We visited the renovated Seattle Aquarium today with our kids and had a wonderful time. There are many interesting exhibits to see and we plan to go back soon.

One thing I noticed is that as many of us grow older we go from doing to watching. One example would be that I used to play a lot of basketball and baseball. Now I spend far more time watching both on TV.

At the aquarium, this point was driven home as I noticed the exhibits my kids found most interesting were those that included a hands-on element. One particular exhibit was an open tank that included various marine life that encouraged the kids to gently touch. They kids loved touching starfish, crabs and various colorful sea anemone. They couldn’t believe how rough and scratchy the starfish felt.

Kids love to touch, and move and play with items. As adults sometimes we’d rather step back and observe. It was fun to watch our kids enjoy the exhibits, but it was even more enjoyable getting my hands wet with my kids as we learned about sea life.

Kim does a good job of jumping in to whatever activity the kids are doing and playing alongside them like when she and Luca play the piano together.

I’m going to do a better job of getting involved at that level with my kids even if it means getting dirty of wet. Or both.

It’s impossible to take a good picture of my two youngest kids. They pull faces, stick their tongues and won’t stand still. I think I give up.

Lincoln and Anna Lynn. Both showing off goofy faces and new haircuts.

Anna: Here is my chocolate cake. (it was really a white pizza crust)

Luca: That’s not chocolate! It’s white.

Anna: It’s chocolate in my pretend.

I woke up this morning and found myself in the middle of a tea party hosted by our kids. This is the first official tea party I recall attending and it was clear from the start that I wasn’t privy to all the rules. Here are a few things I learned by attending the tea party:

1. You can’t just show up to the party looking like you rolled out of bed. A dress code exists that includes “nice shoes and no T-shirts”. No exceptions.
2. Preparing for the tea party is just as important as the party itself. As a rule of thumb, expect the prep time to take three times as long as the party.
3. You are served at a tea party. You don’t place an order. “it’s not a restaurant”.
4. Girls serve the food, boys pour the tea. This rule is set in stone, I’m told.
5. Colors matter. Oh boy do they matter as I learned when I tried using a green cup with a yellow plate. This won’t happen again. Lesson learned.
6. The typical spread at a tea party is “cake, pizza, chocolate milk, water, chili, bread, cereal…..” Pretty much everything except tea.
7. Attending a tea party requires a good imagination. The plastic piece of pizza pulled in triple duty as the pizza, cake and bread.
8. When the party is over, the attendees are responsible for picking up their plates, dishes and cups. I guess they weren’t kidding when they said this “isn’t a restaurant”.

I learned a lot more at the tea party than I expected and it was fun to see how the three kids worked together to pull it off. Luca and Anna loved matching up the plates and cups and preparing the food. Lincoln was just happy to be included. As best I could tell, Lincoln spent the entire time on “watch the teapot” duty.

It might have been the first tea party I’ve attended, but I can’t imagine attending a better one.

One of the kids favorite summer activities is running through the sprinklers. I bought an old-school, yellow Nelson sprinkler today that shoots out a great stream of water to run through. Both Anna and Luca ran through in their clothes. Lincoln decided to strip down and run across the front yard without a stitch of clothing. We didn’t bother with swimsuits this time around since it was late and the kids could change from wet clothes to their pajamas just as easily.

I enjoyed seeing the joy in the kids eyes as they danced around the sprinkler. Kids seem to have their own language when they are in the moment. It’s as if the adults don’t exist and they are in their own little world of bliss.

Is there such thing as a “Sprinkler of Youth”?

Here’s Luca in soaked clothes but having a blast.

I know that we are having another baby but since Kim doesn’t complain at all, it’s not always on the front burner. We are very excited to welcome our fourth child into our home come early December. I was waiting for Kim to make this public on her blog, but she’s been a blogging slacker lately. I figure it’s fair game since we’ve told most of our friends and family.

Tonight I purchased an infant car seat from Albee Baby which is our favorite online retailer for kids stuff. I couldn’t decide between Britax and Peg Perego. My friend who researches everything to death has both so I don’t think I can go wrong with either brand. We like our Maclaren twin stroller so much that I’d look at that brand first but they do not make infant car seats.

It will be fun to have a baby around the house again. Luca is convinced we’re having a baby boy and says she “wants a baby Lincoln”. A boy would make it 2 boys and 2 girls. But a baby girl would be fine too. A healthy baby and mom is what we’re after.

Do you remember the first Home Alone movie where the neighbor boy named Mitch Murphy comes over to pester the guy in the van who is getting ready to take Kevin and his family to the airport?

Mitch Murphy: “I live across the street. You guys going out of town? We’re going to Orlando, Florida. Well, actually, first we’re going to Missouri to pick up my grandma. Did you know the McCallisters are going to France? Do you know if it’s cold there? Do these vans get good gas mileage?”

It’s the last question the makes the scene work and it’s that question that reminded me of my son, Lincoln, as I was trying to get ready for church this morning. He was peppering me with all sorts of random questions such as, “When I get home from church can I be the first to play the little Nintendo?”

Lincoln is an inquisitive kid. But he doesn’t like vague or general answers to his question. When he asks when Grandpa is coming to visit, our other kids will accept an answer of “In about two weeks”. But not Lincoln. He wants to know the exact day of the week and time. And he will continue to ask questions until he gets a satisfactory answer.

Remind me to set aside more time next week to get ready for church.

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I’ve never been more proud of anyone than I was of Luca tonight. She had her first piano recital in front of at least 50 people at the church.

The recital included about 20 other kids and Luca was first on the program. And it’s a good thing because she was nervous and had a hard time introducing her number. Kim walked up on stage with her and helped settle her down.

But once Luca sat at the piano she was so calm and collected it came through in her music. She played “There stands a little man” from Hansel and Gretel. She played at the right pace and hit all the right notes. She was absolutely fantastic! She has a real gift and talent for music that we hope to cultivate over the years. She must have Kim’s music gene.

I wish we had captured her playing on tape for you to see. I never thought that watching my 6 year old daughter play the piano would have such an impact on me. But watching her play tonight went right to my heart.