Gavin's 9th Birthday

Gavin's all-boy birthday party was an outdoor affair, a risky adventure in early November in Seattle, at our favorite local park Seward Park. Much fun was had and surprisingly only a few injuries.
img_0002 Zoe helping decorate the shelter.
Zoe helping decorate the shelter.
img_0005 Scouting out the possibilities. Mighty nice of the Parks Dept to blow the leaves into largish piles.
Scouting out the possibilities. Mighty nice of the Parks Dept to blow the leaves into largish piles.
img_0008 The boys have discovered exactly what all these leaves are perfect for.
The boys have discovered exactly what all these leaves are perfect for.
img_0010 Look at that pile! A perfect crashpad.
Look at that pile! A perfect crashpad.
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img_0016 Aidan, Tage and Gavin still gathering. You know the boys in line are thinking "OK, OK, let's go!".
Aidan, Tage and Gavin still gathering. You know the boys in line are thinking "OK, OK, let's go!".
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img_0034 Leaf fight!
Leaf fight!
img_0035 Break #1 - home-made chicken soup. The camping stove came to our rescue. In the foreground are some of the books the boys brought for the book exchange.
Break #1 - home-made chicken soup. The camping stove came to our rescue. In the foreground are some of the books the boys brought for the book exchange.
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img_0039 Explaining the rules of Capture the Flag.
Explaining the rules of Capture the Flag.
img_0045 Capture the Flag stand-off as each boy is safely still on their team's side.
Capture the Flag stand-off as each boy is safely still on their team's side.
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img_0051 Gavin on the prowl for the flag.
Gavin on the prowl for the flag.
img_0052 Ninja boy?
Ninja boy?
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img_0058 Refueling pitstop.
Refueling pitstop.
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img_0062 And, finally, the book exchange. Kind of miraculous to see all these 8 and 9 year old crazy bundles of boy energy stop what they're doing and simply read.
And, finally, the book exchange. Kind of miraculous to see all these 8 and 9 year old crazy bundles of boy energy stop what they're doing and simply read.