test garvin wordpress

Art just came downstairs after bumbling in his room for thirty minutes. He was supposed to be taking a nap, but he came downstairs and said he was just so excited that Nanna was going to be here that he just played around and read in his room and went to quietly wake up Lewis but Lewis didn't wake up so he said, "Have a good nap, Lewis" and then he had to pee. (Those are really his words, except he said them in first person, of course.) He ate a pear and said, in his whiny voice, "When is Nanna gonna be here!" Tomorrow. She'll be here tomorrow.

Jessica writes: Lewis, like most second children, gets the short-end of the milestone celebration stick. I've written about this before, but it is mostly because Art's milestones were also our parental milestones. Baby grabbing my keys? I already had that first in my life. But nonetheless, Lewis impresses us and impresses his personality upon us everyday. For instance, right now Lewis is playing in the basement by himself with animals. They are doing all kinds of things that require him to use a falsetto voice. Things like, "Walk!" and "Talk!....Hi!" Lewis is also building with blocks these days, something that totally engrossing him. He will work and work to build a tower and during that time he is so focused it's as if the world around him does not exist. I took a nice little video of that which Ben will likely post soon. Lewis is also showing signs of his music involvement. Now that I teach Music Together (only once a week, but it's a st...

This is a fascinating project by some smart people at MIT. Punch in your name and see what the internet knows about you: http://personas.media.mit.edu/personasWeb.html

This is an unfinished post from Jessica in November 2008 I just found lingering on the blog. -------------- So, I told my cousin Nora about Art's new behaviors and she said this, "You know, being a mom could just be one of the most challenging jobs out there. It sounds like it. I feel bad for my mom now. Do you think you and Em were spazoids? I can say that Cait was, and you remember Hannah! I don't know how she smoothed out to be sweetness like she is now."

The food journalist, Michael Pollan (of whom I am a great fan) says one can eat whatever junkfood one desires, as long as one makes it one's self. Well, he says it in a more fluid way, but Art and I just had our homamade junk food tonight. We made our own ice cream! Turned the crank with our very own arms. It was an ice cream maker I borrowed from Uncle Josh and a recipe invented by me (loosely based on real ice cream recipes but mostly inspired by the ingredients on the back of Breyer's containers). Art and I turned the crank for over twenty minutes before scooping it out. It was still kind of soft and after two bites Art looked at me with a scrunched up face and surprised sounding voice, "I don't really like this ice cream. It's too squishy!" Oh, Art. More for me.

The other night Art accidentally rammed into Lewis, knocking him over. This has happened before, and Art was immediately apologetic, but while Lewis screamed and cried Art got down to Lewis's level and showed him what had happened (a tactic Ben has always used to distract the kids from their distress) and then, as I have also suggested before, Art offered Lewis a hug but THIS time Lewis said yes! So Art gave a crying Lewis a lovely, long hug. And since then they have been hugging up a storm. Here's a pic of a mobile hug Lewis requested in the kitchen. It went all the way into the dining room.

This from ECFE class Saturday.

Adria helped drop off Art at school the other day. She loved the space and especially all the simple wooden toys and creative things. "Are you looking for anything in particular?" she asked Ms. Jen hopefully. Adria is one of the most prolific and productive thrifters in all of the Twin Cities. Simply mention you're need a sweater or your child needs a long sleeve shirt and, voila, a week later you have lots. As I always like to remember, one time we drove past a Salvation Army store and she said, "Oh, that's no a very good store. I only go there once a week."

(photos from jess)

Art's friend Si came over to play (and drink hot cocoa after 'shoveling') for a couple hours Friday.

Lewis, I can only supposed in celebration of St. Patrick's day, ate an absurd amount of broccoli the other night. And the aftermath was decidedly colorful (photo not included). (photo from jessica)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5dOqY1Nh18&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&w=853&h=505] Art and I spent a weekend there last summer (Jessica's family cottage in Hancock, Wisconsin) and I've finally done a little edit on a video.

Art: "Papa, why do you always forget to put your seatbelt on?" Ben: "I don't know, sometimes I guess I forget things." Art: "Maybe that's just the way the people made you." (Note to reader: papa does not always forget his seat belt. Just sometimes .)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsMhOQAryKk&hl=en_US&fs=1&&w=640&h=385]

Art goes to Willow, a pre-school in the basement of Ms. Jen's house. It's a wonderful, safe, creative place that Art (and his parents) loves. Ms. Jen has just started a new blog with updates as to what they're doing (and eating). We'll be peeling off some of her photos to post here from time to time, but you can also go and check it out for yourself: http://willowpreschool.posterious.com

We were at IKEA the other night and Art found the best possible thing, his friend Si (his parents were there shopping). Loud elevator dancing.

