A Baby in Salem

Dan Zanes in concert

2012-02-11T22:45:00.004-05:00

Last Sunday, we took the kids to their first real concert. We went to see Dan Zanes at the Somerville Theatre (on the list of 1000 Places). Dan Zanes is a kid/family musician whose music doesn't make us want to plug our ears, so we were all very excited to go. We actually listen to Dan Zanes almost every day in our house, and we owned our first album of his prior to having kids.

His music ranges from folk to bluegrass to latin, and watching him is like seeing a Steve Martin SNL skit.

Avonlea Jane was patient for the show to start. This was actually the only time we spent with her at the concert, because by the second number, she had joined the giant mosh pit of 3 to 6 year olds in front of the stage.

Will spent most of the concert waving, clapping, and dancing in David's lap.

This video doesn't have the best sound quality, but it gives a good impression of how wild the kids (and some parents) were.

What Dan Zanes actually sounds like:

"Excuse me, Mr. Dan Zanes, would you please sign my t-shirt with you on it?"

Happy Chinese New Year

2012-02-11T22:30:00.003-05:00

We celebrated the Chinese New Year by heading to the Peabody-Essex Museum for their day of programs.

Watching a dance troupe perform

Coloring a Chinese Door God

Learning how to use one of the dancer's props

Avonlea Jane made a dancing dragon.

Trying on a dragon hat

Relaxing in their PJs with Baby Jack at Megan and Geoff's that evening

Friday in Gloucester

2012-02-11T13:52:00.000-05:00

One of our New Year's resolutions was to go to at least two places a month on the list of 1000 Places to See in Massachusetts. With our schedules in January and David being in Portland for so long, we kind of cheated last month by visiting places we had already been.

For February, we wanted to make sure we were going to new places, so I decided to take the kids to the Cape Ann Museum last Friday before art class. Unfortunately, once we arrived, there was a sign posted that said the museum was regularly closed during the month of February. This was information that would have been helpful to find at the top of their webpage.

Avonlea Jane was really excited to go, so we'll have to return when they re-open in March. Fortunately, just across the street is the Gloucester City Hall, which is also on the list.

As we had a few free hours to then occupy before art class, we walked to the Gloucester library to read some books about winter.

Sitting at the just-their-size kids' table

The first thing Avonlea Jane did in art class was to make a spiral page on the pottery wheel.

I pack a travel high chair, and Will always enjoys drawing with his magic paint or AquaDoodle books.

Making a stamped poster

Outside of the Cape Ann Art Haven

Holding up her miniature gravy boat she was able to pick up this week after it was fired.

Phoenix School

2012-01-27T23:53:00.003-05:00

The Phoenix School in Salem has been doing a program once a month where their older students put on around the world workshops for 3 to 5 year olds. Last month, Avonlea Jane explored the Arctic, and this month, she went on a safari. The first thing she made was zebra camouflage.

Modeling her elephant ears

Bush baby eyes

Someone loves pasta!

12 Days of Christmas

2012-01-27T21:44:00.007-05:00

After we got home, Avonlea Jane said she was done with ponytails and wanted short hair.

Not too short but much shorter

Time for Will's first haircut!

He wasn't thrilled with it.

After our trip to the kiddie salon, we went on a surprise visit to the Wenham Museum.

Every Friday, Avonlea Jane goes to an art studio in Gloucester. She's working on a collage.

Will loves to paint with a brush and water.

On Twelfth Night, we bundled up and headed to Dead Horse Beach for Salem's Christmas tree bonfire.

Coming home

2012-01-07T02:14:00.003-05:00

Will enjoying looking at the big kids in a McDonald's play area during our drive home from Indiana.

Messy eclair face after stopping off at the Blue Colony Diner in Connecticut, famous for their baked goods

Our princess at home

Indianapolis Children's Museum

2012-01-07T01:52:00.007-05:00

We're still behind on posting, so we're catching up with the rest of December.

On Will's first birthday, we celebrated by going to the Indianapolis Children's Museum with both families.

