How to Make a Pulley

Ollie World

Ollie is in constant question mode these days. He has a "question ritual" each day as Daddy leaves for work. As he opens the door to leave, Ollie will call out, "Wait! I have to ask you a question!" The questions that follow vary from day to day...but always make us smile. We've heard questions like, "So...where are you going...to work? What are you doing at work today, Daddy? Do you have ice cream at the restaurant?" Sometimes we hear. "Can I go with you? Are you driving the car? Can you walk to work?" And any question that might stall his leaving...even for just a moment, "Do you have your keys? Is it raining? Are you wearing a coat?" Ollie also loves "how are you" questions. It is not unusual to be asked, "So...how are you doing today, Mama?" Or..."How was work today, Daddy?" He'll start each morning with, "What do you want to do today? What should we have for breakfast?" Ollie's questions extend to the world around him. Every new word he hears, he asks about. Yesterday, he asked mee if I knew what "inflatable" meant? When we walked to the playground, he wanted to know what was underneath dirt and on our walk home, he asked what was underneath the street. We talked about water pipes and drainage tunnels. He also asks about first letters...ALL DAY LONG. "What letter does 'turtle' start with?" Or, "What word starts with 'c-l'?" This morning, he wanted to know what word started with 'o-c.' I offered, 'octopus' and 'october.' Then, he wanted to know what word started with 'o-c-o.' Is there one? I was stumped!

Out of no where, recently, Ollie asked his daddy, "Daddy...where is your graduation hat?" (We were particularly struck by this question since it had been many months since my commencement in May...and we don't keep my "graduation hat" lying around. Christopher told Ollie that his graduation hat must still be at his school. To which Ollie replied, knowingly, "Oh, yes...are they borrowing it?"

Over lunch not too long ago, Ollie asked, "Mama...what's your favorite animal on a farm?" I told him, and we talked about it for a bit. Then I asked him. "Sheep. I like sheep because I like their mouths...because they eat grass with them."

Indie Land

Indie still has an awful cold. I'm hoping he gets over it soon. He is so uncomfortable. Maybe because of that, his grunting has reached new heights. His "angry grunting" is downright scary. He sounds a bit like a wild animal! While it's a little funny, I'm hoping he finds some more reasonable ways of communicating. :)

He's also drooling LIKE CRAZY...so I'm guessing there will be a third tooth showing up in the near future. Between his runny nose, the mass amounts of drool, and illness-induced tears, his poor little face is always goopy and wet. And, since he's a tiny, smooshy cuddlebug, the shoulders of all of my shirts are goopy, too! gotta love it.

A visit from Great Aunt Kathy. Ollie never left her side! He kept referring to her as "my friend." Here, Aunt Kathy is protecting Ollie as he rolls and jumps across the couch on top of this ball. (Showing off for his "friend.") Aunt Kathy took him to a petting zoo, which he STILL talks about! (She visited in July.)


Indie's new mama, "Great Aunt Kelly." Aunt Kelly was my stand-in during the weekend of my brother's wedding this summer. Indie took to her immediately. She was able to soothe him and comfort him even at his fussiest. (Actually, I don't think he was ever fussy while he was with her! She would rescue him when he was fussy with me! haha!)






On this particular day, Ollie approached me about creating a pulley. I asked him if it was okay if I made a video of him teaching me how to make one. He agreed. I think the funniest part is when he realizes after he begins that he's not really sure how to proceed...but he just keeps going, convinced that if we just had more tools, we could figure it out!