20 Best Photos from April 2011

April... what a month. The most notable event was Sean's somewhat troublesome (for him, not us!) but ultimately successful surgery. We're grateful for the team of doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who gave him such great care. He was home and walking around during the beginning of April, enjoying lots of time with his family, including his parents, whose visit lasted through the first part of April. Sean was on the go a lot, always testing the limits of what he could do physically, not one to lay around and recover through rest. And his determination has paid off. As I write this, four months after his surgery, he's back to running the same distances (25-35 miles per week) that he was prior to the surgery. It's amazing, really. I count our blessings every day.

(I think many of these updates have been Thora-focused. Be forewarned, this one is clearly Auric-focused. Be sure to click here to view the whole April photo album. It might be less biased.)

And one of our blessings, is our little Peachy, aka Auric. What a character he is. He's been a little charmer from his first weeks, cooing and cuddling, and always flashing those dimples. His charisma and likability continues to shine as one of his most outstanding features. Click here for a short, cute video of him performing, on command: crying, laughing, and our favorite, yawning. Even his tantrums are a little cute. Click here to see one of those. As Winter transitioned to Spring, he hit a language boom, and his ability to parrot became really noticeable. For a video, "Auric's Budding Vocabulary, Part 3," click here. (Read on for an explanation for one of the stranger words he came up with for "spoon.")

Most of his words are pretty dead-on. And in fact, he hears if he doesn't get the word out the right way, and so will repeat it several times, unprompted, until he gets it as close as he can, which is the opposite of his big sister. She was very verbal from very young. But despite talking sooner, her words were less sophisticated. She had a tendency to hear the syllables, but process them in reverse, and so "meow" was "owmm". And she liked double-syllable words: "cereal" was "cee-cee"; "Thora" was "Sa-sa"; and our upstairs neighbor "Carl" was "Ca-Cow." She also came up with some doozies: "lass-i-mo," for "mollasses," "lez-lo" for "Lopez," and "bommut" for "bottom." Thora had many of these funny words. Auric's words sound pretty accurate right from the beginning; thus, so far he has only had two pretty funny words: "Ahh-poh" for "open" and, our household favorite, "Up High" for "spoon." We have NO IDEA from where this last one generated. The only explanation that I came up with, was perhaps he was connecting the idea of sitting "up high" in his high chair and the spoon with which we fed him. Regardless, it's a pretty cute Auric-ism and we enjoyed it while it lasted (several months).

His love for cars and trucks and trains, really anything that goes, continues to be his guiding light in life. Here he is enjoying digging and dumping the pebbles into the trucks at the park.


Now on to one of our favorite Thora-isms, namely Baby Trash Can. She's been in Thora's room al this time, all but forgotten about. Until one time this month, Thora included BTC in her dress-up play. Here's is BTC, up on a foot stool, getting all glammed up.


Bath time gets fun, as Auric gets older. Good times!



Brian and Auric got lots of quality time during their visit. (Beverly also got lots of quality time. However, it seems that she suffers the same fate as I, that of always being the one behind the camera.)


During Sean's first weeks at home, he would regularly walk over to the MIT track and walk laps. Auric loved being brought along on the outing, for the wide open space to run, and on this occasion, the good fortune of finding a forgotten baseball.



The spring saw the official hand-me-down of Thora's trike to Auric. Here is one of his inaugural rides.


Auric continued with swimming lessons in the Spring. He still does not quite grasp what's needed of him. He's a great kicker, and has this very funny frog-like kick where he simultaneously kicks both legs out behind him repeatedly. What he thinks he needs to do with his arms, I'm not sure. Basically he mostly uses his arms to cling to me and at times, hang on to the straps of my swimsuit, just daring them to come loose. Fun! Click here for a very short video of him swimming (don't worry, my suit never comes loose!) in which I attempt to get his arms moving. But he's having none of it.



And it wouldn't be an update if it didn't include a photo of Thora and Zach, dressed to nines, and doing some kind of performance. Here they are, tapping away on our portable tap floor. (Notice Auric in the background, mimicking them, and also wearing a pajama top that his belly has out-grown.)


