Emerald Giant

We have a beautiful poplar tree in our backyard. It is tall and has sturdy long branches.

It's the perfect climbing tree. No doubt about it.

Yesterday after the big kiddos woke up from their nap we went out to play in the backyard. I glanced over at the tree and got an intense impulse to climb high. So I got up and climbed it. Not too high, but just enough to satiate the climbing impulse.

Of course the kiddos wanted to as well.

Maddie is not new to tree climbing so I felt comfortable letting her go up. She set her own boundary and didn't climb too high. When she started to get down, she got "stuck" a couple of times, so I coached her to relax and to where she might put her feet and hands in order to get down safely.

Well, the little monkey got hooked and kept going up and down...until she was all worn out!

Isaac wanted in on the climbing action too. So I lifted him up on the first branch and he settled himself on a little nook where he could sit down, kind of like a rocking horse. He exclaimed, "Look at me!!! I can let go and just hold on with my legs!"

It's funny how with Maddie I have no fear in seeing her climb and climb. But with the little man, my heart kept leaping out! I was nervous. But he did really well. He didn't get all wild or try to do anything dangerous.

We decided to name the tree Emerald Giant.

I think Emerald Giant has now received more hugs and kisses from humans than ever before!

A Princess And A Frog

Summer is in full swing!

We're 90% unpacked and letting loose to enjoy the hot weather!

Ken and the big kiddos went exploring in our backyard the other afternoon and this is what they found near the brook that runs beside our house...

Apparently the little froggy prince was easy to catch, he must have been smitten by the little princess's beauty!

In a funny twist of fate, leading up to the move, Maddie had a few moments of feeling sad and unsure and a bit fearful of what was to come. In an effort to calm her down, I would tell her that yes, she would be leaving behind a lot of familiar things, but then I would ask her to think about and list all the good things that were to come. She would ask me to list some as well...and one day I said there would be a lot of places to explore and that she might find butterflies, squirrels and frogs right in our backyard! I have to admit I wasn't sure about the frog part, but I hoped and prayed it would be the case.

And I'm glad it was! And not just little itty bitty frogs, but these awesome plump ones that are incredibly satisfying to hold!

The tadpoles are HUGE, I will have to get a pic soon so your jaw can drop too when you see them!

And yes, froggie was released back to his home...actually, right to the same exact spot where they found him, because Maddie insisted so. That's my girlie, always looking out for others!