Morris Arboretum

Oh, have we ever earned spring this year. Today was up to 60. And sunny. I took the kids to the arboretum, so we could soak in the sunshine and fresh air.

We always have fun in their tree adventure area.

For awhile I couldn't find them, as there were these two little birdies hopping around me.

Ellis and I scrambled around the hammock area, but Marlowe looked on from his vista.

And there were snowdrops, crocuses, and fragrant witch hazel blooming.

With the trees so bare still, we could so much more of our surroundings, including the patches of snow reminding us so much that winter is still on his way out. It is supposed to rain this weekend. Perhaps that will melt the last bits away.

I can't wait for daffodils and cherry blossoms.

Can I just tell you that I am so happy that it's Fall now? Thank you, vernal equinox, and your lovely evenness of day and night. This is my favorite season. I think partly because I'm a school nerd, and I love it. I miss school especially at this time of year. May? not so much. But September? yes. I drive through the urban campuses of two major universities to get to Ellis's speech therapy on Thursdays. Kills me every time. Someday I'll get to sit in libraries again.... Anyway, moving on.

This summer I was so glad that there were no major life changes. Then fall comes, and we up and get ready to move. Next week. Into a rowhouse in the city. I am so excited. We're still renting, but it will be such an improvement in our quality of life. We'll be able to walk to Ellis's school. Have enough space to live sanely. Maybe even have people over, since there will be enough room to put them around a table. Not to mention that we just love living in the city. And a rowhouse is just so Philadelphia. So we're surrounded by boxes. To-do lists swarm my brain, but I actually don't feel stressed that much.

I have high hopes for fall. Color is befalling the trees. A new start with new creativity. A fresh look at my boys. Pumpkin pie. Can't wait. Philly is so beautiful in the fall. I really think it's this city's best season.

Yesterday when we woke up there was a generous dusting of snow on the ground. We went out to play a little, kicking it around, and even made a little snowman (more on that later). About 10 minutes after we came back inside, it started snowing again. And it kept on snowing for a while. I had the brilliant? crazy? idea of going to the arboretum in the snow. It was so magical and picturesque, and a lot of fun to walk through.

Yesterday evening I put together a mosaic of our fun times at the arboretum, through all the seasons. One of my goals last New Years' was to get memberships to lots of places and visit them often. We got memberships to the art museum, the zoo, and the arboretum. The art museum? not worth it. It pays for itself in 4 visits, and I don't think I've been there that many times. I wish I hadn't gotten one. I never go. I tried, but E was a little too difficult to motivate. And then all their kids' programs ended up being on Sunday. I never go by myself either. I suppose I could. There is a Cezanne exhibit down there I'd love to see. I think E might enjoy it more now. My FIL took him there at Christmas and he had a great time. But I think I might just go and pay for individual visits.
The zoo? Worth it. The day's admission is so freaking expensive, that it pays for itself in just a couple of visits. We hardly ever have time for a full day at the zoo, but we do have time for quick pop-ins, especially since we pass it frequently to go to E's speech therapy.
The arboretum? Pays for itself in 6 visits. We've probably gone about 30 times in the past year. Totally worth it! We were going weekly for awhile. And we'll probably continue to go there when the spring starts again. It's a bit cold now, unless you're up for crazy snow hikes. It's really close to our house, so it's easy to pop over there. The only bummer is that it closes so early. March-Nov, closes at 4 on weekdays and 5 on weekends (and at 4 the rest of the year). It would be such a nice place to have an evening stroll in the summer, but it's closed by then. We would probably be there every night if it closed later!
So in 2009, we'll definitely renew our zoo and arboretum memberships, but probably not the art museum. And we'll probably add the new and improved children's museum.

I realized as my molar lay on the dentist's tray that the tooth she had just pulled was my favorite tooth. I know it's silly, but I kind of liked that tooth more than the other teeth and took extra special care of it. Maybe because it was the under-dog molar that never really fit. I don't know. Now there's just a hole there. Recovery is going better than I expected, but I still feel like I was punched in the jaw, and I'm really not looking forward to a repeat of this on the other side in two weeks.

My mom came to help watch the kids so I could go to the dentist. Ellis had off school for Rosh Hashanah (something *I* never got growing up in Christian school) yesterday and off today for teacher inservice. The dentist visit was fast, and I met my mom and boys at the arboretum, numb jaw and all. The arboretum has gotten over its late summer "ugly" hump. It was just looking all dry and worn out, but fall is starting to peek in, and the sedum is gorgeous and leaves are starting to turn. The shimmering linden branches were starting to quiver golden yellow.

I went home with my mom, who fed me soft things, while I watched House and waited for the baby to wake up. He did not disappoint. I finally started looking at the clock. He woke up around 6-7 times between 2.30 and 4.30 and then hourly until morning. This has been going on every night for weeks. A lot of wakefulness. And a lot of crying. Plus Ellis's continued nightly wakeup. He wakes up once and usually crawls in with me, and since I'm dealing with Marlowe, I can't take the time to help him go back to sleep in his own bed, like I used to be able to. About 3 months before Marlowe was born, he was making it all night in his own bed a few times a week. This, too, shall pass. (And b/c of Daddy's work schedule, he is unavailable for nighttime parenting.) I'm kind of bummed. Marlowe started out pretty well, going 3-4 chunks between wakeups, but this past month that has all unraveled. And I've done everything right. All the routines and cues are in place. It's just down to temperament now. And it looks like I'll continue to be a zombie for another 3-4 years. I'm sorry if I forget to do things for you that i said I would.

Anyway, we had an excellent day at my mom's. Ellis was in a terrific mood and had a great day. He even ate a variety of food, including homemade pizza margherita, which, if you knew him, would cause your jaw to drop.

