I wish all homework thorughout life were that enjoyable. Sunday, before Football I must assure you all, the Girlfriend, the Bean, and myself were trolloping down the woods path around our complex. It was just before noon, the sun was out and only a few clouds drifted through the sky. A slight breeze sometimes penetrated the small valley we were in and stirred the dazzling display of leaves.

We'd brought the small plastic ziploc that the teacher had sent home, stapled to the assignment, and were contemplating getting a bigger one. In the end we didn't, mostly because I had this image of myself becoming that guy that every teacher hates. You know that guy who insists on overdoing everything - not my style. So we searched for unique and pretty leaves for her homework. I think the area we were in had quite a few trees that were infested/diseased, as most of the leaves we found were chewed or had a creep to them that I hadn't seen in the northern wilderness where I grew up. The Bean found some good ones though and we crept through some underbrush on occasion to unearth a particularily fetching cluster of leaves. Most of these deft feats of agility into the dark and deep woods was to the consternation of the Girlfriend who is a city-girl first and foremost. We escaped unscathed unless of course you count a few misquito bites as bothersome or dangerous. After adding a couple small flowers, some bright orange berries, and one opened/one closed small pinecones - we were done. That's what I call homework.

On the way back through the complex, past the large apartments and landscaping that they'd done my darling Bean started singing. Of course she only knew one line, but that was enough. Over and over again she sang, "she put de lime in de coconut, drink 'em bot' up." Of course, to her it was more like "She put a lime in the coconut and drank them both up." But hey, it was digustingly cute - we normally dance to the Resevoir Dogs soundtrack in the living room - but she was wiggling her butt as we walked instead.

I'd had the Bean since Tuesday, so she was starting to get ansty for her mother. Can't blame her, she's a girl at the end of the day, and Daddy is much stricter than the rather progressive Mommy. But we kept her entertained with coloring books, Swan Lake Princess (DVD), and of course the inevitable Sunday brownie.

On a shopping trip the Bean and the Girlfriend found something new and wonderful that I do feel compelled to share. Frijoles translated means beans in spanish. They were shopping for Black Beans and I guess the Spanish was on the bag. So now my Bean walks around saying "I'm a frijoles!" Although technically she is only one Bean, I think it will work out just fine.