Car Wash Playground

Carey spent two hours with the kids today at the closest playground to our house -- affectionately termed "Car Wash Playground" because, well, it's across the street from Clean Way Hand Car Wash. And as a double bonus, all the migrant workers who wash the cars there also buy lunch from a truck vendor who stops by around noon. Lincoln is already quite versed at screaming, "ICE CREAM TRUCK!" when we're at some of the area's larger parks patrolled by the Good Humor man, so it was an easy leap for him to today exclaim, "HOT TRUCK!" He recommends the tuna on wheat, with Fritos and Oreos.

Just a little trim

Among Grandma Vickie's many gifts this weekend was a haircut for Greta. She sat her in the backyard swing and snipped off between 4-6". Grandma managed to convince her that the birds would be thrilled to take the corn silk-like trimmings back to their nests.

I spent the rest of the weekend trying to capture Greta swishing her hair from side-to-side, without too much success. Maybe if I asked her to do it a dozen more times I'd get the shutter speed correct.

Belated birthday photos

We had a small celebration on the actual day, June 25, and are gearing up for a cliche celebration with fellow 2-year-olds at McDonald's tomorrow with family and friends.
11 more photos here.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Linc!

Happy Birthday Lincoln David! What a great day, for a most joyful little boy. Yes, your baby days are definitely behind you. You are a running, jumping, climbing, talking, singing, dancing, laughing bundle of energy. Your smile melts my heart each day (and often gets you out of trouble!). And you give the sweetest hugs and kisses.

You are small, but you are mighty. Your pediatrician can't believe you are in the 3rd percentile for weight, because you have the cutest cheeks and chubby knees. You look like you should weigh more than 23 pounds! She's not too concerned yet...but has prescribed eating whatever you want whenever you want. You love peanut butter, bread of any kind, bananas, and yogurt. You don't care for meat, except for meatballs and teriyaki chicken. (Seriously, what other 2-year-old dislikes hot dogs?) You adore ice cream, particularly sandwiches, and can hear the Good Humor truck from three blocks away.

You seem to have no fear. Anything Greta can do, you think you can too. Honestly, if you make it though the coming year without a cast, I will be amazed. You scale ladders at the playground, love to climb rock walls, and are working very hard at jumping off rocks. And you are FAST! People can't believe how quickly you run, and I have grown many a gray hair from your spontaneous sprints.

You are curious, which makes you dangerous. Our home in New Jersey sports locks on the toilets, anti-tipping straps on dressers, door-closing guards, an oven latch, a dishwasher strap, and a gate at the top of the stairs. We had none of these things when Greta was your age!

At least you seem to understand the need for caution when taking a risk. When I catch you in the act, you'll state "Carefully!" as if that will make my concern lessen. You also echo, "Safety first!" when getting buckled into the car seat, stroller, or bike.

You are a crazy talker. "Mom, I dropped my wishbone stick!" "Thank you ice cream man!" "Lincoln go bike ride, Daddy!" It is so much fun to eavesdrop on your conversations with Greta (although I think she isn't as impressed that you can "talk back" at her and offer an idea or opinion when you're playing!).
You transitioned to your "big boy bed" without a hitch, and continue to be an excellent sleeper/napper. I only wish you slept past 6am! You are terribly attached to your silky blankets, though you haven't picked "the one" yet.

You rejoice when spotting a bug, bird, bunny, or dog. You can spend endless minutes following an ant through the grass.

So today marks the day that the terrible twos are supposed to start. I must admit I've seen a glimmer of them over the last couple of months: falling to the floor in a dramatic heap, moaning "NOOOOOO!", stomping your feet in protest when I've refused your request for a snack or a toy. But I really think the "2's" with you are going to be terrific. You are a lot of fun, and I love being your mom!

Pool's open

It's hardly close to warm enough yet, but we paid $120 for a membership and the South Orange Community Pool opened on Saturday, so we were in it! Both kids let me carry them around in the 3 ft. pool, but neither believed me that you had to stay wet up to your neck in order to ward off the chill.

