The Aquarium

Today was a rainy, rather chilly day. We decided to head to Atlantis Marine World for a few hours. We skipped the whole outdoor part and just stayed inside--which when you're a member rather than paying through the nose to get in, is easy. The place was deserted, which was nice because the last time we went we didn't think about the fact that it was Rosh Hashana and the schools were out, which meant that every family on the East End headed to the aquarium. We had long, informative talks with the guy at the ray pool, the guy at the touch tank, and the guy who took donations to help the rescued animals. They recently rescued a dolphin named Seabreeze, and so we heard all about her health problems and her expected release date. We saw a harbor seal recovering nicely in the tank. And we watched a training session of the seals and sea lions. (They are training one seal to wear antlers on her head for the holidays. Very fetching...)

What was so funny to me was that at several tanks we looked in, Julia and Emma would pick their favorite creature and say that it was her pet now. Julia named this hideously ugly fish in the big shark tank Oscar, and he's her pet. Emma named one of the seahorses Katie, and that's her pet seahorse. Julia named the octopus Squiggly, and he's her pet. Emma found Nemo and Dory, which are, of course, her pets. This went on and on. I am waiting to see if they are still their pets the next time we return!

Daily Quote

Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.

--Henry James

Photo

I'm posting this photo Rachel took of me and Emma in the yard. Not very often is there a picture of me that I can stand!

--Jen

Daily Quote

All history is current; all injustice continues on some level, somewhere in the world.

--Alice Walker

Not Bedtime

After dinner this evening I went for a long walk in lieu of a real workout. It was a great night, breezy and cool enough that I was doing a fast walk/slow jog to keep warm in my long sleeved T-shirt and pants. It was dark and quiet, leaves were skittering around, and it was nice and autumnal, which is a switch after the past week of heat and humidity. Anyway, I was gone about an hour, and when I got home, Emma was tired and kind of loopy--ready to go to sleep, in other words. It was just before 8:00, which is perfect, and I was anticipating doing some email and watching "Desperate Housewives" on the DVR.

Well, now it's 10:00, and guess who still isn't asleep? She has been talking a blue streak, singing, walking around, saying how she isn't tired, playing with the cat, and in general making ME quite tired! I don't know what the deal is, but I do know I'm sick of it! This is the third night in the last week that she hasn't gone down easily. I wonder if she's about to wean? (I wouldn't complain about THAT, for sure!)

--Jen

Daily Quote

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

--Albert Camus

Halloween Decorations

In all the excitement over Sadie's birth (our friend Amie's baby) I forgot to post about putting up the Halloween decorations, which we did on Monday--October 1. Obviously Christmas has fun decorations, but I think we love Halloween almost as much. The kids were busy when I got up that morning, busily drawing jack-o-lanterns and black cats to hang in the front window. They look nice, tiny and grouped together.

In the front yard, we hung our ghosts in the trees--one is a ghost, the other three are ghost bodies with wooden cat, witch and Frankenstein heads. The scarecrow on a stake we put near the driveway--and every time I pass the front window I mistake it for a small child! The plastic jack-o-lantern (no rotting!) is on the table on the patio, the Trick or Treat wooden hanging on the front door and the scarecrow harvest wreath on the back door. We hung sparkly pumpkin bunting on the porch light posts, and wound a strand down the stair rails on each side, too. We have a stuffed witch and scarecrow on our arbor benches, taffeta ghosts on sticks by the front walk, a sproingy metal ghost by the stair railing, and a metal shovel that's painted with a haunted mansion and a wooden sign also decorated with witches etc. by the magnolia tree.

Inside the house we have many and sundry Halloween candle holders, a felt table runner with spiders, webs and ghosts on the sideboard, glass pumpkin cookie jar, Halloween cups to drink from, the witch candy dish, and of course my Halloween tote bag I made last year.

Did I mention we love Halloween?

Jen

Daily Quote

There are only three things women need in life: food, water, and compliments.

--Chris Rock

Welcome, Baby Sadie!

We are so happy to announce that our dear friends, Amie and David, are the proud parents of their second daughter! Baby Sadie was born this morning at 4:35 am, and she weighed 7lbs. 6 oz. and was 19.5 inches long. At long last, Julia's best friend Evelyn has a little sister. We are so happy for them all, and can't wait to meet little Sadie. (And find out what her middle name will be!)

CONGRATULATIONS!

--Jen

Daily Quote

Father asked us what was God's noblest work. Anna said men, but I said babies. Men are often bad; babies never are.

--Louisa May Alcott