Daniel, Isaac & Oliver: July 2006

American Indian Museum

Smithsonian American Indian Museum

On Friday we all went to the museum to get out of the house and the heat.

Here are the boys cooling off from the waterfall.

One of the exhibitions featured the Northwest. The boys were able to play with puzzles and different tools used by the American Indians in Alaska.

Daniel trying to climb in the boat and of course he is holding a toy car - his new found joy.

Daniel's favorite part of the museum - The bookstore.

He made himself at home, and sat down on the floor to read.

Pool Party

Happy Birthday Madison

On Thursday we attended a pool party to celebrate

Madison's two year birthday.

This picture was taken after a brief wrestling match between Daniel and Madison -

The balloons were a favorite with the toddlers.

Isaac with his rubber duck.

Too bad you can't see his cute speedo - his gut is hiding it.

Eli and Sarah Tileman.

Eli was born 2 weeks before Isaac but if age were measured by haircuts he would be much much older.

Daniel with the birthday girl.

Owasco Lake

While Marc was away on business the boys and I visited the Leonards in upstate New York.

Kimberly and Lindsay (Raising DC) drove our car while I tried to limit the screams from the back.

Here is the view from their home on Lake Owasco.

We couldn't believe we had not visited sooner.

Mom & Isaac on the beach enjoying the beautiful weather.

We definitely did not miss the DC humidity.
Isaac borrowing Ian's cute hat. He should've borrowed a bikini top.

The babies in prison Luckily no one minded Daniel's usual attire.

One night we visited the neighboring lake - Skaneateles. We filled up on great fish and fresh blueberry shakes.

Here's Daniel striking a pose while Amy and Ian dig-in.

Sculpture Quiz

Attention all Alta High School alumni:

Here is a quiz for all who endured AP Art history

Match the sculpture with the name of the artist from the list at the bottom of the blog.

National Gallery of Art

1. Red Horse (1974)

2. Typewriter Eraser (1999)

3. Girls (1992)

(Daniel ran in there to grab a branch and a security guard was a little TO'ed)

4. Thinker on a Rock (1997)

Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum

5. Burghers of Calais

6. Walking Man (1900)

A hint for the previous two sculptures

7. Man on Horse (I think?)

8. No 3 Vertebrae (1968)

9. Three-Piece reclining figure (1963)

10. Six Dots over a Mountain (1956)

Artists: Flanagan, Calder (two sculptures), Abakanowicz, Oldenburg, Rodin (two sculptures), Moore ( three sculptures).

Good Luck Evansons, Laytons, and Nielsens

Sculpture Garden

National Gallery of Art

On Friday evenings throughout the summer they have a different Jazz band play outdoors in the sculpture garden. The boys and I had to check it out.

I'm not sure if Daniel likes Jazz or not.

His expression seldom changes.

Both Daniel and Isaac loved splashing water in the fountain. Isaac tried to drive right in. I stopped him several times before I figured out that it wasn't the best idea to be up there alone with two children.

Isaac doesn't know what to think of grass, I usually put him on a blanket. He's just assessing it in this picture - He soon tasted it.

The Jazz Band this Friday was the Dave Kline Group

Daniel touching the flowers "gently" before he quickly grabbed the petals, threw them on the ground, and ran away as quickly as he could. Which was surprisingly fast.

Garden

Last week we helped water our friends' organic garden

(see Qualters and Raising DC).

It's located behind some row houses in a lot hidden from the DC streets.

Daniel loved watering the carrots and we both had to sample the goods -

Thanks Kimberly & Elaine.

Daniel is super independent so he had to fill the can himself.

At least this time he filled the cans with water not bark.

The fruit of my loins tasting the fruit of my labor.

The labor of a few days of watering. Once again thanks for the veggies.

I'm not sure which Isaac like more the raw zucchini or the bread I made from it.

4th of July

This 4th of July was spent outside of Boston on the south shore. The Cooks rented a huge house in Hull - 15 minutes from Higham where Ben and Lora live. All 6 of the Cook siblings were able to come - including the 8 boy cousins. It was a great location and we loved being so close to the water. We played in the ocean at Plymouth beach, and the boys caught crabs in Nantasket. All the adults ran in the Higham 4.6 mile race and then the children joined us for the famous fourth of July parade.
With all the boys together we played a lot of sports - baseball seems to be the current favorite. It was fun to watch the boys defend their team; the Red Sox or Yankees of course. We even played a game in Hull's baseball park. We also went to the batting cages where there were go-carts to ride. With all the siblings, spouses, and cousins it wasn't hard to take over the race track. It was a great vacation and I can't wait to post some photos. I unfortunately forget the camera at home so I'll have to wait until someone emails me some pictures. Until then . . .