The Cheese Grater

In most kitchens, this is a cheese grater. In our kitchen it is an amazing shape-shifting mystery machine, an auger, a conveyor belt, a digger, an excavator, a tower crane, a feller buncher, a tub grinder... 

Creative cropping and cupcakes.

Lots of them. We initially took the high road and tried a recipe which we later rejected. 'Too funky.' Then we did an organic box mix heavily enhanced with real vanilla I scraped from this totally luscious bean. 'Not bad, not bad at all,' says the little taster. So we forge ahead. An adult dozen with a lemon mascarpone cream, a last-minute edit to a recipe for lemon cream I had tried earlier in the week (I know, I know, it's not easy being a mom : ) topped with a couple of organic raspberries. Dad made whipped cream (he insisted) to which were added colored sprinkles (Oliver insisted) for the kiddo cupcakes.

It should be noted: about a week prior to his 3rd Birthday, he began calling me Momzilla.

Birthdayfest '09

Krikey! Can't believe only 2 weeks have passed since my last post. Per usual, things get kicked into uber-high-gear when the mercury moves ever upward in the Northwest and we squeeze every warm sunny moment out of every day to the point of exhaustion. 

We've had our first 'Getting to Know You' playdate with Oliver's really fun future Bayside Montessori buddies. Great group of kids and parents. I am buoyed.

He somewhat reluctantly started 'soccer' last week. There were a lot of kids, a new venue, I think he was overwhelmed. Definitely the smallest guy out there. Didn't really get into it until the second evening when dad was there. We'll see...

He seriously seems to have a thing for blondes...Araya, Gabbi, Elora, Riley...I'm blaming his sitter Laura.

We kicked off  Oliver's Third Birthday Fest on Father's Day, took (surprise!) Amtrak to Vancouver followed by a water taxi ride ride to Granville Island for lunch (I'll post video when I've completed my Videophobics Anonymous meetings). Oliver loved it. The pace is soooo nice. Customs was a bit of a drag, as we were the last car to be allowed (yes) to leave the train and get through to the station. It was just a short walk to Science World, where we waited for a water taxi. Unbeknownst to us, we ventured right into the middle of the Dragon Boat races on False Creek, very, very, cool. Rowing to drumbeats and we were right alongside. He ate sushi, naan bread, tempura shrimp, mango lassi. No King crab in the tank, only boring lobster. No chocolate fountain (that was so Easter). But we discovered a great kinetic sculpture at the Ocean Cement factory. Learned that 'cement is the flour, concrete is the bread'. Noted. 

On the return trip, he opened a present from grandma and grandpa that had mysteriously made its' way into my backpack - a couple of great books that helped make the waiting time before departure pass unnoticed. And he went to the lounge car. Twice.  

He opened a remote-controlled submarine with/from his Aunt Jessica and Uncle Alex live on a 3-way video chat between Kona and Waimea and Bellingham.

We walked the Taylor Dock on Monday, his Birthday proper, a wonderful sunset stroll. He insisted that I carry him, and that he be wrapped in the 'aunt wicki' blanket, as we had last year. Guess he's not ready to relinquish all of those little guy moments.

And his birthday we celebrated with his buddies the following Saturday in the front yard. Picture sunshine, rosemary-lemonade, grilled halibut tacos, balloons (he hand-picked), beach balls (I inflated seven). Picture a slip-and-slide going downhill (strictly against the manufacturers warning) with 5 shivering, shrieking, almost-three-ish (and one 30-something) kids + one very can-do little Sawyer. Picture cupcakes. Picture Oliver beaming. Nude. The entire party. It's his birthday...  

3 words we love...

No, other than 'I love you.' Every summer we eagerly await the invasion of sandwich boards and makeshift signs out and about Bellingham that read 'LIVE SPOT PRAWNS.' errrrrrrrrcccccccchhhhhhh goes the car as we drop anything we're doing and go traipsing down to the marina to procure what are arguably some of the best spot prawns we've ever tasted. Oliver obviously is totally into them. And yes, Grandma Patty, that's a LIVE prawn in his mouth!

Track Night!

Oliver's first track and field experience last Monday night was a hit. Despite being leveled by a bigger kid and getting pinned under a hurdle screaming before the meet even began, he was totally into the Ages 6 and Under hurdles and the running long jump (the sand in general was also a hit). Dad says he looks as though he is about to take flight in the hurdle photo. Next week: soccer!

Ahhhhhhh....summer!

Fresh laundry! And who wouldn't want to climb under the clothesline and look up at the star quilt on a warm, summer day? This quilt was made many, many, years ago by Oliver's great grandmother. Though they never met, I think that it would have made her very happy to know that it gets daily snuggles with this sweet little sleepy Oliver kid. 

Oliver's dear friend

Experienced Laura dance. 

Magnificently expressing so many spaces of emotion through movement, and then through light, sound. And wonderfully with/mixed music in her choreographed piece. A joy to watch.

Did someone film? Hopefully, hopefully. 

And family. So nice to see and hear. 

I feel complete gratitude. 

She is our, Oliver's, forever friend.

We will so miss you and your Laura smile walking through the front door in the morning.

May you please always be in touch.

With us.

Cheers to your beginnings and endings (and beginnings...)