Long weekend

We headed north to Syracuse on Saturday for two broiling days at Grandma Vickie's. Luckily, she has an amazing fenced-in backyard and lots of sprinklers. It was so nice to just open the back door and let the kids go out and play. I took dozens of Slip 'n Slide shots like the one above that I'll post later in the week, but here's a few other activities from Saturday.

Water balloons

When I got home tonight at 6:30, the kids were running through the sprinkler. They waited until my arrival to demand that mom bust out the water balloons she bought. Lincoln insisted on simply throwing them on the driveway, while Greta tried things like rolling it down the slide. I missed the money shot of Lincoln holding one in his teeth until - splat! Only got the after shot.

Mumbai Fashion Week

We're a few weeks late, but Greta was just gifted some authentic Indian fashion, so we recreated it tonight on the front lawn. Her friend Gunjin gave her her first dry clean only outfit -- a long skirt and matching top that loosely ties around the neck. Accessorized with a scarf. Would you believe I didn't tell her to strike a single pose? She just moved into different positions as I happily snapped away.

Belated birthday present

... from cousins Max and Esme, delivered during a Carey/Sara lunch date last week. It's a ballerina bear from Harrod's in London. It was her favorite for three days, supplanting a stuffed kitty named Sugar in the coveted sleeping position. Thrown into the stuffed animal graveyard today when Greta spent $8 of her $30 Barnes & Noble gift card on a unicorn she named Fern because it was soft, and "ferns are the softest plants, Daddy."

Birthday bash

Lincoln's schoolmate Liam turned 3 this week and had friends over on Saturday. Lincoln was the only boy Liam invited, which says something, but I'm not sure what. Greta tagged along and everyone had a great time thanks to the bounce house that Liam's grandfather bought him last year.

What could possibly make an almost-3-year-old this happy?

Please comment with your guesses and I'll let you in on the secret Saturday.

(*Sigh*)

"Today is Thursday, today is Thursday, all day long, all day long..."

Life feels like that song lately -- one of Greta's favorites at old school, by the way. Greta wakes up every morning and asks if it's a weekend. Lincoln asks if there is school today. Today, at least, I could tell them just one more day until the weekend. At which time I promise to get the camera out again and chronicle our lives in pictures. Believe we have a birthday party on Saturday for Lincoln's friend Liam ("Liam starts with an L, too, Daddy!"). In the meantime, may I recommend my friend Dan's blog or the movie Babies (in select theaters now) for those of you who need your cute fix.

Bat boy

Grandma Vickie came bearing gifts earlier this month. It was Greta's birthday, of course, but Lincoln got in on the largesse as well. A Bat-pack and a Bat-shirt. He's in Bat-heaven.

Slip & slide

Carey couldn't resist on Sunday while trawling through Target. It wasn't terribly warm when we got it home about 430, but at that point the kids couldn't resist either! Neither Greta nor Lincoln is very good at it. Greta kept dropping to her knees before she hit the plastic and Lincoln -- at his bantam fighting weight of 26 lbs -- never built up enough momentum.

Our Belle

We spent most of Saturday outside, including a lovely afternoon at the Baird. Greta chose to wear her Belle dress-up dress for the occasion, which featured barefoot running and somersaulting on the grass, as well as a little tackling, at which Lincoln is becoming quite skilled.

First annual movie night

Merrilly Yours started a new tradition Friday night -- the First Annual Movie Night. We picked the kids up at school around 545 and slowly pushed the stroller up the hill, stopping at Blockbuster and Pirates Pizza. Each was allowed to pick a movie. Greta's choice: Barbie Diamond Castle. Lincoln's: Diego's Underwater Mystery. We took them to the counter and prepared to pay 99 cents each (last month's price for kids' flicks), at which time the clerk told us all movies are now $5 for 5 nights. New release, 10 years old, Avatar or Barbie. In an indignant tone, Carey told him a few different reasons why that was ridiculous and the poor manager handed us the movies and said they were free tonight. I've never been prouder.

I made popcorn sprinkled with chocolate chips and the kids snuggled up with mom for the first feature -- Diego -- downstairs on the couch.

