Puzzles Here

9.26.10

Puzzles there. Puzzles everywhere.

Hello, Autumn

9.23.10




I kept Buby home from school twice last week. The cough started {for him} on Wednesday, so he really needed a four-day weekend to recoup and prevent spread.


That's not to say we didn't stay active. The weather was beautiful, and Buby knows better than anyone that jumping in leaves with a satiny superhero cape is good for the soul.

Photo Gallery: Party Day

Jammies and mini cupcakes from Crumbs NYC. What a treat! Then onto swimming lessons.

John, Nat, Bub, Lily, Gilly, Bleu, Grace, Luke, and Alexa awaiting game instructions at the museum.

Inside the 3D harness-racing simulator. This was awesome to watch!

No shortage of balloons. Buby shared his with Lily, Gilly and Grace when they let go.

Impromptu dinner party for 13.

9.18.10

Old Photo Friday

September 2005



Coming home from the hospital with our very first baby. He was only one day old.

i heart

Heart-shaped nuts.

Open House

A tiny fraction of Buby's classroom. It's big and bright and wraps around a circular building.



Today was a L-O-N-G day, but it ended on a high note. I had the pleasure of attending Open House at Buby's new school. I cannot express enough how genuinely impressed I am with his teachers this year. {And if you know me, you know I'm not easily wooed in these matters.} Of course I've always been into this school's philosophies and traditions--that's why we're sending him there. But now I totally get why Buby loves it in his own right.


The teachers have such a beautiful grasp of each child's unique abilities and interests. Already. We're only a few weeks into the year, and I am amazed at how gracefully they seem to have eased the children into their routines and lesson plans. I have so much respect for what they do in a day.


Buby seems drawn to the materials, inspired by the real-world responsibilities and rewarded well in self esteem. He demonstrates that to me from the time I pick him up until he whispers his last "Goodnight, Mommy." He works independently, one-on-one with the teacher, in small groups and in large teams. He has made friends. Lots of new friends. As a mom these little things make my heart sing.


Honestly, I'm sort of envious that he gets to explore the world of reading and writing, mathematics, geography, botany, history and art in the way that he does. I loved school growing up, too, but it was different for me. The Montessori methods so suit Buby's personality and individual learning style. Mathematics, writing and practical life skills are huge, and this place's approach to teaching them genius {in my opinion}. Our boy is like a big sponge soaking it all up, and at days end he can't wait to show me the "Challenging Work Assignments" he's completed.


In addition to his regular studies, he will have Spanish once a week, phys ed. twice, and every month dig deep into a different author, composer and artist. It seems he comes home from kindergarten every day with a new song in his head--about planets, counting, etc. So far we are 12 for 12. I hope to keep that going as long as possible. Our Buby has a certain love of learning, and it's a wonderful thing to watch it blossom.

A Simple Date

Whenever My Sweets and I can squeeze in a little date we do. We were supposed to spend last Sunday on a walking tour of Manhattan, filling cravings from all my favorite eateries.


But suddenly this pregnancy has caught up with me and a whole day on my feet was out of the question. Sciatica, leg cramps, rib pain, bladder issues. I thought I was immune.


So... we had lunch at a quirky little joint about 45 minutes further into the country. Oh was I glad for that culinary experience! And just to humor My Sweets we folded the Jeep top back and enjoyed some cool autumn air. A few raindrops, too.


Then we antiqued a bit {table runners, glass cabinet knobs}, puddle jumped with hot cappuccinos in hand, and listened to whatever we wanted on the radio. Thank you to Grandma DJ and Tom G. for entertaining our two lovelies all afternoon. Bleu is still talking about the kettle corn. Apparently she's a fan.

Tennis Lessons

Buby with new teammates Donald and Margaret. Don't they look so tiny out there?


Tennis is a sport Buby and I played all summer down at the village court. I don't know all the rules and never played on a team, but he's super into it and asked for tennis lessons instead of t-ball or soccer this time around.


