little trips

I really love taking walks with the kids. It's a pain in the butt to get going, but pretty enjoyable to be out. Especially with three kids, it's difficult to get everyone fed, dressed, and ready to go. Sometimes it's more the mental weight of getting ready that keeps us from going places. I just don't always feel up to getting them out the door. Timothy loves to look around, and Justin gets all excited to see birds flying and people walking their dogs. Sometimes he flirts with people we pass. Physical excersize is always good, and being out of the house usually stimulates our imaginations. We're usually on a mission(to save baby jaguire or condor) or maybe just trying to get through the forrest and over the troll bridge(ala Dora), or swimming through the sea with the dolphins and mermaids. It often brings up subjects that just don't come up in the house. We look at people's flowers. We notice different or just plain strange-colored houses. We've even seen houses that look a little like castles. Our city has a surprising number of pretty houses that just haven't been taken care of. They really don't make houses like they used to.

I've had numerous discussions on manners with Leanna-things like moving out of other people's way, and why we do it even if they don't-and explanations of why we do the things we do. Something as simple as a walk is a way to pass on values, without making it seem to much like a sermon. Today was a science lesson(Leanna asked why we have boogies). Who knows, maybe she won't remember these things at all. I'd like to think that even if she won't remember the specifics, overall this stuff will seep through. The manners, the values, the memories of time spent together talking.