Avonlea Jane in front of the water clock

Will in the babies' section

Avonlea Jane said the sand play area was her favorite part of the museum.

Being a baby dinosaur

Looking for tree frogs

Dancing in a disco

Uncle Dillon knows how to handle a tantrum.

Our Chinese warriors

Looking up at the Chihuly exhibit

This was Will's favorite exhibit. He loved pulling out the glass knobs.

After the museum, we went to Mawmaw's house before going out to dinner with Mawmaw, Nick, and B.b. Will joined a long line of kids who have been in the bear chair.

Visiting with family

2012-01-03T16:09:00.007-05:00

Hubbell and Jeff weren't in the Midwest very long, so we met them for lunch half way between Cincinnati, where Hubbell is originally from, and Martinsville. Avonlea Jane was so excited to see them, and we were pleased to introduce them to Will. This visit to Indiana was the first time all of our extended family got the opportunity to meet Will.

The next day, both kids got solo time with their grandparents. David spent the evening socializing with come college friends, and I took Avonlea Jane to spend the night by herself with Grandma and Grandpa. While we were gone to their house, Will spent the evening with Granny and Granpy. By the time I got back to the house, he had been fed dinner, bathed, dressed for bed, and put to sleep.

On Tuesday, we spent the evening with both sets of grandparents for dinner, game playing, and what has become a tradition of singing Christmas carols together.

Will was excited by all of the singing.

Thank goodness Granny and Granpy recently got hardwood in the family room--just in time for Christmas cookies.

Avonlea Jane is thrilled with the idea of kids' books on Mommy's new Nook.

Being matchy-matchy with Great-Grandpa

On Wednesday, we joined our dear friends, the V Family, with their four boys for dinner at McDonald's, where the kids could exhaust themselves in the play area before we went to their house to visit. Avonlea Jane and Felix, who were born two days apart, didn't eat a lot of their food, because they were too busy holding hands.

Avonlea Jane loved playing the tunnels with the bigger kids. She was enamored of our godson, Xander, and enjoyed following Katie, Jen's little sister, around.

Outside, we happy to see some new Martinsville-themed murals.

We were glad to get to meet Milo, Tom and Jen's youngest, who was born shortly after Will.

Jen took some wonderful photos of the kids, but messy-faced Avonlea Jane was reluctant to be photographed.

Milo and Will

Will was more than happy to photographed.

Avonlea Jane, Dominic, Will, Xander, Milo, and Felix

Avonlea Jane said, "I really like those boys. They're kind of like my cousins."

Christmas Day

2012-01-03T13:03:00.005-05:00

Christmas morning at Granny and Granpy's

Playing with a ball from his stocking at Grandma and Grandpa's

Checking out a suitcase full of dress-up wear

A palm tree: Daddy modeling Avonlea Jane's new tutu

Personalized scrubs for Dr. R

Someone's needed for a consult.

Our sick girl was tired and fell asleep during dinner.

Making faces with Great-Grandpa

We got Chinese fire lantern for Avonlea Jane's birthday but waited to light them until Christmas.

They reached a pretty impressive height before floating out of our range of sight. We couldn't imagine what other people outside must have thought they were.

Christmas Eve in Indiana

2012-01-03T12:30:00.006-05:00

Our drive from Salem to Massachusetts was uneventful, other than the number of stops we had to make. We had eight stops on Day 1 due to the frequent cry of "Mommy, I have to go potty!" When we finally got to the hotel, the kids were pooped.

We got into Martinsville on the evening of December 23, and David and I spent the next morning and afternoon wrapping all of our presents while the kids spent time with Granny and Granpy painting and playing at the playground.

Once everything was wrapped, we headed to Mawmaw's house for Christmas Eve.

Will spending time with family friend Brenda

Opening presents

Avonlea Jane shows Will his new piggy bank.

Helping Uncle Dillon open a package

Checking out Uncle Nick's presents

After we had dinner and opened all of our presents, the kids got into their matching Christmas pajamas and we took turns reading The Night Before Christmas, our last Advent activity for the year.

