Leaves of 3 let them be!!!!

April 20, 2009 > No Comments

I guess the story goes back a long time when my daughter discovered her love of reading. First it was the Little House books, followed by any book written about “back then” (as my twins say…”Mom is this a back-then car?” “Mom is this your back-then butter?”) Then came her fascination with nature. She would devour a nature reader in a matter of hours.

After awhile, she wasn’t happy with just reading about these fascinating adventures, she had to live them. She would sneak outside to play barefooted, with water color paint on her face to build a tee-pee. She would pick up any bug, snake or lizard, because after all the Crocodile Hunter did it!? She’s made countless “salads” using who knows what kind of greens they were!?

Of course she’s never alone in her play. Our 7 year old twins will follow their sister on any adventure and eagerly participate in any play she suggests.
Last summer she found the prettiest, shiny, dark green leaf and because it was sooo smooth and shiny she just had to rub it on her cheek and lips to feel the coolness…oh how silky it was. Being boys, this was not something they were about to do. Can you see a boy concerned with how pretty and smooth something is and wanting to feel that on his cheeks!? No way! It’s a good thing because a couple of days later Kaitlyn broke out with this strange rash all over her hands and face. After questioning her more about the beautiful leaf it was clear that she had rubbed poison ivy all over her hands and face. Poor girl was so very miserable.

You’d think she would have learned…

A couple of days ago, as the children were filing in for their baths Kaitlyn excitedly told me about the underground spring they had found in our yard. The water was SO clear and fresh and boy did it hit the spot as they were thirsty! Ummmmm…except it wasn’t a spring children, it was a mud puddle. Yep, my children got so thirsty they drank out of a mud puddle. Please don’t talk about me behind my back. I promise I did not lock them out of the house or tell them they couldn’t have a drink. Honest.

But that’s not all…

Because their hands & face were all wet, the obvious pioneer thing to do was to dry them on a bunch of leaves nearby. What an exciting day outdoors!

Until today…

Andrew appears to have the worst break out of poison ivy. It is all over his face (lips included), neck, hands & wrists. Noah evidently didn’t get his hands as dry as the rest; he has a breakout but it doesn’t appear to be like poor Andrew. It looks like I’ll need to be taking him to the Dr. tomorrow for a shot to give him some relief and prevent infection.

He’s not too happy with his sister right now. However, I’m sure in a few days she’ll have willing playmates again, but hopefully they will stear clear of “leaves of three, let them BE!”

spring 1 Leaves of 3 let them be!!!!