"You put the Legos in here and it grinds them up."

Art wanted to bring a bag of toys in the car with him the other day, so Lew insisted to carry a bag with stuff, too.

Last night's "prayer vigil" for Bubbe, my mom and super grandma to the boys, was a blast. I must admit, I held a truly nervous part inside about outing her cancer to her friends but I'm glad we did it. She had a blast and seemed to enjoy ragging Ben about setting the whole thing up. And set it up he did! He masterminded the whole thing, even stealing her address book from her purse so he could call her buddies. He enlisted my uncle Bob to get him into Restaurant Depot so he could buy 40 lbs of chicken wings for the party (even when Mom claimed she was too nauseous to eat she devoured some take-out wings Ben brought over one night) and then spent the better part of two afternoons prepping and BBQing (!) for the party. It was great! Mom, I hope you got a good dose of love last night. Well, I'm sure you did, but I hope it strengthens your resolve to do everything you can to keep your cancer in check. Because we all love you dearly and want you here for as lon...

Well, last night we pulled off our surprise prayer vigil for Adria (Jess's mother). She was diagnosed with lung cancer a couple months ago and is doing well. She's only in her mid 60's and has no major symptoms so her diagnosis isn't entirely grim. That said, she has many times rolled her eyes at the idea that people would be praying for her. It's just not her thing. So last night we had a surprise prayer vigil to rub salt in the wound! Hooray! I cooked a super big batch of greasy and tasty chicken wings (one of her favorites), and a whole slew of Adria-lovers joined us. Jess will write a post later better detailing how fun last night was with lots more photos. But for now, here's a lovely photo of the wonderful Adria Susan Parker at her surprise prayer vigil.

I was just checking out some past postage and here's something fun from jess:  ---------- June 28, 2006 Rakin' in the Loot Yesterday Art and I were riding the bus when the man next to us asked, "Does he like bananas?" I said, "Yes! They're his favorite!" and the man reached into his box of groceries and gave Art a banana! Later on in the ride a woman was talking to Art and said, "I have to have something in here for a baby..." and rummaged in her purse until she pulled out a lollipop. Man! But that wasn't the first time Art has been showered with gifts from strangers. Once we were in Walgreens when Art was only a couple months old and a guy gave him a dollar! I said, "I'll put it in his college fund!" and the guy reached back in his wallet, "Well, if he's going to be educated, here's another!"

"It's fun doing a puzzle with Lewis cause I get to do the whole puzzle."

I spent a couple hours at Art's school today taking video (had the day off since it's my BIRTHDAY!). Anyway, I recorded loads and loads of footage that will likely take more than a month to have the time to edit. But in the meantime, here's a short clip of Si and Art that Jess and I just think is hilarious! [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhctuQsJTw8&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1&w=660&h=405]

We tried this last year and Art often refused to even enter the water, let alone participate. This year something clicked and there's no hesitation. He just jumps right in and learns. It's even more reason to not stress about specific behaviors and realize that nearly everything impermanent.

Jessica came home with a stack of new books to read a couple days ago. Usually she has time to browse through to make sure they're okay , but we either forgot or didn't have time, and that was a mistake. For bedtime I offered to read Art a couple new books, and one we chose was called "Benny and the Binky". I'm still pissed about it how awful and scary it was for Art. The basic story is this little kid named Benny (actually, a pig) about Art's age has a new little brother and Benny wants the binky . So he swipes it from his brother and runs away. "He's not supposed to do that," said Art. No, he's not. But I read on thinking ok , no big deal, I'm sure something funny or redeeming will happen. Then, Benny runs into three very mean looking bully pigs who tease him for using the binky. They say if he doesn't stop using it they're going to hit him in the face. I read this to Art but watered it down considerably. "bump him in the ...

These are some photos taken by Art's preschool teacher Jen Boss of a recent school project. Art's is the middle, and I'm guessing Evva's is at right, the one loaded with pink.

I went to the library last night and while I was there Art and Lewis got in a spat that ended with Art throwing a plastic, toy airplane at Lewis's head.  When I came in the kids were both in bed and Ben was reading to Art.  Lewis was awake in his bed and immediately sat up.  He said, "Out! Out!" and I picked him up.  Then he said, "Mump!  Nown!  Nown!'  So we went downstairs.  Down and down until we got into the basement where he walked into the big cardboard box where the incident occurred, picked up the airplane and said, "Mump!"  I said, "Oh, you got a bump?" and he said, "Uh huh."  Then he gave me more detail.  He touched the airplane to his face and said, "Mump.  Ow." It really is amazing how much can be said in one word sentences. ------  On another topic entirely.... Right now Lewis has pushed the bottom dishwasher tray in, opened the soap holder, reached in under the sink and pulled out the box of detergent.  He i...

