Picasso Strikes Again

The Boone Children's Gallery, located at LACMA West, is housed in a large concrete space divided into sections where children may color, build with wooden blocks, stack orange cones, play with giant foam blocks, paint on easels or make collages. Spencer gravitated immediately to the foam blocks before making a beeline to the easels. He loves to paint almost as much as I love watching him make big swathes of color across a page. He must have inherited some of my fastidiousness however because he wanted a separate paintbrush for each color of paint. Not only that, when any paint dripped onto his hands, he wanted to wash them right away. When he was finished painting, we moved on to making collages with magazine clippings and stickers. His favorite part was squeezing the glue onto the paper. A complete retrospective of Spencer's artwork is on display at the renowned Culver City gallery, Pogo Refrigerator.

Snackorama

Today's Emerson outing to Rancho Park continued the Olympics theme begun last week. Spencer rode his "horse" for a couple of minutes before racing off to the playground to see his friends. He told Sophia, "You're my friend." She answered back, "We're friends, Spencer." Then they sealed it with a hug and a kiss. He's in a rather affectionate phase these days.

Later he shared snacks with Sophia. By snacks, I mean a pint of blueberries, a cereal bar, some crackers and a peanut butter sandwich. All this after devouring a breakfast of blueberry pancakes and eggs only two hours before. Our friends must think we never feed Spencer because as soon as he sees someone eating a snack, he's instantly hungry. It's become a running joke. He's going to eat us out of house and home by the time he's a teenager. Despite his almost constant consumption, he maintains relatively slim figure apart from his adorable toddler potbelly. Sometimes I see him pulling his pants lower to accommodate his stomach. It's funny to imagine Spencer doing the same thing as a middle-aged man.

Even Rock Stars Need to Nap

You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes... Spencer does his best Elvis impersonation on the ukulele.

Slumber party time! Spencer and Jonah take a breather before band practice.

Spencer, Jonah and Snake have a jam session. A glimpse of our future perhaps...

Pixar Magic

Even though Spencer is only 2 1/2 years old, when the opportunity came to take Spencer to his first movie, better yet his first movie in an actual movie theater, we couldn't say no. Emerson had reserved seats to a morning performance of Wall-E at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. So far the only media he's been exposed to has been Seasame Street and back-to-back episodes of Word World, a great children's show for those of you who are interested. We weren't sure how he would do in a darkened room with a big screen and an audience around him. To prepare him we read Curious George Goes to a Movie emphasizing the part about staying in your seat, not running up to the projection booth like George.

The El Capitan is very close to Mike's work so he was able to join us for this outing. We arrived at the theater early so we walked over to Grauman's Chinese Theatre . Spencer was more interested in throwing pennies in the fountain than looking at the celebrity handprints and footprints so we headed back to El Capitan. Once inside, we listened to a gentleman play Disney tunes on a gold-painted Wurtlitzer that descended into the floor when it was time for the show to start. The previews confused Spencer a little bit but he seemed enthralled by the dancers in the stage show that followed despite the fact that he doesn't know any Disney characters. Twenty minutes later, an eternity in the life of a toddler, it was finally time for the movie to begin. Wall-E lives up to the hype, at least for older children and adults. The story was a bit over Spencer's head even though Mike and I tried to quietly narrate what was happening. The lack of dialogue in the first part of the movie didn't help matters.

Towards the end of the movie, Mike took Spencer for a diaper change in the bathrooms downstairs. Suddenly, the theatre began to rumble. I presumed, at first, that it was the metro running underneath us. When the shaking continued, I knew it was an earthquake. Over half the audience left the theatre but I stayed put, thinking the building was constructed solidly enough not to crumble on top of us. Luckily for all of us, the theatre stayed intact. The experience left me feeling a bit disconcerted and thinking that I really need to complete our earthquake kit, not that it would have made a difference in the current circumstance since I was miles from home. I felt better when Mike and Spencer were safely back in their seats. Spencer did indeed stay in his seat, as he pointed out to me several times, making it all the way to the end of the movie but conking out in the car on the way home. A memorable morning in more ways than one!

