18-months'-worth of weekly swim lessons at our local Y have paid off; Olivia has, for the last several weeks, been doggie paddling without Mama's assistance, further proof that she'll be going off to college in about a week.
The swim lessons are great, and our teacher is first rate. Best of all, the better Olivia gets, the more she enjoys it.
I think learning to swim is a necessity, especially when living close to the shore. Olivia thinks it's the coolest thing since pedaling a tricycle.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Olivia's Pick of the Week--17 May 2009
The summer festival season has begun. This weekend, we visited a beach festival in a neighboring town. Olivia rode the carousel, the train, the cars, the fire engines and the ponies. She was all smiles and excitement. I looked on in complete astonishment that she is old enough to ride on these things all by herself! Didn't I just give birth to her like last Tuesday or something?
One of the games we played entailed throwing darts at balloons. The sign proclaiming "Everyone Wins!" beckoned to us, perhaps skewing our sense of our dart-throwing capabilities. Giant teddy-bears, stuffed dogs and flamingos looked down from their perches on high, smiling at us, their eyes saying "Take us home!" So we shelled out 6 bucks for three darts.
45 seconds later, we walked away from the booth 6 dollars poorer. But we were the proud new owners of a very loud harmonica, the kid-sized stuffed animals remaining frustratingly out of our reach. No shrinking violet, my little Olivia proceeded to regale festival goers and workers alike with her natural abilities on this nuanced instrument.
She has brought the magic of the weekend into Monday morning and currently has her harmonica talents on display for the family and the family dog.
Someday, when she's playing at Carnegie Hall, this will be a funny story for me to relate to the New York Times. Right now, it's just loud.
One of the games we played entailed throwing darts at balloons. The sign proclaiming "Everyone Wins!" beckoned to us, perhaps skewing our sense of our dart-throwing capabilities. Giant teddy-bears, stuffed dogs and flamingos looked down from their perches on high, smiling at us, their eyes saying "Take us home!" So we shelled out 6 bucks for three darts.
45 seconds later, we walked away from the booth 6 dollars poorer. But we were the proud new owners of a very loud harmonica, the kid-sized stuffed animals remaining frustratingly out of our reach. No shrinking violet, my little Olivia proceeded to regale festival goers and workers alike with her natural abilities on this nuanced instrument.
She has brought the magic of the weekend into Monday morning and currently has her harmonica talents on display for the family and the family dog.
Someday, when she's playing at Carnegie Hall, this will be a funny story for me to relate to the New York Times. Right now, it's just loud.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Olivia's Pick of the Week--10 May 2009
It's Children's Book Week and Olivia has decided to celebrate by compiling her first ever Top 5 list.
Olivia's Top 5 Favorite Books Ever:
1. Winnie the Pooh -- A.A.Milne
2. Olivia and the Missing Toy -- Ian Falconer
3. Peter Rabbit -- Beatrix Potter
4. Madeline -- Ludwig Behmelmans
5. The Wind in the Willows -- Kenneth Grahame
Olivia's Top 5 Favorite Books Ever:
1. Winnie the Pooh -- A.A.Milne
2. Olivia and the Missing Toy -- Ian Falconer
3. Peter Rabbit -- Beatrix Potter
4. Madeline -- Ludwig Behmelmans
5. The Wind in the Willows -- Kenneth Grahame
Olivia's Pick--4 May 2009
Our little artiste has been busily expanding her oeuvre of late, and has been enjoying experimenting with watercolor.
Mama likes watercolor, too. It isn't very messy and it provides hours (OK minutes) of entertainment.
Even better, I found a quick and easy recipe for making your very own watercolor paint.
Cheap, easy, non-toxic. What else could a Mama ask?
Mama likes watercolor, too. It isn't very messy and it provides hours (OK minutes) of entertainment.
Even better, I found a quick and easy recipe for making your very own watercolor paint.
Cheap, easy, non-toxic. What else could a Mama ask?
Monday, May 4, 2009
Olivia's Pick--27 April 2009
It doesn't take long for the weather to warm up in the Northeast. What I mean is, once Old Man Winter finally releases his death grip on the region, we usually go from 40 degrees to 80 degrees in the space of about six days.
This weekend, the mercury spiked and our backyard became a summer-like wonderland. Sure, the leaves on the trees were still curled tightly into little buds, but the sprinkler was out and Olivia & Co. were running, jumping and laughing their way into the season.
Her Green Toys sand play set is still her favorite outdoor dirt & sand kit. It's made from recycled milk jugs, but you'd never know it. It's cute, durable and "eco-groovy." And if that's not enough, it's made right here in the USA.
This weekend, the mercury spiked and our backyard became a summer-like wonderland. Sure, the leaves on the trees were still curled tightly into little buds, but the sprinkler was out and Olivia & Co. were running, jumping and laughing their way into the season.
Her Green Toys sand play set is still her favorite outdoor dirt & sand kit. It's made from recycled milk jugs, but you'd never know it. It's cute, durable and "eco-groovy." And if that's not enough, it's made right here in the USA.
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