a slight change in course...

By inspiration of my good friend's blog (Nicole K-Weber), I've decided that this blog would better serve as one concerning our entire family.  So from here on out, it will.  We'll start with Joel...

Joel's schedule has been packed like canned tuna with teaching, painting, working at the gallery, and sundry other side projects.  He hangs a new show at the end of this month, and will be feverishly working in the studio the meanwhile.  As always, we're excited to see what clever and quirky subjects he produces :)

I've just started summer school, which for me equals chemistry and college composition.  Dare I say that I'm enjoying both so far.  The chemistry satisfies some urge in me to quantify and problem-solve, and the composition course has a really interesting theme-- the southern identity.  Here's hoping the english class will teach me to be less verbose :)

Olie's been a snuggle bug lately.  This morning, on the way to school, I was riding in the back seat with him and Joel and I were talking about something, while Olie badly wanted my attention and was saying, "Mommy, mommy, mommy..."  Finally, he said, "Mommy, loot-a-me!" and manually turned my face to look at his.  Joel and I couldn't help but giggle at the charm in his gesture, but didn't want to encourage the practice of interrupting others while speaking, so Joel encouraged the alternative phrase, "Excuse me, mommy."  He bashfully repeated after Joel, and then, for whatever reason, wrapped his arm around my neck and pulled me in for the sweetest of kisses.  Charmed the pants off of me for the rest of the day...

Hope this finds everyone well...

Jeni

Additions to the Oliver Lexicon

I suspect this will be a long-time-running list!  Here's a few more for today, anyway.

• meertrycka = motorcycle
• poly-poly = roly-poly
• doh away = (unfortunately) go away
• dowa = also means "go away;" often used just after being reprimanded for saying "doh away" to see if the former counts just the same as the latter

Olie's been getting more and more into pretending.  Most of the time he pretends to be a "titty-tat," but lately he's been "Baby Havana," a 3-month-old recent addition to his home daycare named Savannah.  Linda (Olie's caretaker) says he's just fascinated by her and another infant, Baby Finn, and that his whole demeanor will change around them.  Instead of his usual, whole-hearted, whole-bodied, rough and tumble self, he'll get real calm and gentle, even nurturing--  so adorable!  

pantanks: an oliver lexicon

Like all toddlers, Olie has his own language that bears an increasing resemblance to English, but still requires careful interpretation from time to time.  A few of my favorite adaptations of his are:

• pantanks = pancakes
• olivia twuck = delivery truck
• too bus = school bus
• tweentoh, tweentoh = twinkle, twinkle little star
• dat dood, mommy? = is that good, mommy?
  

Additions to this list are encouraged!

And speaking of pantanks, Olie and I have a weekly tradition of making them on Saturday mornings.  This morning we made one of our favorite recipes that combines Olie's two loves:  oatmeal and pancakes.  It's such a good recipe that it's worth sharing--

"Hearty Oatmeal Pancakes"

from Simply in Season: a World Community Cookbook

2 c. rolled oats

2 c. buttermilk or plain yogurt

The night before using, mix together in a large bowl.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

2 eggs (lightly beaten)

1/4 c. oil

In the morning, stir into oat mixture.

1/2 c. flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix together in a small bowl.  Then add to batter and mix briefly.  Fry in a greased, cast-iron skillet on medium heat.

Our family loves eating them with cultured butter and honey, and it's about the only meal Olie will stuff himself silly on.  As a parent, there's really nothing so satisfying as watching your child eat well.

Cheers!

Jeni

Gettin' 'er up and runnin'...

Welcome! This blogspot is an effort to funnel and
organize all things Olie; pictures, stories, scanned
artwork, what have you. With as busy as our family
is and as fast as our boy changes, this is my feeble
attempt to savor this precious time, and to share it
with all you aunts, uncles, cousins, papas, nanas, and
friends who need an olie-fix from time to time.