A New Kind of Play

Well, not entirely new, but we are definitely seeing more "pretend" play.  I know all you parents have seen this before and anyone who isn't a parent may be somewhat unimpressed, but I can't say enough how amazing it is to watch Oscar growing and changing and becoming his own funny little person.  So here's a video starring O.K. and Baby Doll (and Mama saying silly things, like "good biting") that runs a little on the long side (but I'm not apologizing).

Bye-bye, High Chair

Oscar has pretty much out-grown his high chair.  His feet get stuck on the way out, and he has learned to shimmy his way into precariously standing up in the thing.  Plus, we like eating meals together, and losing the high chair means he will be more officially at the table.

 Oscar helped as we took apart and cleaned the high chair to save for later.

One quick ride before we packed it away.

Oscar sitting at the table in his new booster seat!

37

I always wondered how people could be unsure about how old they are, but now at 37 (pretty sure that's right), I am starting to get it.  Number one--there are just too many other things to think about.  Number two--the number is really starting to get big.  Number three--one more year isn't really making much difference anymore (I mean it's not like I get a new privilege for getting older any time soon).

So my age is forgettable, but my birthday was not.  It was last Monday, and my good husband and sweet son made it very special.  I had to work, of course, but I woke up to balloons hanging above my head (a favorite Macy tradition).  Then, when I got home from work, I found a transformed house: all the clutter was put away, the floors were vacuumed, the bathroom was clean, the dining room table "pile" had disappeared and in its place was this:

 

Home-baked cupcakes, wine and presents.

John had also surprised me by inviting over a few local friends (and their kiddos--Oscar's age) to share in the cupcakes and wine.  After they left we ordered some food from Pataya Thai, and I felt perfectly celebrated.  This birthday will go down as one of my best, however old I now am.

Philadelphia Open Studios Tour

John took part in the Philadelphia Open Studios Tour (P.O.S.T.) last weekend.  He showed his art in another studio-gallery in the Fairmount area.  The experience overall was positive, though to get more details, you'd need to talk to Johnny.  Here are a couple of pics:

Recent O.K. Pics (no theme, sorry!)

Oscar has started to accessorize--he'll put on "glasses" (like Daddy's), sunglasses, and any number of things has become a "hat".

We visited the Please Touch Museum recently, which is wonderful!  We are hoping to get a membership there, so that John can take Oscar there this winter when it is too cold for the park.

Less than fifteen years left...

Having "tea" with the Mad Hatter (O.K. wasn't too sure about him).

Oscar has friends, and he recognizes them!  Here he is with his friend, Julian, who came over to play not long ago.

And last, a first:  Oscar BUILDS a tower (instead of just knocking them down).

Best in Show

We were excited when BOTH of John's pieces were chosen for the "Absolutely Abstract" show at the Philadelphia Sketch Club.  But then when one of those pieces won "Best in Show", we were understandably thrilled.

At the reception, following the award ceremony (the winning piece is right above our heads).

John and Oscar next to another of John's paintings

John with his friend and mentor, Bill Scott

Oscar gingerly played a note or two (with the pianist's encouragement).

Congratulations, Johnny.  Oscar and I are so proud of you.

The Perfect Shelf

At the end of last school year I determined that I needed a new shelf for the growing collection of books in my classroom.  It became one of many summer goals, and I was pretty disheartened the day before I was to head back into my classroom when I realized that I hadn't yet found my shelf.  Not that I hadn't been looking -- thrift stores, porch sales, the as-is section of IKEA -- but nothing was exactly right.  So there I was, getting myself geared up to go and buy a NEW shelf at IKEA for more money than I wanted to spend, when I got a text from my friend, Mara, saying she'd just walked past my shelf in someone's trash, and that I'd better hurry.  Trash-picking is a bit of a hobby around here and anything good doesn't last, so  I threw a shoeless Oscar into the car and drove down the street to check it out.  It needed some paint, and some mice had clearly thrown a party in the bottom shelf, but it was solid wood, just the right size, and best of all, free.  I threw it in the trunk and headed home, thankful to Mara and the invention of cell phones, and excited about my timely find.

  My perfect FREE shelf, just under half-way painted with some leftover paint I found in the basement.

Like new!

And now here it is: my just-what-I-needed shelf for just what I wanted to pay fitting in exactly where I needed it to.  Now, how often does that happen?