Blogging is a habit that must be developed. Whenever I sit down to post, I feel that I have to catch up with all I have ever intended to post before I most on to the post at hand. To appease myself, here are some of our recent excursions.
PlayWise Kids in Columbia, MD
I’m convinced this place is run by the church next door as a fund-raising venture, and it seems a bit pricey for the quality and quanity of the exhibits. Regardless, the kids have a blast each time we go. It was nice this time to meet up with other sisters there (and our masses of Muslim kids), it felt very homey with so many familiar faces running about. I didn’t get many photos of Yusuf because he was too busy running around with the big kids.
Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin:
Mom and I went the day after the official parade, a beautiful sunny day in the 70s! I actually got sun on my cheeks and nose for the first time in many years. It was packed around the mall and Jefferson Memorial, but thankfully the crowd thinned out by the time we reached the FDR Memorial. This was my first visit to see FDR, and I was completely surprised and impressed with the design. The cherry blossoms were at their absolute perfection… a great day indeed.
Huntley Meadows Park:
The boys and I went to Huntley Meadows last summer, but this was our first visit leaving the stroller at home. Mansoor is so small for his age that it’s easy to forget he’s nearly three! He is completely capable of being a full-time walker now. So, we all walked the two miles, on a nice path through the woods and on the boardwalk across the marsh. Mansoor did not ask to be picked up until the parking lot was back in sight, and when he was politely denied a ride, he walked his little self to the car. Masha’Allah, I was very proud of him. It was a bit colder and windier than I had anticipated, but alhamdulillah we had fleeces and windbreakers. We saw many birds including the great egret (I love the big water birds!), but insha’allah we’ll be heading back in a month or six weeks for more flowers and frogs.
I don’t have any pictures of our recent trips to Dumbarton Oaks, Williamsport, or the Baltimore Aquarium, but alhamdulillah I’m feeling more caught up.
The Baltimore Aquarium, as a side note, has not only a new and improved dolphin show, but it has a brand new 4D Immersion Theater which is amazingly fabulous. In addition to the 3D goggles, they have 4D effects like mist, breeze, bubbles, leg ticklers, back pokers, and vibrating seats. Yusuf loved it; it was great to see him enjoy the fright, to shriek in surprise with a smile on his face.