Let Them Eat Cake

Spencer opened his first restaurant today, a restaurant specializing in birthday cakes - birthday cakes as the main entree, birthday cakes for dessert, birthday cakes all the time. He would prepare each slice using the spinning wheel on the playground equipment to light the candles. Then he would sing "Happy Birthday" and blow out the candles. The bill when requested was always $20 no matter whether you were having a slice or a whole cake. At this rate, he'll be able to put himself through college no problem. Who knew he was such the enterpreneur?

Superheroes

This afternoon found us back at Lindberg Park for a play date with Arianna and Zach. The boys pretended to be superheroes, flying through the air back and forth on their swings. When it was time to go, they sweetly hugged and kissed each other and vowed to fly another day.

Lindberg Park

Spencer had so much fun today at Lindberg Park. He started off with the sand tubes, his old stand by, before moving on to play conductor on the locomotive train. He even ventured up the netting after watching an older boy demonstrate, making it up to the platform for the first time ever. "I did it," he exclaimed. You sure did.

Who's on Third?

Spencer enjoys playing teeball in our backyard so much that I decided to take him to a real baseball field, this one in Playa Vista. After hitting a few balls off the tee, I showed him how to run around the bases. He may not understand the game yet but he definitely enjoyed jumping up and down on third base. Maybe we'll have to take him to a Dodger game this summer. Go Blue!

1234

The singer Feist recently appeared on Sesame Street with an updated version of her break out song, 1234. Never has counting to four been so fun and catchy. Spencer and I could watch this video all day long. Check it out for yourself by clicking on this link - Feist on Sesame Street

Roxbury Park

Today we went to Roxbury Park in Beverly Hills with the Emerson group. With the Opening Ceremonies coming up, today's theme was the Olympics. The children colored paper with Olympic rings while the parents made torches out of paper plates, toilet roll tubes and colored tissue paper. Spencer held his for all of one minute before handing it over to me. He was more interested in the mini merry-go-round that awaited on the playground, waiting patiently for his turn to spin around and around.

Reading to Himself

When Mommy is not available to read, like when she's making lunch, Spencer sometimes takes matters into his own hands. Today he "read" to himself Lissy's Friends, a book we had checked out from the library only the day before. His capacity to memorize amazes me.

Little Kitty

One of our neighbors loves cats. I know this because every time I walk by the place, a half dozen or more cats are lounging on their steps and front lawn. The cats like to wander the neighborhood. We've discovered cat hair on our welcome mat and paw prints on our car on more than one occasion. One evening one of the cats, a sleek black one with green eyes, was slinking through our backyard. Mike decided to set out a bowl of milk. Not just any milk mind you, oh no, organic 2% milk. In his defense, it's the only milk we have in the house because it's what Spencer drinks.

I was surprised that Mike would be encouraging these feline visits considering that he's highly allergic to cats. Spencer however was fascinated. The cat didn't approach the bowl. In fact, he high-tailed it out of our yard being a skittish fellow but lo and behold, the next night he was back. Again Mike set out a bowl. This time the kitty lapped it up. In the morning the bowl was licked clean.

Ever since that event last week, Spencer has been pretending to be a little kitty. He lays his blanket across my lap or the floor and pretends to lap up a bowl of milk. "I'm a thirsty kitty," he informs me. "You're the mama kitty and Daddy is the Daddy kitty," Spencer says. Later he lets me know that he's a tired kitty. Meow! Time for bed.

Bear Foot

Spencer said to me this morning as he was retrieving the paper, "I'm a bear because I walk barefoot." He's a poet and doesn't know it. Consider me charmed.

