Big boy bed, II

We thought Lincoln had adjusted very well to his "new" bed. He was settling himself after only two or three trips to the doorway, and sleeping through the night. But this is how we found him when we checked the kids before heading to bed last night:
Guess he likes the new carpet more than the new bed!

Just a few pics

I'm working the late shift through June 19, so won't be posting until about this time. Anyway, a few shots from a lovely weekend. Carey spent a couple hours tending the garden, while Greta watched from the comfort of her "castle house." She looks and acts more like a little lady every day. Yet even as they change daily, both kids enjoy the world's simplest game -- Hiding. Put a blanket over your head, whisper, whip it off and yell, "surprise!" Works every time.

Big boy bed

A little less than a month shy of Linc's second birthday (and about a month later than his sister), we're a crib-less house. With absolutely no prelude or build-up, our big boy scaled his crib wall last night about 5 minutes after Carey laid him down. We were both tucking in Greta when we heard the bottom of his door frame scrape the carpet. Swiiiiish. We thought maybe Jinx was trapped in his room and we even wondered for a split second if an intruder somehow got in the house. (Hiding in our toddler's closet?)

But no, there was Lincoln now standing in Greta's doorway with a massive grin on his face. He started laughing, we started laughing, and Greta said, "That's quite a surprise. How did he get out of his crib?" Our thoughts exactly!

So we dusted off Greta's old toddler bed and introduced him to it for today's nap. He got up and down about 3x, but is sleeping soundly as I type.

Anybody want a Pali crib, about four years old?

Spring dance

Nature boy

Lincoln enjoyed his first semi-independent visit to South Lake. Well, until he spiked a fever of 105 degrees on Sunday morning. Still, Tylenol brought it down enough so he could do things like hike with Grandpa in a backpack or eat smores with Grandma. In the first photo he's scouring the ground for bugs.

It was easy to imagine what it will be like a couple summers from now, when Lincoln is 4 and Greta 6. Hopefully they'll experience what I did growing up -- the adults open the front door and call the kids back in for dinner.

Favorite camp photos

I'm not really in the mood to write tonight, so pictures will have to tell the story of our long weekend at the Merrill manse in South Lake. Blogger won't let me load more than five, so see 17 more here.

Emasculation

At 67, my father's skin is taking on that lived-in, tanned and leathered look, just like his 95-year-old father. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with afternoons spent sitting in lawn chairs on a blacktop driveway, faces upturned to the sun. I mention it because it gives him a manly look, like the Marlboro Man this country used to admire. Well, there are no rules at camp as everyone who has been there knows, so Dad's manliness is allowed to disappear.


Yes, that is Jerry S. Merrill's hand and those are Grandpa's nails being painted by Greta! I forget the color already, but it's vaguely mauve-ish. Very suitable for drinking beer or grilling steaks. I did notice the rest of the weekend he had me do things like carry the outboard to the water and move the propane tank. Must have been afraid of chipping a nail.

New deodorant

No photo, sorry, but a quick story. I used up my fifth and final stick of Gillette deodorant last week. Five sticks, figured it's probably lasted me Lincoln's whole life and half of Greta's. In other words, it's Daddy's smell.

At Costco last weekend I bought Degree for Men. Put it on for the first time this morning and about five minutes later I'm rolling on the bed with Lincoln when he stops and says, "smelling."

"Daddy smells nice?"

"Yup."

Ten minutes after that I'm brushing Greta's hair and she says simply, "Daddy, your arm smells good."

Y'all can bury your nose in my pit the next time I see you, but until then know that I'm rocking Degree for Men Cool Impact with Silver Ion Technology.

P.S. We're off to my family's Adirondack camp for the holiday. Back on Tuesday. Happy Memorial Day.

Clubbing

Rob really liked the diva pic he took of Greta a few weeks ago, so he ordered a framed print. It arrived earlier this week, with oodles of bubble wrap and a pretty decent-sized box. Greta and Lincoln thought the picture was nice, but were really excited to see the packaging. The box has been a train, a boat, a car, a robot, a cart...and today, a little clubhouse. It boasts quite an exclusive membership, but the paparazzi managed to sneak a few shots.

Help! Greta stole the camera!

Our once-beloved Sony Cyber-shot (small enough to fit in a shirt pocket!) lies largely neglected these days. Until today. Greta got a hold of it and after a brief tutorial in how to use the LCD screen, she pressed the shutter button 58 times. Carey got all meta on her, taking this shot of the photographer in action.

I've narrowed it down to Greta's 9 finest in this slideshow.

Mayfest

Daddy got a treat today -- a little 1:1 time with the big kid. While Lincoln enjoyed his afternoon nap (which he's still enjoying as I type), Greta and I hopped on the bike and pedaled over to Maplewood for their annual Mayfest. Five blocks of moon bounces, super slides, crafts, food and various community booths. I was very proud of Greta for choosing Indian food for lunch -- Tikka Masalla with naan bread! Told she could spend some of Grandma Frances' birthday money, she opted for $5 of face paint and a $5 porcupine finger puppet. I didn't bring my camera on the bike, but snapped this with the phone:

Pockets!

Lincoln picked up the word recently and is enamored of them. When he first inserts his hands, he must say "pockets" to whoever is nearby. And he always makes a pretty-proud-of-himself expression.