Here are some more funny attempts at transcription by google voice. ------------ Hey it's me and I wanted to sing you a song Horan recruited error on every species cellphone they don't know if turns in to see you see is and refinance or approved. Alright, I'll talk to you when you get home we can people are cookies. Bye. https://clients4.google.com/voice/embed/embedPlayer ------------- Ben, I need to find our reading that you thought. Ohh. If you know where those are jury look in your har. We need them and we might not be able to get off th...

There was a pretty big snow storm today and we took advantage. Every time I play in the snow I think, "why aren't we doing this more often?" Is fun! Probably cause suiting up two excited kids up in their layers of clothing is about as hard (and time consuming) as solving a rubix cube. This morning we played and went on a walk. And then for dinner we actually rode our bikes (with bike trailer) 8 blocks south to Petpito's mexican restaurant (it's never all that tasty but it's close and we got instant chips and salsa which makes kids and parents happy). Art made a slide. I'm working on building in igloo. All it needs is the roof part (the hardest part). I can only build it in spurts cause the snow has to be packable and today's (and most snow lately) is too fluffy. Jess pulling the bike trailer with two toasty children. Recognize my handwriting?

The other night I sang with three other Music Together teachers at the nearby Global Market, an indoor market that has kiosks offering various foods and wares. We sang many songs that we teach in our Music Together family music classes and a bunch of other random tunes. It was fun. Art and Lewis came along and were watched by friend and Si's mother, Laurel (thanks so much, Laurel!). But I must say the kids did really well while I was occupied for two hours (!). Here's Lewis patiently waiting while I get information from the leader of our group. After the event the boys discovered these hats and swords at the Swedish goods kiosk. Art had a major meltdown about not getting a hard, plastic injury inducing sword that night, but we still managed to get home.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xd4N9GjQfU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1&w=500&h=405] Jess captured this lovely little song/poem Art sang the other day.

Today we all ran a race (see Jess's long post below about it). here are some photos. Take off! Aunt Em and Deb cheer on Jess and Art. uncle Mike (in blue) takes off for the the 5k. He's running coach with lots of marathons under his belt. Look at his form!

What a whirlwind of a day!  We dropped Lewis off early this morning at Bubbe's so Art, Ben and I could go run a race.  Art has some new "racing" shoes that look just like grown-up running shoes and we signed up for a race to try them out.  Art ran a 1/4 mile and then Ben and I ran a 5k while pushing Art in the bike trailer.  That was really hard to do considering we are out of shape, Art is very heavy in there and  it was twenty some degrees.  It took us about 36 minutes to run three miles.  Ouch.  The race-walker was ahead of us.  The whole time.  Art was the last kid to finish the 1/4 mile since he wanted to put on an extra sweater mid race, stopped three times and almost didn't finish (I said, "You just have to run to that sign down there!" and he said, "I don't want to," but then he did).  He exclaimed to Ben at the finish, "I ran the whole time, Papa!"  I love how simple a four-year-old's sense of achievement is. Anyway, wh...

We have a knock-knock joke around here that I made up last year for Art's benefit.  The person at the door is Dr. Who.  Dr. Who, who?  "You sound like an owl!" is the punch line and Art loved to tell that joke.   Well, we've been telling it again lately and Lewis has been listening intently.  Just this morning he managed to get to punch line, even if he did leave out the middle.  He was laying in his crib, talking to himself and I heard him say, "Knock knock! -- Ow-wool!"  

This is a lovely photo my father took when he was in town a month or so ago.

We are disassembling the boxes in the basement and Art and Lewis have been helping. Well, Lewis actually just climbs in and out of them as the structure gets smaller, but Art has been using his lowest voice and most serious expression to help take the boxes apart. He gets his toolbox, chain saw and construction hat (that was my idea) and helps pull the boxes off. Or he pretends to saw them off. Or he hammers them. He's been working hard. If only all his pretending made the process easier for me. Ah, well. It's the thought that counts.

Art made a friend the other day while shopping at Cub. As Jessica noticed, neither spoke a word of English, instead resorting to excited yelps and sounds as they hid behind a pallet of Ramen noodles, butter pasta, and Cherrios.