Events

We have driving and flying been up and down the coast for the past few weeks marking and celebrating many events. We spent part of this past weekend in Arlington, Virginia where we visited with family and attended Oliver's cousin Caitlin's christening. Caitlin has grown so much since we saw her last - it was fun to see her and see her new tricks. Oliver also enjoyed having his grandmother Margot feed him strawberries, his Aunt Caren keep him busy in church, and his Uncle Tim play with him in Tim's yard. Oliver also loved his Aunt Carolyn's food - he had an amazing appetite the whole time we were there.
We stayed at Oliver's favorite place when we were there -- the Hilton. Oliver has slept through the night twice since he was born and boh times have been at a Hilton. Unfortunately he didn't sleep through the night this past weekend, but he did enjoy using his "button finger" to get us up to the hotel pool.
On Sunday afternoon we left Arlington and headed to Maine. The first stop on our visit - meeting Toren. Toren was very punctual - he was born on his due date - October 9th. Toren was born one day before his big sister Alice turned 2 - so our visit also included birthday well-wishes. Jayme, Bjorn, Alice and Toren are all doing well.
The rest of our visit was spent helping my parents settle into their new house. We had been up to Maine a couple weeks before and spent the weekend packing the old house - it was fun to see how things from the old house fit (and didn't fit) into the new house. Apparently the new house is the new Hilton. While Oliver didn't sleep the whole night, he did wake up just once - where Davis and I had previously considered moving into a Hilton, we are now considering a move to Maine.

While Davis and I helped with picture hanging and unpacking Oliver spent much of the afternoon getting to know the lay of the land. He showed his Great Grandmother how to shovel and rake the driveway and his Papa how to jump on and off and on and off the chairs.

Pumpkins!

On Sunday we went to Russell Farms in Ipswich to pick out a pumpkin.

Oliver had lots of fun looking at the different pumpkins, trying to eat their stems, and participating in the pumpkins toss - ok, Oliver was actually the only participant and it wasn't a sanctioned game, but he did think it was great fun to pick up the pumpkins (from ones larger than him, to ones he could easily toss) and try to (and often times succeed) throw them. After awhile he did get down to business and choose one for our house.

Here is Oliver picking out his pumpkin -



Oliver also enjoyed charming other farm-goers with his puddle stomping. Passerbys commented on his boots and his puddle stomping ability - then laughed out loud when Oliver decided it would be fun to try and take a bath in the puddle.

Oliver also enjoyed checking out the animals - the silent animals. Although Oliver will happily tell you the noises animals make, with the exception of ducks, he gets very upset when real animals actually make noise. Thankfully the big (apparently vicious pig) kept his oinks to himself while we were there.

The farm also had fresh made donuts and ice cream. Oliver enjoyed sampling them both (ok Davis and I did too).

Candy Shop

We spent Saturday at the Museum of Science. Davis and I had visited the Museum several times together when we lived in Boston, but we hadn't been since we left the city. While Davis had a good time when he and I went to the Museum, he was like a kid in a candy shop taking Oliver. I have a feeling that Davis and Oliver will be spending lots of time exploring the museum together as Oliver gets older.

Davis explained electricity to Oliver - and Oliver enjoyed playing with it.


Davis also enjoyed explaining eddy currents (aka the disk jump thing) to Oliver - and Oliver loved using his "button finger" (Just say "button finger" and Oliver will press any button in sight. He is great in an elevator, a great help with laundry, and amazing with the alarm clock).



There was an exhibit where you walk down a short corridor and try to do so without being detected by the birds - a "sneak-o-meter" tells you how sneaky your walk was. Davis tried to explain this to Oliver, but Oliver decided sneaky wasn't his approach - instead he offered the birds some of his milk.


Davis, on the other hand, mastered the "sneak-o-meter." Ah yes, Oliver and I left Davis in the exhibit and moved on to the next. About 20 minutes later we went to find Davis - he was still trying to sneak up on the birds.

While the majority of Oliver's museum time was spent with Davis, Oliver did spent a few minutes with me in the Apollo Command Module.


I do have to say, despite Davis' excitement of being at the museum and showing Oliver how everything works, he was able to restrain himself. Every year, at about this time, there is a football dad that has a fight with another football dad. Well, there was a moment at the museum that I thought might lead to a front page story - a little girl asked her father why something worked the way it did. The dad hesitated and the girl's older sister sighed and said - "It is complicated." I could see Davis biting his tongue. When they walked away Davis let out a deep breath and acknowledged that he had a hard time not sitting the little girl down and explaining it to her.

(Just a side note - Davis just read the blog posting and expressed distress that no pictures were taken in the "math" room. Yikes!)

Beach bum

Faithful blog followers I am sure you are happy summer has officially ended - no more beach pictures. I know, I know - while we find delight in each and every day we go to the beach, when you look at the blog, it is just another picture of Oliver in a bathing suit or in his wetsuit. Well, I hate to disappoint - despite the fact the calendar says it is fall, and the temperature has been steadily dropping, Oliver and I are still frequent (as in several times a week) visitors to the beach. And, given that one of the last trips to Maine netted Oliver 16 sweaters (made for Elizabeth, Jon and me by our grandmother) and several hats, it looks like we will be cozy enough to continue our beach adventures for awhile. Now, instead of adding variety to the pictures by switching up Oliver's swimsuit, we'll add variety by switching up his sweaters. Ah- life is pretty nice.

Oliver and his friend Carragh are both in to kissing. They keep chasing each other down and planting a big one on the other's cheek - or wherever they can. Carragh has mastered the "peck," Oliver, on the other hand, prefers to give a wide, very open-mouthed, and usually very sandy or food-filled kiss.




And here is Oliver racing down the beach towards the water - ever upset that he is no longer allowed in.

And Oliver and Carragh trying to find some trouble to get into on the beach.
And Oliver, Brigid and Carragh enjoying a moment of peace (aka a moment when we are not trying to pull the little ones away from the enticing ocean).

Cordless

Davis took our camera when he went gallivanting in Europe last week (ok, he went for work, but I am sure there was some gallivanting involved) and while he was gone I took some pictures with our old camera. The only problem is that I can't find the cord to upload the pictures. I am hoping to find it soon. For now I thought I'd post some pictures that I like, but hadn't yet made it to the blog. Here they are:

Playing in the mud during that raining period (aka summer)-

Thinking about finding trouble-

Hanging out on the beach with daddy-


And enjoying an afternoon on the boat.