Three years is long, fast time

Just about three years ago...

 

Now, our little boys are our "big" boys!

In Its Depths What Treasures, Part I

Watching the Olympics take place in London and vicinity has been a real joy for Papa and I. When the Williams trumpet chorus begins as glorious vistas emerge of rolling, brilliant green hillsides with ancient ruins; of sailboat-dotted waves nestled close to seaside villages; of regal Buckingham Palace and stately Big Ben; even of drizzles misting the "wilderness of steeples peeping," as Lord Byron put it; all these images make us happily nostalgic for our brief time, as they say, across the pond.

A little sweet, romantic history: ten years ago this fall, Papa and I met in Cambridge (England, for those of you who weren't reading closely above) while we both studied abroad. Papa and I visited London separately during our time there, but we also went to the grand old city together one lovely Saturday. We took an early-morning bus through the ubiquitous drizzle, which dropped us off in the shadow of Big Ben. We wandered through Westminster Abbey, saw My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane, popped into the National Gallery, and ate some below-average steak and potatoes at a Trafalgar Square steakhouse before heading back north that evening.  (Side story to our little history: In a miracle of circumstance and twin intuition, my sister--studying in London for the semester--found us in a ticket queue. She spotted the back of my head as she peeked into the kiosk and pulled on my purse to get my attention. I thought I was being mugged, and then I nearly went into cardiac arrest when I saw it was her. I hadn't been able to reach her by landline phone that morning, but she remembered that we might go to a show during our visit, and the stars aligned. Okay, so maybe it wasn't completely circumstance. But hey--this was before we owned cell phones, before we had "smart" anything and had to figure out maps, times, and rendezvous all beforehand and hope nobody got lost or delayed. So it was pretty cool that Mil found us, and we had a nice picnic lunch all together. Um, guess that wasn't so much a side story as a big chunk of it.)

Anyway, we loved our time in England, and the Olympics has given us a chance to vicariously enjoy London's treasures again. As we watched the women's marathon twisting and turning through the city, pointing out places we had been and picturesque sights we never witnessed firsthand, P piped up, "I want to go to London." We will go there someday, God willing, little man!

Flashback Tuesday, Part II: "I'm Tree!" Birthday for P

Here come the trucks... and the candy! A parade just for MY birthday!

"I'm the birthday boy! I'm tree!" So announced P on his birthday (and for a few days after). P's birthday weekend was a grand-slam-trifecta for him, due to the convergence of his big day on Friday, the Water Tower Festival parade on Saturday, and a first visit to the movies to see Cars 2 during its premiere Sunday. Or maybe it was the fire truck balloon, the fire chief, hat, playing Candy Land, jumping on big inflatables, going to the park, and eating candy, cookies, and cake that really made his weekend. Life is sweet at three; whether P was regaled with simple pleasures or fancy really didn't matter because so many things bring him joy. What a joy for us, then, to witness and share!

Grandpa and Grandma E really had fun with the boys during P's June birthday weekend. I've stolen some pics from my mom's blog (see more of hers here); the rest--sad excuses for pictures, because Papa was at the LWML national convention in Peoria, and thus missed out on all the birthday fun AND manning the camera--are mine.

Post birthday mess. I love it. True happiness exhibits itself in the wild impropriety of strewn paper, ribbons, and balloons.

S: "So, um.... when can I play with that?"

About to tackle Candy Land! Grandpa is EXCITED. Not sure about S.

P: "But can't Finn McMissile get to King Candy's Castle, too? And aren't you done yet with that camera, Mama?"

YUM! Birthday cupcake! Notice the cars parked just so.

They're COMING! P was so excited about the parade he shrieked from the curb. People around us couldn't hide their smiles.

Will I get a parade like this when I'm "tree"?

 

Fire trucks--always a highlight.

Taking a little walking break.

This float featured a replica of the Water Tower of said Festival. No matter how mundane the object, a water tower on a parade float is not something you see often.

Coming back from another trip to the park!

What a sweet, special boy.

Flashback Tuesday, Part I: First Birthday for a Little Big S

And the chocolate just keeps on melting! Photo lifted from Mom.

 Now that we've reached S's 15 month and P's three-year (one month late) checkups, it's time for me to post pics about their birthdays. There's no time like the present, I always say! Or did somebody else say that? :)

Sadly, I don't actually remember much about S's first birthday because I was in the throes of early pregnancy, and, well, there's really not much more I can say. Good thing Mom took copious notes and many great pictures; read her account and peruse her gems here and here.

At any rate, S enjoyed his first birthday--playing with boxes and wrapping paper, eating his cupcake (but only after devouring chocolate-chip cookies--see below), cuddling with loved ones. He's a great one for backing up like a tank into someone's crossed-legs lap. Then he grunts when he sits down. "Ugnh." It's priceless. I still can't believe our "baby" is now walking--practically running, talking--"park" and "dog" are the latest, bringing me books to read to him, and so obviously a toddler now and NOT an infant. But here he is on his first birthday!

Helping Daddy...

All ready to open cards and presents and eat... what is that? And we always look this ready in pictures!

Ooooh. This might not end well...

P "helping" to get gifts for S... guess who was most excited about the presents?!

Weebles!!

Christmas wrapping paper!! My favorite!

P kept us on track when S was happily playing with packaging, or whatever else happened to be on the floor.

It's the Weeble Bus!!

Guess who manned the cameras?

Playing with boxes. The ultimate first birthday experience.

Birthdays are SO fun.

Flashback Tuesday: Boys Play.

Here's the first of several posts of pictures we've taken this spring and summer. I caught the boys playing merrily downstairs in April. You'll see that S saw Mama and wanted to come upstairs for a minute; back in those days (oh so long ago!) I could put the Pack 'N Play at the bottom of the stairs to keep S from climbing 'em. Alas, that didn't last long! Anyway, S got distracted pretty fast by big brother P; and then they actually BOTH smiled for the camera AT THE SAME TIME! Enjoy!