Easter weekend saw another great visit from Baba and NuNu. Here is Baba monitoring Thora's egg-dyeing. He's having about as much fun as you can while balancing a squirmy toddler on your lap and attempting to keep the various dyes in their respective cups while a 4 year-old, sort of willy-nilly stirs them all up, while she poses for pictures. Good times.


Here she is taking in her accomplishment. This look of satisfaction and pride changes dramatically (see link above to view the whole April album) when she notices that I'm snapping away, at which point she becomes absurdly protective of the eggs and refuses that they be photographed or even looked at. Oh Thora, she never fails to make an innocuous moment a dramatic one.


And speaking of Drama, Thora and Zach continued their Education of the Theatre when we took in a Wheelock College production of "Alladin and the Wonderful Lamp." Here they are, waiting for the show to start, with Zach holding up the program. It was a really engaging performance, with the actors regularly appearing out of the side doors to the auditorium and walking up and down the aisles. So the kids were pretty awe-struck at having the show come down to them. The costumes were also incredibly vivid and spectacular.


And again, what can I say? This kid just cracks me up and breaks my heart at the same time. Like a hundred times a day.


Thora's friend Ally and family hosted their second annual Easter party. The kids played and enjoyed the incredibly well-stocked easter egg hunt. A great time, as always!

Clockwise from left: Liem, Lila, Ally, River, Thora, Auric, and Khai.

Thora continues to put on shows, even when she's NOT putting on a show. How does she do this? Click here for a short video of Thora NOT being a mermaid, even though she's hamming it up as one. One thing you can say about Thora: she likes being unpredictable.


April also saw Thora and her friends, Zach and River, attend the Big Apple Circus in downtown Boston. This was such a fun outing. We started with the multiple trains to Government Center, a dinner at The Hard Rock Cafe, and then an evening of entertainment at the circus. My favorite entertainment of the whole night had to be when Thora turned to me, midway through the first act and said, with complete earnestness, of course, "Mom, take my boa. I'm going on stage!" See the long pink boa in the photo below that was part of her circus-attending outfit.

From left: Zach, River, and Thora

And back at the ranch... this is going on. Auric and his best buddies, getting a bath. Babies in bathtubs... it doesn't get much cuter.

From left: Etta, Ellie, and Auric.

And at last... April saw some color re-enter our lives in the form of blooming flowers in our yard. Here is a Bleeding Heart flower, something that Thora became obsessed with this spring. She loved spotting them in other people's yards and they were regularly expressed in her works of art.


Thanks for catching up with us. Look back soon for the best photos from May.

14 Best Photos from Thora's 4th Birthday

Thora turned 4 in March and given Thora's love of Theatre, musicals, singing and dancing, and all things performance, we were thrilled to find out about Kidstock in Winchester, MA, this great children's theatre that hosts birthday parties for budding thespians. Prior to the party, we picked the Castle Capers theme, which would allow Thora and her friends to act out 3 short plays involving princesses, kings, queens, knights, dragons, etc. It was an incredible experience. Bob, the party director, was amazing with the kids, so fun and engaged. And while performing on stage in front of friends and parents might not have been all of the kids' dream come true, it was definitely Thora's. (To view the whole album, click here.)

While waiting for all the friends to show up, the kids decorated a castle-themed mural.




Then, once everyone had arrived, the kids warmed up their acting muscles, playing some ice-breaker games. Here they are practicing looking sad. Thora is looking sapped of the will to live.


Here, they're looking surprised.


Once they were warmed up, they began the first of three plays. Bob would begin to tell the story, and as new characters were introduced, he would ask for volunteers. Being Thora's birthday, she was always asked first and when asked what she'd like to play, she always picked a princess. Here she is as a magical princess.


Some of Thora's friends felt really comfortable on stage, and Jack was one of them! He hammed it up in the most hilarious way. Here he is, playing the heck out of the role of "Dragon #1."