Malibu

Malibu, home to surfers, celebrities and beautiful beaches as well as fires, mudslides and paparazzi. An hour drive up the Pacific Coast Highway to the tune of, "Are we there yet?" from the back seat brought us to Charmlee Wilderness Park where a volunteer docent guided us along a rocky, sandy trail. Spencer couldn't quite keep up with the group so I ended up carrying him (30 pounds, whoo!) most of the way. We broke off from the group early and looped back to the parking lot. I stopped at El Matador Beach but quickly realized that there was no way we were making it down the steep hill, especially after just completing a strenuous hike. This stop made quite an impression on Spencer because when asked to describe his day to Daddy during dinner, our brief stop at El Matador (Spencer never even got out of the car) was the first thing he mentioned.

We headed back down the PCH and ended up at Zuma Beach, a beautiful expanse of sand and waves. I changed Spencer into his swim trunks, rolled up my shorts and off we went to put our feet in the ocean. The water was cold at first but gradually we adjusted. Spencer loved the feeling of the water swirling around his knees as waves rushed in and out. He didn't even seem to mind the seaweed that tenaciously curled around his ankles with each crashing wave. I tried to entice him into building sand castles but he just wanted to stay where he was, letting his feet sink into the sand and laughing at the sensation of the salt water.

Spencer kept trying to stand on his own but I insisted on holding his hand, worried that the current would pull him under, a worry only reinforced by watching a lifeguard rescue a 10-year-old boy who had wandered out too far. The boy's mother was waiting on the shore when the lifeguard brought him in. I felt for her as I glanced down at my own little boy. A couple of times Spencer fell down on his butt so that the water reached his chin. He sputtered, "Yuck. I don't like that." Nothing like learning the lesson for yourself.

A Three Hour Tour

Today we explored The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach with our Emerson school mates. We entered as a group but Spencer immediately wanted to venture on his own, pausing briefly to admire the colorful fish in the tanks. His fascination was quickly diverted by a handle resembling a water pump designed to create a stamp in the passport booklets of school groups. Spencer moved the handle up and down oblivious to the sea life around him. He did eventually move on, trying out the touch tank filled with sea anemones and starfish. Gingerly he inserted two fingers as instructed but the frigid water made him recoil. We watched the shark tanks being cleaned by two divers and listened to a marine storytime. Then it was time for a snack which Spencer ate outside the cage of a cockatoo named Lola. After snack, we wandered over to see the multi-colored lorikeets in their rain forest environment. Spencer loved watching the mist cascade from the top of the enclosure. Finally, we observed the staff feed fish the sea lions and seals before heading home.

Aidan's Place

It was back to our regularly scheduled programming today courtesy of Emerson summer school at Aidan's Place, a wheelchair accessible park designed so children of all abilities may play together. The teachers brought spray bottles filled with water for the kids to make sand castles in the large, shaded sand pit. The spray bottles were an instant hit. The children began spritzing to their hearts content. Another popular item was the automatic bubble wand that created hundreds of bubbles with the push of a button. Who has time to blow bubbles these days?

When Spencer lost interest in the sand activities, he wandered off to explore the playground, climbing atop these boxes and joining a little girl to play restaurant in another play structure. The highlight though might have been the construction vehicle station. Not only could you pretend to drive but by pushing a button similar to that at a cross walk, you could release a misting cascade of water from the top of a tall poll, a refreshing and novel activity for a hot morning at the park.

Cocooning

Ever since I heard the news about Bretta, I've been emotionally cocooning, going through the motions of taking care of Spencer, cleaning the house, etc. It seems as if life should stop when someone we love dies but somehow the sun keeps rising each morning, the hours tick by and then night comes again. Thank you to all who expressed their sympathy both publicly and privately.

Focusing on Spencer, who is blissfully unaware of recent events, has been a healing force for me. He has such a profound capacity to live in the moment. He doesn't dwell on the past or think too far into the future. The present moment consumes his attention, for better or worse. It also means that he doesn't have much patience for waiting when I'm making his sandwich nor does he have empathy for my feelings. Toddlers are known for their self absorbtion. Spencer is no exception.

