Tongue-Tied

I haven't had much to say for myself. We're rocking steady around here. Jasper had croup last night, but was in great spirits all day today. It didn't hurt that we spent the bulk of the day outside at Lincoln Park in West Seattle. It was crisp but sunny and clear. We got there early for nature class and so we set up a picnic in a sunny corner of the forest. Lincoln Park is a maze of treasures - paths leading every which way, through a meadow, along a hedge, traversing the forests, winding down hills to the beach, along the top of a ridge overlooking Puget Sound. Wading pools and playgrounds pop up here and there as you walk along. Some of the trees in the park are close to 200 years old. I laid out a blanket in the sun and the kids sat there with me munching for about... 3 minutes before taking off running through the forest, Jasper a lion. I forgot what Lucy was, but she tells me "Remember, I was a little gnome?" Oh, yes, a little gnome. It was almost painfully cute to see them literally tee-hee-heeing their way through the trees and over and around and around little mounds, into brambles, across long stretches of grass.

After all that, the nature class itself almost seemed beside the point. But we did get to hang out with sweet friends, see an eagle quite close-up and pillage the bones of small rodents from pellets of owl poo. Plus Jasper got to chase around a big boy (almost 9 yrs old) named Emmet. Emmet also pushed Jasper around in his stroller - which I don't usually bring anymore, but thought Jasper might need if he got tuckered from his night of croup. Emmet is silly, well really more funny than silly says Lucy. And fun to play with. The fresh air and sunshine did us all wonders... Now I go to give Lucy her last snuggle and help Rob with (hopefully) the last dish...