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Showing posts from June, 2016

Giant Fig Tree - Largest in North America

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In Santa Barbara, California, thrives a giant. In fact, it is the largest fig tree in North America , the Moreton Bay Fig Tree. Yes, a Fig Tree - with actual figs strewn about, although now with the drought they were not so juicy.  You can lean on its roots, climb up on its trunk till where the branches spread out, or hide between its ridges. A great hide-and-seek spot for both kids and adults.  Here's our family playing between its giant roots; scroll to the bottom to get an idea of the actual scale, which is hard to comprehend. Giant. Two ladies shyly making an acquaintance with the giant.  Here's an interesting thing we noticed about nowadays toddlers: they seem to take amazingness as a common day-to-day thing. Maybe it's because we, the parents, strive to always show them things we find outstanding, so a zebra becomes common. Or maybe they simply enjoy the world at level 100, regardless of whether it's a random leaf in the yard, or a world-uniqu

First Two-Way Conversation Between The Kids

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Early Wednesday morning, 8:26 am, Jun 8 2016 In the middle hallway upstairs, two kids and a Mommy are sitting on the carpet, slowly getting ready for the day. The kids are mostly naked so the 'getting ready' part is slow indeed. Greg mumbles something from far away; I tell him I can't hear and I'm with the kids. Mara , eagerly: I 'll watch Gaius!! In demonstration of her strong " I " emphasis, she stands up and leans slightly forward toward him with an obvious intent to "watch". Gaius looks up at her and declares with equal emphasis:  Baah!! Mara: Where is the Ball , Gaius? He twists his upper body in a wide arch to the left, pointing with a straight arm, hand and index finger to Mara's room. Mara: I 'll get the ball, Gaius!! She runs in that direction. Gaius gets up and follows her. Mommy gets up and goes the opposite direction to get her toothbrush. <3 --- ** Editor's Note: There are a lot of excla