Snippets

We've been having cold nights (and days) and very frosty mornings this week. Friday morning walking out to the car, Liam volunteered: "We don't eat frost, Mama." I said something like, "That's right, we don't usually eat frost; it's too cold!" What is this about, I wonder.

Driving down the hill to town, from the backseat Liam pipes up: "Frost is not frosting, Mama." Oh, I get it now. "That's right Liam, frost is not frosting. Frost is frost, it's frozen dew and water that we see in the morning. Frosting is frosting, it comes on cookies." Liam thinks this is hilarious. Liam: "Frost is frost! And frosting is frosting! I like frosting! I like frosting, Mama!" Don't we all. Although I like frost too.

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Today we visited the local Waldorf school for the winter fair. Liam did great exploring a new place, although the Snow Maiden puppet show was too much for him. They should have thought to explain that it is not for 2 year olds. Five minutes into it, Liam started in with (in a quiet voice, thank God): "I want to go outside. I want to go outside, Mama. I want to go outside right now. Please, Mama." When he didn't get interested in the show after a few tries, we went outside. Followed quickly by another 2 year old.

Probably a good thing, anyway. Will's mother came out a few minutes later and said: "This story is not going to end well. Summer is coming and it is going to melt their snow daughter all away." I'm glad I didn't have to explain that one. Later we stood in a line with another 2 year old whose papa volunteered "we didn't make it through the puppet show either. I guess it really wasn't for little kids." No kidding.

When I asked Liam after dinner what the best part of the winter fair was he said, right away, "Seeing GG and GoGo." (Will's parents.) Sweet beyond words. Second best thing was the gingerbread.

(Don't worry Grandma; you appeared at bath time when Orca Whale looked all over the tub for you and Grandpa. "Where is grandma? Is she under big boat? Nooooo. Is she in rain-maker? Nooooo. Etc." He finally decided that you were in California. Not the bathtub after all.)

Belated Thanksgiving Report

We had a lovely meal. My sister made the trip up from California for just the few days she could spare and it really made a difference to have her here. Same as last year we made the rolled and stuffed turkey breast. Same as last year I missed the visual of a big bird, but liked the taste and the manageable food quantity a lot better. Will's mother made basically everything else, including two fantastic pies. And she schlepped it all over to our house. Very nice.

Auntie C and Liam made the rolls.

Befitting the lateness of this report, here is a picture of the next day before everything was put away. My mother's good dishes, which I am custodian of; this is the only day of the year we use them, pretty much. A really, truly, beautiful, wonderful ,very old handmade lace tablecloth from my godmother. Pumpkin candles, I don't know what I'll do when they run out because we use them every year. Flowers, this also is the only day of the year that I bother to do anything with flowers besides drop them in a jar.

Play Spaces

One of the things we wanted to do with Liam is to make sure he has places to play in all parts of the house. We didn't want a toy room, or a play room (and we don't have an extra room for all that anyway). So we've made sure there are play spaces in pretty much every room.

In the kitchen Liam has his play kitchen (a gift from Will's generous sister) and his chalkboard/magnet board. I like to think of him working away in his play kitchen while I'm making dinner, but usually he likes to play with it at other times, because when I'm cooking he wants to be "helping" me.

Most of Liam's toys and books are in the living room, where we all enjoy them and it's easy to play or have a story or work on a puzzle.

There's a new addition in the dining room, where I cleaned out a cupboard for Liam's art supplies and whatever else he wants to put in there. . .so far, he is most interested in climbing in himself. He likes that it is "all my cupboard."

We're going on almost two weeks since Will last came home from the hospital; he had his last dose of IV antibiotics last Friday and is now on an inhaled antibiotic to try to keep his recurrent infections away and give him a chance to get stronger. So far, so good.