Moss and Giles walk the Labyrinth at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
Let us begin with Halloween. After much thought but little effort we decided to dress up as a family of skeletons. The costumes were really just pajamas; The boys like pajamas, but they do not like costumes. We did make some rather festive Day of the Dead masks but none of us really wore them. One night, while the boys slept, our friend Casey assisted us with decorating our house as a large friendly spider's lair, which the boys loved. We crept down the stairs for breakfast at 5:30 AM and Giles quietly and fearlessly said, “That’s a BIG spider web”, and it was. Halloween night was pretty amazing and fun. On OWR we had exactly zero trick o’ treaters in eight years. In the Duckpond the rough estimate was around 450. Moss loved handing out candy. Best costume: jellyfish. Worst costume: apathetic 15 year-old with a backpack folded up in his back pocket who said nothing and could barely muster the energy to take out his backpack then open it to receive candy. There was quite of bit of that unfortunately. Apparently, there is no shame in being costumeless and going door to door to collect candy. It makes for some awkward interactions like: “Oh, are you here for Halloween?”,and “Oh, is that a fanny pack?”, and “Quick, unload those nasty Whoppers on this one!”
Moss with the big University people
Jenn and Cymande in St.Augustine. Not visible in this shot: simulated Pirate attack!
Our friend Jenn (+1) came for a brief weekend visit in November. We took her around our downtown and then to Satchel’s. We decided upon a trip to St. Augustine to explore the much-disputed first European settlement in the US. I learned that the Fountain of Youth was basically a spring in someone’s backyard that was turned into a theme park. We rode the parking lot trolley from parking lot to parking lot. We saw every parking lot that St. Augustine could offer (some twice!). We eventually made it to a Cuban restaurant that was featured in one of those PBS food shows. You know the one. After the boys tried to tear that place to the ground we headed to the fort. Castillo de San Marcos overlooks the Mananzas Bay. It is unique because toddlers on the roof have open access to the ground 100 feet below. There is also a moat they can fall into and a draw bridge to fall off of. Unfortunately, they had removed the boiling oil and live ammunition the day we visited.Then, we had to drop Jenn off at the airport. The boys still talk Ms.Jenn fondly and would have cried when we dropped her off had they not been sleeping. On the way home we were stuck in traffic behind a colossal piece of heavy equipment that eventually got lodged between the North side of Waldo and the South side of Waldo. Waldo is a town. The boys were very upset with that piece of equipment.
Castillo de San Marcos with roof to moat access.
Orange Blossom Cannonball
Another notable event was our ride on the Orange Blossom Cannonball. We made a trip south to Tavares which is home to a famous steam locomotive. The train has starred in several films including two Coen Brothers Films (Oh Brother, True Grit). When it pulled into town blowing its whistle and steaming all over the place the boys were crazy with excitement as were their parents. The one hour trip starts on the shore of Lake Dora and then continues into a trailer park, and then, a neighborhood, and then, it stops and backs up. It’s a little weird, but riding on the train is fun. The two hour trip is probably more scenic. Some trains serve pizza and others serve Santa. Hot steamy Santa pizza.
Giles gets to wear the conductor's hat.
Daddy contains the excitement.
The stair restoration project begins
The Gainesville Fire department gave us a little demonstration. I got nauseous just watching the firemen climb that ladder.
Bike ride along Payne's Prarie.
Cymande on the Gainesville-Hawthorne bike trail
Breaking. Entering.
Thanksgiving was a fairly lonely, but very cozy affair, and we made the most of it. Typically, we do not draw attention to the fact that Nana and Papa live 2,080 miles away and that Grandma and Grandpa live 11,050 miles away (combined distance = 13,131) We almost got Cambridge and Chris (223 miles) to come but they are coming for Christmas shortly. Then there is Shannon and family (2,640 miles) and our families/friends in New England (1,250 miles) and other people scattered all over the damn world. Just how is this modern America thing working out? I bet this is less of an issue in Europe or... anywhere. We sort of fished for invites to other people’s Thanksgiving celebrations but to no avail. I made a pretty good dinner since I had the week off, but we're doing it differently next year.
Thanksgiving Day at the Thomas Center
Carriage rides! Local farm with Canadian horses we're told.
We rushed to decorate since our neighborhood hosts the Thomas Center Christmas Celebration complete with carriage rides on our luminary lit streets. Early in the day we cut down our own tree at the Unicorn Tree Farm and experienced the 'Small Tree in the Field/Huge Tree in the House Phenomenon'. Harvesting a Christmas tree was going to be a Norman Rockwell moment until we realized that our children were running wildly through a field of falling trees with people wielding very sharp saws. Then, the visit became a hurried let’s-get-the-f-out-of-here moment. We drove home slowly with the tree loosely tied to the roof. We put the tree up, strung lights, tried unsuccessfully to nap and headed over to the Thomas Center. We immediately climbed aboard one of the first horse drawn carriages. Moss looked up at the driver and said “cowboy!” Then Moss and Giles struggled to stay awake for the 20 minute ride which passed notable landmarks including our house and the duckpond. It was pretty cool to see our neighborhood full of people for the event. Moss and Giles were happy to look at the totally authentic Santa with real flowing grey hair and red velvet and silk vest from a reasonable and safe distance. They mostly wanted to get back on the carriage. Moss protested until he fell asleep in my arms.
The Duckpond all lit up.
Anyone ever notice that a children's cup effectively doubles as a shot glass?
Finally, a parental rant: I don’t know how your day starts but mine has been going like this: Around 5AM, perilously positioned on the edge of our bed, I am awoken by the twin 2 year olds occupying 95% of our bed with the following demands: “I want a snack”, “I want my milgurt”, and/or “I want my car”. These demands are stated in fully-awake voices and followed by the sound of feet hitting the floor. Depending upon Giles’ mood there is pleasant narration about the morning’s activities or incessant crying about how the pancakes are not French toast and the French toast is not cereal and the eggs are not bagels and the cereal is not the right cereal. Actually, things are getting better...really...
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