The Big Wheel

Grandma and Grandpa bought Olivia this awesome Big Wheel. The first video shows Session Two of assembly, which followed an initial solo attempt by Grandpa, a trip to the hardware store, intensive consultation from both Preston and Olivia . . . but which ultimately culminated in a ride-able plastic vehicle. Which you will see in all of its thrilling glory in the second video.

Magical. I should add that Olivia ALWAYS wants to go faster. I promise not to record the inevitable collision. Preston thought I moved far too slowly (not at all, in fact), when Olivia steered into the bushes today and did something akin to a stunt from The Dukes of Hazard. If my girl wants to be a stunt double in a popular, thinly-narrated television series though, who am I to stand in her way?

Backyard pool, Hockessin, Delaware

Yesterday was our first full day in Hockessin. Luckily, Grandma was there to help us navigate it. When she went to the dentist, Olivia and I hit the pool. It was a huge hit.

Train station, headed to Fairyland

Before leaving San Francisco, Marion, Noëma, Preston, Olivia and I headed over to Fairyland. (Preston had sold the car, so we took BART.)

Not the MOST riveting, but a cute interaction between Olivia and the girl she calls Sister. (Vous nous manquez, Noëma et Marion!)

Varsity Muddling

If you haven't heard about the sport known as "muddling," you soon will. (Post-game videos below.)

Olivia is a varsity muddler. What I appreciate most about her particular skill set, however, is that she is not one of those one-track-mind superathletes, but instead a kind of "scholar-athlete," or "renaissance player." What I mean by this is that she is able to simultaneously pursue her sport while also recognizing the art and opportunity all around her. And that's no JV skill, my friends. That's varsity.

So when first a dog, and then a a vagabond imp-man made their way onto Olivia's muddling terrains the other day, she was 100% non-plussed. Observe the skill, alongside the delight. I, for one, think it's really amazing to see this level of play at so young an age.

Shells

Nanny and Grampy have, according to Preston, surged ahead in the grandparent popularity race. (I'm not touching that one.) They sent a box of shells they had collected at the beach in Florida, complete with postcards showing those beaches and a little bunny purse in which O could put her favorite shells. Pretty spectacular.

One of the best parts of the first video is that Grampy's perennial joke for present opening is that he exclaims, "IT'S A BOOOX!" as if that's what he was hoping for. I swear I didn't put Olivia up to it here.

Day 2: the fun rages on. Olivia loves sorting the shells and finding the one that looks like a unicorn horn. She says things like, "Let's count the shells in Spanish!" which makes Mommy love the gift even more.

Harmonica

Olivia enjoyed playing Noema's harmonica, so Mommy decided to surprise her with one of her own. She loved it.

(One of my favorite parts of Olivia opening gifts is that she says, "I LOVE IT!!" right away, even if she doesn't know what it is.)

Unfortunate timing though: Nanny & Grampy's present arrived on the same afternoon, and after enjoying the harmonica she immediately shifted into "I have ANOTHER present!!" Oh well. Her tiny jams are worth the momentary upstage of the AWESOME grandparent gift.

Attack of the Nakey

Two things Olivia loves: scaring people, and being naked. (Luckily those two things are not synonomous.) Behold, the monster in undies.