His imagination develops more and more each day. Today he wanted to build a tent using a blanket and two chairs. His animals were thirsty so we gave them some water to drink. Then it was time to read stories inside the tent. Storytime could have continued indefinitely except for the fact that it was bloody hot under our tent. Time to leave my cocoon.

For the love of Bretta

My dear friend Bretta succumbed to her battle with cancer last night. Warm, outgoing, beautiful, confident, outspoken, vintage-wearing, artistic Bretta. Her distinctive laughter enveloped you. Swing dancing before swing dancing was cool, her platinum tresses flying, you couldn't help but be captivated. Bretta invariably attracted the best looking men. They were charmed as were we all. To know her was to love her. Bretta will be missed by so many.

Spencer is too young to remember meeting Bretta, so young and vibrant, a woman who wanted children of her own but who had not yet met her soul mate. She loved spending time with Spencer. How do you explain to a 2 1/2 year old why his Mommy keeps crying other than to say she misses her friend. That's enough of an explanation for now. "Do you feel better Mommy," Spencer asks me. Not yet, but in time I will. We love you Bretta.

Adventure City

Our destination today was Adventure City, an amusement park located in Anaheim that's geared to the preschool set. Spencer and his Emerson friends flew a toy airplane, laughed delightedly at the spinning hot air balloons (which made me slightly nauseaus) and waved from the train that circled the park perimeter. The photo above was taken while he was admiring the view from the mini Ferris Wheel.

On the way home, he conked out in the car for twenty minutes or so. He awoke as I was carrying him to his crib and never went down for a nap much to my dismay. It may mean that we have to leave these outings earlier from now on to ensure he stays awake on the ride home and falls asleep in his own bed. Toddlers need their naps. Trust me.

Kenneth Hahn Park

The first day of Emerson Summer School found us at Kenneth Hahn Park , a little known neighborhood gem, where Spencer and Sophia fed the ducks and enjoyed a picnic potluck lunch with their classmates.

Clowning Around

A visit to Daddy's office usually involves hanging out with Jim, filling up glasses of water from the water cooler and playing a little pinball. Spencer scored the red nose he sports in the photo below during a stop by a coworker's office. It suits our little clown, don't you think?

Open Houses and Mango Lassies

Some Sunday afternoons we like to visit Open Houses. We've been looking ever since we sold our house last year, hopeful that one day we'll find a place where we envision putting out the welcome mat for quite a while. The California real estate market still seems in a state of flux. Prices are dropping but not as rapidly as we would like. We're waiting patiently for the right house at the right price. Through stopping by Open Houses, we glimpse how people live their lives, discover what is essential to us (a decent sized kitchen, more than one bathroom) and determine what we can compromise on (size of the yard). Spencer's nap schedule hampers our Open House viewing a bit because he often sleeps until almost 4 pm leaving us just an hour to see properties. Today we saw a couple of places that while beautifully renovated ultimately were not for us.

All that house viewing made us hungry so we headed to Jaipur for samosas, chicken makhni and mushroom matter. As a special treat for Spencer, we ordered a mango lassi to complete the meal. He loved it but soon was bouncing off the walls, sliding off his booster seat and refusing to eat. Our days of dining out in restaurants seem to have come to an end at least for the time being. Mike took Spencer to a nearby bookstore while Nana and I stayed to finish our meal. The food was delicious and the service wonderful. Maybe next year Spencer will appreciate a fine Indian meal.

Daddy and Spencer Car Wash

Before it got too hot today, Spencer put on his water shoes and his sunscreen to do double duty at what he now calls "Daddy and Spencer's Car Wash." His favorite part, of course, is getting the cars wet with the hose. But he's also a very concientious washer and dryer. Later that night, we were talking to Grandma and Grandpa on Skype and Spencer offered, "When I come to visit you, I'll wash YOUR cars!" Easy there kid...washing cars in Wisconsin at Christmas-time is a lot different from washing them in July in sunny California!

