boating
We took the canoe out this morning for the first time this year. Usually I'm the one to push for the boating, but I'm kind of a lump these days so the boys had to ask me more than once before I got going. Of course, once we were out on the water I was so glad they'd made me do it.
the best of life
The trip could even be counted as homeschooling, because yesterday we were doing some experiments on what sinks and what floats, which led to a discussion of boats and an engineering challenge to create something that could float a brick in our wading pool. Elijah took to it with a will, and put together a beautiful craft.
boatbuilder
The mast and flag was added after the brick trial. He found that his boat had enough buoyancy to hold the brick but not enough stability, so every time it tipped over—rather than improve it he thought to repurpose it as a conveyance for small plastic toys. He tells me the letters on the flag are just random.
Making the boats was challenging, and all three of us who attempted it found it hard to keep our seams from leaking. Funnily enough, we had the same problem with the canoe this morning: since last year a crack opened up in the bottom towards the bow which we found to let in water at a rate that, while not enough to feel like an emergency, was enough that we didn't want to try any long crossings. That was fine, though, since we had a perfectly satisfactory alternate activity available.
the best part of boating
And of course the swimming is better when you do it on purpose. Plans are afoot for swift repairs, because the boys want another boat trip soon!