Am I really that old?

So, I turned thirty earlier this summer, and I didn't think much of it. It wasn't as traumatic as it seems in the media... until I received this in the mail. Apparently 30 is the new 55.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Why, mom? Why? Why? Why?
Yup, we've entered the preschool stage of questioning everything. I understand he is simply desires more information, but his questions quickly get too detailed or ambiguous. Why did the chicken want to go to the other side of the road?










In our house the chicken poses far more outrageous questions:
Why is the chicken wearing bow tie?
Why is the egg clear? or, Where is the shell?, or Why is the egg squishy?
Why is the chicken plucked?
Is the chicken angry?
Why is the boy chicken laying an egg? (Okay, so it could be a girl, but somehow they decided it was a boy. I think it is because of the afore-mentioned bow tie.)
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? (Ours came together, from the dollar store!)

And, from the parents who have to live with the kids who play with the chicken, Why does the chicken have to squawk so much???

What to see on vacation

Okay, so it's not a normal tourist spot, but I think that it is an enjoyable place to visit. The Greenlawn Cemetary was quiet when we drove in earlier this week. Filled with many lovely historical memorials, this well kept grounds felt peaceful and interesting. I like to wander through graveyards - who were theese people? Some family plots had many small graves - sons and daughters who did not live through childhood, something that seems incomprehensible in this day and age. Some had large, intricately carved monuments, or even mausoleums, possibly with stained glass windows (Tiffany!). Some were veterans, named and unnamed.
Why do people spend so much money on the gravesite of their departed relatives? Will we remember them better with a larger headstone - or even mausoleum? Do we think of them more highly with an intricate memorial? Or are we just supposed to enjoy the beauty of the stone and reflect on life?
Mom told of the relative who claimed he wanted to be frozen and pounded into the ground - no fuss over him when he was gone. Gone are the days of simple burials. Why do we need satin-lined caskets? Will a plain pine box not do the job? Perhaps we put up such a show as a way of making our last impression, or even a lasting impression. But shouldn't our life be more impressive than our grave?
Aah, things got more in depth than I meant for today... back to the beauty of the graveyard. Old cemeteries are interesting places to visit, to reflect on life and the beauty to be found in it, to think of mortality and the chance to live forever. Even stone memorials don't last.

Weekend visitors

This past weekend was busy, as we had a family with 10 children visiting our home. They came down after spending the week attending the GARBC conference in Lancaster, PA., with the intent of seeing Washington, DC while they had the chance. (I don't think they travel like this too often, but, how may families - with only one or two children even - travel that much?) We fixed up lots of extra beds throughout the house, and moved our kids into our bedroom. We all fit, fairly comfortably, and had a great time with them.







I think that our kids enjoyed every minute they were here. They had so many friends! Just about every toy in the house got played with. Books were talked about and exchanged. Imagination abounded! It's too bad we live so far apart - I know the kids will miss having so many friends. (I'll miss having someone entertaining them!) Life was extremely fun and joy-filled.







I have been asked many times if I am crazy for allowing that many people come stay in our house... perhaps I am , but it's a happy crazy.