Solar airship

A few weeks ago I came across a website with all sorts of crazy things that I though the kids would like.  Space hoppers (picture big bouncy balls with handles), a hologram chamber, balls that have an odd center of gravity, etc.  The box came earlier this week and it's been a hit (although perhaps one space hopper would have been enough).

Included in the box was a solar airship which promised 20 feet of fun.  Mr. 9 has been wanting to try it so tonight we headed out to the park to see how it would fly.  Mr. 0 was freshly awake from his nap and well-fed so I hoped that he could be a little patient while we figured it out.  We headed out to the field and got it out, immediately attracting the attention of a two boys from the playground who ran over to join us.  Perhaps I should add that the 20 feet of black plastic the airship is made out of is very thin and easily punctured.  I clipped off one end and tried to run backwards down the field to fill the bag with air.  With five helpers and one very unhappy baby on the sidelines.  Things were not looking good.

I managed to get it filled and tied off.  But how can any young boy resist chasing 20 feet of giant balloon?  So there was much laughing and chasing and accidental holes in the airship.  I sent Mr. 9 home for some tape while I tried to calm Mr. 0 down and keep the smaller kids away from the ship.  We patched up as best we could and tried again.  With still more help.  I was starting to think the whole thing was a mistake but Mr. 7 and Mr. 9 were still enthusiastic that we could get this thing off the ground.

Finally our young friends headed home and Mr. 3 got himself in enough trouble that he ended up strapped in the stroller.  I still had a moderately unhappy baby and an airship with holes but with enough tape we got it filled.  It never really rose in the air like the picture but the boys had a wonderful time chasing it down the field.  I sat down with Mr. 0 to watch them and he pulled up on me and kissed my face (big, open-mouth, slobbery kisses) while Mr. 3 ran down the field laughing with Mr. 7 and Mr. 9 in hot pursuit.  It sometimes takes some patching up to get there, but it's all worth it for moments like that.