A BIT OF FALL IN CALIFORNIA

     First I must apologize for my lapse in blogging.  I am sure my readers (all three) will forgive me.   Without photos it just is not as much fun to blog.  But really there are no excuses.  Anyways.  As usual we have been spending our days quite busy with parks and playdates.  I showed up to Weddington park on Thursday and was immediately drawn to this beautiful area where the leaves had fallen neatly under a tree.  I would have turned around to go home and grab my camera but being that Luke got up at 4:30 that morning neither one of us had that kind of energy.  Instead I did what any resourceful person would do: I called my girlfriend Anastasia (who have I mentioned has a better lense) and asked her to bring her camera.  She too was quite impressed with the beautiful leaves and she even managed to get her son Spencer to play in them.  Luke took a bit of coaxing.  It was the closest thing to having a bit of fall here in California.  It would maybe even look like back east if it were not for the fact that my son is wearing shorts and its the middle of November!

I could not resist including these photos since they are an honest depiction of some of the other things that Luke and I are dealing with these days.  

Fortunately we are not the only ones going through it!!  They are learning a lot from one another.

NO LACK OF IMAGINATION

Unfortunately there has not been a great deal of photos taken this week, but there is still no shortage of wonderful adventures to talk about. Luke and I have been spending a lot of time this week at the park in Burbank near the library.  We usually tend to spend our days at some of the bigger playgrounds with more running room but due to this unseasonably warm heat wave we opted for a park that had more shade and an indoor space (the library) to escape from the heat.   The structures at this particular park are a mother's dream: safe, contained, sand on the ground, and totally FENCED in.  Well Luke has decided that it is a little too SAFE for him.  He instead prefers the hilly grass area that is a bit too close to the street for me to fully relax when he is running with wild abandon.  Yesterday the two of us went early in the morning to get a little toddler energy out before our nap.  

While playing inside the playground Luke looked at me and said "Mama you want to play football?"  I of course was not so desirous of running around in 90 degree weather but happily obliged by saying "Sure-- but we don't have a ball Luke."  Luke looked at me with a very silly grin and said "Yes we do, we have a tend (pretend) ball."  OF COURSE!!!  What was I thinking?!

So the two of us proceeded to play a round of football with our "tend" ball and then a couple of rounds of baseball with our "tend" ball and bat.  Luke really follows the imaginary ball in the air and plays the game as if we really had real objects with us.  I felt like I was back I acting school tossing the imaginary energy ball again.  The only difference was that my partner was really really committed!!  

CASTING AND TEMPERAMENTAL ACTORS

Having trained to be an actress for a good part of my life I am very used to inhabiting a role and all that it entails.   I have worked with a lot of different actors with varying temperaments and methods.  Some actors prefer to do their own preparations, some like to discuss their role a lot, some rely on the costume or dialect. Some actors like to stay in character all day and will not even answer when you call them by their real name.  Luke apparently is such an actor.  Early in the morning I am usually given  my casting assignment and if I don't follow it to the letter, BELIEVE me I am made very aware.  Yesterday it was : "You be Elliot, I be E.T."  All day long I had to refer to him as E.T.  Today it was: "You be Daddy Warbucks and I be Annie."  Others that have been included are: "You be Bodhi Mama and I be Bodhi, You be Christi and I be Iggy, and finally You be Man with Yellow Hat and I be Curious George (of course!!)."  

Frankly they are some of the best roles that I have ever played and I am honored to have been chosen for these parts.

A LAZY FRIDAY

After a busy week of classes, playdates and activities Luke and I decided that today we would spend lounging around the house playing together just the two of us.  It began early this morning ( 6.00 am thank you time change!) when Luke woke me up with a "Good morning Mama".  "  Would you like to play in my play area?" he asked.  What I wanted to say at six in the morning and what I did say were two different things, but who can resist that cute little face even if it is way too early to be surrounded with Tonka trucks.  Luke quickly grabbed his new friend, Racoon and asked if I would take a photo of him sitting on his lap.  Even at six in the morning I knew a good thing when I heard it.  I mean my two year old actually ASKED me to take a picture of him.  GLADLY.   We then used the rest of the day to just play.   Playing with a two year old is anything but relaxing.  Our day involved pretending to be skateboarders, puzzles, jumping on the bed, singing "Step-in-Time, and pretending to fish. Oh and a new skateboard shirt and pants complete with pockets that arrived in the mail.  As you can see Luke was hard at work jackhammering as well.  Lazy day felt anything but lazy but it did feel like one of those days when motherhood is just pure FUN.  It even ended with Luke eating dinner and all of his brussel sprouts.  How can anyone complain about that!

BOYS AND THEIR CARS!!

Within seconds of pulling out these cars boys from all around the park swarmed around Luke.   He quite enjoyed all of the attention and very meticulously put his cars on display by gently and carefully lining them all up.   These beautiful photos were sent to me by Anastasia who was able to capture the moment with her brand new lense (hint to my husband for future anniversary gifts).   Luke has had these cars FOREVER but has never taken quite as much interest as when Spencer and the other boys seemed to enjoy them.  What is it about our things that makes them more valuable when someone else likes them?  

BFF

Luke and Spencer have created a fast friendship filled with the things boys like to do, chase, tackle, giggle, hit, tumble, and just run wild through the park together.   When we are not keeping them from shoving each other (affectionately) or have spitting contests (another one I am not fond of) they are laughing and playing together.  I must say it is fun to watch Luke develop his first really close guy friend.  I can't wait to watch it continue to grow.  

 

PLUM TUCKERED OUT

 Sometimes when you have been running around the park for an hour or so and you have dug your last hole in the sand you need to take a break.  Nothing says snack like a ripe, juicy, organic plum!!  Makes you want one doesn't it?!

DON'T MISS THE TRAIN

These may be the best photos on my blog ever.  They were taken by Jennie, a friend of Anastasia and mother to Elliot (also in the photos).  She is an animator and clearly has an AMAZING eye.  They were taken last friday at Travel Town just after an unexpected afternoon rainstorm that in true California style lasted all of five minutes.  They were five glorious minutes though; the sound, the smell and the fact that it made three very curious and active boys stand STILL!  Thank you Jennie for capturing these moments and especially the moment of me comforting Luke after a fall.  Unlike the rain we have moments like that every day but allowing me to see it myself just confirms the extraordinary moments of motherhood that are found in the everyday.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

 

LOOKING FOR A TREASURE

    What did you do with your Monday?  As you can see Luke and his friend Spencer were hard at work.  

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (CURIOUS GEORGE)

 Luke and Daddy went to the park this afternoon giving Mommy a little much needed me time.  It rained all day yesterday so the park was quite wet which of course did not stop Luke from running until he was just exhausted.  I just felt the colors and photos were just too pretty not to post.