At the end of the first play, all the actors take their bow and get applauded by all the parents and other friends.

From left, Zach, Jack, Olive, Clarissa, Ally, and Thora.

The second play found Thora as another princess, this time starring with her dad, King Zach and her mom, Queen Olive.


The final play incorporated all the friends in any role they wanted. So there were several queens, a king, and multiple princesses.

From the left: Jack, Aiden, Zach, Olive, Thora, and Ally

After the three plays were done, the kids got cupcakes and ice cream. I'm not sure what Thora's expression is trying to say here. But I'm pretty sure that despite appearing as if she's glaring at the cupcake tower, I think she was intimidating that candle as she prepared herself to make her wish.


The following morning, a Monday, was her actual birthday and she enjoyed modeling this silly birthday hat before school.


As a special birthday treat, the whole family took her to school. However, Auric couldn't be bothered to get out of his pajamas. But you take what you can get with that kid.


Thora's special day ended at her favorite eatery, Four Burgers. And as I'm noticing now as I review these photos, Auric is still in his pajamas! Sheesh!



For a very cute video of Thora as she's being sung "Happy Birthday," (and actually appearing embarrassed), click here.

Happy Birthday, Thora! Your family loves you!!! (Even if we embarrass* you in your favorite restaurant.)


* You're 4! What are you doing being embarrassed by anything at all, let alone being sung "Happy Birthday"?!? I mean, considering what you wear on a regular basis, I just figured...)

17 Best Moments from March 2011

March... it seems so long ago. How did we fill those long, cold days? We'd finally sent back our Netflix copy of Singin in the Rain and then purchased our own copy. That month saw Thora's interest in classic musicals only broaden in scope. She was fascinated for a long time with the Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers classic, Top Hat and the Gene Kelly and Judy Garland hilarious pirate movie, The Pirate. (Is it crazy that I mark the time by Thora's favorite movie of the moment?)

The snow melted (as we knew it would, and yet somehow couldn't imagine really happening) and we emerged into the outside world again. But there was still a lot of indoor fun, as captured below on camera. (For a look at the whole album from March, click here.)


I had to include Thora wearing this shirt, since I begged her to wear it dozens of times, only to be told how "hateful" of a shirt it was. (She likes to be dramatic.) To tell you that I was crushed each time I heard those words, or how I defensively launched into a lecture/scolding about not using the word "hate" would not entirely capture my disappointment. Let this be a lesson to me: if I want a shirt with Bill Murray from Stripes on it, just buy one for myself. (I've since done so.) Oh well...

I love Auric in the background of this one.

This borrowed pajama outfit is more Thora's style. And of course, we had plenty of opportunities to capture her embodiment of the dragon on her front.

Again, we have another funny Auric in the background, surely trying to mimic his idol.

One of our activities during the last cold breaths of winter was creating this recycled-materials castle. Here is the artist. (This is the "before" shot. You'll have to wait until the April update for the "after".) It is funny to see this castle after so long, since it sat on our kitchen table for months! And it's no small construction. It was quite a step when we finally put in the recycling bin. We'd all grown so attached to it, in the rituals of moving it for meals, cleaning around it, adding new paint and decoration, etc.


All winter, Thora kept begging us to take her to her beloved Inside Playground. And while her logic was sound, (the winter is the perfect time to go), it was hard for her to grasp the grown-up reluctance of driving through a blizzard, or moving the car and risking having to shovel out a whole new spot upon the return. But finally, in March, her request was granted! Here they are enjoying the bliss of running in open space!


This one doesn't really have an explanation. It's just typical Thora, always performing some kind of drama or singing the narrative of her thoughts. Although, Thora never seems to sing at a normal volume (every song is belted out), she has added one nice bit of flair at the end. Click here to watch a 20-second video of this.

"Who me? Expressive?"

