Anders and Auggie came over for a sleepover on Friday evening.  We had planned to do a "campout" on my deck.  Which amounted to grilling hotdogs, pineapple kabobs, and marshmallows on the hibachi. They were way clear that they didn't intend to actually sleep outside.

First I set Auggie up to peel a cucumber (which took about 20 minutes) and then slice it.  He loves to make a sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic dressing for the cucumbers. 

Anders put together the pineapple kabobs.  He also went off on a tangent, pureeing some pineapple and mixing it with Splenda and trying to insert it into straws.  He had some idea about making a sweet straw snack.  Didn't really work, but it kept him busy for awhile.

Around six o'clock, we decided to start our cooking.  Robert had set up the hibachi with briquets on the deck table for me before he left in the afternoon.  The boys settled in on the loveseat with blankets, and we watched the hibachi coals begin to glow red and turn gray. 

While they tended their hotdogs on sticks, I read them a picture book about endangered animals, who create an event with a dinosaur to bring attention to their plight.  It involves making a big fake dinosaur, with instructions on how to make a paper dinosaur.  You leave holes on the dinosaur and put your fingers through the holes to make the legs. 

Anders was immediately excited about the idea of making one.  The next morning, he showed his mom, Eliza, the instructions.  This pure enthusiasm so warms my heart.  Anders, Auggie, and probably Chloe are all still young enough to get excited about making a paper dinosaur with finger holes. My guess is that Trevor-- being all grown-up at nine-- may not have gone for the finger-hole thing.