit right into the fam)

 working together, Jonas and Luci painted an awesome penguin that we now have hanging proudly on a post on our deck.

 apparently I am Italian. I talk with my hands.

Kai wrote this beautiful message to Luci after the day:

The best moment was while we were watching the Bouncing Bulldogs, a jump rope team. They gave a show and then some of the jumpers came out to recruit volunteers from the audience. The girl next to you was selected, but you weren't. You didn't care. You just followed her up to the stage and waited for your turn to jump rope. We're not sure that they were looking for everyone to come up and join in, but it didn't matter- you were definitely going to jump rope. 

So, you are standing there in line, waiting to jump rope. I think this bravery came a little bit from your recent desire to host shows for us, but this time you had a large and unfamiliar audience. We were impressed that you were up there at all.

I turned to your mother, Jonas, and Maggie and said you had never jumped rope before. I was worried that it wasn't going to work out- that you wouldn't be able to do it. You were wearing a cute little shirt with flowers and three necklaces, with purple clips in your hair.

The first kid was a pro, she had obviously done this before. The next few kids jumped rope just fine. Then it was your turn. They told you to start jumping and you did. You had the rhythm down perfectly and the girls turning the ropes did great working with you. It was awesome. I was so proud of you. You jumped straight through your turn without messing up, necklaces flying everywhere, huge smile on your face. It's probably just that I'm your Dad, but the crowd was cheering hard for you because you were so adorable.

I told you afterward how proud I was of you, but I doubt it really sunk in today. Maybe when you read this later, you'll understand a little. When you have your own kids, you'll completely understand. I mean, you got up in front of a large crowd and performed a show doing something that you had never done before. You were so brave and so adorable.