Time for new pics

Hello again everybody! It has been quite some time since the last post, mostly because Tim was traveling for work for several months and Kris had her hands full with the Monkey. There has been quite the goings on though, which we have to report about. 

Torben started preschool, really full time playtime - like that's anything new, its just with more kids - at A Child's Garden this summer. Five days a week, 8 to 5 pm. There apparently was a high pitched wailing and gnashing of teeth, followed by tantrums and an attempt to chain himself to the chair the following day to avoid his return to school. The pictures are representative of his behavior, though these are from his current fall session at preschool, are indicative of the previous response. Yes, he hated playing with all the new boys and girls his own age, his friends Leo, Alec and Skye. Yes, he hated constructing noodle dioramas, fake shark tanks from soda bottles and neo-modern representations of paper spaghetti. The bear was much more pleased about his situation.

Also, while I was gone, Kris and Torben accompanied the Lee-Lewis and Zanios clans on a rafting trip along the Chama river. An excellent time was had by all. Kris tried to make friends with all the rocks in the river, Torben reported being stuck a number a times. The boys enjoyed fishing with sticks, throwing rocks, melting marshmallows and sleeping in tents, and spending most of the time naked. Torben was really happy to be a "camper".

This almost fall we have developed some caterpillar webs in our cottonwood tree. Torben was convinced they were made by a giant spider, and only until recently were we able to see and extract some of the caterpillars. We don't know what kind they are but here are a few pics, maybe some of our more bug orientated friends will be able to identify.

Torben has learned a new trick. As you know he has been riding his balance bike for over a year now, and he has ridden that thing everywhere. However, based on the success of Alec (who is actually a few months younger) and his transition from balance to pedal bike, Torben would like to unveil his new skill. Look everybody, no training wheels!

we first started learning how to fall and put his foot down. And then after a getting him set on the bike in the ready position, he was off. There where a number "oh, oh oh, oh!"s emitted, keep in mind there was never a single "oh", the string was mandatory. But after a couple of days, he can now ride all the way to the local pool. Still has some trouble on the get up and go, but he will get there.