Reading is fundamental

Sorry, too tired and displaced by the crazy contractors still in our house -- at 10:16 p.m.! -- to share any stories.

Dad's day

5:51 a.m.
Carey goes to Lincoln's room, brings him into our bed.

6:09 a.m.
Carey and Lincoln get up, head to playroom.

6:45 a.m.
Greta wakes up, joins mother and brother in playroom.

6:52 a.m.
Greta watches Ni Hao, Kai-lan in the living room while Lincoln watches Dora the Explorer in the playroom.

6:55 - 7:12 a.m.
Carey commences with secret plan. Despite the steady drizzle, she heads outside in her red floral print cotton nightgown and hot pink crocs. Fires up the grill's side burner and perfectly cooks four strips of bacon. I mean perfect -- crunchy in the middle with the ends curled up like ribbons of pork fat heaven. Bacon cooked, she fries two eggs in a separate pan. While they sizzle, she pops in two pieces of wheat toast.

7:14 a.m.
From the warm comfort of the guest bed, I smell something. Wonder why, since we don't have a kitchen. I roll out of bed, brush aside four plastic tarps on the way to the master bedroom and my drawers. Don a pair of shorts and a t-shirt just as I hear, "Shhhh.... are you ready? Lincoln, get the cup. Greta, c'mon, let's go!" I jump back into bed and pull up the covers.

7:20 a.m.
Greta, Lincoln and Carey creak up the steps and push open the guest room door -- "Surprise!" Carey spreads out a picnic blanket and presents me with the best breakfast I've had in a long time. The kids enjoy Apple Strudel bread and yogurt while I feast and think to myself, "There are millions (billions?) of men who don't have what I have."

A star is born?

Rye Youth Soccer's Team Black had their last game of the spring today and the kids and I braved the drizzle to cheer on Max.

I know I'm biased, but I think the kid's got game! He was always looking for a teammate to pass to and was one of the fastest kids on the field. Most importantly, he looked like he could run all day. It made me daydream of 2013, when Lincoln is hopefully playing on his 6-year-old team. I'll have a tripod and a zoom lens by then, promise. :-)

Tub-less

Our kitchen remodel, like the mold we found in the ceiling, has bloomed. It's now a kitchen plus two bathrooms remodel! They're finishing up demolition of the master bath today and then start to rebuild each room, step by tedious step. Needless to say, it'll be late July or early August before we get our house back. The kids are troopers so far, watching a lot of TV and playing outside. Today I'm taking them over to my sister's to watch cousin Max play his last soccer game. Hope to post some pictures tonight or early tomorrow. For now, here's our guest room tub -- a cast iron monster built in 1938 when Pittsburgh was still Steel Town USA. We put it on the curb overnight and a scavenger took it the next day, probably to melt down at a salvage yard for $150. Oh well.

Front yard play

We've been doing a lot of it this week as the kitchen remodel drags on. Greta can finally pedal her tricycle (thanks, AK!) and Lincoln enjoys his wooden Radio Flyer scooter (thanks, random garage sale!). I'll get some pictures of them wheeling around soon. For now, here they are playing with a chalk rainbow rake (thanks, Grandma Vickie!) and enjoying a confectionery treat while counting red and blue cars.

Boys will be boys...well, almost...

Lincoln enjoyed a fun afternoon with his best friend, Jack. They threw and kicked balls back and forth, played on the swing set, and enjoyed rides in the little red wagons. Meanwhile, Greta and Jack's sister, Emma, donned princess dresses and declared the covered swing set their castle.

When Greta finished playing dress-up, Lincoln looked at the abandoned purple Barbie dress and declared, "Lincoln's turn!" Then he happily went back to throwing and kicking balls, playing on the swing set, and enjoying rides in the little red wagons. Regal, don't you think?

