Water Babies

We tried going to the lake the other night. When we arrived we were met by some violent thunderstorms. While watching the turbulent cells rumble across the water was awe inspiring, being exposed on the shore didn't seem very safe. So we went home with a car full of angrily disappointed kids.

We went back the next afternoon and mother nature was in a better mood. All the kids loved splashing in the water. More than hour later it took a lot of work dragging them out even though they were all purple lipped and shivering.

Oh Black Water

We played in the Congaree swamp yesterday. The kids loved the black water.
Reuben was so impressed, he tried pretty hard to fall into it. Miri wiggled out of her shoes and sprinted laughing and barefoot for a good mile of path. She looked like a wild swamp sprite.

I told Amy if I believed in air freshners, which I don't, I'd want one that smelled like deep swamp forest. I love that smell of dark, damp, ancient primeval forest. Ahhh.

Creeking

A cool muddy creek filled with soggy cousins, who could ask for anything more?

Among the Trees

When I am among the trees,

especially the willows and the honey locust, 

equally the beech, the oaks,

and the pines,

they give off such hints of gladness.

I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,

in which I have goodness, and discernment,

and never hurry through the world

but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves

and call out, “Stay awhile.”

The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,

“and you too have come 

into the world to do this,

to go easy, to be filled

with light, and to shine.”

by Mary Oliver

 Reuben and Miri enjoy taking everything one step farther. 

True Story

Problem solved. Kind of...

19 months

This is the point where we stop counting months and just say Miri is a year and a half.  I don't know if I should cheer or cry. I don't have a baby anymore. This child is ready to reign.

A Secret

Isn't it cold and miserable outside? That means, it is seriously the BEST time of the year to be in DC. This is THE time to go to the Smithsonian. The school groups are gone. The tourists are gone. The steamy 90* humidity is gone. 

The museums are warm and empty and overly staffed with eager and helpful volunteers bored out of their minds. Go anywhere on a weekday or early on a weekend and you can probably score a personal tour. This past week the kids and I were escorted through the reptile house at the National Zoo.

The friendly volunteer walked us through, providing insider knowledge on the personalities of most of the animals on exhibit.  He also pulled out different snake skins and let my kids handle them, then let us go back into the resource room to get a look at preserved reptile skeletons, eggs, and teeth as well as the giant salamander breeding tanks. 

My kids showed their keen appreciation for natural history by asking well thought out and pertinent questions and carefully observing the different animals. NOPE. Make that, swinging on the bars by the crocodile exhibit for ten minutes. 

The volunteer to Reuben, Do you know why snakes stick out their tongues?

Reuben: They like to lick. What do you like to lick? 

After the reptile house Reuben begged to go to the Amazon house. Here we are at the ray tank.

Feb 16, 2012

Feb 5, 2011

Back at the ranch Reuben drew his first person. According to Reuben, the circle with two small circles is Miriam. She is wearing a hat and mittens. It is snowing.

Here is Miriam, as Cosette, trying to sweep all the leaves off our street.