Happy Easter!

The Libby series...too many pics, but I had so much fun.

LOVE.

I knew there had to be something to make out of those paint cards! This Easter I found it.

Superhero capes from Dad's old T-shirt.

James wanted his dad to make him a leaf blower like the ones that the landscaping guys wear. Jer used the recycling to make this one.

Recent Developments

There you have it folks. Libby can sit! Today was her first day at it, and she is a bit tipsy, but her brothers sure were proud of her.

When Libby's hair is sweaty, her dad makes silly horns out of it.

James got these cool connector straws for his birthday. Check out the fort the boys made out of them.

Comfort Objects

This week James's attachment lies with his toy chain saw, (real) screwdriver, and his metal helmet (mixing bowl). He carries them everywhere, and sleeps with them at night. Yes, I'm letting my child sleep with a screwdriver. I've realized that when it comes to a battle of wills, James is infinitely stronger than myself. That metal bowl made quite a startling racket when it fell of his bed at 2AM, but I'm the only one it woke.

One more James story. Lately, he's been experimenting with not telling the truth.

Mom: James did you finish your sandwich?

James: Yes...but don't look!

Mom: Did you clean up your toys?

James: Yes...but don't look!

Where Children Sleep

Below is a link to a photographic book called "Where Children Sleep" by James Mollison. It features children from around the world in a variety of circumstances. It is heartbreaking, but at the same time thought provoking. It has me thinking about what "things" are most neccessary for me to provide my children, and also how I might teach them about the desparity in the world between those who have and those who have not. I promise something light hearted for my next post. http://issuu.com/chrisboot/docs/where_children_sleep_by_james_mollison

An Architect's Pilgrimage?

A week ago we took a weekend excursion to the Woodlawn Mansion, and Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House. It was commissioned in 1939 to be an affordable house for the "average" American family. It was 1200 sq ft, and housed a husband, wife, and two young kids. It was striking how much the American lifestyle has changed since then. The house was really awesome, and a neat experience for our kids. It made me feel really excited to have Jer try to design our own home, and to have him try to tackle some of the design problems facing our generation. "The house of moderate cost is not only America’s major architectural problem but the problem most difficult for her major architects." -Frank Lloyd Wright, 1936

Jer seems amused by the stories of Wright's difficult personality. He thinks maybe he should start to insist upon being referred to by his full name too.

As we were leaving a couple pulled up to check out the house. Jer looked them over. "They're architects. I can just tell from their sour expressions, and general vibe of displeasure with the world."

Next we have a house with a very different aim in mind.

This is the Woodlawn manor. It was a gift from George Washington to his granddaughter. The house and grounds were very lovely, and Luca was very excited by thinking that George Washington himself probably walked many times up and down the same steps that he was climbing.

Then Sunday we went to Gettysburg. One of my best friends performed in a faculty recital at Gettysburg College. It was amazing to me that anyone who wanted could go and listen to a beautiful soprano who had trained for decades, includinng a PhD from Eastman, and the whole fabulous experience was free. Jer and I joked about how people will pay sixty bucks to listen to some celebrity who is probably lip singing or so auto tuned that isn't even their own voice anymore. Then there is someone like Susan, with this refined lovely talent willing to share her gift with the rest of us for nothing more than our quiet attention and appluase. I loved hearing her. I'm so grateful that her beautiful voice has been there throughout my life providing an amazing soundtrack as we went along.

Oh yeah, and we stopped by the battlefield. Because I can't go to Gettysburg without going there for at least a brief stop. My dad came along to watch a couple of the kiddos during the show. James insisted on going with us to the recital.

That was an extremely adventerous weekend for our family of home-bodies!

He's Three!

It's hard to believe he's three already. James is an awesome little guy. At three years old, he likes to do his letters and numbers, ride his bike, and color. He's very serious about coloring and drawing and gets mad if he gets out of the lines or his picture doesn't look like what he wants it to look. He's been potty trained since august, but now he insists on privacy, so that's been interesting. The condition of our bathrooms has plummeted to a new low. He still loves to carry stuff. He always has his little hands full of his "trinkets" everywhere he goes. It's usually cars, motorcycles, or diggers, but he's been known to carry around soaps, hand sanitizers, batteries, all kinds of stuff. Whatever he happens to be clutching when he falls asleep is the first thing he's going to demand at 3AM when he wakes up to go to the bathroom. I've had to go out to the van in the middle of the night to bring in cars that he fell asleep holding in his carseat and we neglected to bring in with him when we carried him up to bed. We've definitely learned our lesson.
Jameser loves to hear stories "not from a book." He loves to ride in the red racer. He likes to tell jokes to make his family laugh. He has a very keen sense of smell and comes into the kitchen the instant that I start to cook saying, "I smell something..." He is the first to notice a foul stench on highway, or a stinky Libby diaper.
In the words of James, "I like cupcakes, I do."

These are the cupcakes that I made for his birthday. I thought they turned out pretty cute.

Here is how I found the boys sleeping last night. (On Luca's top bunk.)
Their bickering drives me insane, but when it comes down to it, they're close buds.

Libby with the daddy, in another vintage Miceli girl dress.

Photo Shoot

Fun time with the kids at a park close to home. The sky clouded over a bit just as we got there, but there are still a few good ones. James's facial expressions are ridiculous.

Running down the hill. (James's shoes are too big, and on the wrong feet, and he is starting to fall just as this picture was taken.)

Luca took this one.