Snow DayZ

Will and I are getting better at remembering to bring the camera when we go adventuring. Sometimes we even remember to take pictures.

Two Saturdays ago we went to the Building Museum. It's big, open, and mostly empty, but there is a fun play area for kids. AND it's true the gift shop is marvellous. I had some idea of being able to brag to Jon about going to the building museum and learning incredible things, but aside from admiring the Iconic columns (or Doric maybe?), playing with gigantic lego's, taking a quick dip in the fountain, and hastening through the Green Room with two noisy exuberant monkeys in tow, there's not much to report. It was enjoyable, but only becasue we were all out together. We could have been doing anything, and it would have been just as pleasant. After the museum we wandered toward the Metro, on our way we stopped at two more fountains (the Navy Monument and a reflecting pool in the statue garden). I think the next time we travel into D.C. we should simply tour the fountains. It felt so relaxing to be around people lazying about with their feet in the water and soaking up the fine weather.

Last Saturday we went and got lost on the Scott's Run trails. It was hot, humid but thankfully not crowded. We saw a water fall and climbed a schist mountain, crawled through stream beds, and counted up kayakers on the river. It was great. And there were so many bugs- dragon flies, butterflies, termites, centipedes, grubs. I think Isabella was in heaven. We'll have to go get lost again.


As a side note: Either we're the most boring couple ever, or we weren't really lost because neither Will nor I had anything cutting to say to the other while we tramped through the woods. Although I did think to worry that we might run out of water.



And finally Memorial Day. We went to the local festival with friends. Isabella was really disappointed that it wasn't a kite festival, but she did get to ride a pony and we spent a fortune on the obstacle course. Later in the day we went to see Sara and Jordan. It stormed so swimming was cancelled. Boo Hoo.

A few years ago my cousin sent me an spam/email that circulates around mother's day. It's called "Before I was a mother" and it lists how much better mother's had it before they had children. And then it finishes with a real sentimental line that reads something like this: Before I was a mother, I didn't know my heart could beat outside of my body. I always tear up at that part. So Yeah, I never really like getting that email. It's cheesy.

Anyhow, Willy took my picture today while we were out. And I started to think before I was a mother... gorgeousness was a little easier to achieve. In fact I used to be pretty darn attractive without trying, after all Willy married me and he's got impeccable taste. It's a shame my modeling career never really took off- then I could really live in the past! And that got me thinking about the future. I always pictured myself as being a chubby cookie baking grandma. I think I could be that beautiful cuddly type of grandma someday, so now I'm convinced that this is just the awkward interim phase. Kind of like a second puberty. Besides I don't feel any less stunning, until I remember I haven't washed my hair in a week, and notice I've got banana smeared across my shirt which still doesn't fit. Easy details to ignore. And it is after all a lot easier to focus parenting my children without being ogled by strangers.

Earlier last week Isabella packed up everything onto her 'boat' (aka white rug). I think she was playing at Noah's Ark. What really bothered me was that I'd just picked up the whole room and turned around to get the vacuum. You know, to vacuum.

My usual frustrated words are: "You Crazy Kids. What are you doing?" Once I tried to teach Isabella to say: "Mommy I'm only three, it's my job to drive you nuts." Instead she responds to my outbursts with, "I'm creating Chaos. Me and Luke, we're chaos." And I love 'em anyway.

Isabella has two standard conversation starters

1. What are you going to be for Hallowe'en?
   You can be anything you want- but you can't change your mind no matter how many times you get asked. Isabella, on the otherhand is going to be.... a) The man in the yellow hat, b) The Emperor with lightning coming out of my hands, c) A mean dinosaur with sharp teeth arrrrrr!!!!, d) a pumpkin, e) Lightning McQueen cha-ching. Yes she does sound effects.
   
   
2. Are we on a boat?
   NEVER answer this question. It's a trick. Inevitably you'll be on your way to the park, the museum, the grocery store, the library, or mars. Isabella prefers to go by boat, but any conveyance will do.

Isabella has also mastered some of the subtleties of making friends

Name Calling:
"Leave me alone, you furrball"

An invition to play chase me until you drop:
"There's a Fox Chasing Me. I'm going to run away. AHHHHHH!!!"