the RastaMan gave us Hope. Then Chinatown.

It started as an innocent day of sight-seeing.  I not so expertly tourguided my MIL, BIL, and SIL into the great city of our Nations Capital. This was their first time witnessing such greats as the Washington Memorial:

and the obligatory group pose in front of the Capital building.

and then, quite unexpectedly, as we entered pergatory The Natural History Museum a Hu-mon-go Elephant comes charging at us! (cue Elepant noise)

and right behind him? A whole FLEET of horses, goats, and that fluffy thing with 4 legs (as seen on bottom right. and next to him? I think a RAM.  Which is my zodiac sign power animal.  So, totally, relevant)

"LUNCH. You will be my LUNCH. NOM NOM NOM"

We ran to the nearest cave and sought solace with a seemingly friendly family.  Until we noticed they were...burying some....GUY?! What in the Name OF ALL THAT IS HOLY!" (yes. I become religious all of sudden.  Fear can do this)

So we HIGH TAILED it like bunny rabbits out of there and found ourselves in AFRICA!.  I know! How does this happen?! Maybe when you "get God" you can end up in Africa? (shrug). We came across this lady who offered us some native vegtables..."You must regain your strength. Your journey does not end here."

Well. Then. Let's get it on with it...

These Africans sure can write...I'm glad I'm African now...

And then BAM! We are swimming in some Ocean wonderland of outrageous JELLYFISH! Which I'm totally allergic too. So, you know, ME SCARED!

And whales of UNREASONABLE sizes! (NOT allergic to whales.  File under: goodtoknow)

We paddled to the nearest shoreline.  Paddles we just happened to have. Because...yeah, like I always say: NEVER leave home without a paddle!  OR TWO!  So we found these guys.  I know. Put some PANTS on. Get a haircut.  GAWD! DAMN TREE HUGGERS! p.s. what's with the legs on that horse??

But they were nice enough to make us a fire to dry off a bit from that DUD of a canoe ride.

 I admired his abs. He said he liked my teeth. We were cool.

He told us of butterflies and how they would lead us to the next adventure...but...

This is BULLSHIT.  We all know the butterflies were out hitting up Happy Hour in Chinatown...

What were we to do??

Yup. We discovered the Rasta-man IS GOOD. That is all...ahem,yes..

and then...The Hope Diamond.  (Which, BTW, this picture, TOTALLY gives it justice!)

speaking of Happy Hour in Chinatown...

"I must have been dreaming!"

This is what I look like after half a pitcher of Sangria...what? After a day of being chased by elephants, cavemen and giant jelly fish...I think it is SO. VERY. In order....

*clink*

Wordless

Saturday Morning

What Saturday mornings should look like...Cartoons, cereal, snuggles...

Except there is just one little thing...not right...

Do you see it?

Apparently I didn't secure the diaper at ALL very well...Yeah, now there's pee on my couch.  And on the husbands pants.  Awesome.

Just another Saturday morning with the Easy E's...

On wandering and purpose

What is this thing they call age-appropriate? The other morning we went to the local community center and participated in an obstacle course with about 15 or so other toddlers.  This is as much fun as you would expect.  15 kids. One room.  Bless you kindergarten teachers! Milo buys into this chaos for about 15 or so minutes...

 "Why are you making me walk on this...piece. of. wood. NOT. FUN."

"Am I entertaining? Why are you taking a PICTURE? NOT SMILING =NOT FUN."

But he gets restless and overwhelmed so Milo discovers the door and he's outta there!  Of course, I initially wanted to pull him back in -force him to stay in the room -jumping, crawling, balancing, tumbling with the other kids: "THIS IS SO FUN, LOOK MILO...HEY BACK HERE, STAY WITH MAMA!"...but I decided to let him go explore with daddy....because, really, I couldn't blame the kid...

And my little Marco Polo wanders down the hall and discovers...

a room SO BIG SO QUIET with one lone man playing basketball (not pictured)...

WoW! The Wonderment! He just stood there (which is novel in and of itself) and watched a man play basketball.  His eyes followed the ball, dribbling up and down, swoosh through the basket and bouncing around the court -the sound echoing clearly. His eyes scanned the bleachers, looked up to the skylights and scoreboard. I felt like I was witnessing a moment in my little boy...

"Wait a minute daddy, just one more minute..."

Funny when given a room full of age-appropriate (more or less) playthings and friends, Milo wanders into the Gym and seems to be more calm, happy and, dare I say, inspired...Moments like these always make me wonder about foreshadowing...and what we consider "age-appropriate."

I know that just because he dances to adult-alternative music doesn't mean he's going to become a pro modern dancer or an indie musician. Or when he "fist pumps" in the car to Lady Gaga, it doesn't mean he's going to be a conductor of a symphony orchestra. Or a gay club DJ.

I  know just because he prefers an "adult" spoon to a plastic spoon while eatting his cereal doesn't mean he's going to be a Food Network Star.
And just because he was awe-struck by the basketball court doesn't mean he's going to sign a 25 million dollar contract with the NBA and buy mama a waterfront, Mediterranean style home in Tahiti.

But, as a mother, it sure is fun to muse on all the roads my little one can take. Soon enough I'll be looking into his eyes, saying what so many other parents have said to their young ones who are exploring their interests, their lives...finding a talent, a passion...

"You can do whatever you set your mind to."

and truely mean it.

-even if it isn't recognized in a room considered to be full of age appropriate-ness...As many parents have discovered...it's the toys outside the box that are way more fun...

Doesn't this pic say 25 million dollar contract ALL OVER IT?

"wordless" or swiffer the wall Wednesdays

Penguin Plunge or Crazy Bitches

This was my first time witnessing a New Years Day Penguin Plunge. Oh. My. (25 degrees!)Word. Supposedly it's to raise money for a good cause like Autism or Frostbitefluhives.  A friend and I made it out to witness the crazy that is running into freezing water -in this case it's the Chesapeake Bay- going about 1000 yards or maybe it's a mile, I'm bad with distances and measuring in general and then running back and then being all WUUUUUUU!! AHHHHH! coming out of the water all red and RED and then everyone is laughing and shivering and finding their way to the bonfire and maybe a free cup of hot chocolate or cider and then we went home.  The End.

I don't make this stuff up, ya'll. Here's some photos (of course...)

Crazy Bitches. Indeed.

first night, last night 2009 comparative

1/1/09

12/31/09

Still good lookin' after all that year...