Bounce!

Ivy went in her first bounce house yesterday. I think they have a special spot for that in baby books, no? Baby's First Bounce House? C'mon, its a big event! :)

Ivy, bouncer by nature that she is, loved it.



Jack did too.


Turns out the bounce houses were the highlight of the event for Jack, who appears to be exiting his "truck phase" as he was fairly unenthusiastic about the trucks and diggers. We did get him into the front end loader, and he did appear to enjoy the fire truck though he changed his mind about getting into it (after waiting in line for 10 minutes, of course)...


Ivy wanted to climb right into all the trucks herself... I think next summer will be her year to be crazy about this event...


Jack's favorite part of the day in Lakewood was the Jungle Bob animal show, where he got to touch a skink and loved looking at the baby alligator. Ever the scientist, he also had a good time on our trip to the Botanical Gardens in the late afternoon, spending almost the entire time looking at things through the telescopes.


Ivy enjoyed looking at herself in the giant mirrors at the entry to the glasshouse.


She also enjoyed walking around and climbing on things, which are two of her favorite pastimes in general these days. She wants to be on her feet at all times and she can cruise around furniture or along walls... but of course prefers to hold our hands and lead us along, as we hunch and shuffle behind her. I will be happy to see her walking independently if only to save my poor old back.

outnumbered....

What in the world would college-Amanda have thought of tonight's First Friday Fiesta? She would, I think, have been quite aghast at the turn her life had taken. Its good that life tends to transition slowly, that the big shifts creep and slip and happen without our taking much notice, so that the difference is not so stark and the new normal truly does feel normal. It's only when I examine tonight through the eyes of the past that I am so surprised to find myself where I am...

And where we were tonight, was outnumbered. We took a count earlier in the evening and realized there were 7 children under the age of 4, and only 6 adults. Makes for a different party dynamic, you know? One focused on cutting up bites of food and keeping babies on the porch and juggling climbing and crawling and walking twins and wondering whether the preschoolers had gone back inside. Relaxing with a beer? Savoring the perfectly grilled chicken? Using two hands to do anything? Not so much.

But-- there's something magical about a yard full of littles. Even if we're all an exhausted mess by Friday, even when we wish they'd just go to sleep already... we come together in the early summer perfect-light and eat with our fingers and let our children get all grubby as we take turns holding each other's babies, and I catch myself looking around and thinking how perfect our lives really are.
Watching my college friends-- now my mama friends-- caring for their children; loving them so much and loving their children like my own; my backyard awash with these beautiful people and their beautiful progeny... We are just so very lucky, you know? We really are.

Dancing queen

He always has loved ABBA.

Wish I had a video but words will have to suffice.

This evening Jack decided to explore the world of interpretive dance. He prances into his room after his nightly ablutions, wearing nothing but his white button down shirt, and he says, "Hey mommy! Wanna see my dance moves?" But of course, little man!

And so, he closes his eyes, gets this dreamy-happy look on his face and begins to sway and wave his arms to some unpredictable, internal beat. Bend down, swoop the ground, up and sway, wiggle the hips, suddenly speed up and pump the arms and jump 3 times then back to dream land-- and a big "ta da!" to finish.

Oh how I love this strange, strange little boy.

Memorial Day

I have been completely worn out by the wonderful weekend. Whew.

It's been a remarkably relaxing 3-day weekend, with a nice blend of time alone and time with kids, trips out and about and time spent at home. We've done very little housework, which accounts for a lot of it. As does the fact that the sun's been out for at least 75% of the weekend, and I've slept in til 7 every day (oh the decadence). And, our kids are really, really cute.

From May 2011 2nd album (after Ivy's birthday)

I'm still worn out, though.

Today: Went for a run this morning, then took the kids to the park, by wagon, while Nat went and got some work done. Off to Melinda and Will's for a Memorial Day picnic where we alternately pushed kids in swings, helped them on slides, or generally chased them around for 3 hours straight. In the 90 degree heat. And the 90% humidity. To Target, home for dinner, then Ive and I walked the dog around the block before I put her to bed, took my car to the car wash, and went to dinner swap. I've made the mistake of sitting down, here on the couch, and I am wondering if I'll be able to muster the energy to get to bed.

It's a good sort of tired, though, you know? A "quality time" tired. A sun-warmed tired, a muscles-well-used tired. A tired that tells me I've spent my time well, today.


** Disclaimer: Jack is NOT actually drinking this beer. He blantanly refuses to try beer. But, wow, does it look like he is enjoying this beer in this picture, eh?

Thanks, Memorial Day weekend, for being wonderful. Off tomorrow to start the last 8 days of school. Wish me luck with the insanity!

A beautiful Saturday

Let me tell you about my lovely day:

A pedicure and haircut this morning (many thanks to Gram who took Ivy, and Nat who took Jack, giving me the morning to be pampered while reading Cosmo.

Iced coffee and a sunny drive home.

A little boy who greeted his mom with hugs and kisses and a giant wolf spider in a jar. Oh, he was so excited to show me his spider! "It's THIS size, mommy!!"

A walk to Coventry for lunch Hunan with a co-worker and friend. An hour and a half of talking over Jasmine tea and heavenly Thai Basil chicken.

A delightful detour to a neighborhood yard sale, chatting with fellow dog owners and enjoying the sun.

Playing with my daughter on the bed, as she giggled and rolled and jabbered away.

Off to Tina's house for a Taco night-- a bit disorienting as virtually none of the old crown were there-- but a wonderful trip to Roxboro playground where Jack fell in love with Aiwyn and her other 5th grade friends, who played with him so well. And it was amazing to see my boy, my big boy, running around that playground with no need for us at all, keeping up with the big kids and playing along and so, so happy to be there. And the little girls? (Melinda and Will, at least, were there...) They toddled and cruised and climbed up and down steps and slides, Ivy gathering wood chips and handing them to us. In the evening early-summer sun it was quite magical to watch our babied growing up, so wonderfully.

And it begins...

With the arrival of the Hessler Street Fair and 80 degree weather on the same weekend, summer festival season is officially underway!







As is generally the case with the Hessler Street Fair, we had just as much fun on the walk back to the car, as we did at the Festival. The Fair itself is a crowded affair, a narrow street lined with booths-of-pretty-nice-crap and packed entirely with an intergenerational mix of hippies. Very dog friendly and full of acoustic guitars and drum circles and patchouli. Festive indeed but a bit tiring with two kids and a dog in tow. This year there was the addition of "Harmony Park", a play area for the kiddos which Jack thoroughly enjoyed.



But we weren't up for camping out on a sidewalk to eat fair food, so we headed back home for dinner-- with a detour to the wonderful step-fountain for a snack, and a foray into a meadow of abstract art, too.


The sunshine was wonderful as were the happy, rosy children we brought home with us.



Hello summer.

words

For a while now we've been speculating about whether or not we can count Ivy's random utterances as "words" or not. Today, however, we had an indisputable, purposeful, clearly spoken word: Coco. The name of Auntie Bec's cat. She says it more like "gogogogogo" but it's very clear and she makes sure to point and reach for the cat while saying it, just so we aren't confused. :)

She also continues to say:

"da" for dog. She also "pants" now to indicated dog, and excitedly identifies pictures of dogs when asked, by pointing and then flapping her hands and panting. It's pretty funny.

"dada" or "da... dee", for Daddy of course.

Occasionally-- "ca" for cat

This evening she clearly repeated "duh" after I asked her if she was all done at dinner. Not counting that one yet...

So, we're getting there! :)