Photo OP

Admittedly, I haven't posted for a while. Although it seems like I say this every year, this season really did sneak up on us. We have been so busy with extensive holiday cooking and cleaning, clandestine present procurement, gift smuggling and wrapping, travel planning...and Holiday cards. I find myself wondering about the history of Holiday card writing and why it has turned into something much bigger than I suspect it was originally intended to be. Was it Ms. Post who pushed us to the brink of the absurd? Is it our ego that drives us to be the lady on the block who sends the most cards (I know folks who send hundreds each year...all hand written). Maybe it is a trick of the Hallmark folks teaming up with the USPS to get us to spend more in cards and stamps.

This year, in an effort to be thrifty and crafty and occupy a bored toddler on a rainy afternoon, we made our Holiday cards. It was actually quite fun although we did end up with one heck of glittery mess tracked all through the house. Even the dog was coated in it. As an expression of our holiday cheer, we are mailing the glitter bombs to each of you so watch out!

Enclosed in each card we will be including a photo of the little guy. Getting him to sit for the photo was really something of a challenge. Our first effort was early in the season. We hit the Santa Stand as soon as it opened in mid-November. Unfortunately for us (and Santa) Olin was freaked out by the jolly bearded fellow. He clung to my leg and would not let go despite all of the elves best efforts. Clearly, this was not the time to attempt the photo.

Later in the week, we were entering a grocery store when Olin spied a Salvation Army bell ringer dressed up as Santa. Que the clinging and crying. Apparently this Santa trauma is going to require long term therapy. Thus, no Santa photo for the cards this year. Sorry, but we did try.

Plan B: We decided to take the photo ourselves. One rainy afternoon I set up the camera in front of the tree to take the Holiday photo. I dressed Olin in some festive duds, put the dog and cat in back yard as a precautionary measure, and crossed my fingers. Olin wandered in to see what I was up to, promptly grabbed his car and stood in front of the tree and smiled. I thought "what luck". I got about 5 shots before he became enthralled with the camera (such is life with a curious two year old). So he commandeered it and I took this shot with my cellphone. As of this writing, I am undecided as to which photo will go in the cards. Consider it a Holiday surprise.

GIDDY UP!

This year marked the first year Olin was able to really enjoy Halloween. Luckily, our neighborhood puts on a Halloween parade for the little ones, so we got a trial run to see if it would be OK or end in tears (like last Halloween). Typical of the weather lately, it was clear and over 80 today, so the little guy was a bit warm dressed up in his Cowboy duds. Still, he seemed to have a great time...especially with the post parade cupcakes. We had to put him straight into a bath when we got home. Yeah, there was THAT much icing.

LES ARTIST!

Doesn't this just make you want a beret, a cup of coffee, and a fresh baguette? We've been getting much deserved rain now, and have been trying to find ways to enjoy what little bouts of outdoor time we can get. 20 min here, 15 min there. Today I set up the easel and paints in the atrium and let little Picasso go at it for a half hour. Oh, what a blessed half hour it was too. I got all the bills paid. HOORAY FOR PAINT!

SUPER HERO

Olin's (big) 2nd birthday party was yesterday. Yeah, we were a few days late with the party due to delays in the remodel schedule. Ray worked every night and weekend day for the few weeks leading up to it. The painter left the house an hour before the party started. We had to tell folks not to touch the walls. I'm certain we'll look back on all of this and laugh, but right now we are pooped! Anyhow, the party was great. Folks seemed to have lots of fun. There were loads of kids (14!) and good friends (too many to count). Thank you all who were able to join us for his special day.

HOT HOT HOT

It was 108 today. I'm sure we are in for warmer weather later on in the month, but right now its hot! We are anxiously awaiting the opening of our neighborhood pool, but until then we will just have to get creative. I've been letting him tiptoe through the lawn sprinklers when they run in the morning and evening, but during mid day, when its really warm, a nice cool bath (with loads of bubbles) is what a guy really needs. What you don't see in this photo is the dog who is soaked and covered in bubbles as well.

BREAKFAST BY OLIN

This morning was typical of other mornings. We got up, I made toast and poured a cup of coffee. Set them down on the table. Turned my back for a few seconds to grab something. Turned around, and POOF Olin had modified breakfast. Admittedly, there is a certain amount of logic to it. Round ball, round cup. I can see where he got it. Don't think the tennis ball or the coffee are coming back from this one.

GRAVEL PIT

Weird name for a posting but what else could I call play in the gravel pit at the Children's Museum? It was a GLORIOUS January day here. Almost 70 degrees. We just had to get outside and enjoy it so the three of us trekked to the museum and spent most of the afternoon enjoying the weather, children and exhibits. It was packed but in a way that only a hundred toddlers can make a place. Most of the parents looked happy to be out side after the weeks of rain we have endured.

LES ARTIST
Today Olin went to Tot Drop (while I did Yoga) at the Community Center. He has been once before and it has been an excellent experience for both of us. At Tot Drop they focus on what the child is interested in. Today's interest was markers and stickers. OH BOY! Behold the first piece of Fridge Art for the household. Next stop: the MET!

*PEE* BODY AWARD

Mr. Murphy (of the Law fame) must have been paying special attention to us tonight. Ray and I were given tickets to the Theater in SF (Speed the Plow...wonderful...highly recommend). We have actually rescheduled this outing once already so I was doubly excited for this postponed *date night*. I had to leave the house at 5:30 to pick up the sitter. At about 5:15 it became apparent that Mr. O needed a diaper change so I stopped getting ready to facilitate that oh so necessary event. Once the soiled diaper had been removed and discarded, my free spirit escaped the changing pad and went straight for his toy shelf; nekkid as a jaybird from the waist down. Turns out he was 'armed and dangerous'. Once at the toy shelf he proceeded to what I can only describe as wizz because it was no gentile stream upon all of the toys on the lowest shelf. ARRGH. How does one detox the shelf, carpet, and toys; dress a happily *free* baby; AND finish getting ready for a cosmopolitan outing in less than 15 min? The answer, throw overboard any notion of eyeliner and lipstick! In the end, everything ended up well and sanitary. Olin had a blast with the sitter and so did the toys, after I got home that evening. I'd like to conclude by extending my condolences to Fisher Price, Melissa and Doug, and who ever makes the rubber blocks and plastic stacking cups.

WORKIN' MAN

Quick Post because I have LOADS to do (literally...you should see the laundry pile). I just loved this shot of him (taken with phone) at his chalk board table *working* on his baby laptop with a snack and pacifier. He was so busy there most of the afternoon. What a wonderful thing this self occupation is!