His first class was last Thursday. He was all over the court and obviously having a blast. When he came out 45 minutes later he said how impressed he was with Margaret and Donald. All of the players on his team are 5 years old, but Coach Julie told me the others have been playing for two years already. Wow!


She added that tennis is one of the most challenging sports to learn. The professionals make it look so easy, but there is a tremendous amount of skill and coordination involved.


Today after school Buby jumped in the car and asked if it was Thursday. I said two more days. He said he couldn't wait and asked to go straight to the outdoor court near our house to practice. So we did. We spent about an hour there before heading to the library to return our books. Bleu is our ball girl. She brings her own racket but is happy to just chase the ball. She gets at least as much exercise as we do and I never have to bend over.

The Spice of Life

Loving on Grandma

She arrived last Friday afternoon and left on Tuesday morning after lots and lots of this.

Last Week {in full}

No. I did not go into labor. Sorry. This past week I was hit hard with allergies, a cough and a whole lot of everything third trimester. Despite it all we really had a fantastic week here. A whirlwind of wonderful in the kids' eyes. Just very little time to reflect. A few things I remember from the last seven days...


* Buby's face when he woke up last Monday. Beaming. How is it possible that my boy is 5?

* Roasting marshmallows in the backyard with Grandma DJ and Tom G.

* Oohing and aahing at a fireworks display. Hurray for year-round "sprinkles in the sky."

* Birthday signs made of pipe cleaners, pompoms and feathers.

* Bleu in the back seat asking, "Can you find me more cows and horses, Mommy?" She gets very sad when we drive a long stretch without seeing animals.

* Watching Buby's teachers and classmates celebrate his first four years in a traditional earth + sun ceremony. I felt honored to be there as his guest.

* My Sweets cutting up an insane amount of melon, honeydew and pineapple. Twice.

* Baking whole wheat blueberry mini muffins for school and an organic fudge brownie cake for home {Buby's orders}.

* Tom G. blowing up a gazillion balloons. I wanted the table covered, and my pregnant self is no good at balloons.

* Bleu starting gymnastics. She digs it. No surprise there.

* Buby swinging blind at Lillian's butterfly pinata.

* Lillian responding to her mom about Buby, "He's not just my friend... he's my hero."

* Bedtime routine pretty much perfected in this house. Finally. Round 3, here we go.

* Meeting a new crop of instructors: June + Olga {gymnastics}, Julie {tennis}, Danielle + Stephanie {swimming}.

* Watching a certain someone run around the tennis court picking his wedgies.

* Bribing that someone to stop pulling his pants up so high. Two birds with one stone.

* Hosting Buby's party at a horse museum. The whole day was exactly what he wanted.

* Dinner for 13 after. We are blessed with wonderful friends and a sizable outdoor table.

* The pursuit of forts. Buby and Grace can destroy a playroom in seconds to build a fort.

* Listening to every one's "roses and thorns" from the day. What a sweet tradition. Thanks, Alana. I think we might start doing this at home.

* Welcoming the change in seasons. Red maple leaves. Sweaters. Pumpkins. Boots. Oh my.

* Our children holding hands. Often. And without prompt.

* Really good French onion soup on a date with My Sweets.

* Shaving as an Olympic sport.

* Pulling up to Buby's school at 2:15. He watches for me, smiles, waves his hands, and skips with his teacher toward the car. Always happy and eager to greet me with something from nature. A beautiful leaf, a bouquet of pine needles, a pocketful of acorns.

* A dozen mini cupcakes from the famous Crumbs. It's such a treat to have a husband with an office right. across. the. street from the best bakery in the world!

* Being immensely proud of how our kindergartner handled himself against a potential bully. On the second day his response was, "It's okay M--. You're still my friend. It's only clothes, ya know. That stuff doesn't matter to me." Go Buby!

* Driving. Waiting. Driving. Waiting. Driving.

* Low tire pressure xs 4 on Thursday and a chipped windshield on Friday.

* Custom bilateral UCBLs. Buby's longtime pediatric orthopaedist sent us to his orthotics guy hoping to limit any further collateral damage to the knees, calves, etc. {Did you know about Buby's extreme flat feet?}

* Rediscovering the cherry limeade chiller. Yum.

