Into Nature

"Let me get a picture of you . . . No, no, you don't need to POSE for the camera. Be nonchalant."

The kids and I have been enjoying our summer hikes as usual this year. We have yet to find any fantastic new hiking spots (we haven't really looked), but we've enjoyed our favorite regular hiking spots such as Raven Run, the Kentucky Palisades, Anglin Falls, etc.

"Ok, maybe that's a little too nonchalant."

Not to mention that this has been an incredibly mild summer here in Lexington, making it the perfect hiking weather (high 70s and low 80s).

This set of pictures is from the Kentucky River Palisades or Tom Dorman State Nature Preserve. It's about 30-45 minutes outside of town, and we were the only ones on the trail for the hour and a half that we were hiking. I love getting away from the crowds.
 

The trail leads down to the banks of the Kentucky River, but since it's quite steep, we never actually get down to the water (so much the better). Look, but don't touch.

The only downside to this particular hike was that the trails were so little frequented that the spiders had ample time to criss-cross the trails with their silky webs. We were constantly walking headfirst into the many spider webs covering the trails. It got to be tremendously annoying. At one point Phoenix turned around and said, "You don't know me." What? "My silky mustache has disguised my face." Of course.

The next week we took ourselves out to Raven Run to enjoy nature. Lutece was on camera duty for a good portion of the hike, so she got a couple of pictures of my backside.

Again, the trails were surprisingly sparsely populated, but we did go later in the day and just made it back five minutes before the trails closed at 4:30 p.m.

Even though we've been to Raven Run countless times, this was probably one of my favorite ever hikes there. I let the kids determine the route and they decided they wanted to do the entire four mile perimeter of the Nature Reserve (the red trail). In addition, we also hiked many of the shorter offshoot trails (white trails) that lead to small waterfalls and other overlooks.

One of my favorite pictures from this summer.

We ended up hiking a good 4.5 to 5 miles that afternoon. No whining, no fussing, not even a single, "Are we done yet?" Since they were the ones navigating, I just followed their lead and got a great hike in the process.

Sadly, due to some dry weeks this summer, all of the waterways were lacking in much water.

Luckily, the Kentucky River Overlook still had plenty of river water to over-look.

I love hiking. I especially love that my children love hiking.

Summer Art Projects

As usual, summer has given the kids ample time to delve into the art closet and get creative. Before summer began, I also made a list of possible art projects* that I thought the kids might enjoy, and since they are now old enough to entertain themselves (theoretically), I simply made the list available and let them pick and choose activities when they were jonesing for something creative.

Lutece noticed the activity called "corn syrup painting" and wanted to try it out. It was pretty easy. Corn syrup and food coloring makes for a bright, gooey, (edible) paint.

The allure being that the "paint" dries shiny and bright. It also dries slightly sticky (tacky). When I found Phoenix licking his painting the next day. They went in the trash.

Corn syrup painting is not the format for delicate art. Lutece's first drawing went in the trash because the areas weren't large enough to paint in. This chunky rainbow worked much better. It was a good ONE time activity.

Another time, the kids chose to make seed bead necklaces. This is not an activity for smaller children. We used clear string (like fishing wire), and pulled out all the beads in my collection.

It was delicate and focused work, and I realized early on that we needed something to draw our attention away from the relative tedium of stringing many small beads, so we put on an audio book we'd been listening to in the car.

It helped considerably, but even so, Phoenix only finished about 1/3 of his necklace (I strung the rest at night). Lutece completed much more, but ultimately I also helped finish hers.

Here are the end products. Phoenix's and Lutece's are in the middle.**

A couple of days later Lutece asked if she could make another necklace. When she showed it to me (about halfway finished), she said with a sneaky smile on her face, "It looks pretty random, huh?" Me: "Uhm, yeah, it does." Indeed, it looked a lot like the unpatterned necklace Phoenix's had made (see above).

Then she excitedly explained that it was a coded necklace. Every bead stood for a letter (she'd created a code key), and the necklace told about her life. Fascinating idea! That's what happens when you visit the International Spy Museum. You start thinking like a spy.***

Really hard to decode without the key though.

There have been so many art projects I didn't capture on film, but the kids have done a LOT of painting this summer. Boxes, wood, paper . . . you name it. Stayc recently made another large wooden shelf for the basement and he suggested that before we load it up with boxes and plastic containers, the kids could paint it.

They loved that idea. Yes, it was messy, and yes, I may have yelled at Phoenix for getting paint all over the floor, himself, his clothing, etc. But hey, all in the name of art, right :)?

* I also made a list of science/nature ideas,  a list of writing ideas, a list of possible books to read, and a general list of ideas/activities/things to do/places to see to do this summer. Needless to say, I refer the kids to these lists a lot.

** As a side note, Phoenix happily wore his necklace on a hike a couple of days ago and toward the end of the hike Lutece commented that it was kind of funny to see a boy wearing a necklace. As soon as I heard her say that my heart sank. I commented that plenty of boys wear necklaces. It is common to see teenage boys wear necklaces, and boys in California where I grew up wear them all the time. Lutece responded, "Too bad you're not a teenage boy from California." Aww, Lutece. Phoenix took off his necklace immediately. When I pulled her aside and told her how sad it made me that she had made Phoenix feel bad about wearing a necklace, she was genuinely sorry. She just hadn't realized it would have that effect. Kids. Sigh.

