Rye Russell to the front office please

Daddy and Genevieve had a hide and seek un-nature trail hike at Farbach Werner preserve. She was the star of the class and Daddy nearly burst with pride. The naturalist, Matt, asked a series of questions and Gigi knew all the answers. What kind of tree does this -an acorn- come from? (oak) What is this plant? (bamboo) What animal eats bamboo? (a panda bear) What is this called? (a hedge apple/an osage orange) What nut is this? (a walnut)

Afterwards, they went to a park with six playgrounds and had a picnic lunch with her friend, Rye. Never before had daddy seen so many playground options (mega slides, castles, tractor tires, balances, rope swings, music bars ...) . Rye and Gigi immediately found a small sandpit that was surrounded by castles and this became their only interest for the next hour and a half -- pretend play at its best. Hauling, building houses using pine cones, honey locust seed pods, branches and any other matter they came upon.

On the way home in the car, Gigi and Rye gleefully giggled and repeatedly requested daddy to say (using his hands in a muffled loudspeaker tone) "Rye Russell to the front office please".

For dessert, Genevieve tried a pomegranate. She loved tearing it apart. She enthusiastically shoved nearly every "red seed thing" in her mouth.