summer lovin' had me a blast

Olive and Simon







Olive and Gil








Olive and Shane









Olive and her pet, Herman the Worman

fare thee well

Yesterday was the annual "Fare Thee Well" ceremony at Olive's pre-school. This is the event that celebrates the graduation of those five year olds that are heading off to kindergarten. The following pictures of the event were all taken by Olive:

Here are all the fabulous teachers and the-fare-the-wellers, except Silas, who got cut off.


This is Robyn, the fearless leader, trying not to sob uncontrollably as she send light and love to all the children.


Silas


The tree canoopy


Gertie and her Mom, Rachel


Ella's nose, Maia and Silas


Annie


Corey and his Mom, Pam


Rebecca, Henry's Mom


Dana the teacher, sending love and light to the children


Noelle the teacher

grandpa frank's spirit

Olive likes to talk about Grandpa Frank. We regularly have conversations that go something like this:
Olive: Mom, Grandpa Frank died, right?
Mom: Yes, Olive. Grandpa Frank did die.
Olive: Mom, you were sad when Grandpa Frank died, right? He was your Dad, right? Was Grandpa Frank sad when he died, Mom? Did Grandpa Frank cry?
Mom: Yes, Olive. I was sad when Grandpa Frank died.
Olive: But Mom, Grandpa Frank's spirit is with us all the time right? Like right here? (She waves her arms.) So, Mom, you don't NEED to be sad all the time anymore because Grandpa Frank's spirit is with us, right?
Mom: Yes, Olive, right here.

So, with all the acknowledgment that Grandpa Frank's spirit is all around us all the time, I shouldn't have been so surprised when I had this conversation with Olive, first thing in the morning on Grandpa Frank's birthday (June 17):
Olive: Mom, I really wish I didn't have a nose. (cocked head, sad, scrunched up face)
Mom: Why, Olive?
Olive: Because then, Mom, I wouldn't have to smell Dad's stinky toots!

No question, she has her Grandpa's sense of humor!!

over the river and through the woods

Last weekend we took a whirlwind trip to Long Island - down on Friday night and back on Saturday night - to attend a family reunion of Nona's family. Olive was a traveling champ - at times, more of a champ than her mother. I must admit that, once in a while, I need just a little bit of quiet time. Olive, on the other hand, is in the talking incessantly phase of her life. (At least I really hope it is a phase.)

In addition to seeing Nona, Pop, aunts, uncles and cousins, the highlight of the trip was meeting our newest niece/cousin Faith. (Pictures will go HERE when Jon sends them to me). Faith was born three months ago and is thriving! Olive is looking forward to seeing Faith and all of her cousins again in July when we go to Pennslyvannia.

Jack and the beanstalk: the not-yet- a- reader's digest version

Olive: Mom, Dad, do you KNOW about Jack and the Beanstalk?
Mom: No Olive, can you tell us?
Olive: WELL...there were some beans and then there was this beanstalk that grew and grew and grew. It was huge. Then Jack said, Mom, I need the ax. Then his Mom gave him an ax and Jack chopped and chopped and chopped. Then the bean stalk fell over and the Giant fell down down down into a BIG hole and he was never sawn again.
Dad: Sawn? Do you mean that the Giant was never seen again?
Olive: No. The Giant was never sawn again.
Mom and Dad: Ok.

don't come a knockin' when my spatula is a rockin'

Tonight, Jon, Olive and I went downtown with Alison, Gordon and Gil to get some Flatbread and to soak up some of the jazz festival.



Leave it to the pastry chef's son to turn a rubber spatula into a sweetly singing ax! This picture doesn't do justice to the virtuosity of this kid's air guitar. Who knew?





While Gil was rockin' out, Olive was challenging this puppy...

swingin'

I love this picture, it is a classic summer shot. Olive and Mari are such good friends - like sisters. We are all in a little bit of denial that Mari and Betsy are moving soon. We are happy about their new family and we know that they won't be too far away. But we are sad because they won't be our neighbors anymore.

go josh!!

Olive is very proud of her cousin Josh who recently graduated from high school. However, she is concerned that he might be getting very very old.

what we are up against

It's bedtime at our house. Olive becomes a "scary knight" who refuses to go to bed. Mom and Dad become grouchy trolls.

manners matey?

Today Olive told me that, in fact, pirates do not say please OR thank-you.
"Mom, they just say 'Pass the meat, matey."
And, of course, Olive is a pirate, therefore...

artists in residence

Olive, playing the part of Fiona (Shrek's wife), and her friends Genevieve (9) and Mari (6), spent quite some time this afternoon decorating "their castle" (our front porch).







It was done with washable chalk, so I didn't sweat it too much. And, they were having such a good time I didn't want to quash their artistic adventure.