Daddy's Boy

The boys totally hit the Dad jackpot when they got Ryan as a Dad. He comes home from a long day of work and dives right into "second shift", and man, what a star player he is. He organizes kickball games with all the little kids in the neighborhood, he helps Oliver eat his dinner (this is totally exhausting and thankless...take a bite, Ollie...now chew it...ok, now swallow it...Ollie, make that food go down to your tummy...sit back down, you are not done you've only taken one bite...). He plays games and wrestles with the boys, he reads them books and invents silly "Mike-the-monkey" stories.

Oliver is on to the fact that his Dad is a pretty awesome guy. Whenever we get home (no matter what time of day) Oliver rushes to be the first one in the house. He throws open the door and shouts "Hellllloooo, Daddy!!" He is often disappointed because it will be the middle of the day and Ryan is still at work. When Ryan comes home he is greeted by that same enthusiastic "Helllllloooo Daddy!!" and then entreated to "talk 'bout verk [work]." Oliver's fascination with his Daddy's work is both hilarious and endearing. After all, his dad isn't a cop, or a firefighter, his stories about work--the details that Oliver loves to hear repeated over and over again--involve such thrilling anecdotes as "today I had a meeting in a conference room" and "my new office is on the 5th floor". If we get off topic, Oliver will immediately bring the conversation back around to "talking 'bout Daddy's verk."

Last week Ryan took Oliver camping...in the backyard. What a cool Dad! He set up the tent right there in our backyard and brought out sleeping bags and flashlights. Ollie was thrilled (as you can probably see from the pictures below!) He assured us that "I promise I not be scared!!" and true to his word, he slept all night in the tent. Ryan thought that at some point in the night Oliver would wake up and they would both get to move inside, but Oliver must have felt totally safe and comfortable cuddled up next to his Daddy and slept the whole night through. What a lucky guy!

The Great Outdoors

On Tuesday the weather here was absolutely perfect. It was cool (high 70s) and sunny. I decided to take the boys for a hike in Umstead park. We took our bathing suits, our magnifying glass, and lunch and headed out into the woods for the afternoon. We did this a few weeks ago and it turned into a marathon 4 mile excursion. I learned my lesson and this time we stuck to the bridle trail and headed directly to the lake. I think it was still a good 2 miles round trip. I love that the boys enjoy being outdoors (what kid doesn't!) But it's so much fun to share these experiences with them.

     

Miss Jan's Preschool

Oliver started up at his new preschool this week and I think it is going to be perfect! Last year he went to preschool two days a week at the Catholic church in our neighborhood. It was a fine preschool but since we aren't members of the parish it was really expensive. I liked that we could walk or ride our bikes there and I valued the sense of community it fostered, but I felt like a big-time sucker when I found out that we were the first family in 12 (TWELVE!!!) years to pay the non-Catholic rate. Anyway, so this year I decided to send Oliver to "Miss Jan's" preschool. "Miss Jan" is a woman from our church who runs a very low-key but wildly popular preschool program in her home. Oliver started this week and already this is what I love:

* When I came to pick him up after the first day the kids were all out on the front lawn playing with this long cardboard box. It was so low-tech, but perfect! They had a blast crawling through it and rolling across the grass inside it. It became a cave/tunnel/house. I love that they were not given instructions in how to play with it, but just allowed to explore it and find out for themselves all the fun you can have with a cardboard box!

*I love that his artwork is messy. At St.Francis he brought home very cute crafts that really bugged me because it was obvious that he didn't do it himself. Miss. Jan realizes that art at this age is all about the process and not the final product.

*I love that Oliver knows most, but not all, of the 8 kids in his class already and I adore (ADORE!!) their moms. I am so excited that I have a built-in excuse to see some of my favorite women 3 times a week.

Oliver with his buddies Ryan (Ry-nan as Oliver pronounces it), Jack and Win.

I know you are asking yourself, "what's up with Oliver's weird fake smile??" The answer is that apparently he thinks it's pretty darn cool. Whenever he sees a picture of himself with that crazy squinty smile he comments, "I love dat smidle!"

What's Crackalackin?

I have been playing tennis regularly for the past year with a group of friends. This summer we decided we were ready for the big time (ha!) and decided to compete in the local USTA 5.0 women's doubles league this fall. (5.0 means that we are all individually ranked at 2.5...which is pretty much as low as it goes!) Last Friday was our first game. I was so nervous, my hands were shaking and I thought I was going to throw up, but we played really well and we won!! In fact all three of our doubles partnerships won their matches. Which puts us at the top of the league right now (one week in...we'll see if we can maintain that position!) Not too bad for a new team, though.

Please note, I did NOT pick these skirts, someone with considerably more adventurous fashion tastes (my friend Michele) did. Don't we look like a bunch of wild and crazy gals?

Look at these fierce ladies. We'll strike fear in the hearts of our opponents.

*Apparently "What's Crackalackin'?" is a reference to Madagascar 2...that's what the zebra says. And now, that's what I hear in my head when ever I don my nifty zebra skirt.

Good-bye Little Green Crocs

These little shoes have finally bitten the dust. They've been Oliver's favorites for a year and a half (there are some advantages to having kids who don't grow very fast), and he's had plenty of adventures in these little green shoes. I almost hated to throw them away (which I did before someone mentioned that Crocs could be recycled). So good-bye green Crocs, hello...blue Crocs. Did you really think I would give up shoes that are designed to not pick up funky feet stench?! No way! Little boys may look cherubic, but their feet still stink.

Afternoon Bath Party

   

Sometimes (ok, almost every day) by the afternoon I have just had it. I am tired. The house is a mess. I can't possibly field another request for candy or TV time (it is NON-STOP). The neighbor kids are coming and going, dripping popsicles and echoing the requests for candy or treats. The screen door is slamming. Except when it's not, and that's because Elliot's leg is stuck in the door frame. Kids are upstairs, kids are down stairs, kids are next door...but where's Elliot?!? Wandering off to find a ball or dog to play with. AHHHH!!! I've heard a quote that parenting is like having a bowling alley installed in your head. Most afternoons, that's precisely how I feel.

So, in order to keep the kids contained and maintain my sanity we have instituted Afternoon Bath Parties. The boys love it and it actually helps because it gets a jump on our evening routine...except that Elliot generally needs another bath after dinner. (See photos below).

A Face Only A Mother Could Love

           

I know that most people who are not blood relatives will probably not find these pictures cute in any way. He has spaghetti and peaches and who knows what else smeared all over himself, but I just think he is adorable. I seriously can't get over this kid. Elliot has such personality. He is just so full of life and mischief.

He is talking up a storm, albeit in an incomprehensible language of his own devising, but no matter--he chats away, pointing at things and narrating like a seasoned tour guide. And he certainly knows how to make his wishes known. There is no misinterpreting what he is after when he gets his mind set on something.

I am totally charmed by his curiosity and determination. At my gym, one of the women who works with the kids in the child care center said to me reprovingly, "That Elliot, you really have to keep an eye on him. He likes to crawl on top of the tables and he tries to put everything in his mouth." I thought to myself, "I know, isn't he wonderful!!!" and then realized that she didn't see it in quite the same light!