We had a festive weekend at our house, complete with a fancy dinner out. It was Olivia's first experience in fine dining (read: not a diner, pizza joint or Mexican restaurant). An early reservation (6:00 PM) coupled with persistent promises of birthday cake to be had as a reward for good behavior made the whole evening rather manageable.
And she couldn't have looked cuter, in her pretty pink sweater dress and black Mary Janes. She even carried a purse--a vintage, ivory, beaded evening bag that was my grandmother's.
It would seem that Olivia has embraced her more elegant side. ("This is a very fancy restaurant" she said as we stepped into the powder room for a potty break.) It was sweet to watch her negotiate this new environment, especially because she did it with such class.
My little one acted just like a little lady (with enough squirm thrown in to make sure you know she's still a kid). She charmed the pants off of the entire staff and made Mama & Papa very proud. Sharing an evening like this with her was the best birthday present this Mama could get.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Olivia's Pick--29 March 2009
"Deep in the Hundred Acre Wood..." my little one fell in love with a Silly Old Bear and his band of loyal friends. That's right. Olivia has discovered the world of Winnie-the-Pooh (and Christopher Robin, too!). Rereading these sweet stories for the first time in many, many years, I find that I am falling in love all over again. I'm also thoroughly enjoying the perspective of my years; it sheds new light on these beloved old stories.
With the distance of the intervening decades and the recent reintroduction of Pooh-Bear into my life, suddenly the idea of another book, The Tao of Pooh makes complete sense. Looks like I'll have to add that to my own library, just as Olivia and I are making our way through the original.
With the distance of the intervening decades and the recent reintroduction of Pooh-Bear into my life, suddenly the idea of another book, The Tao of Pooh makes complete sense. Looks like I'll have to add that to my own library, just as Olivia and I are making our way through the original.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Olivia's Pick--22 March 2009
I love yoga, though I don't pretend to be all that good at it; I'm proficient enough to enjoy it.
Lately, Olivia has been loving it, too. We took a class last fall, at Growing Tree Yoga (a link for my Fairfield County readers) and since then, she's shown increasing interest.
Apart from it being a healthy habit for her mind, body and spirit, it's also a lot of fun to be able to share something I enjoy so much with my favorite little person.
Some of our favorite yoga resources for kids are:
Yoga Pretzels--Don't have a half hour to commit to a DVD? This oversize card deck is perfect for the yogi on the go! Pull out an illustrated card with simple instructions and then you and your little one can twist yourselves into a few of your favorite poses before you head out to the supermarket.
The Treasure in Your Heart--A wonderful guide for parents, this book by Sydney Solis weaves the ancient art of storytelling with the ancient practice of yoga. Solis' volume is a handbook focusing not just on yoga, but on compassion and communication.
Yoga by the Dozen--I'll be honest; it isn't easy to find a yoga-for-kids DVD that doesn't make me roll my eyes and apologize for recommending it. But JoAnna and the kids at Yoga by the Dozen have managed to make a yoga DVD that's actually a lot of fun. But don't let her flair fool you, JoAnna knows her yoga, too.Namaste, Mamas!
Lately, Olivia has been loving it, too. We took a class last fall, at Growing Tree Yoga (a link for my Fairfield County readers) and since then, she's shown increasing interest.
Apart from it being a healthy habit for her mind, body and spirit, it's also a lot of fun to be able to share something I enjoy so much with my favorite little person.
Some of our favorite yoga resources for kids are:
Yoga Pretzels--Don't have a half hour to commit to a DVD? This oversize card deck is perfect for the yogi on the go! Pull out an illustrated card with simple instructions and then you and your little one can twist yourselves into a few of your favorite poses before you head out to the supermarket.
The Treasure in Your Heart--A wonderful guide for parents, this book by Sydney Solis weaves the ancient art of storytelling with the ancient practice of yoga. Solis' volume is a handbook focusing not just on yoga, but on compassion and communication.
Yoga by the Dozen--I'll be honest; it isn't easy to find a yoga-for-kids DVD that doesn't make me roll my eyes and apologize for recommending it. But JoAnna and the kids at Yoga by the Dozen have managed to make a yoga DVD that's actually a lot of fun. But don't let her flair fool you, JoAnna knows her yoga, too.Namaste, Mamas!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Olivia's Pick--15 March 2009
We're compiling our Beatrix Potter library and Olivia is loving these sweet stories of animal adventure. Her most recent addition to her collection was The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck.