Thora continues to love playing dress-up. She loves it even more when she can cajole me into being dressed up as well. Sometimes that means pulling her stretchier dress-up clothes over my grown-up frame. Other times, it's what was captured below, namely the raiding of my jewelry box. One evening, after getting dolled up, we played around with the timer on the camera and managed to capture a very nice family photo.


Below, her and Zach get dolled up!


Auric LOVES puddles. Running through them, bouncing balls through them, long-jumping into them, racing strollers through them, this kid get no end of happiness with a simple puddle. Really, it makes me want to re-evaluate my priorities. Click here for a short video of this.



Auric and Sean were caught in this silly, and sweet, moment. Too cute!


Thora's appreciation of the Theatre took a turn for the grand, when we got tickets with Zach and his mom, Hilary, to see the Broadway sensation Mary Poppins at the Boston Opera House. Both kids had seen the movie and loved it. And yet, a 3-hour event that doesn't even start until after their bedtimes? It was kind of risky. Hil found discounted tickets, and we decided to risk it. We only made it through the first half. (Although the kids didn't realize it was just intermission, so we were able to leave without confusion or protests.) However, the experience of being in that stunning theatre I'm sure left a mark on Thora. You should've seen her acting the princess in that place, including the chandelier-laced ladies' room! We look forward to seeing the musical again, both acts next time, when she's a bit older. But it's a fond memory, despite the abbreviated experience.

Thora and Zach pose in the lobby of the Opera House.

Just prior to Thora's birthday, we got a visit from Baba and NuNu. Both kids had a mighty virus and we spent the first few hours of their visit laying on the couch, watching My Neighbor Toturo and nibbling crackers and sipping ginger ale. But over all it was a great visit which included Thora's birthday party just a few hours before their return flight!



Thora models one of her more famous dresses. Will we ever forget these dresses with frilly skirts and the gem-encrusted tops? Could there be anything more perfect for Thora's continued love of all things pink and/or glamorous? A big thank you to Hilary's mom, Sandy, who saw not just one of these, but a second one in black and pink, and thought to pick them up for Thora!


There are more pictures of Thora's birthday in an album to come, but here is one shot with her fourth birthday present from Sean and I, a big kid bike (it converts from a balance bike without pedals, to a pedal bike).



To help us out with Sean's surgery (during his time in the hospital and the recovery time afterward) Sean's parents visited us. We all had a great time (considering the circumstances) and they were an incredible help to me as I bounced back and forth between the kids and Sean in the hospital. Below, Grandpa Brian and Auric bond over a book.



Look at this kid! What can I even say about this? Seriously, he is too cute. His use of language has really boomed since spring. In March, he began saying his own name! Click here for a video of him being cute and saying his name, and a lot of other names.


One one afternoon, Brian and Beverly took Thora and Auric to Thora's dance class. Here she is enacting something, probably a flying unicorn princess. This was a great class for her. They used their imaginations, guided by the excellent instructor, Katy, and got to do lots of twirling, jumping, leaping, and galloping.


In addition to Thora's Creative Movement (dance) class, Thora continued with her Taekwondo lessons. She's an Advanced Tiger. Click here for one of my better videos (thanks to Foreigner) of Thora practicing Chon Ji, a 19-move routine. In the video, they practice the first 8 moves.

And that's it for now. Stay tuned for photos of Thora's birthday.

Best Moments from February

I've fallen so far behind that now February seems like a blur of snow and shoveling and endless viewings of Singin' in the Rain. Actually, of all the movies for us to watch practically daily, we got very lucky. Singin' in the Rain is a great movie and it stands up to a gazillion viewings. But despite Thora's good taste in movies, I'm happy to say that those cold, cooped-up days are but faint memories. Here are some photos that take me back to those cold, short, but at the same time, very long days. For the entire album, click here.

As I've mentioned before, we got almost record snowfall this winter. And with all the very cold days, there was nowhere for it to go. It wasn't melting, and so with each new snowfall, we all just dug out our sidewalks and cars, and added to the mountains of snow. They took on such height that the local hoodlums began tagging them. To give you a sense of scale, here is Thora near a snow mountain just outside our house. (Notice how her feet aren't touching the ground.)




