Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve

We spent a glorious afternoon in a local wildflower preserve. We had plenty of opportunity to hike, look at flowers and enjoy nature at it's best!

The guide told us that if we were lucky, we might see a turtle...and we did! Can you spot the eyes and his shell sticking up out of the algae?

I asked Lia what she was doing in the following picture. She told me she was "sticking". I am still not at all certain what that means exactly, just that it involves scraping the path...with intense concentration...and it takes a really, really long time. When you are "sticking" several groups of people are bound to pass you and stare quizzically...but that in no way breaks the concentration of the "stick-er".

This is Bowman's Hill Tower...we went to the top by elevator.

The view of the Delaware River from the tower...definitely worth the ride!

Finally...I saved the best picture for last. Lia took this one of her dad...with no help. I am so proud! I bought her a digital camera for her birthday in December...and I think she is going to love it! Maybe she will decide to start her own blog! :-)

Yeah...I totally knew it seemed too quiet...

*Update below*

Can you tell by her expression how pleased Lia was with herself and her "make-up"?? She rocked this look most of the afternoon...but thankfully, since it was washable (and non-toxic!) paint, it came off without too much trouble at bath time!!

Update: Laura wanted to know what Lia used to "fancy herself up"...so Laura...this is for you! (But Bingo sounds fun...let's go sometime!)

For the past two years, Lia has brought home work like this from school. I have dot art in every color and for every season (and I guess, the odd fish thrown in for good luck...it was the only one I could find this morning! :-)).

So when I saw these...I knew Lia would love them!

I use them on finger painting paper, so she can dot...AND use her fingers to "finger paint" with them. They really DO clean up easily and Lia loves painting with them. Before she painted herself, she did produce some great works of art...like this one!

Reading Terminal Market

We ventured into the big city today to go to one of our favorite places!! While Mother Nature and her rainy disposition prevented us from taking in any outside sights, we still enjoyed just walking around inside Reading Terminal Market. We stocked up on some beautiful fresh produce...and (of course!) we also made sure we had a taste of the local goodies while we were there!

Thankful Thursday

Dear Daddy,

We're so glad you had a successful business trip this week...but we're really thankful that you will be home tonight. Really. Really. Thankful.

Please hurry...your child's happiness...and, well...your wife's sanity depend on it. We'll leave the light on for you!! :-)

Stolen Glimpses...

These are a few more shots from our visit to Longwood Gardens. Jim isn't overly fond of either picture since they don't show Lia's face...but they are two of my favorites... as I believe they capture her very essence. They were both snapped with no posing or planning...just Lia, being Lia. She loved the wide open spaces at the Gardens and just like Forest Gump....wherever she went...she was always running, stopping only to ohhhh and ahhhhh enthusiastically over the beautiful flowers and fountains. She has the unique ability to make me laugh and tear up in the same moment.

The second picture was taken in the grand DuPont ballroom inside the conservatory on the garden grounds. We found ourselves alone in the ballroom for a few moments, and without hesitation or any explanation from us as to the purpose of the room, Lia kicked off her shoes and began dancing and twirling...completely oblivious to everything around her.

My sweet Lia...whatever magical dream you were imagining as you whirled so gracefully in these grand surroundings....my deepest wish...indeed, my life's desire, is that you will someday know this dream as reality. May you always dance like no one is watching.

Inspiration...

~Longwood Gardens~

~My favorite beautiful flower~

Anticipation...

It's been a long day of waiting for Nana and Papa to arrive for a visit!