*** I find it fascinating and revealing how strongly she still identifies with being a triplet. We did spend a morning this summer looking at family pictures on the computer, especially pictures from when the kids were born and were babies, including pictures of Sela and Catalina. That may have jogged her memory as well. 

Memories at Mount Vernon

No trip to Grandma's would be complete without a visit to Mt. Vernon. We dedicated our last day to its perusal. This latest trip to Mt. Vernon, and especially this close-up shot of Phoenix, reminded me of all the other times we've visited Mt. Vernon over the years . . . particularly, THIS fateful trip.

Now that the kids are older, they have the energy and attention-span to really enjoy the museums and grounds of Mt. Vernon.

We saw the house, the grounds, the museums, the gift shop, AND the food area (lunch, you know).

We even got in the tomb and the Slave Memorial.

It might just be impossible to get it all in with one visit. Thankfully, we just keep coming back for more.

A Day at the Museums

The one museum the kids had been dying to see for the months leading up to our DC trip was the International Spy Museum. Lutece heard about it from somewhere and determined that we needed to experience it. Grandma got tickets for everyone*, and we made a day out of going downtown, visiting not just one, but three museums by the end of the afternoon.

I thought the Spy Museum was fascinating and quite enjoyed myself. The kids enjoyed themselves as well, but will, I think, appreciate it even more in another few years. There were a few hands-on activities, like the above simulation of holding on to the ledge of a skyscraper with a wind-machine blowing on you, or the system of air ducts that the kids could climb around in. There were also lots of cerebral and/or computerized quizzes and activities that the kids *mostly* enjoyed.

Two things worth noting: 1) Lutece really wanted to be an independent agent during our time at the Spy Museum, meaning, she begged me to be able to walk around the museum herself, without having to be with the family. I finally consented, and told her to meet us at a specific time (about 45 minutes later). Even though I was vaguely concerned for her (and I still tried to keep her in my sight), I feel like she is responsible enough to manage on her own and stay safe. I suppose I should have consulted with Stayc on this decision, as he wasn't as comfortable with the idea of her being left on her own. Within 20 minutes, he was searching the entire museum for her. I finally found her near the end and told her she needed to stay closer to the group. She responded, "Mom, I still have 20 minutes. I know because I just asked someone for the time." My responsible little/big girl.

2) Not only did Grandma pay all our entrance fees into the museum, she also promised the kids one item from the gift shop (which was super cool). Lutece had her heart set on a spy watch, and when she found one, most of the cousins wanted one too. Phoenix decided on an all-purpose knife/tool/etc. Super fun stuff!

After the International Spy Museum, we hit the Shake Shack for burgers, fries, and milkshakes. While Stayc, Aleithe, and Annie ordered the food inside, I sat outside and set four different watches to the correct time :).

After lunch and saying goodbye to cousins, we headed across the street to the National Portrait Gallery. Although it is part of the Smithsonian collection of museums, it is off the mall, and thus not as frequented nor well-known. In fact, this was the first time I'd ever been there. It was marvelous! I'm excited to return. The first floor had a collection of modern dance icons, including various videos of performances. The kids were entranced by "Thriller."

Understandably, the kids were not extremely interested in viewing portraits of famous, dead Americans, so I bribed them with Tic-Tacs. If they could identify 10 people they knew and tell me something about them, they could have a pack of Tic-Tacs.

Needless to say, it kept them occupied and vaguely interested, and they were able to identify such American greats as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Andrew Jackson, Pocahontas, and even Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

 

The Tic-Tacs also kept them occupied while we waited for Dad outside the museum.

Lutece fiddled with her new watch and told me what time it was in Sydney, Hong Kong, and 15 other places in the world.

I thought the kids would be exhausted after two museums, but they asked to go to the American Museum of Natural History (their favorite, hands-down), so we walked the couple of blocks to the mall and enjoyed another couple of hours at the Natural History museum.

Whew! All the adults were wiped out by then . . . and the kids look a little tired too. I asked for one final picture on the mall before we got on the Metro, but Lutece wasn't cooperating. I love these next few pictures. I asked them to quickly put their arms around each other so I could take a picture. Lutece wouldn't do it.

Phoenix tried to make her, and I heard him say to her under his breath, "Just do it Lutece. The faster we do it, the faster it will be over with." Smart kid.

She refused, so we finally just got a picture of them side-by-side, but smiling at least. The kids really ARE good travelers (albeit not great picture-takers). I'll take it!

* Sometimes I don't think the kids realize how good they have it with their Grandmas, who are always buying or doing something or other for them. They are very blessed!

A Visit to Arlington

The day after the Fourth (that would be, ahem, the fifth), we spent the morning at Arlington National Cemetery visiting Grandpa DuBravac's grave.

It was the first time we'd been able to see the gravestone in person. The kids helped Grandma decorate the grave with flowers, small flags, and even a pipe-cleaner firework that Lutece made.

 Afterwards, we wandered around the cemetery because, really, it's beautiful.

 

We made it to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier just in time to see the changing of the guard.

It was fascinating. I'm glad the kids got to see it.