Walk Like a Penguin

We visited friends for a 4th of July afternoon BBQ. Little did we know that they had a Spencer-size stuffed penguin. It was love at first sight. Here he is doing his "penguin walk." How he came up with this particular walk is anyone's guess.

4th of July Parade

Spencer participated in his first ever parade, an annual event organized by our neighborhood. Children on bikes, in strollers and wagons decorated in red, white and blue showed their patriotic spirit by walking through the streets of Lindberg Park. It was fun to see so many people out and about. We never realized how many children lived in our neighborhood. After the parade, we went to the block party where hot dogs, chili, potato salad, taquitos and a sno-kone machine awaited us. A Johnny Cash impersonator played guitar and made sure we walked the line. Meanwhile, children had the option of getting a temporary tattoo or tumbling in one of two bouncy houses. The bouncy houses were supposed to be divided by age but before long, the older kids were switching back and forth. Spencer, intimidated a bit by the older kids, wasn't as keen to jump as he normally is. He much preferred drinking lemonade, a special treat for him. All in all, it was a great way to celebrate Independence Day.

Stories Galore

Our morning revolved entirely around stories beginning with a return visit to the Central Library downtown. Spencer was tickled by a story called Who Do You Love about pets and the animals and people who love them. Every time I read the page where an owl says, "I love you - Hoo, Hoo. Do you love me too?" Spencer would start giggling. He loves rhyming words these days.

Our book today in music class was Circus Caps for Sale, a story about a peddler who visits the circus while balancing caps on his head. Trouble ensues when a curious elephant takes a liking to his caps. Spencer, as usual, was intently focused on the story. As we were leaving, we chanced upon a group of dancers attending an ABT (American Ballet Theatre) workshop. It brought back memories of when I was young, dreaming of becoming a ballerina with ABT. I wonder what Spencer will dream of becoming.

Zim, Zim, Zimmer

Today we tagged along with Jonah and his mama to the Zimmer Children's Museum, a place designed to inspire wonder and exploration in toddlers and young children. The first thing that captured Spencer's attention was the airplane at the entrance. Spencer and Jonah took turns playing pilot before heading downstairs. Once there, the boys were able to choose from a large water table with moveable obstacles, an ambulance, a child-sized restaurant, a foam-cushioned room for bouncing and a two-story-high wall pinball machine with giant pucks to name a few activities. Spencer was fascinated by the nature area which featured a wooden deck and birdhouses. He discovered that when he stomped on buttons on the floor, a glass-covered container beneath the deck containing fake bugs would illuminate and spin around.

My favorite moment of the day came when Jonah and Spencer headed back upstairs to the dress-up area. They each donned a superhero cape and stepped onto the stage. Little did we know that a camera trained on the stage area allowed the children to see themselves in their costumes. Their faces lit up with delighted grins as they watched themselves on the t.v. screens above. Jonah especially seemed to enjoy being in the limelight. Who knows - maybe the boys will perform again on stage one day and we'll be able to say it all began at the Zimmer...

Akasha

Today we dined with our friend Lisa who was visiting from Connecticut at Akasha, a newcomer to the Culver City restaurant scene, that offers organic cuisine from local, sustainable farms. The food, while excellent, was overshadowed by the less-than-stellar service. We arrived at a quarter past noon to avoid the Sony lunch crowd and were immediately seated. The waiter proceeded to take our drink menu but not our food order. By the time he returned with our drinks, the restaurant was packed, meaning our food became lost in the shuffle, not ideal when dining with a toddler, especially one rapidly approaching nap time. Our appetizer arrived with the main course. The food was worth the wait but at that point we had to eat rapidly to avoid a toddler meltdown. It's a shame the service staff doesn't realize that it would be better for them to serve the families quickly and clear the way for their bread-and-butter business clientele. In fact, I would love to see more restaurants cater to families in general but I know that's wishful thinking.