Gardens Galore

Yesterday my MIL took me and my kids as well as two other nephews and a niece to Longwood Gardens. I had heard about it several times but had never been. It was truly beautiful. A must for the lover of all things planted and anyone else who appreciates prettiness.


The kids were all given children's maps and referred to them often.




Ethan decided that there should be statues under these arches.




There were at least three different tree houses. They were every kids dream and I took pics so Dennis could replicate someday.



Also know for its fountains, this was a definite highlight for all the kids.




This was the "covered porch" as they called it in the Peirce-du Pont House. Again, I took pics for Dennis to use as an example for when we build. I know he's going to be thankful!

The kids were most interested in the cat napping here. We later found out that there are several cats on the property (though this is the only one we saw) who are considered employees. They each have a place where they live complete with kitty doors, are fed and given check ups all in exchange for rodent control. This one must have been on break.

Next stop was the conservatory where there was a Indoor Children's Garden. Even though it wasn't huge they could have stayed there all day.

Here the girls are getting a Lima bean with a wet cotton ball to take home for germination. At some point poor Ella lost hers and my sweet E gave hers to her cousin. I was so proud of her generosity and that it wasn't prompted by me!

There was a small room with paintbrushes and they could dip them in the fountain and paint the walls or anything else in there. Great idea to use at home.

He LOVED playing with the water.

Did NOT love when it was time to move on.

He was soaked, but they provided towels.

When I wouldn't let him do this,

he threw a fit like this. Oh yes, discipline days have been here for a while now.

There were the biggest lily pads I have ever seen.

There were monkeys under the banana tree.

Playing in the Topiary Garden. It felt very "secret garden" to me.

Then they got thirsty. This was more fun than their water bottles.

At the chimes tower.

The falls below the chimes tower.

The Eye of Water

Our navigators. 6 kids, 5 1/2 hrs of walking, no meltdowns. A successful day.

We went back to MIL's for dinner and the wheat had just been cut and baled.

Den wanted to ride back to check out his clover fields and we found wine berries. I thought they were so pretty, and tasty.

So did V.

4th

So all this actually took place on the 3rd, but that's how it is around here. You don't actually have to celebrate the 4th on the 4th. I've adjusted to this. Anywho....we spent it with Dave and Liz who will love this pic I have of them chewing our yum dinner of steak, sweet potato fries, sweet corn and pasta salad. The weather was gorgeous and the kitchen was hot so we dined alfresco.

We then sat outside to watch distant fireworks that turned out to be more distant than I thought they were, but we could still see them lower on the horizon. The kids were crawling all over Dennis.

He was mesmerized.

No. This is NOT a body someone dumped in our yard. It's my husband who can fall asleep anywhere. I almost left him there all night, for fun....then I thought better of it.

Lake 2009

We usually refer to this trip as "the mountains" but they are more like really, really, big hills to me. Anyway, another year has come and gone and it was a good one. This was the first year that we left a day early, and the weather never got too hot, the kids (and adults :) got a long splendidly, and we brought badminton. I was excited about the badminton. It is a sport that represents the peak of my athletic skills. My family (mostly Haselton side) will know more what this means. SO here are some shots of the trip, I'll note a few but leave the rest for you to figure out.

He sat there for the longest time, picking rocks out of the cracks.

He would climb into the gazebo and dance.

Preparing to take on Warrior's Trail.

Completion of the Warrior's Trail.

He LOVED the water.

He needed this little scare.

The kids watching Uncle Michael try to catch a snapping turtle.

Testing the launcher for the water balloon battle. (the launchers broke)

Spectators.

It was ON.

He is saying "ball" in his unique way. It sounds more like "bowl".

J and his cousin Rustin built this for the spaceship.

They were trying to catch fish.

Busted his lip open, boo.