Days 1-3

Little man has landed! Welcome Shepard Elliot Thomas.

The pic. The video. That's Nanny talking on the side--she was here to welcome Shepard too!

Two dance modes: karate-inspired, Dora butterfly

Chronicled here: Olivia in two different dance modes. I like that her styles reflect the mood, the moment, and even the weather. Maybe also her outfits. Possibly the humidity and its effect on her hairdo.

Olivia tracks the Easter Bunny

This is the first Easter where Olivia must come down a set of stairs to discover what the EB has gotten up to. The architectural addition makes for great suspense in the beginning of this video. Also: the joy of so much candy in one place.

In my neighborhood growing up, the EB just brought a basket with candy--no presents. Preston said that where he grew up, the local EB affiliate did stuff differently. Hence the wrapped package, to which Olivia jumps swiftly once she gets up her momentum with unloading the basket.

Now we've got a cabinetful of lollipops. And for some reason, in spite of her initial reaction, she doesn't eat the chocolate bunnies. Ignores them much as she ignores the live bunnies when they're in their winter quarters (the basement).

Too bad. We'll have to find a home, somehow, for those chocolate ones.

Bella's Birthday Celebration

Three days ago Olivia announced that it was Bella's birthday. We heard her singing to her pal in the other room. I decided to bring it to the next level by offering to make the cake for the event (and you will understand right away that I was primarily motivated by the prospect of eating homemade chocolate cake).

So we did. Olivia chose pink and purple as the frosting colors. The video, though, is classic for Olivia's impromptu addendum to "The Birthday Song," (did I mention that her school is religious?), as well as Bella's response to our regaling her.

Happy Birthday, Bella!

Valentine's Day, as explained by you-know-who

I'm sorry. I should not have kept this offline for over two weeks. It's a really good one. My favorite aspect is the intensity with which she eats the cupcake, of course. But the family loving sentiments are also pretty cool.

A lazy Saturday morning (with lions)

Olivia is 3 and 1/3 years old. She imagines invisible lions. Last night it was a lion that woke her up and drove her into our bedroom. Here she suggests warding off lions with a knife, even though, as she says, they only eat beets.

Normally on Saturdays we get up and go to music class. Olivia slept in very late this morning, so the second video portrays the creative/musical self that needed to rely on improvisation rather than structured lesson time today.