Many of our afternoons were spent indoors and we were grateful for all our friends with whom we passed the time. Here is Thora and her friend, Ally, in one of their spirited dress-up/tea party sessions.



But mostly, my memories of the late winter are of Thora doing her best to express her desire to perform, while in the confines of our living room. With the daily viewings of Singin' in the Rain, there were daily performances. Here is Thora performing "All I Do is Dream of You." Click here for the Debbie Reynolds version from the movie to see what Thora is imitating. And if you're an It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia fan, you might like Thora and Auric's rendition of "Dayman." Click here for that.

We tried to get out of the house as much as we could this past winter. A few days a week, we braved the elements to attend various activities. Thora practiced Tae Kwon Do twice a week, continued with tumble tots gymnastics once a week, and we added a great Creative Movement dance class once a week. Thora loved it. The kids were encouraged to trot and twirl and leap and skip to various styles of music and with accompanying storylines, e.g. "Now the ponies are going to gallop to their friends on the other side of the river [represented by a long line of scarves tied together]," or "When you get tapped on the head, you become a bird and you fly through the sky to your tree." Thora loved it. And so did Auric. The instructor is wonderfully accommodating when it comes to younger siblings. As long as I kept Auric from hurting himself or disrupting the class, he was welcome to dance and move (which usually translated into him mimicing the older kids) as much as he wanted to. The picture below shows Thora off to the left in the middle of some expressive dance, while Auric reaches up to the ceiling (in the red and blue striped shirt), surely mirroring what the older kids had all been doing a moment before.



Thora continues to enjoy her mornings at her pre-school. And during the winter months, they are lucky to get a second day of swimming each week. And with her lessons on Sundays at MIT and her twice-weekly lessons at school, she was getting lots of time in the water and getting better and better. Here is a progress report that came home with her in February. We were very proud parents!


In addition to all the activities and time with friends, there was still plenty of time for Auric to develop his love of getting into what he shouldn't. For him, some of his favorite elicit activities are indiscriminately pressing buttons on the DVR and DVD players, turning the microwave on, and his favorite, getting at our computer. Here he is, giddy at being caught, and waiting to be scooped up and away.



This month also saw him really flexing his vocabulary muscle. Here are a couple cute videos of his new-found power of speech: "Auric's Budding Vocabulary" and "Auric's Budding Vocabulary Part 2."


In February, Thora got her first taste of live theatre. The Boston Children's Theatre put on a production of Lily's Purple Plastic Purse, a mash-up of three Kevin Henkes books that feature Lily, the mouse. This is a character that Thora knew well and we thought it was a great opportunity for her to see some kids acting on the stage. Thora loved it. She wondered what the next play we would see would be and asked if she'd be one of the kids on stage. Somehow I don't doubt that there's some acting in her future. Here she is with the girl who played Lily, who posed with audience members after the play.



February wasn't all inhospitable weather and graffiti-tagged snow mountains. In fact, one day in late February, we got a surprisingly warmish day (for February) and we all went for ice cream after running around in the park. Here is Thora and Zach enjoying a well-deserved cone.




And lastly, February marked my first attempt at giving the kids haircuts. It was quite the milestone for me and Thora, since it marked Thora's first ever real haircut. (She'd had a few snarls cut out by Grandma Jane when she was 18 months old.) I was nervous, having never cut anyone's hair that didn't require buzzing it with electrical clippers (Sean's). But they both cooperated superbly, thanks to Gene Kelly and the rest of the gang in Singin' in the Rain.

Here's Thora about to be shorn.



And here's the final result. I was actually really proud of myself, giving it a good trim while maintaining the natural layers she's had her whole life.


And here's Mullet Boy, watching Don Lockwood try to woo Kathy Seldon.



And here he is, about to be enlisted in the army. I couldn't believe how easy he made it for me. And by him, of course I mean Gene Kelly. Auric sat bug-eyed, just like during each daily screening of our family's favorite movie.