New Pet

We've had a chipmunk in our yard (at least one, probably more) since we moved in last year. S/he is pretty darn cute, and has a series of entrances and exits to his/her den right near our back door.

This evening Margot said, "I've been meaning to tell you, Mama, that I've been leaving presents for my chipmunk and he's been taking them. Sometimes I leave him some moss, sometimes a little nut that I find in the yard, sometimes a little stick. The next morning, my presents are always gone. He must take them down into the nest."

This made me smile - the notion of Margot having a secret pet. It also makes me happy that she enjoys animals as much as I do.

That said, her chipmunk(s) must be astounded at their good fortune of late! Free bedding, free food, free...well, I'm not sure what they use the twigs for. Bracing their tunnels?

Friday Night Picnic

Each Friday that we're home, we picnic. Usually this means we pick up Italian subs from Vace and a slice of pizza for Margot. I often forget to bring my camera to these picnics, but this past Friday I remembered it.

And this was our best picnic spot yet, so I am glad I remembered it. We ate at Gravelly Point, which is right on the edge of Reagan National Airport and the Potomac River. While we ate our sandwiches, the planes landed almost directly overhead. Margot loved it. I did, too.

After dinner, we played Margot's favorite game of the week: "Tush Tag." This involves tapping someone on the bum and yelling "Tush Tag" and then running away. It's a riot.

The Green-Eyed Patriot

Since the 4th of July falls on a Saturday this year, and since tomorrow is the official Federal holiday, Margot's school celebrated "America's birthday" today. She dressed in red, white and blue for the occasion, came home knowing all the words to "God Bless America," and reported that she was in a parade, ate red and blue jell-o, and had her face painted. (No need to report that one, as you can see!)

Yellow Card

Yesterday afternoon we watched the U.S. play Brazil in the final of soccer's Confederations Cup. After the U.S. upset Spain by winning 2-0 last week, we were hopeful that they'd win the cup. (Alas, the U.S. gave up an early 2-0 lead and lost to Brazil 3-2.)

Margot wandered in and out of the living room throughout the game, occasionally stopping to watch a little. At one point, one of the Brazilian players got a yellow card.

"What's a yellow card?" she asked.

"Well, if a player does something the referee thinks is unfair, like pushing or tripping another player, then he gets a yellow card," I explained.

"Like in hockey?" Margot asked. (Margot was a rabid Caps fan this past spring.) "Does he have to sit on the bench?"

"A yellow card is just a warning," I told her. "But if you get too many yellow cards, then yes, you have to sit on the bench."

"How old is he?" Margot asked, indicating the Brazilian player.

"Huh?" I asked. "I don't know. Why?"

"That's how long he'll have to sit on the bench," Margot explained.

Her logic was based on her (limited) knowledge of time-outs for bad behavior: one minute per year of life. We also employ this strategy at dinnertime: "four more bites for four-years-old." (Perhaps FIFA wants to reconsider their game rules to employ this logic.)

The Beach

Margot enjoyed her first beach vacation of 2009 in Chincoteague, VA, last weekend. While the weather was cool and rainy for the beginning of our long weekend, the sun did manage to make a welcome appearance toward the end. This annual event gave her some time with her maternal grandparents and her two eldest cousins. In typical fashion, the weekend featured a heavy focus on ice cream, lots of pool time, horseback riding, and beach time.