Cousin B.b. takes a turn

Shortly after reading the story, Avonlea Jane wasn't feeling well and asked to go to sleep. Will, however, was wide awake the rest of the night.

Enjoying time with Mawmaw while the family plays games

Countdown to Christmas

2011-12-21T12:22:00.004-05:00

Our Christmas countdown has continued with activities like make wassail and go wassailing, make candied tangerine peel, make gingerbread, watch The Miracle on 34th Street, Christmas crafting, go look at Christmas lights, watch A Charlie Brown Christmas, and read the last chapter of A Christmas Carol.

Avonlea Jane was excited to go to a Christmas concert. Unfortunately, we only stayed half a song, because Will grew restless. David was in Portland, and this was definitely a two-parent activity.

I generally try to shower while David is home or while Will is in the bathroom with me. David was out of town, so I told Avonlea Jane to entertain him in her room for ten minutes. She said she decided to throw him a party. She put a lot of effort into decorating.

Cuddle bugs

Dressed up for our game group's holiday party

She wore her party dress again to go see The Nutcracker with Daddy on Sunday.

"We're both St. Nicholas!"

Christmas fun

2011-12-10T15:01:00.006-05:00

Our weekend's Advent activities started with me spending the day with Carolyn on Historic Salem's annual Christmas in Salem holiday home tour. We toured thirteen historic buildings in Salem and had a wonderful time. The highlights were seeing two privately owned Picassos (one in a bathroom) and a privately owned Rembrandt, hung over a wall-mounted telephone. While we were out and about, Avonlea Jane and David made a pumpkin pie.

On Sunday, the kids and I went to Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie for their holiday open house. They are America's oldest candy company and were once located in our house.

Avonlea Jane loved trying some of their treats and watching them make candy canes in their kitchen. She also enjoyed drinking hot chocolate on the way home.

We don't have photos of all of our Advent fun, but on Monday, we learned about St. Nicholas. We read a few St. Nicholas stories, Avonlea Jane played a St. Nicholas matching game, and colored some pictures of him. She also wrote a letter to St. Nicholas and the Holy Child. Then, we put our some carrots for his donkey and set out the kids' shoes to be filled. Tuesday was St. Nicholas Day, and the kids woke up to find goodies in their shoes.

On Wednesday, we did some Christmas crafting. We invited some of her play group friends to join us. She worked on painting some Christmas gifts, while her friends painted some wooden snakes we bought. Once the paint was dry, she was excited to show off her new bunk bed.

Will and Genevieve looking for stray pieces of popcorn

The kids' favorite game lately has been slumber party. Every week they all make a bed and hop in. Generally, they try/succeed in taking their clothes off so they can put on pretend pajamas. As they were in Avonlea Jane's room, she actually handed out real pajamas to wear. Henri got assigned her pink pajamas.

On Thursday, our Advent activity was going out to buy the Christmas gifts we planned on donating this year.

On, Friday, it was time to visit Santa Claus before going home to watch The Polar Express.

She told Santa she wanted snowflakes and Christmas toys. She also said not to forget Willie, because he was too little to ask for Christmas toys, and he can't talk yet.

Snuggled up in matching PJs to watch The Polar Express

Santa arrives

2011-12-10T14:30:00.006-05:00

Ready to go to art class

Avonlea Jane enjoyed Gloucester's special Christmas tree. "Where are all the lobsters they trapped? Can we eat them all for dinner?"

Some of the green paint from her block wound up on her mouth. In front of her are a coil pot and a snail she made a few weeks ago.

We left Gloucester to head straight to Salem Common. Our Advent activity of the day was to see Santa arrive. When we got there, she met up with several of her friends. Hayden, Henri, Justin, and Violet are dancing while Avonlea Jane wants Violet's dad, Brian to pick her up.

The fire truck arrives to pick Santa up from the roof of the Hawthorne Hotel.

Justin and Violet have great seats.

Baby Jack and Geoff look for Santa.

