Halloween

Halloween was sooooo much fun this year!!! I stayed up far too late the night before finishing costumes with a sewing machine that is on its very last leg. Then, we had quite an eventful day which began with a trip to urgent care after Ollie had a pretty bad head injury (after falling while dancing!). He is doing just fine...and the rest of the day only got better. We have such lovely neighbors who adore the little boys. The adoration is mutual. The three boys were dalmations, and I was a mama cat. Ollie was thrilled about Daddy dressing up and insisted that the three of them wear their costumes ALL day...which they did! :) Ollie even wore his to sleep, sweet boy. He also called Christopher "Daddy Dalmation" and Indie "Baby Dalmation" throughout the day. We only trick-or-treated at four houses, which was just perfect for the boys. Ollie had such fun seeing his friends. Indie, too, I believe...is starting to recognize familiar faces. Upon returning home, Ollie took sole responsibility for passing out candy to trick-or-treaters and "guarding" the candy bowl!

I'm starting off with a little Halloween flashback:

Teddy Bear Ollie, Halloween 2007

Tomato Ollie, Halloween 2008

Trick-or-treating at our neighbors' house.

Yes...Ollie Dalmation is barefoot outside for our 80 degree Halloween. How crazy is that?!

Poor little Indie got frightened by the flash here.

Ollie drew the face on the right...and Daddy carved directly along his lines. heehee!

Drawing his pumpkin face.

Ollie trying to "carve" his pumpkin with a pizza cutter!

Hmmm...

So, apparently...mothering two little goofballs takes a bit of time. :) I am still trying to figure out how to make time for blogging/e-mail/phone calls/showering/sleeping...although, to be honest, I'm not too worried about it. These past months have flown by, and I feel like I spend most of my days grasping onto ridiculous little moments I don't want to forget. All of those moments that keep me away from other things are so overwhelmingly beautiful (to me) that I find myself being completely lost in them...and loving it.

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Updates...

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Christopher is working so hard and is so gifted in his craft. The boys and I are insanely proud of him and are looking forward to things (hopefully) slowing down for him during the off-season. I would love to post some pics of his lovely dishes. We'll see if I can convince him. ;) He had a day off today, and the four of us visited a local jazz festival. Ollie, who somehow got it into his head that we were going to the playground, was enormously disappointed by the crowds of people and lack of playground equipment. He kept chanting, "I don't like music! I like playgrounds!" Rather funny coming from the boy who presently makes up clever tunes that narrate every little activity. Today's composition included a song that repeated the phrases, "Working together is so much fun! We like to solve problems, yes we do!" (We were moving a bookshelf at the time.) Although, my pint-sized mass of contradictions has also started requesting that I cease singing to him at bedtime, preferring, instead, that I simpy recite the lyrics. "Don't sing the songs, Mama...say them."

In addition to his musical passions, Ollie has also started to enjoy drawing. I get such a kick out of his explanations when he describes his pictures to me. I especially love his "people" drawings. This is a picture of Daddy he drew for Christopher's birthday. My favorite part is the squiggly line on top of the head, which Ollie explained as "Daddy's eyebrows." Not too bad of a portrait for a two year old!

Ollie also learned how to write his name this summer. The letters are rarely in the correct order...but I kinda like it that way. Each one is a unique work of art! Here's one:


I have discovered I am miserable at housekeeping, though (most days) the three guys are patient with me. I am trying desperately to learn how to cook so that I might feed my children adequately. This evening, not so great as I all too willingly succumbed to Ollie's dinner request of Rice Krispies, pear, and Nutella sandwich. Not sure I'll be winning any awards for that meal.

Indie Leif is getting so big! He's five months old and babbles incessantly...lots of baba's, gaga's, lala's, dada's...and every combination of those. He's so sincere and expressive. I wish I understood all of what he's saying. He squirms and rolls to get where he wants to go and is soooo close to sitting up. I'm in no rush to have him accomplish any of these tasks. He's getting so big way too fast!!! He ADORES his big brother and lights up whenever Ollie pays him the slightest bit of attention. Of course, it's not always the attention I hope for...but Indie doesn't mind a bit. Ollie's latest favorite Indie-games: squeezing his chubby, little baby cheeks together to make "fish lips" and coloring on Indie's arms with washable markers whenever he thinks I'm not looking. Poor Indie. He's such a sweet, happy baby. Although, at the moment, he has a bear of a cold and is having such a tough time sleeping. I hope it won't last long. One of Christopher's co-workers was diagnosed with swine flu this week, so I can't help but think of that as I tend to my baby.

Though both boys are remarkably easy going, they nevertheless have their sad moments. I find them ridiculously cute, however, as each one has such a distinct cry at this stage. Ollie actually cries, "Boo hoo, boo hoo...." I wish I could pull out the camera without infuriating him when he's already sad. It's so funny. Indie goes directly to his motorboat sound, buzzing his lips as he cries. I can't help but go straight to either one when they are distressed. Apparently, their particular cries are more than effective in getting cuddles from their mama!


I will try to post regularly. For the moment, though, here are some short videos from early this summer, shortly after moving into our new home.

Ollie

Indie Leif

A Visit from Seth and Nichole

As we were moving in, Ollie rediscovered his highchair and insisted on having a snack in it.

Indie Leif...doing what he does best. :)

Hello, handsome!

Playing in the backyard with Nichole. Ollie ADORED Nichole and followed her everywhere. She was so sweet with him, and he poured his heart out to her...chattering away, nonstop, all day long. Here, she gets a little break from the constant dialogue with a bit of outdoor play. Poor Ollie hasn't had much yard play since. One of our neighbors caught a water moccasin near their house, and I've been afraid to let him just run and play in the grass since then. Ollie insists the snakes are his friends...but I'm not convinced.

Seth, "Seff," and Ollie. Ollie wanted to do everything Seth did. First thing each morning, he was asking about Seth. At bedtime, he wanted Seth to read stories. Ollie was thrilled about having a new playmate...and Seth was game for entering into Ollie's world of pretend and joining right in! What an awesome uncle.

A living sculpture.

Me and my little brother.

Seth and Pudgebucket...AKA Indie.

Working in the kitchen.

Blending. As you can see, Ollie's still a little scared of the blender.

An evening trip to the beach.

Indie in his beach pose.

Nichole, Seth & Ollie.

Nichole and Indie Leif.

Ollie takes the wheel of Seth & Nichole's car.

Watercolor painting with Nichole.

Indie and Mama. Indie is now two months old!

Siblings. I miss my brother and having him here was so amazing. Thank you, Seth and Nichole, for making this visit a reality.

Saying goodbye.

I love this picture. Ollie loves apples. He's been eating one or two a day lately. Crazy.

Hee hee! Ollie started burying Indie with stuffed animals...and since Indie didn't seem to mind, I let him keep going. And, of course, I ran to get the camera.

Ollie (2 1/2 years)

Indie Leif (2 months)



A pretty cool Ollie-invented game. Apparently, the dustpan is a "net" in which to catch a basketball.

Seth and Ollie meditating. Seth spent quite a while tutoring Ollie...and Ollie was totally into it. I caught just the last moments of the session on camera.