Soggy Saturday

It rained like crazy during this morning's Valerie Fund Walk-A-Thon, proving that God has absolutely no mercy. But we endured and circumnavigated the Verona Park lake in a downpour. It wasn't raining when we first arrived, so I got at least one good photo of Jack -- the boy who inspired his family and friends (and some of ours, too -- thanks!) to raise $2,490 for the never-ending fight against cancer.

TV bonanza

That's another word for our kitchen remodel. Remodel is really too weak a word. We're pretty much starting from scratch, because when we contemplate projects for two years and then finally take the plunge we like to Go Big or Go Home. I promise this blog won't become a daily update on what it's like to live with a fridge in your living room or cats locked in your basement, but here are some shots of the kitchen's bones in a Facebook album for those of you who care.

In the meantime, it's 11 a.m. and the grass is not yet dry, so the kids get to do a lot of this:

His future's so bright

We interupt our normal blogging for an imporant message...

You might recall back in February when Rob posted about Lincoln's best friend, Jack Bailey, and his leukemia diagnosis. It has been a rocky four months, but the Bailey Bunch is doing well, and Jack's handling of chemotherapy is both amazing and inspiring.

This Saturday, we are joining the Bailey family in a walk-a-thon to raise money for The Valerie Fund Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, where Jack receives his chemotherapy treatments. It is an amazing facility with an incredible staff who have made this difficult journey much more bearable. If you would like to donate to "Team Jack-Jack," or live near us and would like to walk with us, click here. Thank you!

Last day of school!

I can't believe nine months have passed since we first trekked to Morrow Memorial for "Mrs. Hicks' 3-Year-Old PM Class." Greta has grown up so much in such a short time. She is a lot more confident, is willing to take calculated risks on the playground, and is one of the sweetest, well-mannered kids around in public settings (please note that disclaimer, because she also has mastered the horrifying dinner-time tantrum as well as the "I'm-not-tired-my-bed's-not-cozy-and-I'm-not-going-to-sleep" dramatics...but that is another post).

Greta was near tears as she gave her teacher four hugs and three kisses goodbye. I choked up, too. And I even got a lump in my throat when I read what Mrs. Hicks wrote in the photo album she gave to Greta as an end-of-year gift:

Dear Sweet Greta,
I am so glad you were in my class this year.
You are such a sweet and thoughtful girl.
I hope this book makes you smile.
The first picture is from the very first day.
Look how much you have grown!
Please come back and visit me next year.
I love your hugs.
XOXO Mrs. Hicks

Weekend pics

Some of my favorites, and Sunday just started!

Hair today, gone tomorrow

Like a fine female, Greta is starting to get pickier about her appearance. She prefers dresses to Yankees T-shirts, for example. And now she's even starting to worry about her hair. Carey created this style the other day, which for want of a more technical description I'm calling a double-braided up-do.

A few more photos, here, for grandmothers who care.

Helping Parent IX

Yesterday was my final co-op obligation at Greta's pre-school. How quickly the school year flew by! It has been a real pleasure to be part of the Morrow Memorial Pre-School family. We are going to miss it next year. (Greta's moving to another school because she didn't get in the morning session at Morrow.)

It was a very busy day. I was tasked with supervising the painting of canvas bags with (brace yourself!) ACRYLIC paint. Yes, that is a permanent paint, on brushes wielded by four-year-olds. Another parent told me I should take it as a compliment. "Mrs. Hicks plans the activities based on the parent, you know. She knew you could handle it!"

The kids seemed to know it was a special crafting treat. It was all I did for over an hour. Despite my best efforts, the kids would not be rushed in the creation of their masterpieces. Greta was disappointed I didn't get to play more (I was, too), but she was very pleased with the picture she painted.

Dig it!

We had front row seats to appreciate the efforts of the East Orange Water Commission as they repaired our water main this morning.

A Bobcat! Orange cones! Painted lines!

Lincoln was ecstatic.

Greta worried about the grass.