First Day at Daycare

Yesterday was Oliver's first day at daycare.  Adam & I walked him over together and I met Katharina at lunch to walk her through the pick-up routine.  Oliver is going for two mornings/week (T-Th). Adam & I will alternate drop-offs and Katharina will pick him up. 

Oliver was very suspect while we were getting ready.  "Why is the whole house up and getting ready to leave at 7am???"  He calmed down a bit once we got his shoes on and he knew he was coming with us.  It was the perfect weather for a leisurely, family stroll (the 1.75mi I will walk to daycare/ work won't be as much fun during inclement weather!)  

Steering Wheels!!!!

Oliver's latest love.... steering wheels!  When he sees one, nothing else matters.  Adam made the mistake of letting him play with the steering wheel in the VW one afternoon at the club, and getting him into his car seat has been a real treat ever since.  The last two times he was at the Please Touch Museum, Oliver wanted nothing to do with anything else and threw mini temper tanturms when you would pull him away.  Of course, at the playground, the steering wheel is a favorite as well. 

Adam ordered Oliver one online last night. He's going to be one happy boy when he realizes he has his very own steering wheel to play with all day long. 

At Please Touch

more of Please Touch

Smiths Playground

VW fun

In June - after strawberry picking (doesn't he look so young?)

Earthquake? What earthquake??

We were probably leaving the Philly zoo, when the supposed-earthquake shook Philly.  While were in the car on our 10min ride back to south Philly, I read an email from my mom that asked "Did you feel that?" - that was the first I/we knew that anything was up. 

The following day, we went to the Please Touch Museum and Smiths Playground, but I don't have great photos from those outings....  We were extremely fortunate and had fabulous weather the entire time they were here (of course, we experienced a bout of bad weather on Sunday at the club - because that happens EVERY Sunday!!).  The weather didn't turn really crappy until the morning we dropped them off at the airport - what timing!  

Anyway... here are ZOO photos!

Pseudo-Staycation

We had college friends (that I have known for 15 years - we all lived in the same freshmen dorm) come and stay with us forthe better part of the week.  I would call the week a "staycation", but since they had to fly to see us, that isn't quite accurate.  They have an almost 3 year old, M-Papaya, who turns 3 in October.  We spent a long weekend at the SSC and then we were in Philly for a few days.  They left on Thursday and we spent some time getting things done around the house and being lazy. 

MP was terrific around Oliver.  He got lots of opportunities to learn how to share - especially when it came to his most prized possession - the Kettler tricycle.  Oliver now says "thank-you" every time you give him food and has gotten very good at saying please.  I swear, this lil' girl has the best manners I have seen out of ANY kid, period.  We definitely need to be spending more time with these friends!!!
Here are the photos from our bungalow-time.  Our friends got a true sense of what bungalow living was all about.  My dad, and Barney, were over for dinner with us on Saturday night, and my Mom came up with Devon and hung out with us on Sunday.  Family, family, family!

Breakfast on the front "porch"

POTD: Laundry Helper

We joke at home that the "laundry fairy" visits on days I work from home since it magically happens while Adam is at work.  We are nurturing Oliver's early interest in this dreadful chore!

Bilingual boy

Conversation with Oliver this morning.....
Daddy: what's this?
Oliver: eyes!
Daddy: what's this?
Oliver: nose!
Daddy: what's this?
Oliver: Ohren (ears)
It has made it a bit harder to decode what he is saying since you aren't always sure what language he is talking in.  Its very cool to see him on the path to being bilingual!!!

Mommy Photos: Zoo Day

Since I am always the one behind the camera, I don't feel like there are lots of nice photos of me with Lil' man.  Adam took this when we were at the zoo last month. I had fun in Picassa playing though to make only the inside of the "egg" in focus.   The second photo shows what it is Oliver & I are in.

Family Hour

Adam & I make a point of the time between dinner & bedtime being quality family time.  We both put off whatever needs doing and spend time together, normally in Oliver's room.  One night I was folding laundry (OK, we don't entirely put off chores during this hour), and made a game of playing with the sheets.  The simple joys of being a toddler!  With all the plastic, high-tech crap that kids have these days (boy, do I sound like an old fart), it was nice to see his delight in something so easy/basic.  

Oliver grew disinterested while Daddy was hiding under the sheet

Swimming Fun

Sunday weather has not been cooperative for pool days.  This past weekend, it was too cold to swim on Saturday afternoon once Oliver woke up from his nap and it POURED all day Sunday.  I think this was the third Sunday of swimming plans ruined.  Fingers crossed the weather is more cooperative this weekend, since we have friends coming up from Tampa to spend the weekend at the club with us and pseudo-staycation with us in Philly.  It can't be a true staycation, since they had to fly up to visit us.

These photos are from Oliver's first swim at the SSC, Fourth of July weekend. Instead of saying "weeee"  Oliver would say "EEeeee" which is super-cute.  Arguably more fun for him, was running alongside the pool with Opa & Mor-mor running after him.  Back & forth, back & forth -- he looked like the Pied Piper with them following after him. 

POTD: Rainy Sunday Morning

Enjoying a tasty breakfast on a rainy Sunday morning with Opa and Barney in the bungalow.

Missing his Ja-Ja

Oliver and I had the opportunity to Skype with Jana last week.  It was so sweet to see the joy and happiness in his expression when he saw her.  He kept touching her face on the screen and yelling "Ja-Ja".  They were so cute playing peek-a-boo together and you could tell that Jana was missing him as much as he missed her. 

Belated Sportsfest Photos

For my birthday weekend, we were at the SSC for their annual Sportsfest.  My whole family was in attendance on Sunday and after a day of being at the pool and watching team handball, we had a family BBQ, (a la white trash, since we don't have a deck yet).  Fun was had by all and I look forward to future family cookouts, once Phase II of the bungalow is completed (next year).

Lost POTDs

If you can't tell by our posting-absence, we have been busy lately.  Both Adam and I have been swamped at work and our weekends are packed to the gills (in a good way).  We've also had our hands full getting Katharina adjusted to life with our family and Oliver adjusted to his new friend.
 

 

POTD: Hard Work

Here's Oliver after a hard day of "work" at the playground. 

Monkey Music Jungle

Katharina sent us the cutest photos from Oliver & his girlfriend Valentina at music class last week.

 

Jersey Boy

With Daddy in Philly, Mommy is trying to turn me into a Jersey boy... Go Giants!