Santa was running late and Avonlea Jane was a little worried.

Taking a seat by Avery

Finally

After dinner, we did the next part of our Advent activity, putting up our felt tree. Will's a bit too inquisitive to have a tree up this year, so we made one out of felt that the kids can play with. We didn't have time to decorate the felt ornaments, but Avonlea Jane has enjoyed moving them around.

The beginning of Advent

2011-12-10T14:10:00.003-05:00

Our friend Nina gave Avonlea Jane a beautiful fabric Advent calendar for her birthday, and we filled each pocket with a Christmas activity.

On December 1, our activity was to make paper snowflakes and talk about the Christmas story.

Cutting out snowflakes with Daddy

She hung all of her snowflakes in her bedroom windows as decorations.

For bedtime, we read Jane Ray's The Nativity, which came with a paper doll nativity set. Last year, Avonlea Jane knew that Christmas was the birthday of baby Jesus and Jesus was the son of God and Mary. This year, we tried to explain the whole story, though we're a long ways off from her comprehending the trinity.

The Christmas story is something we're so familiar with that we'd never thought about how difficult it would be to understand as a child. Avonlea Jane was full of questions. Why didn't anyone give up their rooms? What about the innkeeper's room? Did Jesus have diapers in the barn? Why would King Herod want to kill a baby? How can a baby be a king? Will those other kings try to kill the baby? Jesus has two daddies? Why didn't God hold the baby and play with him? So God wasn't a very good daddy? Do angels have bones?

She finally got all of the major elements down, but it made us realize that explaining Easter may need to wait a while.

Thanksgiving

2011-12-10T13:58:00.003-05:00

After our trip to Plymouth, Avonlea Jane was excited about Thanksgiving. She helped to prepare by coloring leaves to put on the table as decorations, collecting rocks on the beach to turn into miniature Plymouth Rocks, and making thankful lists. For each person who was coming, we made thankful lists about them and hung them up so everyone could write on them. Some of Avonlea Jane's reasons were very sweet: "You made my favorite teddy bear." "You take to me to the playground." "You gave me my friend Baby Grace." Some were quite funny: "I'm thankful you have hair and arms." "Every time I see you, I want a cookie."

Messy faced kids holding hands

Playing Go Fish with Joe after dinner

The adults playing cards

Watching Monsters Inc. on TV

Birthday in Plymouth

2011-12-02T22:40:00.008-05:00

We spent my sunny birthday in Plymouth enjoying their Thanksgiving parade.

Though we have to work to balance on the steep hill, we love watching the parade across from Plymouth Rock and the harbor.

Avonlea Jane's favorite part of the parade was a giant squirrel.

Can you find us? Someone had to go potty.

Dillon & Company wasn't as fun to visit without Uncle Dillon.

Having a snack on the way to the car

We spent all of our time at the Plantation at the Wampanoag settlement. Like all of her other visits, Avonlea Jane was the only one asking questions. Some of her questions were really good: "Why are these houses shaped like igloos?" "Why do you have summer houses and winter houses?"

The next day, we celebrated at Baby Jack's birthday party. He is exactly two years younger than Avonlea Jane.

Avonlea Jane and Christine dressed up for Jack's Union Jack party.

Hanging out at Jack's crib

Will and Avonlea Jane both wore homemade Union Jack shirts David and I made the night before.

Liv and the only ginger who might rival the dashing David

Creepy Prince Charles

David Beckham and Will Shakespeare

Avonlea Jane decided to help the boys pose.

They weren't thrilled.

Birthday week

2011-12-02T21:27:00.004-05:00

Enjoying a balmy November day outside

Passed out on the way home

We let Avonlea Jane keep her party balloons in her room through her birthday. Both kids were thrilled.

Bath time

On Avonlea Jane's birthday, we spent the early afternoon at the Wenham Museum. Their main exhibits are model trains and dolls, but Avonlea Jane really enjoyed playing house in their Puritan children exhibit.

On the evening of her birthday, after dance class, we took her to do The Jumpy Thing at the mall.

