Animal Maps

Constructing maps of continents out of various toys is a popular activity these days, so I decided to get one or two on record. The best part of the first one is when Alex corrects Ben's pronunciation of "Tajikistan". (By the way, if you're wondering, Ben is dressed up as Teddy the wizard from the Magic Treehouse books).




Alex chose to make his map out of stuffed animals, instead. It's of Africa. Unfortunately the camera memory card filled up before he got to tell us the North African countries. (He's dressed as Kathleen, the selkie/wizard from M.T.)

Beach Boys

Last week marked the very first beach vacation for A&B, which they and we enjoyed in the company of all the usual Yoderae. Actually going in the water was a bit scary for Alex, but the beach and rental house had many other attractions, including cousins, treats, and lots of sand for digging and shells for collecting. It was a wonderful week!

Burying Mama/Aunt Sarah in the sand

Mole crabs!

Grandpa taking pictures of dolphins

Saving a dinosaur from drowning, I think....

Presents from Italy!

Digging for shells

No one can resist Grandma reading Nate the Great.

There was birding too! Here is a Clapper Rail.

Slipping and Sliding in Cincinnati

Last week we got to see our friend and mutual geography geek Danny on the way to Cincinnati. In addition to his big world puzzle, Danny has wild turkeys in his backyard, and the National Aviary in his city! What a lucky duck!

Wild turkeys in Danny's yard

Alex, Ben and a sunbittern at the Aviary

Then it was on to Cincinnati, where there was big fun on the slip and slide in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard. Grandpa also showed us a map of their upcoming out-west trip.



Then there was a big party, with lots of aunts, uncles and first and second cousins.

People pile!

Go fish

Cameron and Alex have different pie-eating algorithms.

A Weekend in Raleigh

We're just back from a wonderful weekend in North Carolina, where Ben and Alex got to finally meet Great-Aunt Linda, Great-Uncle Doug, Aunt Alexandria*, Uncle Brad, Aunt Christa, and cousin Hank (who has his own blog). There was swimming, hiking, food (including pie), a dog... pretty much all the good stuff, especially: family.

* "First cousin once removed," while correct for Alexandria, Brad, and Christa, is inelegant, unnecessary, and a mouthful.

Hank & parents in the pool

A&B in the pool

A&B providing a pro bono bird consult for Uncle Brad

A delicious dinner on the patio. (Brad obviously making an important point of some kind).

Hank scoops some watermelon. Yum!

Alex finding a mushroom on our hike. We also found a toad, some mating frogs, and a lovely summer tanager.

A new play space in the basement

What to do when you have too many stuffed animals to store in your living room: buy a new house with a semi-finished basement. We got the basement space cleaned up and "opened" for play the other day. (Eventually, we'll refinish it-- anyone feel like taking out a glass-block-and-brick bar?)

River Ridge Trail

The River Ridge Trail is one of Ben and Alex's favorites in Patapsco State Park (the park near our house), but in winter and spring it often contains an element of disappointment: no, you cannot get in the water. But now, it is summer. Finally: yes, you CAN get in the water.

Found a crayfish

Daryl and the train

Cunningham Falls State Park

Yesterday we headed over to Cunningham Falls State Park, in the Blue Ridge. The short walk to the falls was lovely, and when we got there the boys gleefully hopped around on the rocks "like pikas" as Alex put it (if clueless, click here). After which they splashed and played in the lake for eons... and then, while we were eating ice cream, a ranger showed up with a barred owl. And after that we went down to see the rest of the birds in the park's aviary. So, from an Alex and Ben perspective, it really couldn't have gotten better, unless maybe there was pie or David Attenborough showed up. (And the adults had a good time, too!)

Like pikas, I tell you.

(Not a great pic, but it does have Alex, the ice cream, the ranger and the barred owl in one shot).