The 83rd Annual International Competition in Printmaking

As the proud wife of a very talented man, I have to brag a little about John's most recent art showing. He entered a printmaking competition at the Print Center in Center City and had two of his prints chosen out of 1900 entries. He was also one of only 3 entrants who had TWO pieces chosen. And then today, at the opening, John also received the "Art on Paper" Award. Did I already mention how proud I am of him?

Here it is!

John, Oscar, and his two prints.

The award-winning print!

The gallery.

4 Months Old

Oscar is four months old and we can hardly believe it! This morning was beautiful and sunny--perfect for a walk down to Gold Standard Cafe for a bit of breakfast. Then off to the Farmer's Market in the park, where we bought fresh asparagus and strawberries along with a loaf of sourdough.

We think Oscar's wearing his four months very well...

Friends and Family Shots

The boys keep me company in the morning while I make my lunch and get ready for work.

Jarf and Nicole came over for an evening of barbecue and conversation on the deck. Oscar and Nicole got on just fine!


Oscar likes the book "Squishy Turtle"--however, he seems to like squishing it more than he likes reading it.

We went to Dev and Debbie's to meet their new sweet sweet dog, Jackson.
(FYI: Jackson is a baby toe licker.)

The New Morning

I've been back to work not quite two weeks and it has been an adjustment, to say the least. The new morning looks like this: get up at 4:50, get ready as quickly as I can, make lunch, pack up the pump, feed the kid, eat breakfast, and leave for school by 7:00. While this isn't impossible, it is a challenge because, as I am learning, three and a half month-olds do not always do everything you need them to do in their alloted time. John has been incredible in helping to make this work--usually by having to get up sooner than he should (considering his late night at work) to entertain Oscar until I can feed him. When I came to do just that this morning this is what I found.

Have we embraced the pacifier, or what?

100 days

On Tuesday Oscar was 100 days old. I know this only because we were recently at a coffee shop when a woman working there asked us how old he was. When we said he was three and a half months, she exclaimed "Oh, almost 100 days!". She went on to explain that in Korea, where she is from, 100 days is significant and celebrated like a birthday. So on Tuesday, Oscar was 100 days old. I only took one picture of him that day and here it is, with his friend, Leroy.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day has long been a little bit sad for me. I've either ignored the day all together (while still remembering mom in my own way) or celebrated the other "mothers" in my life. For this reason, John and I haven't had many traditions for this day.

BUT, today is my first Mother's Day as a mother. I wish more than ever that I could share this happiness in my new life as a mom with my own mother. Instead I will share it with every person I see today, and so far, it's been with the two most important people in my life (and without whom being a mother wouldn't be possible)...

Who this morning put this on the kitchen table:

And after a delicious breakfast of cheesy eggs, potato hash, and strawberries (that I DIDN'T make), I opened up the cards and boxes to find this:

A sweet picture (in an untopple-able frame) for my desk at school. Johnny also had a favorite watch fixed (so I will be timely as I return back to work tomorrow). I've certainly felt appreciated today.

This evening we are having taco pie, a small way to remember my mother. We will also call John's mom, as well as the other "mothers" in our lives. So far, all traditions I hope to continue each year as I celebrate my luck and joy at getting to be a mom and acknowledge the care and love other mothers have given us...

To all the moms (and grand-moms) who may read this, Happy Mother's Day.

Oscar's Wild Ride

We rode the trolley down to the Annual Student Exhibition at PAFA on Friday. Oscar was very busy (and happy) taking in the lights, the people, and all of the screeching involved in trolley-riding. The ASE was equally stimulating--full of colorful art, people, and noise. John experienced the ASE for the first time as an observer (instead of participant). He was (as I've been every year) overwhelmed by the amount of artwork to try and take in, as well as the crowds. Oscar "impressed the ladies" with smiles, and two mentioned to us that he was distracting them from the art on the walls. A charmer, for sure.

The Mercer Museum

In an effort to avoid the rain (and still get out of the house), we took Aunt Erin and Uncle John to the Mercer Museum, a collection of pre-industrial age artifacts housed creatively in a large "castle" built by Henry C. Mercer in 1916.

There were several "floors" overlooking the center space filled with all kinds of tools, boats, carriages, and machinery. Baskets and bassinets (among other things) hung from the ceiling.

Small rooms highlighted specific pre-industrial crafts, including hat-making, glass-making, shoe-making, farming, and dairy and meat production (to name a only a few).

The castle from the outside hardly seemed big enough to hold such a large and unusual collection.

How to be Great Guests

1. Make delicious breakfasts and homemade Pad Thai.
2. Then clean up the cookin' mess.
3. Offer to babysit for an evening.
4. Bring lots of interesting stories and pictures to share.
5. Teach you something new (did you see our animated short?).

Oscar felt so comfortable with Aunt Erin, he wasn't at all embarrassed to spit up on her (more than a few times).

We tried to imagine Oscar with a head full of red frizzy hair.

A midday run in the rain (and a little sun) at Valley Green balanced out some of the delicious food we'd eaten.

We played with and took lots of pictures of Oscar.

Family Travelers Back from "The World"...

visit the EAST COAST (and we got to make this sweet movie with them!).