Sunday, June 26, 2011
Surprise!
The Elliotts Come Home
Tonight, the Rob, Ann Marie and Ayden Elliott - our old friends from the neighborhood - came over for dinner. They moved to Forest Hills a few months ago and even though they're only 10 or 15 minutes away, it's just not the same as having them live two blocks down from us. It was so great to see them and to get to spend some time together.
It's funny, but sometimes in life (if you're lucky) you find a couple or a family that you feel comfortable with - somehow you just fit together with little of no real effort. I think that kind of relationship is special, partly because it's so rare and often fleeting. That's the way I feel about Rob and Ann Marie (and Ayden). We seem to share a lot in common with them, not the least of which is the fact we both had children relatively late in life and, for that reason, we're kind of figuring things out as we go. It's almost like we've known them for years, even though that's not the case.
We shared a nice meal together, drank some wine, watched the kids play and laughed a lot. You know, you can't ask for much more than that, can you?
It's funny, but sometimes in life (if you're lucky) you find a couple or a family that you feel comfortable with - somehow you just fit together with little of no real effort. I think that kind of relationship is special, partly because it's so rare and often fleeting. That's the way I feel about Rob and Ann Marie (and Ayden). We seem to share a lot in common with them, not the least of which is the fact we both had children relatively late in life and, for that reason, we're kind of figuring things out as we go. It's almost like we've known them for years, even though that's not the case.
Watching the Ducks
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Questions
Questions, questions and more questions. Sometimes J.P. asks questions because he's genuinely curious about something. Other times he asks questions when he's in "rain delay" mode, trying to stall his way out of going to bed, going to sleep or doing something else he's not interested in doing. In no particular order, below I've listed a few of his favorites (and mine).
1. Why do I have to go to school?
2. Why do I have to go to sleep?
3. Why do we have legs?
4. Why does Mommy play tennis?
5. Why do I have to eat dinner?
6. Why are you going for a run, Daddy?
7. Why do I have to take a bath?
8. Why do I have to go potty?
9. Why do I have to get dressed?
10. Why do you have to go to work?
You get the idea.
1. Why do I have to go to school?
2. Why do I have to go to sleep?
3. Why do we have legs?
4. Why does Mommy play tennis?
5. Why do I have to eat dinner?
6. Why are you going for a run, Daddy?
7. Why do I have to take a bath?
8. Why do I have to go potty?
9. Why do I have to get dressed?
10. Why do you have to go to work?
You get the idea.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Blue Mountain Beach Ice Creamery
Monday, June 13, 2011
Exersaucer
Tonight, Jude and I were cleaning up the house a bit, as she's hosting her book club here tomorrow evening. She asked me to take the Exersaucer out to the garage. Now, mind you, J.P. couldn't fit in it anymore if he wanted to. And, in fact, it just sits in the hall so we can set things on it - his jackets, shoes, hats, etc. Still, I felt a flutter in my heart - seriously - as I picked it up and carried it outside.
I stopped on our back porch and, for old times sake, pushed the dog, cat, cow, lion and duck buttons one last time, listening to the voice say "dog," followed by the different music behind each object. Yes, I felt nostalgic as I remembered all the times J.P. had sat in the Exersaucer, playing and hitting the buttons to hear the dog bark or the cat meow, as Jude and I at dinner or just watched him.
My son is 3 years old, pushing 3 1/2 soon and for the life of me, I just cannot understand how the time is passing by so quickly. I suspect I've said this before, but it's like I'm on a roller coaster that's headed down hill, picking up speed, and I'm helpless to slow it down. I am enjoying the ride, but sometimes I'd like to have times to savor it a little more.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Beach Music (and Stuff)
In no particular order and with a tip of the cap to Joe Biddle's old "Random Ruminations" sports columns, below are some of my enduring memories from our week's vacation at Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.
This week (and lately), whenever Jude or I asked J.P. what he was doing, he said "stuff." Or, sometimes, "just different stuff." Apparently, I have a 3 year old teenager on my hands.