20 minutes and a thorough teeth brushing later, the party movie upstairs with Barbie on the laptop.

90 minutes after this shot was taken, all 3 of them were passed out on the bed. I didn't want to disrupt their sleep with a photo. Plus, I was busy watching the Flyers come back from a 3-0 series and Game 7 deficit against the Bruins. Small solace for the 2004 ALCS.

Running toward Friday

Carey is upstairs bathing the kids. Pretty sure I just heard her say, "You don't pee on Mommy!" So I am taking cover down here, waiting for Celts/Cavs Game 6. Here are a couple photos from an hour ago, when everyone was in a better mood.

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We're as guilty as any modern parents of over-stimulating our kids. So lately I've been conducting an experiment in the morning when the kids wake up earlier than roosters. Rather than plop them in front of the TV while I rush to make breakfast, I've started telling them to "play something with each other" while I hop in the shower. They protested at first, preferring the passive television experience, but three days into it, they're getting creative. This morning, Lincoln was already dressed (dirty diapers make that easier) and Greta was moaning about not having anything fancy to wear. I left them to it and went to the bathroom. When I came out to get dressed, Lincoln was on our bedroom floor, curled up with his blanket, still dressed, but with pink slippers on his feet instead of the socks I had put on him. Greta was on our bed, saying, "Go to sleep, baby! It's night-night time." Lincoln would get up, run down the hall, and Greta would chase him. "I said go to sleep, baby!" And Lincoln would drop to the floor again, sucking his fingers. It just went on from there, Greta giving orders, Lincoln feigning disobedience before obeying. No photo, just a story.

Mother's Day

Carey gave me a little good-natured grief last night when she logged on and didn't see a tribute to her super-momness. It was only because I didn't have time, I assure you. She tells me she had a lovely day and that I gave her the best gift -- time to spend with her own mother, working our land. Grandma Vickie came down for Greta's birthday party on Saturday and the Mathews girls spent most of the daylight hours on Sunday planting new flowers around the house, relocating old ones (our foundation is being re-graded next month, so anything close to the house had to be moved) and mulching. I kept the kids as occupied as I could, but they spent plenty of time seeking mom's approval or digging in the dirt with her.

We started the day with brunch at Raymond's in Montclair, which has become our go-to celebration spot. Carey recommends the spinach, bacon and avocado omelette and I wolfed down the Huevos rancheros. Lincoln brought one of Greta's birthday gifts with him -- a mermaid swimming kit that is the closest he's come so far to being a real scuba diver.

 

After brunch, we dropped a c-note at Home Depot and trucked home with 15 bags of mulch. I didn't bother everyone with my camera, but here's a nice motherly one from Greta's party the day before.

We love you, Moms. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. Always.

Bubble vision

Finally got the photo I tried to get with Greta a couple weeks ago with her friend Emma. Yay, me.

Greta's birthday, observed

We observed Greta's birthday today with a brunch at Tulip Springs Rec Area. It rained for the first hour, so we huddled under the pavilion. After the thundershower, the sun splashed all over the grass and rocks and I was able to get a few great shots before and during our hike to the waterfall. Happy 5th, Princess!

Friends

Greta had a wonderful birthday. The day after, I'm feeling quite ill, so no energy to be profound or witty. This picture of our birthday girl and two of her friends will have to suffice.

Happy 5th Birthday, Greta!

Happy Birthday, you fantastic, fun-loving, free-thinking five-year-old!! Mommy and Daddy love you so much and can hardly believe half a decade has passed with you in our lives. Today we celebrate you!

It seems like only yesterday that Dr. Deering came into our room at 8:00 on a sunny Thursday morning and said that it was time for you to be born. He told Daddy he had time to shower and assured me that the four weeks we had spent in the hospital had made you strong enough to arrive eight weeks early. Two hours and eleven minutes later, we became a family. And now here we are, five years later. Wow. It is so hard for me to fathom all those minutes and days and weeks and years because it honestly seems like I've barely blinked.

