Student of the Month!

In one of those classic where-do-we-go -from-here? kind of experiences, Oliver was chosen as one of the students of the month for September, his first month in kindergarten. We were stupefied (and proud, of course), but discovered upon arrival at the celebration assembly that the award accorded all too well with the son we know and love. He was honored as "excellent reader," which we know already and which predates kindergarten by a few years. Kind of difficult to be launched into the stratosphere over this one. I don't want to seem ungrateful. Quite the contrary; Oliver went through a long period in which he would not read for classmates; they thought his skill was very strange. So, we are proud that in kindergarten he has already treated them to the full range of his reading ability, having taken Treasure Island to school for sharing day recently. Instead of being weirded out, his enlightened K-1 class was "amazed," according to his teacher.

Let's see if he can get a citizenship award; then his teacher-parents will be REALLY proud! ;o)

Mystical Garden

Some big kids who love Oliver a whole lot (Stefania & Tommaso) picked up this fun project whilst on holiday. Intrigued, assured of its mystical powers, but not at all convinced it would live up to expectations, they gifted OP with it recently. It develops over 10 hours (16), so we thought it best to wait all week until Saturday to put it together. It arrived in a fairly flat box--see below. Oliver and I assembled the pieces and poured the magic water, all before Papa woke up. It took awhile for anything to show up. We rejoiced over every blossom, which convinced us that this project was thought up by someone who suffers through a bleak winter
and waits expectantly for spring. It was good fun, but a week on, it is now fit for the dustbin. Thanks, friends!

First Day of Kindergarten!

Oliver had his backpack on by 7:30am today. He was ready to go to kindergarten! After months of waiting the day he'd been waiting for arrived: 24th August 2009. He was quite happy to go off to school. Quiet and observant upon entering the classroom, as usual, he looked around and seemed to enjoy watching other children explore the room. He was not especially clingy, but he did want lots of cuddles and wanted mama to be the last one to leave the classroom. The photo that appears sideways (sorry about that) was taken during one such cuddle.
























I took this last photo through the window after Oliver had ceased attempts at communication. The teacher is speaking his language--books! I think they're going to get along fine!

Fun in San Diego

We had a great time with Molly and Matt San Diego! We went to Legoland, a Dodgers game at Petco Park (very traumatic for OP when they lost), geocaching, and hung out around their house (that's a bow and arrows, for all of you clueless folks stuck in the time of Robin Hood). Thanks, friends!

Recent Costumed Adventures

OP likes stories. He likes to read them, rehearse them, and act them out. Along with this love of stories, he has admirable style and imagination. He often fashions costumes and props out of unlikely household items. Of course, occasionally the costume is just right as is. Here are some of his recent costumed adventures:
Auntie Claire sent this one by post after her recent trip with Gavin. Oliver was so excited to open his very own package.
Below is how Oliver prepared himself to walk to dinner at our local Brewery Restaurant.
And here he is trying on costumes at Legoland.

Assistant Bat Boy

Foresters Game, SB, June 23.

"I'm your very own big kid!"

As requested, Oliver and I spent four nights in town with the grandparents, Auntie Claire, and cousin Gavin. OP and "Gav" were thrilled to see one another every time. Here are two photos from their many adventures together. Strangely, I was unable to capture on film the episode in which Oliver held Gavin on his shoulders and I spotted from behind. Also impossible to record was Gavin's glee watching Oliver throw the baseball and dive to catch it! And somehow I missed the huddle and cuddle in which Oliver threw his arms around his auntie with abandon and proclaimed, "I love you and Gavin to infinity!"