With the help of the operator, she got to maximum jumping height.

Avonlea Jane's Birthday Party

2011-11-25T02:54:00.000-05:00

Avonlea Jane had been asking for a while to go to China, and we thought a nice compromise would be bringing China to her for her third birthday party.

She had been counting down the days, and on the afternoon of her party, she was so excited about celebrating with her friends while eating Chinese food and listening to Chinese music.

She wanted plenty of balloons.

We got both kids their own outfits for the party (Mom and Dad were also showing some Chinese flair), but Avonlea Jane wanted to use Mommy's Chinese outfit from when she was a little girl as well.

Other than our girl, the star of the party was the platter of sushi cupcakes.

It took a lot of restraint for Avonlea Jane to not play with all of the goodie bag supplies the week before the party.

Will is thrilled bout getting to have his first taste of cupcake.

Even the youngest crowd had a good time. There were four babies under a year in attendance (and five big kids).

Opening art supplies

Avonlea Jane had a wonderful birthday party and can't wait until we celebrate Will's half birthday in the summer.

Early November cuteness

2011-11-22T02:42:00.003-05:00

For only the second time, both children took a nap. Avonlea Jane gave up napping some time ago, and Will had only slept alone for a nap once. I thought it might be a good day to try putting him down for a nap by himself when Avonlea Jane said she would like to sleep with Will. I didn't think it would work, but they happily slept together for an hour. If only this would happen every day and not once every five months.

Avonlea Jane told us she was having a baby named Ellie, after Baby Elias next door. After a few minutes, she said the baby was ready to come out. When we told her she needed to wait nine months, she said, "Maybe I'll just pretend it's an egg and sit on it. That will be a lot easier."

Halloween

2011-11-22T02:16:00.004-05:00

Halloween in Salem this year was definitely quieter than in past years, whether due to it falling on a Monday or the weekend's snow. We were only downtown for a little bit, though before heading home to collect candy.

Eager to start trick-or-treating

We went out trick-or-treating with our neighbors Doug, Janet, Baby Elias, Karen, Kate, and Baby Grace. Avonlea Jane was thrilled to share the experience. She did most of her door knocking with her preferred partners of Karen or Doug, though.

After an hour or so of going around the neighborhood, we headed home so David could pass out pretzels and Avonlea Jane could sort and sort and re-sort her haul.

Salem closes the festivities with ten o'clock fireworks, so we let Avonlea Jane get out of bed and come snuggle up with us on the sofa in our study to watch the fireworks from the window. She was already excited for Halloween next year.

Odd October

2011-11-14T01:40:00.000-05:00

We've been super busy, so we'll be doing some catching up on the blog.

October had been getting to Will.

Our little boy is now ten months old. He is eating anything he can get into his mouth, but he's still rather small at 17 pounds (6th percentile) and 28.5 inches. He says mama, dada, , and Li (light). He also signs light quite frequently. He's decided that our sign for "more" is for the birds and instead gets the giggles when he bangs the table in a rather uncivilized plea for more food. In a happy change from wanting to be in physical contact with one of us every minute of the day, he has started requesting to be put down to play with toys. He loves to crawl over Avonlea Jane as much she'll allow as well as see/take/demolish anything she's eating or playing with.

Time to put the baby gates back up

Ready to head to dance class

Apparently, taking out my sewing machine was like opening Pandora's box. These three cuties were the result of an afternoon fabric shopping with Avonlea Jane. The skirts make bathroom trips much easier.

Avonlea Jane picked a date on the calendar for when she wanted to start going on the potty full time after some stops and starts in terms of her potty interest. She chose the Friday before Halloween, and so far she's stuck to it. There have only been a few accidents. (She can now cross "poop in the middle of the library" off of her bucket list.) She's even been dry every night except for one, and we have no expectations of night dryness for a while. She's even been great with public potties and asking to go. We have also never discussed poop more in our lives.

As it was nearly Halloween, Salem decided to dress up as January.

It was beyond odd to see snow coating green leaves on trees.