Final photo class

I know many of you come here looking for photos of the kids, but bear with me one last time as I recap my eighth and final digital photography class. My cousin Ryan likes these posts, at least. Today's lesson, teased last week, was to take shots of stuff with interesting forms and lines. It was the artsiest assignment, by far, and it stumped a lot of people who just don't have that artistic gene. I think I have it, a little (thanks Dad!), but I didn't find much time to shoot this weekend. Still, teach liked this one:

Yes, that's a naughty word etched into the lock in the foreground. I've walked by these locks a hundred times and finally heard their story from the father of an eighth grader in the class. They're all on a chain link fence that lines a river walkway between the South Orange Middle School and the town's recreation center. Turns out it's a tradition to leave a lock behind when you graduate to high school. I shot a series and was also praised for this one:


Yes, the image is rotated. I didn't actually climb like Spiderman on the chain link.

Last one -- thanks for bearing with me -- shot under a park bench from my belly:

Comin' through!

(Props to the cousin who gets the headline reference. And double bonus if you can name her.)

Carey installed one of Greta's birthday presents today. Strings of plastic bangles that cascade vertically from her door frame. They jingly pleasantly, if annoyingly, whenever you enter her room. So we've accomplished three things: Made our daughter's bedroom feel more like a tarot card reader's joint, eliminated the ability to quietly check on Greta when she's sleeping, and created a strangulation hazard for our 2-year-old. God bless this house.

Lowered ears

Carey took Lincoln to the local salon on Saturday. He behaved himself on her lap while the lollipop was still novel, but the hairdresser had to cut it short (pun intended) when he got restless. Still, we're pleased and think he looks like our Little Man.

I think she liked her day...

Her day

Carey slept until 815, enjoyed Belgian waffles for breakfast, then a stroll to The Baird for a picnic lunch. Now she's gardening with Greta while Lincoln naps and I watch Tiger.

What a week!

Despite the daily downpours, Greta and Lincoln had a terrific time with Grandma Vickie and Great Grandma Frances over the last week. They went on bear hunts, played many games of hide-and-seek, read books, played with playdoh, shopped 'til they dropped, and enjoyed lots of cuddle time. Greta was also delighted to have them at her Mother's Day celebration at school. During a brief break in the weather on Wednesday, they enjoyed digging up the garden and building sandcastles. Both kids already want to know when they will come again. What a treat to have such a nice, long visit! Thanks!!!

Still lives

We don't lead them, but it was this week's homework so I tried to take some. Light and composition are the key to good still lives, but of course, there was very little sunlight all week, so I raced home tonight and shot these about 30 minutes before class. Greta picked the first subject. She found the cracked robin's egg today walking home from the playground.

The teacher just skipped right over it, mumbling "that's a stuffed animal."

My next shot was an attempt to put my own twist on what the teacher said is the traditional Still Life 101 assignment: Shoot a picture of an egg and make it interesting. Greta helped me place the egg in the grass. Teacher liked it and I'm calling it Obscured Ova.

Carey suggested the next one and held a flashlight over the sake set.

Teacher dug it, but wanted it a little wider to highlight the contrast in colors.

Thus endeth the lesson. Next week -- photos featuring lines, forms and composition inspired by this quote from some famous photog: "Seeing is forgetting the name of the thing one sees."

Happy birthday, little one!

Happy Birthday, Greta! You are now a fabulous, fantastic four-year-old!

Over the last year, you have grown up so much! You are incredibly independent, with "I can do it all by myself" the frequent phrase that ends your speech. Most of the time, you are correct (or only "a little bit wrong"). You are also a great helper around the house, especially where your little brother is concerned. Not only are you a super playmate with him, but you are also quick to call me when he is about to make a bad choice (such as scaling the furniture while he chases the cat or trying to open the front door!). You make Lincoln giggle and dance, and don't mind sharing your toys and tutus with him. In addition, you are largely responsible for his fantastic vocabulary (which you often translate for us). He is so lucky to have you as his big sister!

You are proving to be a good "student" and have thrived in preschool this past year. I hope you always enjoy school and that your inquisitive nature continues to flourish. Daddy and I are very proud of you!

You are a kind, caring, and compassionate little girl. As soon as you hear a friend or classmate cry, you rush to console them. You bring smiles to the faces of weary cashiers, postal workers, librarians, and store clerks with your excellent manners and sweet demeanor. They happily accept the kisses you blow as you wave thank you and goodbye. (Yes, Daddy and I know we need to start the whole "stranger danger" conversation with you, but that is the subject of another blog post.)

You have a temper, but it usually only rears its ugly head when you are very tired. You seem to understand when you need a time out, and you are thrilled that your brother gets time-outs now, too! There are times when you will tell me that you just want to be alone in your room. At those times, I swear I get a glimpse of your future fourteen-year-old self.

Even though you enjoy the outdoors and love to climb and run, you really are a girly-girl. While you have expanded your wardrobe and will wear "any color of the rainbow," you still love pink the best, closely followed by purple. You love to dress yourself, cook, dress up, play princess or fairy, dance, have tea parties, and paint your nails. Curling up with a good book is one of your favorite things to do, and you just finished your first chapter book with Grandma Vickie. You love flowers and gardening, and have beamed with pride each time a crocus, tulip, daffodil, or narcissus (which we planted last fall) has blossomed this spring.

You just started whistling and are so proud of yourself. You worked so hard to accomplish that feat. You also pump your legs on the big kid swing and have mastered not only the corkscrew on the playground but also the monkey bars! Lately you love to jump from various heights and try very hard to stick your landings. Perhaps there are some athletic genes in you after all!

All in all, it is a real pleasure to be your mom. You are old enough to have actual conversations (or arguments!) with me, but little enough to still curl up in my lap for cuddles and kisses. What is better than that?! I adore you, my princess, my peanut, my little one, my baby. Happy birthday to you!