Watching J.P. and Jude play "telephones" with a pair of old, retired and unused landline telephones, cords and all. Mostly, he was J.P. and she was "Chief Fletcher," the fire chief at our local firehouse on 12th Avenue in Nasvhville. Other times, though, Jude was a doctor at the Green Hills Pediatric Clinic and J.P. was a patient.
Our first night here, we hit the beach at dusk, not really sure what J.P.'s reaction would be to the ocean (he was lukewarm, at best, last September when we were here). Listening to him squeal with unbridled joy as he ran into the ocean and back out again as the sun set warmed my heart - the definition of an enduring memory.
Rediscovering Bob Dylan and spending a lot of time listening to "Blonde on Blonde" (on the iPod right now, actually) and "Highway 61 Revisited," as well as reading an article in "Rolling Stone" about his top 70 songs in honor of his 70th birthday. Bob Dylan is 70! Damn.
Playing in the pool with J.P. every day, which he loved. He cried every time we told him it was time to get out. Catching J.P. when he jumped off the side of the pool into my arms and watching him do the same with Jude. Each time, he'd say "person, are you ready?" then jump, smiling and laughing the entire time (she'd told him to always make sure the person was ready before he jumped into the pool). Sometime children are such literal people.
J.P. screaming, literally screaming and crying, every day when Jude or I put sun screen on him. An enduring memory is not necessarily a fun one.
Taking J.P. into the ocean with me on Memorial Day and listening to him laugh uproariously each time a wave broke over his back, splashing us.
Watching the French Open with Jude and J.P. at lunch every day. Watching Li Na become the first Chinese woman to win one of the 4 major tennis championships.
Eating ice cream with Jude and J.P., almost every day, at Blue Mountain Beach Creamery. Biking there with Jude and J.P. was particularly fun. Walking in with a crowd in front of us and having our buddy, Jed (who works there), yell out "hi, John Patrick" over everyone's heads.
Sitting in a beach chair, on the beach, late in the afternoon, watching Jude and J.P. look for sand crabs. Jude is an amazing mother and sometimes the power and intensity of J.P.'s love for her almost knocks me down.
Finishing 3 books (2 on the iPad), late at night, after Jude and J.P. were in bed.
Discovering a running trail around Draper Lake and, generally, running in the mornings.
A couple of beers at Red Bar, breakfasts with J.P. at Stinky's and dinner with Jude and J.P. on a stormy evening at Elmo's (at J.P.'s request, our last night here).
On at least 3 occasions, taking J.P. to pee in the grass when we were out to eat, due to his aversion to "going potty" in public restrooms. They're small and the toilets are noisy when they're flushed. Plus, he just loves to pee in the grass. Shoot me, so do I. That's what guys do.
Scrabble with Jude (she won), iPad boggle with Jude (she won) and Gin with Jude (she won). Not the best week for me on the games front.
J.P. opening and closing the doors upstairs, over and over again. Also, J.P. walking out one door in the den, then ringing the doorbell on the other door, and saying "trick or treat" when Jude opened it. At different times, he was a pirate, a fireman and Spiderman. Vivid imagination, for sure.
Making the tactical error, one night, of letting J.P. talk me into sleeping next to him in his "big bed" (a double bed he slept in each night). After he fell asleep, I got up and went to bed with Jude. In the middle of the night, he woke up and started crying and yelling for me since I wasn't sleeping next to him. Jude just looked at me and shook her head. I smiled, sheepishly.
J.P. climbing up the ladder to the top bunk of the bunk beds in his room, so we could lift him down. And doing it again. And again.
Overall, it was a nice, relaxing week away from the real world. Back to reality tomorrow with a long drive back, then work on Monday.
Are we there yet?
This week (and lately), whenever Jude or I asked J.P. what he was doing, he said "stuff." Or, sometimes, "just different stuff." Apparently, I have a 3 year old teenager on my hands.
Watching J.P. and Jude play "telephones" with a pair of old, retired and unused landline telephones, cords and all. Mostly, he was J.P. and she was "Chief Fletcher," the fire chief at our local firehouse on 12th Avenue in Nasvhville. Other times, though, Jude was a doctor at the Green Hills Pediatric Clinic and J.P. was a patient.
