I found this black cougar perched in a tree outside the Emerson Umbrella (a building dedicated to the arts). After I coaxed it from the tree we attended Open Studio. Painters, photographers, potters, poets, architects, and sculptors welcomed visitors into their studios and discussed their work. Maya was fascinated with them and we spent the better part of two hours going from studio to studio before having lunch together downtown. 

If you click on this picture you should be able to see the eyes on this snail. 

This Australian pygmy hedgehog is named Tiny. 

I was able to get some close ups of the snails. 

The party featured Animals as Intermediaries. The children were introduced to snails, rabbits, skunk cabbage, a ring neck dove, and a hedgehog. Here the use a spray mister to wake up the snails. 

Maya attended a birthday party for her friend Emma Walker. 

Today Nicolai entered the work force as a soccer referee. He filled out his own W4 and is now a tax paying member of society. He officiated three games and did a great job netting a whopping $60 for his effort. 

I have no idea what she is saying, but she sure looks like she knows what she is talking about. Jeanine left early this morning for three days in NYC where she will meet up with her good friend, Monica Frost. I will be holding down the fort with the objective of not losing any of the children and providing them reasonably nutritious sustenance. If your favorite child is absent from the blog next week then you will know that I failed at my mission. 

This morning I awoke to find Maya teaching herself sign language from a pamphlet she picked up at school. 

All in all, it was a great weekend spent with Kyle. 

On our way to retunring the rental car, we stopped briefly at the entrance to the Botanical Gardens and encountered this very strange looking duck. Jeanine would have loved this place so we decided to bring back this little piece for her. 

After the tournament, we made our way to the Chesapeake Bay and strolled along the beach before heading to the airport. 

I asked a stranger to take a photo of Kyle and I. The exposure is a little off, but I am happy to have any pictures of the two of us together. 

In the evening, I strolled down the boardwalk pausing at the Virginia Beach signature King Neptune statue. I like this photo because the dog on a leash in the foreground mimics the turtle in Neptune’s left hand.