We'll give her one of these little books as a gift now and then, for good behavior, for a pick-me-up when she's sick, or for no reason in particular.
These classic books in their classic format are perfect gifts for your little one or someone else.
We'll give her one of these little books as a gift now and then, for good behavior, for a pick-me-up when she's sick, or for no reason in particular.
These classic books in their classic format are perfect gifts for your little one or someone else.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Olivia's Pick--8 March 2009
It was a glorious, whopping 64 degrees here over the weekend, complete with warm rays of sunshine and gentle, caressing breezes. The temperate weather melted away the remaining snow to reveal small green shoots pushing their way up through the thawed earth. Glorious, I tell you!
And Olivia reveled in every minute of it.
"Is this spring, Mama?"
"Yes, sweet one, it sure feels like it."
"I love spring. It's my favorite."
So, in a kind of G-rated bacchanal, we exhausted ourselves yesterday morning, swinging, sliding, spinning our way over every inch of the playground at our beach. It was decadent, exhilarating and liberating.
Then, after returning home, emptying the sand from our shoes, and eating a delicious lunch, the smallest of us indulged in a post-bacchanal three hour nap.
Nothing like that fresh, spring air.
And Olivia reveled in every minute of it.
"Is this spring, Mama?"
"Yes, sweet one, it sure feels like it."
"I love spring. It's my favorite."
So, in a kind of G-rated bacchanal, we exhausted ourselves yesterday morning, swinging, sliding, spinning our way over every inch of the playground at our beach. It was decadent, exhilarating and liberating.
Then, after returning home, emptying the sand from our shoes, and eating a delicious lunch, the smallest of us indulged in a post-bacchanal three hour nap.
Nothing like that fresh, spring air.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Olivia's Pick--1 March 2009
Of late, Olivia has been embracing her French side. She has been much more adventurous with her words and sounds, speaking to Papa in his native tongue daily.
Papa is thrilled, bien sur, as am I. The more languages we can shove into that sponge of a brain before the walls start to go up, the better. And there's no better teacher than a native speaker.
We've been having fun reinforcing her Francais with books and music.
And we even have a few French favorites that are actually in English:
Adele & Simon (Thanks, Auntie Kiki!)
This is Paris
Degas & the Little Dancer
and, of course, Madeline
Papa is thrilled, bien sur, as am I. The more languages we can shove into that sponge of a brain before the walls start to go up, the better. And there's no better teacher than a native speaker.
We've been having fun reinforcing her Francais with books and music.
And we even have a few French favorites that are actually in English:
Adele & Simon (Thanks, Auntie Kiki!)
This is Paris
Degas & the Little Dancer
and, of course, Madeline
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Olivia's Pick--22 February 2009
Lip gloss.
Bubble gum, berry flavored or Burt's Bees--it doesn't matter, Olivia loves it. I guess she figures she's spent long enough watching Mama affect a minimal morning primping routine. Now, she wants in.
She has her little tubes of the stuff stashed everywhere: her purse, my purse, her car seat, my desk drawer. When I tell her she's applied enough, she claims chapped lips and manages to administer another layer of sweet-smelling balm before I can get it out of her hands.
Before you panic, there's no azure eyeshadow or sequined bodysuits in her immediate future--or her distant future, if I have any say in the matter. But there is, in all likelihood, another tube of Chapstick lurking somewhere just up the path.
Hey, at least she's not eating it.
Bubble gum, berry flavored or Burt's Bees--it doesn't matter, Olivia loves it. I guess she figures she's spent long enough watching Mama affect a minimal morning primping routine. Now, she wants in.
She has her little tubes of the stuff stashed everywhere: her purse, my purse, her car seat, my desk drawer. When I tell her she's applied enough, she claims chapped lips and manages to administer another layer of sweet-smelling balm before I can get it out of her hands.
Before you panic, there's no azure eyeshadow or sequined bodysuits in her immediate future--or her distant future, if I have any say in the matter. But there is, in all likelihood, another tube of Chapstick lurking somewhere just up the path.
Hey, at least she's not eating it.
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