I tried to sew. I actually got a pair of CUUUTE baby jeans made for Marlowe, and started a pair of pumpkin-colored pants for him, but I kept making stupid mistakes and having to rip out seams. The process took a lot longer than it should have.

I love October, it's the falliest month of my favorite season fall. I'm so happy that it's October. And it will be deliciously cool tomorrow.

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It's been a month since we were at the arboretum. Too long. We went on a nice day on Monday. Ellis splashed in the stream. Marlowe nursed under the trees, pausing to coo and stare at the green happiness overhead. Then Ellis wandered to places outside our usual orbit, exploring the ways boys should. It's late summer. The perennials were going strong, but looking tired. The heat. Lack of much rain.

Fourth of July used to be my favorite holiday, back when we went to the parade, were tossed free candy, ate fun food, and went to fireworks. (Actually I think we only did all of the above once. The fireworks in Independence were pretty lame.) The free candy was especially appealing.

Now the Fourth is a hailed as a Day Off. It was nice to have Daddy home in the morning when he isn't usually. We went to the arboretum with our friend Judah. He and Ellis are Three Year Old Boys. They carry sticks, climb things, get very dirty, and pretend they are something else (anywhere from pirates to cats to monkeys). It was a soggy day threatening to downpour at any minute. We did seek shelter under a tree at one point, but mostly evaded a soaking.

In the evening we met up with Judah again and some other friends for a yummy dinner at my ILs. The kids played like crazy in the driveway, but by the time it got dark enough for sparklers, it was raining too hard. Poor kids!

I finally got to dress E and M in their fun matching shirts that Daddy picked out. E loved it. M? not so much.

We did enjoy some good company last week.

On Monday, my pal who lives in France called me on the phone; her baby is a week older than Marlowe. It was great to hear her voice and feel at the same point in baby haze.

Monday afternoon, Erica and her husband and CUUUUTE almost 1yo came to visit. She's my best friend from grad school. She's my twin. Seriously. We have this crazy parallel life! When we get together, I used to catch up on what was going on at the ol' home department. I think I may have inquired about it briefly this time, but we mostly talked about kid stuff: solids, sleeping, etc. You know, the usual. Talking shop has changed a lot. haha! I was a dork, though, and didn't take any pictures. Gah! (You'll have to send me the cell phone pics you took, E).

She brought fun prezzies, too. When Ellis was born, she made this incredible nautical flag quilt. Each block was the alphabet in nautical flags. This time, she made pillows of E and M for Ellis and Marlowe out of the same fabrics. Too cute! Not to mention another fabulous gift E and M received from Erica's SIL, who I barely know, but is a blog buddy. She sent E cute finger puppets and M this really adorable stuffed kitty that made. Loving the handmade goodies from this talented family.

On Friday, Ellis and I took his best GF Maddie and her Mama to the arboretum. They're moving. We're sad. Really sad.

The garden railway was up and running. The roses were in full bloom. Everything was lush and verdant. It was fun sharing one of our favorite places with one of our favorite friends.

On Saturday we went back to the arboretum with more favorite friends. Blogging is great, it gets you in touch with people you'd otherwise never know. Last year, Deaf friends Nick and Keri and their son Lochlan (a tad younger than E) stayed with us on their way to Ocean City. We had such a great time, they came again this year on their way back from OC! (And their in utero #2 will be just younger than Marlowe. yay) Though I don't know who was hosting whom at the end. They were such a great help to our new baby bedraggled selves. And they got to celebrate Ellis's 3rd Bday with us. And again they left and we wished we all lived closer.

We went over to the arboretum again this afternoon. It's hands-down a much better place to walk than, say, the mall. The mall is sort of the cliche place where a pregnant woman who is desperate to have her baby goes to walk and walk. Since I go to the mall maybe once a year, if that, you can see how much appeal that has for me.

When we go over to the arboretum, it seems that one special thing strikes me every time, whether it be birthday daffodils, exhilirating flowering trees, or fiddle-headed ferns. I never know what it's going to be until I get there. Today it was dandelions. Last week, my mom showed Ellis how to Pick a Dandelion and Give to Your Mom. We walked along, and he picked a puffy dandelion for me. I showed him how to blow the puff (sorry, arboretum). Before I knew it we were plopped in the grass blowing puffs and sniffing buttercups. It was magical in the way only a kid can make an pesky weed be.

Before we went over to the arboretum, I was in a majorly crabby mood. I didn't sleep well last night. I'm cumbersome, tired, and huge. blah, blah. I know it sounds cheesy, but being there in the quiet with the green and the trees and the scent of honeysuckle in the air was incredibly soothing. Yes, it really is that idyllic there. Communing with nature is in my roots, and it comforts me in a deep primordial way. I hope I can give my kids a similarly satisfying experience, of pointing out all the details that my parents showed us, to show the pleasure we take in watching the ordering of the seasons, first the bulbs, then the trees, trillium, lilacs...

Ellis noticed the pollen strands littering the sidewalk underneath the oak trees. I showed him a branch with a few strands still attached, and we watched them blow down in the breeze.

We stopped by the little cabin that sits next to a gurgling brook. I sat on the bench and Ellis threw bits of leaves into the stream. I saw a woman painting with her easel set up on the bridge. I thought that if I could paint, I would want to capture the way the sunlight glimmered through the young maple leaves.

I enjoyed this afternoon with E. We have so few remaining, just the two of us. He probably won't remember his life before his brother, but I will.

In a few short weeks, spring has exploded upon the inhabitants of the local arboretum.

My favorites this time were the fiddle heads on the ferns.

And the two crazies who kept me company.