Virtual Visits

Technology sure is great, since it allows Evan to stay in touch with family even when they're far away. We had a great visit today with Auntie Chrissy. Evan was very clear in letting us know he wanted to sit in the computer chair by himself, and proceeded to have a full conversation, albeit mostly unintelligible on his part, with Chrissy. Then he got out of the chair and showed off his running skills by tearing around the room as fast as he could yelling, "Chrissy! Chrissy!" the whole way. We're so glad he can get to know family, no matter where they live. Talk to you again soon!

Fridays After Five with Daddy

Fridays After Five is an awesome free event every, well, Friday at 5pm in Charlottesville. Free music and lots of friends - it's great. Yesterday there was even a flash mob performing to the Cure's "Fridays I'm In Love" - what a cool sight! Like much of the crowd, Evan and Mike were transfixed.

Sesame Street Live

Back in May we surprised Evan with a fun evening including pizza and ... Sesame Street Live! He was just getting into the characters, but ever since that fateful evening he's clamored to watch an episode or read a book every chance he gets. The show brought out all the characters in a story centered around what each one wanted to be when s/he grows up. Grover wanted to be a police monster, Ernie and Bert wanted to be Forest Rangers, and Big Bird didn't know... until he figured out he was a super Director of the gang's Pageant!

We weren't sure how the show would go over. After all, this child is currently deathly afraid of mascots up close. CavMan sends him into a shaking, screaming fit. However, Evan sat through the whole show completely mesmerized by the lights and sounds and characters - who kept their distance. He clapped along with some songs, but mostly stared, open-mouthed, and didn't move a muscle. I'm not sure if he ever figured out what was really going on, but he didn't hate it. If his new-found love of all things Big Bird (including the characters on his diapers) is any indication, it was a trip he hasn't forgotten.

Flowers in the yard

OK, so this post has nothing to do with Evan. But author's perogative says I can post it anyway! So, for your eye-candy enjoyment, here are some photos of flowers in our yard. I've been having fun choosing and planting a bed over the last couple years, and this year it's really taken off. Maybe because I've been watering it more... anyway, I had access to a fancy camera this weekend and tested it out on what's currently in bloom. Sadly, some of the delicate blooms I had wanted to shoot have already dropped off! But here are some of what is still there. The hydrangeas are actually two different bushes along the back fence. They're almost right next to each other and are the exact same type, but yet different colors! Since hydrangeas react to the acid in the soil, I can only deduce that Ernie has a clear preference as to which bush he likes for his bathroom. I've seen him use one more than the other, and it's clearly affected the bloom colors. Nature is so very interesting! Hopefully I'll get to use the camera off and on again as more plants show their delicate petals, and will share more as they come. Enjoy!

Brewers Release Jeff Suppan...

Tonight was spaghetti night. Evan loved the meatballs, as usual, and the garlic bread was good. He even ate some noodles which is unusual, and better yet he used his new fork to eat them. What a big boy!

When mommy went to clean up the dishes, Evan stayed at the table with daddy, who had moved to the laptop that sits on the dining room table. Not too unusual. Evan was happily singing and drumming in his chair, so mommy wasn't worried from the other room. Again, totally normal. Suddenly, daddy starts laughing uncontrollably. Mommy comes in to see what's happening, and:



Oh dear! Apparently daddy was checking the Brewers blogs and saw that they had just released Jeff Suppan. This was big news, so he read the story. In the 30 seconds it took him to read story, Evan decided he was being ignored and took it upon himself to decorate his head with the leftover spaghetti. We couldn't have staged this better ourselves. Straight to the bath with you, little man!

Merrily, Merrily!

What is better than singing "Row Row Row Your Boat" in the bath?
Having Evan sing along! (In toddler-talk.) I just love how he says "Merrily, Merrily"!



Now, to get that Parmesan cheese out from behind his ears...

Gramma Grampa

Hi Gramma! Hi Grampa! Evan now recognizes that there are grandparents in his family and is getting good at saying hi!