Happy Birthday Eliot!

Today we celebrated Eliot's 3rd birthday.  He was a lot more aware of his birthday this year.  We've been talking about it a lot and he has known for a while now that he was two, soon to be three, and that Peter is soon to be one.  So this morning when we wished him a happy birthday he totally got it.  We had some errands to run in the morning which included putting books down the chute at the library (a favourite) and the purchase of a birthday balloon.  In the afternoon I took the boys swimming and then it was home for supper, cake, and presents with Daddy.

I don't know what was cuter; Eliot's response to having us sing 'Happy Birthday' (see next two pictures) or hearing him say "what's inside?" as he opened his gifts.  He was very grateful for all of the birthday wishes and very happy with his presents.  He is getting to be such an articulate, imaginative little fellow it's easy for me to forget that he's still my very little boy.  We love him so much!

He requested the piece with the bear which was enormous.  He pretty much just ate the cookie and the frosting.  But that's just part of the fun of being the Birthday Boy.

Showing off his birthday balloon, which he picked out.

Congratulations Eliot!  Here's to being 'free'!

Happy Anniversary

Spencer and I enjoy giving one another anniversary gifts with a traditional theme.  For example, the traditional gift for the first anniversary is paper.  Spencer bought me some books that he purchased in Paris where he was staying on a research trip, and I got him tickets to a ball game and a plane ticket to take me to Paris so that we could be together on our first anniversary.  This year the traditional gifts were either iron (US) or sugar (UK).  We went with candy and a night out to a restaurant, leaving Eliot and Peter with a babysitter for the first time--which actually went really well since we put Peter to bed before we left and Eliot turned out to be so delighted to hang out with a fresh new face that he was a model of good behaviour.

We went to a restaurant called C Blu (those planning visits take note) which was recommended to me by one of the moms in the play group I take the boys to.  Our table was situated next to a window that was open to the fresh air and had a beautiful view of the Indian Ocean where the sunset was just starting to fade.  As the evening darkened you could see the lighthouse winking far away on Rottnest Island and the sparkling lights of ocean-going vessels along the horizon.  It was lovely.  We've had our share of adventure in the past six years that have brought us to where we are now.  We reflected on them as we drove home to the two little people that have brought the biggest change and the grandest adventure (and to whom this blog is truly dedicated).  Celebrating with our little picnic in Versailles those years ago, we certainly never imagined we'd be here now.

Too hot for the beach

It's official, this has been Perth's hottest summer in some 40-odd years, and its second hottest summer on record.  So the good news: statistically it's nearly impossible for it to be this hot next summer.

When the temperature climbs it's often nice to head to the beach but there have been days when it was too hot for the beach.  I know that sounds odd.  Kind of like saying it's too cold to snow.  But it's true.  And now we can say that we've experienced both.  I took the boys to the beach several weeks ago on just such a too-hot-for-the-beach day and we spent the whole time languishing in the shade.  If you ventured out into the sun, the sand scorched your feet.  Needless to say, the visit didn't last long.

We have had other less than charming beach experiences.  A couple of months ago we thought we'd go down to the beach for the afternoon.  It was a beautiful day.  The sun was shining and a cooling breeze had kicked up.  Little did we know that when a cooling breeze kicks up it means that at the beach the breeze is going to be kicking the you-know-what out of anyone who wanders into its path.  We huddled in a lump with our towels over our heads to keep the sand out of our ears.  That was another short visit.

For the most part, though, our beach outings have been lovely.  When the sun:wind:sand:water ratio is just right and you spread a blanket out under a couple of umbrellas and pull out some snacks...it really is just about perfect.

Just having a nose through the books

Peter's interest in books is beginning to broaden. He is discovering that they are not only good for relieving the discomfort of teething. It's also fun to turn the pages, look at the pictures and listen to fun new sounds.

Swimming Lessons

Last week after Eliot's swimming lesson, the teacher mentioned to me that he (Eliot) was a little hesitant to put his whole face in the water and wondered if goggles might help. That week we purchased a pair and Eliot thinks they are the greatest things ever. I was a little worried that he would be resistant to them, but there was no need to worry. He has even worked them into his evening routine. No shower is complete without putting on the goggles and dunking his face into a bucket of water.

His lesson today went very well. He used his goggles and didn't seem to have any trouble plunging himself into the water.

Peter had a great time watching, even if he did get a little sweaty. He was nearly as wet as Eliot was by the end of the lesson.

The Spirit of Exploration

A few weeks ago, during the boys' afternoon nap, I sat down exhausted. Why was the apartment such a mess? It didn't used to be so messy. Was I getting sloppy? What was going on? In the bathroom there were diapers strewn across the floor. Bath toys were all over the shower floor and trailed out onto the bath mat. The hamper of dirty clothes had been emptied, each item flung in a different direction.

Things were just as bad out in the living room. Books that hadn't been touched since we got settled in here were pulled out onto the floor. The bead maze was lying on its side. Plastic lids and cooking utensils were mixed in with the books. Shoes that had been neatly arranged beside the door were now scattered in disarray. A piece of toast was peeking out from under the couch. Then it struck me. Of course! We have a crawler! How had I forgotten about this stage? Peter, who has been eyeing everything around him for months, now has the ability to go check it out, and he's not wasting any time.

The shower is one of his all-time favorite spots.

No corner is above his notice.

Checking out the air conditioner, and enjoying a nice blast of cool air.

Testing the strength of our screen door.

Off to something new!