This kid got some pretty great presents this year, but clearly they don’t compare to the play telephone from 1979 and vintage Fisher Price helicopter at Grandma and Grandpa’s house 💕
It was this little guy’s third birthday today. Griffin and Maggie lavished love and attention on him all day, making it feel extra-special.
Quote from Maggie right after Oliver woke up:
Oliver, do you know how many times you’ve gone around the sun? Three times! You’re going to go around the sun many more times. Lots and lots! You’re going to keep going around the sun until you, um, until you … pass away. [Whispers to me: I think that’s nicer than saying he’s going to die.]
Happy Birthday to this bright star. I feel like this is such a great picture to capture the moment this three year old is in: independent, capable, and confident. He’s also silly and curious and loves his older brother and sister so much. What a light you are, Oliver Louis ❤️
We recently replaced the medicine cabinet in our bathroom (while cursing manufacturers of cheap fiberboard accessories that begin disintegrating after your first shower). The kids decided to hang some artwork in the wall cavity behind the new cabinet, hoping that someone will find them in “three hundred years.”
The secret cavity
Close-ups. One each by Griffin, Maggie, and Oliver.Â
The cabinet installed
Who could know that behind these mirrors lies a cache of secret art?
This year we settled early on one of our favorite shows: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Everybody had a character that they wanted to be. Sarah outdid herself, designing all five costumes (with a bit of manufacturing help). It was a very fun night.
We usually avoid places like Legoland. They’re expensive, crowded, and cater to a materialist brand-oriented ethos that we dislike. Did I mention expensive? But this year, knowing that we were going to San Diego, and we might not be back until Griffin’s too old, we considered checking it out. Grummy and Grandpa Stape jumped in, offering to give Griffin and Maggie gift certificates for their birthdays. That clinched it, and the kids were bouncing with excitement during the intervening weeks.
To our great surprise, all five of us had a great time and we stayed all day… we closed out the park! We went on a cloudy Wednesday and the park wasn’t as mobbed as usual. Lines were short, people (guests and staff) were kind and cheerful, and food options were better than expected. Oliver even took an afternoon nap in the stroller while Griffin and Maggie played at the waterpark. Lounging in a cabana while the older kids played and Oliver slept was not-at-all what I expected from a trip to Legoland. Moreover, the lego models were wicked cool.
Legoland entrance
Oliver is ready
Oliver eaten by a lion
Carousel
Daddy let’s Oliver drive (not)
Seatbelt
Solo sailor
Star destroyer
Daddy is mesmerized
Is this on Coruscant somewhere?
Glimpse of NYC
This idol stands above the wave pool. We’re in the cabana, chilling out.
During the week of June 16, we took our second trip to Camp du Nord. (Our first visit was the summer before Oliver was born.) It was a glorious way to kick off our summer. We were way up north, totally unplugged, and getting into a more natural rhythm (going to bed early, rising with the sun, getting dirty, washing in the lake, walking everywhere, etc.). We stayed in a platform cabin (“Deer”) which was perfect for us. Here’s the description from the website:
Deer Platform Cabin 6 — Enjoy one of our “off-the-grid†eco-cabins. These newer cabins are simple, yet very comfortable. A screened porch with picnic table and stainless steel table make outdoor cooking a breeze. The sleeping room includes 2 elevated long twin over queen bunk beds. Nearby water spigot, showers, biffies, and refrigeration are available. Solar lanterns and all dishware and cooking utensils are provided.
We stayed in a backpacking tent last time, and although we love tent camping, we found it challenging to manage for a full week with cooking, washing, bugs, and unpredictable weather. The cabin gave us more sheltered space without adding electricity and plumbing.
Our pictures are in the gallery below, arranged roughly in chronological order. Note that we only took pictures of a few moments during the trip. Unpictured elements that we all remember fondly included, in no particular order:
age group activities for the kids in the mornings
cooked meals with the community up at the dining hall
afternoon ice cream at the trading post
the polar bear plunge into the lake every morning
the sauna
hiking on the nearby trails
easily achieving 20,000+ steps each day by simply walking around camp (if you wanted to go beyond that, the hiking trails extend pretty much infinitely)
