16/52

I'm running behind on these posts! but I suppose when you have 2 weeks left before a new family member makes a grand appearance I can have a little bit of an excuse. Even with my burgeoning bump we managed to have an activity filled Spring break. I am happy that his vacation fell before baby's due date because man oh man am I getting uncomfortable. But enough about me. Check out this amazing little rock climbing dude! We were at the zoo and he fearlessly climbed at least halfway up the self-belay rock wall. I was so impressed and he would have stayed there all day...forget the animals!

 out doing errands. checking out the perpetual motion ball machine at the Children's Hospital.

museum outing at the MFA. Oliver loves going on spring break because they have activities. We did them all! including drawing a live model. He did such a great job!

rocking out before dinner.

so that is all for now. 

15/52

Ready to roll to school. This morning we got to go into Oliver's classroom and all of the kiddos had "work" laid out for the adults to try and see how various aspects of the Montessori program play a role in the classroom. It was super cute to see all of the kids excited to share their stations. Oliver was working on watercolours and he showed me how you first get the water and the paintbrushes before sitting down to paint some Batmobiles and flowers.

Saturday morning jammie colouring session.  

SPRING!! we took Oliver's skuut bike to Davis Sq. for lunch.  

I got to meet up with a dear friend for dinner and Charles St. was awash in some lovely golden hour light. 

sun setting on the Boston Common. 

14/52

Legos have entered our lives.  He has loved them for a while and plays with them in his after school program. I have been apprehensive about buying him his own because they only seemed to come in kits that have a purpose, an endgame, usually a superhero-centric. And I did not want Oliver to just watch Mom or Dad build it so that he could just play with the set. Then I went into a Lego Store where they had a million kits and a whole wall of separate bricks. I thought I would just get him a medley of bricks until an associate showed me that they have re-introduced the "classic" sets with some instructions but also plenty of room to just build a crazy space ship like above. Oliver spent an entire afternoon playing and building, it was amazing to see how focused and proud he was. Definitely an exciting purchase which I'm sure we will be expanding as long as he keep them cleaned up because there is nothing worse than stepping on a Lego brick.   

my sweet boy playing with his new toy.

We are still waiting (not so patiently anymore) for Spring to knock on our door. But until then on a sunny but brisk afternoon we planted some Miracle Gro-able seed pods that I picked up at Target. It seemed like an easy way to have Oliver help with starting some seeds inside and then hopefully we can move them outside to our planter boxes. 

carefully watering our new plants with Maru watching.  

set up on the windowsill waiting for the warm sunshine.

cuties reading books after school and avoiding going home.  

watching a little baseball on the telly. let's ignore the fact that we are still wearing hoodies and socks all the time.Can you tell that I am getting impatient for Spring to show up? 

Easter.2015

This weekend we went to the Eggstravaganza in Central Square. Last year it was sunny and warm and it was held outside with a Hunger Games style Easter egg hunt. Sadly, this year all of the fields are still wet and it was very windy so everything was held inside. But don't worry there was still plenty of fun to be had and easter eggs to be earned through games and the bouncy house craziness. 

The creepy, crazy Easter bunny did not faze Oliver. 

The bounty.

giant Jenga! with a very preggo mama. 

bouncy crazyland! Oliver spent most of his time bouncing himself into a sweaty mess.  

happy easter! 

Then on Sunday, we had friends over for a small Easter egg hunt as well as some food. But before everyone arrived the Oliver got the best treat. Cambridge Ladder 4 parked outside of our house, not for an emergency but because the firefighters were going to grab a bite at a friend's in the neighborhood. Oliver got to "drive" the truck and chat with guys. Day made.  

happy camper. 

13/52

Over the weekend my Mom came up for the day and we headed off to the ICA (Institute for Contemporary Art) for family day. Oliver is the best museum buddy and he was armed this time with his own sketch pad to record the pieces that he enjoyed. I know I've said it before but it is such a blast for me to expose him to the unique and at times bizarre art available on view at the ICA and to have him soak it up without judgement or biased opinions. He takes everything at face value and it is fun to have hime explain what he sees. I certainly hope that he is going to carry these early artistic exposures with him throughout his life, I know that my fond memories of exploring exhibitions as a child is what pointed me in the direction of studying art in the first place. 

One thing that Oliver is insisting upon now is that we read him the "stories" about the artists. He sits patiently while you read him the placard explaining the provenance and artist's statement. Generally the details are not very "story" like but he sits and listens just the same. 

The first exhibition we saw was, "When the Stars Begin to Fall: Imagination and the American South" which was full of whimsical and at times dark historical references from the deep South. The thing that struck me the most of the show was the strong use of color and texture which created a bold yet inviting exhibition to walk through. 

The hallway with large glass windows that connects the two galleries is always a favourite place to stop and look for sailboats and watch the waves crash in. 

The second exhibition we saw was "SONIC ARBORETUM: sculpture by Ian Schneller/sound by Andrew Bird". Wow, this was a captivating collaborative installation with over 30 colorful horn speakers made from newsprint, dryer lint, baking soda and shellac that play a 50 minute violin composition originally recorded in the Coyote Gulch canyons in Utah. The sound was haunting and beguiling while the speakers were fanciful and charming. 

And because it was family day there were crafts in the lobby. Oliver made a predominately blue collage (no surprise there).  After the museum we headed back out in the snow (yes, it was snowing over the weekend) and my Mom took Oliver out to lunch so Matthew and I headed out on our own little lunch date. All in all a lovely way to spend a Saturday. 

couch antics. crazy boys.

conversations that generally lead to a tickle attack. i love seeing them together.