Family Day on the Common

2011-11-04T01:18:00.004-04:00

Someone's awfully happy for 2 a.m.

Papa Bear and Baby Bear

Avonlea Jane was very excited about her homemade Goldilocks costume. She wasn't the only one. My pride knew no bounds after making a garment that actually zipped and covered everything it was supposed to cover. There may have been some gratuitous victory dancing and comparing myself to Zeus birthing Athena from his brain. David was a good sport and very generous with high fives. He barely even rolled his eyes whenever I would declare, "I have made dress!" ala Tom Hanks making fire in Castaway. Until this point, I had been convinced that there was a domestic gene passed through my mother's family that somehow missed me.; now I know it was just dormant.

The apron (which she also wore last year as Dorothy) and the bloomers were made by my grandmother for a life-size Raggedy Ann doll I've had since childhood.

Enjoying Family Day on the Common

Waiting in line for her first real carnival ride

Kids' Day on the Common

2011-11-04T00:56:00.004-04:00

It is amazing how many people Will can simultaneously look like. There are times (like above), when we think he looks a lot like his Great-Grandpa Bissell.

Playing together (Here, Will looks like David as a baby.)

In mid-October, we had a great time going to Kids' Day on the Common.

Our little lady bug tried unsuccessfully to sit for a photo with Popeye (Baby Jack).

Megan, Geoff, and Jack as Wimpy, Brutus, and Popeye

David dressed up as Uncle Dillon's future self in honor of Dillon's 20th birthday.

Loving her first pony ride

Sweet potato face

Haunted Happenings

2011-10-10T14:45:00.000-04:00

The month of Halloween officially started this week with Thursday night's opening Haunted Happenings Parade. David was unfortunately in Indiana, but our little lion and mouse were excited to go.

Before the parade could start, we had a small family tragedy. Will accidentally dropped Sophie the Giraffe on the walk over. Both kids were very upset about her loss; she had been a great asset to the family.

We watched the parade with Megan, Geoff, and Jack, and Avonlea Jane spent a good portion of it sitting on Megan's feet.

Geoff and Jack

Will as featured on Salem Patch online

Avonlea Jane as featured on Salem Patch online

After the parade, we grabbed a very late dinner at Cafe Polonia, a Polish restaurant in town celebrating their one-year anniversary. The restaurant was so packed, we had to eat outside. The temperature was quite chilly, but thankfully the restaurant had blankets. One of them made its way home with us on top of my sleepy girl. (It was returned the next day.)

On Friday, Salem celebrated Mayor's Night Out with the first night of trick-or-treating downtown. Avonlea Jane decided to go as a fairy.

With her friend Henri

David got home from his business trip just in time.

On Saturday night, we took the kids to their first public movie, Monsters, Inc., which was coincidentally the first movie the two of us ever saw on a date. Every Saturday during Haunted Happenings, there will be a family-friendly "scary" movie shown on the Common.

Will gearing up for the movie to start

She loved the movie, but was a tired girl when we got back to the house.

On Sunday, the kids and I walked downtown to check out the Biz-Baz, or the Bizarre Bazaar. On the way over, we had quite the surprise. We found Sophie--three days later! Someone found her and wove her through a fence at a busy intersection. What good fortune!

With over three weeks until Halloween, Salem is already packed with tourists.

You can just make out his two bottom teeth.

Putting on a show at the pedestrian mall fountain

On the way home, we stopped by a newly re-done playground.

Enjoying a dinner of broccoli

Back home

2011-10-10T00:19:00.001-04:00

The Children's Drop & Shop consignment event was the week we got home from vacation, and our number one goal was to find a tricycle for Avonlea Jane. We found a spectacular one for an early birthday present. A bell and streamers, oh my!

Happy boy

We spent one day this week having a blast at the Topsfield Fair with Erin and Cad. Unfortunately after this chicken/chicken pic, our camera died. Avonlea Jane's favorite parts though were petting the rabbits and the go green tent.

This week was exciting because two of Will's bottom teeth appeared.