In the last year you've grown into an inquisitive and charming little girl. You still love the colors pink and purple and white, and 99% of the time insist on wearing a dress or skirt. You enjoy fancy frills, lipstick, and high heels. You are an excellent student, already reading at a kindergarten level! Daddy and I can't spell out words like i-c-e-c-r-e-a-m or b-o-o-k-s, because you quickly figure out what we're trying to say. The conversations you and I have astound me at times because you ask questions about natural disasters and war and God. And then you'll want to talk about kittens and fairies and flowers. You sure do know how to keep me on my toes. You are serious and sweet and are deeply touched by both sorrow and joy. You wear your heart on your sleeve and in your eyes. You are quick to come to the aide of an injured bug or worm or playground friend.

Your favorite travel game is "I'm thinking of an animal," and you have quickly mastered deductive reasoning, usually guessing correctly after three questions. You humor Lincoln when he plays the game, since you know he thinking of a scuba diver. You'll still ask: "Does it swim in the water? Does it have flippers? Does it wear an oxygen tank and goggles? Is it a scuba diver?!" And then act surprised when he shouts "YES!"

Speaking of your little brother... Lincoln knows how to push your buttons, but you are exceedingly patient with him. You usually understand that he is only two, that he really wants your attention, and that he loves you, so you'll tolerate his hair pulling or his toy-stealing or his intrusions into your bedroom. You share your dress up clothes with him, and seem to understand when he doesn't want to play with princess figurines. You compromise on role play, where he gets to pretend he is Batman and you are a little squirrel, but you're in the same forest and Batman will protect you. You love to dance together, play tag, and hide-and-go-seek. I love watching you create adventures together.

Overall, you've adjusted really well to my return to work and seem to have grown up a little faster. A downside is the ongoing battle over whether your room is "cozy." You insist it isn't and that you should sleep with Daddy and me. When we tried to reward you for staying in your bed all night using a sticker chart and the promise of a gift when you became a good sleeper again, you responded that you'd rather not get another toy if that meant you could snuggle in with us. Again with the reasoning... I guess you're your lawyer-mama's daughter after all! Although, honestly, I don't mind too much when you crawl in for a cuddle. Because I know the day is coming when you won't want to be tucked in or snuggled. If the speed of the last five years is any indication, that day will be here all too soon.

I love you Greta Corleen Merrill -- my peanut, my princess, my Miss Pris! It is a wonderful, wonder-full privilege to be your mom! May all your birthday wishes come true.
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A couple Blackberry photos from this morning before I ran out the door to work. The camera battery is charging and Carey will post some "good" pictures later today -- Rob

Tribeca Film Fest

We ventured into the city on Saturday to celebrate Robert De Niro's 9th annual tribute to Manhattan and movies. Didn't see any films, although they were screening something kid-friendly called "Snowmen" -- but took part in the ESPN/Tribeca Family Day. First we ran the J-E-T-S gantlet in a bounce house. Lincoln needed some help clearing the goal line.

 Then we watched some BMX riders soar off ramps on Duane Street.

 And then we humored an elderly clown who blew bubbles.

Then we rode the train home, with a layover in Hoboken for some ice cream on the waterfront. By this point my camera had sunblock on the lens, so the photos are all smeary.

Waterworld

It's much better in our backyard than it was in theaters.


Carey set up all our pools, slides and buckets Sunday afternoon so the kids could enjoy the H-2-O. We turned around "Castle House" so the slide bottomed out on the slippery plastic. Lincoln was the biggest daredevil of the bunch, landing on his bum and sliding five feet. Repeatedly.


Both kids enjoyed filling up the blue plastic pool. Greta siphoned off a little extra water to slake her thirst, while Lincoln scooped it by the bucketful to cool off.

Alarm clock genius

7:05 a.m., South Orange, New Jersey...

 

Lincoln (rolling over on his side): "Daddy! Daddy, look!"
Dad (groggily): "Huh?"
Lincoln: "It's an L!"
Dad (still groggy): "Huh? Where?"
Lincoln: "Turn it upside down, it's an L, like LINCOLN!"