an alternate reality

Sorry - I've been away for awhile. I am back with yet another pledge to be a more faithful blogger.

Here is a story worthy of writing:

Sunday morning I was at the Coop with Olive picking up the final supplies for our fruitcake when I ran into an old friend - someone I had not seen in a few years. Before I could introduce him to Olive, he said "Is this your kid?" He put out his hand (high 5 style) and said: "Hey Little Man, nice to meet you." Olive slapped his hand with gusto. Then he said, something like, "way to be my man." Olive looked at me, kind of cock-eyed, as if to say "Why is this guy calling me a man?" I looked back with raised eyebrows, as if to say "You say whatever you need to say."

Olive turned to my friend and said "I am not a man, I am a boy."

Novemeber 4th - FINALLY!!

After months of talking about Obama, McCain, Biden and Palin - we finally got our chance to vote. Olive was so excited to go to the polls with us so that we could cast our vote for Obama!!!

Halloween 2008

This year, Olive, our fox-in-disguise-as-Robin Hood, trick-or-treated with her good pirate-friend, Gil. They had a ball and took in quite a haul of candy.


This was Olive's favorite pumpkin carving on the street - the vomiting pumpkin.


Olive and Shane!

the big 5 - O

This weekend marked Olive's big rock n' roll birthday bash. Olive invited 15 of her best friends to join her at Higher Ground for a Ralph's World show. It was a little bit crazy and a ton a fun. At one point, Ralph invited all the kids that want to be a rock star when they grow up to come up on stage and rock out with him. Olive was right in front - performing on her air guitar. I will try to post a video soon.

Jon made t-shirts for all the kids that said "The Big 5 - O." The T-shirts doubled as a party favor and a way to identify our team amongst the mass of dancing kids!!




The concert was sponsored by Rice Krispies - so Snap Crackle and Pop paid a visit.


Front: Tido, Simon, Alanya, Shane
Middle: Ryder, Luke, Gil, Violet, Beaven, David, Olive, Genevieve
Back: Quinn, Mari
Refusing the paparazi: Gertie
Sadly missing: Hazel and Sasha.

Cora is almost 1! Olive loves taking care of Cora and teaching her all about life. Olive recently gave Cora one of her baby dolls (barely used!!). Cora lights up when Olive is around. I know they will be good friends for a long time to come!

quintessential vermont

Last weekend, I took Olive, Gen and Shane (our fabulous next door neighbor kids) apple picking at Shelburne Orchards. It was a beautiful, cool, crisp fall day and we had a great time.

passages

When Olive was a baby she loved her pacifier, and we loved it too. Whenever she would fuss, which wasn't very often, we would just pop in the pacifier (lovingly known as a her "passy" or "pass") and she would settle right down. In the car, the pass did the trick putting her to sleep. Nap time - pass. Sick? Pass. Injured? Pass. Jon and I were very good about making sure one of us had a pass stashed away whenever we would leave the house.
When Olive was about three, we started to wean her from the pass during the day while at school. She learned how to nap at school without her pass, but always wanted it at home. In anticipation of her 4th birthday, we talked a lot about saying goodbye to the pass, but, she just wasn't ready.
A couple of weeks ago, we lost the only pass we had left. The first night was scary but we all knew she could do it. And, she did. One night turned to two, then three. In no time a week had passed and life had moved on, unceremoniously, without the pass.
Until, one cold day last week. Olive put on one of her warm coats, reached in the pocket and pulled out a pass. I could see her heart leap into her throat. I also choked up.
Then Olive had an idea! Now she could hang her last pass on the Cho Cho Tree!! The Cho Cho Tree is a very special tree outside of Stepping Stones where kids hang their pacifiers when they are ready to say good-bye.
Olive spent the morning at school planning her ceremony and decorating her passy. The teachers tell me that it was a very special event. Olive inspired many of the other kids to participate in her self-designed ceremony, complete with a Tibetan singing bowl, a moment of silence, some songs and some special words about growing up. One of the teachers that has been at Stepping Stones for many many years, Liz, took pictures and plans on writing a story about the event. She said it was really moving.
Here are some pictures of Olive's passy as she decorated and hung it on the Cho Cho Tree.

daddy's girl

do they make kids cuter than this??

cousins!!

Jane, Jacob and Tessa came to visit us in Burlington last week- first visit in a LONG time. We had a great time and the kids got along so well. (Although we did miss Steve.) We really hope that they are serious about possibly moving to Burlington.