Raspberries

We enjoyed blackberry picking a few weeks ago so much that, after soccer class this morning, Oliver and I returned for some raspberries.  Once advised on which ones to pick, just the really red ones (yes, like your fire engine) and not the moldy ones, he was ready to go.  I have to say he was pretty good at hunting the good ones.  Now if I could just get him to put a few in the bucket:-). Thorns and bees did not seem to bother him at all.  We had a great time picking, eating and chatting the whole time.  Next month the apples should be ready, can't wait!

Lazy Saturday Morning

Someone was a little lazy this morning (well maybe 2 someones).  Joe wanted us to get our day started, but Oliver just wanted to hang out in his crib.  At one point, he took all his stuffed animals buried himself in them and declared, "I'm laying in a pile of animals in my crib, awwhh."  Typical Saturday morning at Rittenhouse.

Waking up on a Saturday...

Two

Oliver celebrated his second birthday for several days.  Our friends from Seattle (Darcy, Ryan and Arlo) were in town, and I took the day off from work on his birthday (a Thursday).  We went to the Trolley Museum, which Oliver loved.  Friday, Grandma and Nana came into town.  Saturday, we celebrated Oliver's birthday with a few of his friends (Arlo, Celia, Abby & Bo, and Tommy), Sheryl, Nana, and Grandma.  Oliver was showered with love (and gifts).  When asked, his only request for his birthday was "I want a Chevy."  We did get him a '57 Chevy and it is still his favorite gift.  The only thing he did not like about his birthday was when everyone sang him Happy Birthday, our little man is not a fan of being the center of attention.  But, when it came to one-on-one time with his friends and family, he soaked it up.

As for my perspective on the past two years: pure joy.  I am so thankful for my wonderful husband who is also the best daddy I can imagine for a little boy to have and for our wonderful son who has brought us more love and joy in the past two years than we could ask for in a lifetime.

Oliver taking a moment to smell the flowers on the morning of his birthday.

Oliver and Mommy on the trolley--Oliver is proudly holding his new Chevy and his ticket that just got punched.

Oliver and his buddy Arlo out for a walk, checking out those sweet tires.

My blue eyed baby.

Blowing out his two candles (with a little help from Daddy).

I think everything he got for his birthday had wheels.

And here is much of the birthday loot all lined up.

Oliver at his party with the "TWO" shirt that grandma made him, which includes 3 of his favorite things in the letters:  tractors, trucks and turtles (which was also the theme of his party).  Note, his Chevy and Myrtle are close at hand.

Oliver, Celia, and Abby (yes, he loves the older ladies) at the turtle bean bag throw.

Sheryl and her daughter at the "stamping station."

Our dear friends who party prepped all morning and then had to catch a cab for a flight to Seattle in the afternoon.  They obviously went above and beyond the typical house guest--thank you!!!

Still a little teary-eyed from the Happy Birthday singing, but all was good after blowing out his candles and getting a tractor cookie.

Getting ready to fill up his fire engine with his new Gas Station from Aunt Sheila.

Once everyone had gone.  Oliver spent the rest of the evening doing his favorite thing--riding his fire engine.

A place to grow

One of our favorite things about Rittenhouse is the opportunity it provides for us to be outside.  Oliver is a boy who loves to be outdoors: playing on the deck with his cars, watering the flowers, walking (our riding his fire engine) through the neighborhood, being at the park, and, of course, running.

Our backyard provides the opportunity to have a garden.  Something I thought I might like, but did not know for sure.  After we moved in, I first added several of flowers to the existing landscaping.  And just to test my minimum skills, I planted a few tomato plants and herbs.  To my surprise the edible plants (as well as the flowers) have flourished. 

When we first saw the tomatoes start coming in, I explained to Oliver that the green ones were baby tomatoes, and we could not eat them until they turned red.  He patiently waited.  My first tomato plant was a Bonine (full sized) tomato and a couple weeks later I added a few cherry tomato plants.  A couple of the cherry tomatoes came in first.  Oliver was so excited to eat them that he did not hesitate and grabbed it and put it into his mouth before I even got a chance to say it was ok.  When the sole Bonine turned red, I knew what to expect.  So I told him it was ready, we went out and talked about cleaning it first, but ultimately decided a wipe on the t-shirt was good enough.

Earlier today, I noticed a couple more cherry tomatoes were red.  This evening Oliver noticed them too while playing on the deck.  He rushed over grabbed just the red one, quickly wiped on his shirt, and popped it into his mouth.  Savored the taste and then went back to playing with his trucks--right at home in his garden.

I now understand the joy that can come from gardening.  We have lots more tomatoes coming in this summer, but I am already thinking about what I will plant next year.

Nags Head, North Carolina

A couple weeks ago, we shared a beach house with our friends, Tom and Erin (and their 18-month son), for a few days.  It was a fun drive, very nice house, great company, and precious family time.  Oliver LOVED the car ride there and back, really enjoyed the lighthouse visit, was modestly impressed by the beach, had a great time watching the sunset at the dunes, and was mesmerized by the pin wheels at the shops.  Only drawback was the heat.  Our trip fell over one of the hottest weeks of the summer so it was basically too hot to even be at the beach during the day.  We went out for walks in the morning and evening, but mostly stayed in playing and enjoying the family time together. 

The Beach.  Our house was one street away.

Puzzle time at the beach house.

Hamming it up for Erin's camera at the beach house.

Any question that he does not know he is adorable?

Vacation relaxation.

Pinwheels.

Watching the sunset at the dunes.

You could see the moon and the sky was breath-taking.

Watching the crabs below.

Boys on the boardwalk.

The lighthouse.

Butler's Orchard

Just got done picking blackberries at a local farm.  Oliver loved it!  He ate as many as he picked.  We got a little wet when the rain started, but he thought that was great too.  We did not even make it out of the fields before he passed out.

A few of my favorite quotes from the morning:

"What does "turn-of-phrase" mean?"

"The phone told mommy instructions to drive." (GPS to farm)

"We are driving in a tree tunnel."

"Oliver buckled at the knees!" (After slipping in the grass)

"The tangyness just popped out of that blackberry into my mouth!"