Fun in the Mud

The only drawback to the agriturismo in which we stayed was not the warm sun or the surrounding vineyards that cut the hillsides into neat rows but was the absence of a washer and dryer. With eight people, there is bound to be laundry, and no doubt, there will be more than less.

The first full day here we spent relaxing. Part of the relaxing was taking the kids exploring. They started out with me as their fearless leader. We wandered over vale and hill, etc until we came to a beautiful, little stream. Since I had the sandals, I carried most of the kids across. It was during this task that I discovered the deep, thick mud covering the bottom of the stream and the surrounding banks. “Warning! Turn back now in order to avoid a muddy disaster!” this should have warned me, but I, their fearless leader, plunged ahead enjoying their fun and wanting them to continue in it. There is no need to account the details of what happened. I’m sure that you can fill them in with no help from me. Needless to say, these pictures tell it all (and at this point, Sara's clothes are still clean). Feet, hands, clothes – all were covered in mud. But along with the mud came bright smiles and happy laughter. Except for the one time Nathan’s face filled with panic. His Croc stuck in the mud, and he was sure he would lose it along with his foot. He panicked, "Ahhh! I stuck!" After his rescue, he pointed to the mud squishing between his toes and said, "It's dirty. I need a bath." No joke! It is during all this that I regretted being an adult, for along with the fun came the plague of responsibility – knowing that there must be a clean up. So - in the absence of a washing machine - bathtub and handscrubbing, here we come!