Duke Botanical Gardens

I have started volunteering at the Duke Botanical Gardens. They are in the process of creating a Children's Discovery Garden so it was a nice fit. I approached them about doing curriculum development (for money) but got talked into volunteering as a docent (for free). I'm a master negotiator. Anyway, I really enjoy it so I do get some benefit from my work even though it's not a profitable venture. Speaking of profitable ventures, though, I have been doing a little catering/personal chef work in my free time (when Ollie is napping). It also doesn't make a ton of money (gotta work on that) but I really enjoy coming up with meal ideas each week for the two families I cook for. This past week, however, I had a big job for Ryan's company which was a fun challenge and more like real catering. His department hosted a morning coffee break for the entire company. I made 500 assorted biscotti and scones. I hear it was a big hit. I am just glad that it wasn't total chaos and stress chez Halverson to get this job finished. I feel like I managed it well, the kitchen stayed organized and clean and no one lost their mind.

Anyway, today is a beautiful day so Oliver and I went to the Duke Botanical Gardens to see the spring blooms and feed the ducks. Ollie had more fun throwing rocks in the pond than feeding the ducks. He had a blast running around and is out cold now until Ryan gets home. Ryan is going to take him camping tonight and I am off to Atlanta for the weekend to see my friend Bianca. Good times!

Emergent Literacy or the Dawn of the "E-ewe Poopoo"

So Oliver has gotten really excited about letters recently. He has a set of those ubiquitous LeapFrop Fridge Phonics magnets, which he loves. For those of you who don't have toddlers, let me explain...it's this gizmo that takes simple magnetic fridge letters to the next level. You insert each letter into the little box, and then it plays a song to the tune of 'The Farmer in the Dell.' For instance, "F says 'fuh,' F says 'fuh,' every letter makes a sound, F says 'fuh.'" There is also a button that initiates the whole alphabet song, although we wouldn't know that around here because Oliver leans on the button so it just plays "A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A...." The whole thing gets acutely annoying, especially with the volume on high.

At any rate, I think that is how he started to learn to recognize some letters. For some reason he is particularly fond of the letters "B, O, P, R, Y, A, D, I and U". He pretends to "write" letters when he is drawing, telling me that his little scribble is a B or a Y or whatever. He even traces "letters" in the sand at the playground. He also notices letters everywhere... on store logos, street signs, on cereal boxes, in books, and even in other places you might not expect...such as in the toilet!! Yes, Oliver was delighted to look into the potty one day to discover that he had made a U-shaped poop, or as he says it, "e-ewe poopoo!!" Since that remarkable discovery he has made much fan fare out of deciphering his solid waste...perhaps we should introduce reading tea leaves instead.