* Lunchbox notes.

* Devising a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C for when this baby comes.

* Flashcards, puzzles and building blocks everywhere.

* Dinosaur jammies.

* Being grateful for the invention of texting. It keeps My Sweets and I connected throughout the long day.

* Peeing accidents. Peeing successes.

* Squeezy hugs.

* Buzz Lightyear and robot imitations.

* Floor stretches with my girl. Actually, both itty bitties love my "yoga" routine and the relaxing Eucerin foot massages.

* Cleaning. Lots of cleaning. Very little putting away of laundry.

* Bleu's favorite new-to-her knit hoodie. She won't wear anything else outside.

* Getting creative with new Toobers & Zots construction sets. Thank you, Erika.

* Giggles and fits. Giggles and fits. Two year old girls are fun, aren't they?

* Walking in on Buby teaching his sis the "Cha Cha Cha." Where does he get this stuff?

* Putting baby dolls to sleep with Bleu's favorite song on repeat. It's Renee + Jeremy's "Three Little Birds." She calls it the "Don't Worry... 'Bout a Thing" song.


Good times.

Old Photo Friday

2006



Learning to walk. Such sweet memories.

The Birthday Boy

9.13.10

Happy Birthday, Buby!

love you! love you! love you! love you! love you!

Photos taken by Grandma DJ on Saturday morning.

i heart

Weekends like this.

At Saturday's parade. Left to right: Bleu, me in final month of pregnancy, and Grandma DJ.

Marigolds Gone Wild

Remember when we planted those itty bitty marigold plants in our veggie garden to act as a natural critter barrier? Well, look at 'em now!

Big Ideas

It'll be 18 years next month. That's how long we've known each other. I can't explain, but from that first night I knew he was the most right person in the whole world for me.


I used to keep a mental list of all of Tom's surprisingly groovy qualities--a side effect of being young and in love I guess. Sometime between my freshman year of college and his first year as a Daddy I lost count.


One thing to know about My Sweets is his big ideas. For instance, setting up an impromptu campsite in our tiny back yard. He got an idea, and an hour later it was done. I think Buby and Bleu appreciate that about him. I certainly do. As incredible he is a best friend and husband... he's an even better family man.

9.4.10

Base Camp

9.4.10



We camped in the back yard last weekend. After an entertaining two-hour country music concert down the block. After a little dinner picnic on pavement. After roasting marshmallows in the fire pit. It was the first chilly evening here, and it felt amazing to spend the night under the stars with all of my loves so close.


Eight months pregnant I wasn't planning on actually sleeping on the hard ground all night. The idea was to wait until My Sweets was in the tent and ready for bed... then sneak inside to my cozy body pillow. But while reading Seuss' Happy Birthday to You book Bleu fell right to sleep. Then Buby. Then me.


By the time My Sweets unzipped the tent and climbed in we were all out cold. He woke me and convinced me to stay if I was comfortable enough, so I did. The next morning Buby got up around 7 a.m. and walked inside with Daddy. He had to use the potty and warm up. Bleu and I slept for another hour or two.

Waking Up Outdoors

9.5.10

Surprising Grace

Our little friend Grace turned 5 on Monday. Her family is in the midst of a big move and didn't have plans yet, so we offered to host a very last-minute birthday lunch for her here. I'm so glad they took us up on it, because we had the best afternoon.


Good friends, good eats and shades of P-I-N-K everywhere I turned. Buby keeps shouting from the rooftops how he surprised his friend Grace on her birthday. It's sweet...

9.6.10

Back-to-School Feast, Part II

When My Sweets called Friday afternoon to say he was on the early train, I quick prepared another back-to-school feast. He missed the first one, so I wanted it to be delicious.


I served up flatiron steaks seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and fresh ground pepper, farmer's market corn, garden tomatoes with mozzarella, homemade guacamole, carrots, cucumbers, and the lettuces that we grew from seed. Yum.


I so wish that early train was his everyday train.