Our first night here, we hit the beach at dusk, not really sure what J.P.'s reaction would be to the ocean (he was lukewarm, at best, last September when we were here). Listening to him squeal with unbridled joy as he ran into the ocean and back out again as the sun set warmed my heart - the definition of an enduring memory.
Rediscovering Bob Dylan and spending a lot of time listening to "Blonde on Blonde" (on the iPod right now, actually) and "Highway 61 Revisited," as well as reading an article in "Rolling Stone" about his top 70 songs in honor of his 70th birthday. Bob Dylan is 70! Damn.
Playing in the pool with J.P. every day, which he loved. He cried every time we told him it was time to get out. Catching J.P. when he jumped off the side of the pool into my arms and watching him do the same with Jude. Each time, he'd say "person, are you ready?" then jump, smiling and laughing the entire time (she'd told him to always make sure the person was ready before he jumped into the pool). Sometime children are such literal people.
J.P. screaming, literally screaming and crying, every day when Jude or I put sun screen on him. An enduring memory is not necessarily a fun one.
Taking J.P. into the ocean with me on Memorial Day and listening to him laugh uproariously each time a wave broke over his back, splashing us.
Watching the French Open with Jude and J.P. at lunch every day. Watching Li Na become the first Chinese woman to win one of the 4 major tennis championships.
Eating ice cream with Jude and J.P., almost every day, at Blue Mountain Beach Creamery. Biking there with Jude and J.P. was particularly fun. Walking in with a crowd in front of us and having our buddy, Jed (who works there), yell out "hi, John Patrick" over everyone's heads.
Sitting in a beach chair, on the beach, late in the afternoon, watching Jude and J.P. look for sand crabs. Jude is an amazing mother and sometimes the power and intensity of J.P.'s love for her almost knocks me down.
Finishing 3 books (2 on the iPad), late at night, after Jude and J.P. were in bed.
Discovering a running trail around Draper Lake and, generally, running in the mornings.
A couple of beers at Red Bar, breakfasts with J.P. at Stinky's and dinner with Jude and J.P. on a stormy evening at Elmo's (at J.P.'s request, our last night here).
On at least 3 occasions, taking J.P. to pee in the grass when we were out to eat, due to his aversion to "going potty" in public restrooms. They're small and the toilets are noisy when they're flushed. Plus, he just loves to pee in the grass. Shoot me, so do I. That's what guys do.
Scrabble with Jude (she won), iPad boggle with Jude (she won) and Gin with Jude (she won). Not the best week for me on the games front.
J.P. opening and closing the doors upstairs, over and over again. Also, J.P. walking out one door in the den, then ringing the doorbell on the other door, and saying "trick or treat" when Jude opened it. At different times, he was a pirate, a fireman and Spiderman. Vivid imagination, for sure.
Making the tactical error, one night, of letting J.P. talk me into sleeping next to him in his "big bed" (a double bed he slept in each night). After he fell asleep, I got up and went to bed with Jude. In the middle of the night, he woke up and started crying and yelling for me since I wasn't sleeping next to him. Jude just looked at me and shook her head. I smiled, sheepishly.
J.P. climbing up the ladder to the top bunk of the bunk beds in his room, so we could lift him down. And doing it again. And again.
Overall, it was a nice, relaxing week away from the real world. Back to reality tomorrow with a long drive back, then work on Monday.
Are we there yet?
Friday, June 3, 2011
Bikers
As has been our custom when we come to Santa Rosa Beach, Jude and I rented bicycles. There's a great bike path that runs along 30A for miles and miles. J.P. loves to ride along with us, in what I call a bike "trailer." When we went for a ride after the bicycles were delivered Tuesday afternoon, J.P. kept saying, "Mommy, this is so much fun!"
There's an ice cream shop that opened up last year that we ride our bicycles or drive to almost every day. Okay, every day. This is a photo of J.P., with his ice cream, preparing to ride home. I love this one.
Beached!
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