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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.