The Family

James:

-wanted more than anything else in the world to buy a watermelon at the Public Market. Not sure why, or even if he enjoyed it once it was purchased. But he sure was excited

-is playing kickball in the backyard at every opportunity. Still playing baseball and hockey regularly as well, but I think he knows that we're more likely to play along with him if we do a game (like kickball) that can be played while holding Owen

-has discovered s'mores toasted over the fire pit

-regularly loses one or both of his shoes without meaning to

-stands at the door and waves now whenever a parent needs to leave. (Also, clings to their leg and begs them not to go as soon as he detects that they're getting ready to depart.)

-as of tomorrow, is halfway to being 4 (!) years old

Owen:

-weighs 17 lbs, took his shot like a champ, and attempted to eat all of the sanitary paper that was laid out at the doctor's office

-communicates that he'd like more solid food by banging on his tray repeatedly

-is making rudimentary attempts at talking by shouting a single pitch in the face of whoever is holding him, or in James' case, leaning over him and shouting back

-is quite near sleeping through the night consistently, but making both ends of the night more difficult by staying up later before he falls asleep and getting up before 6 AM with no prospect of returning to sleep unless he can get in bed with J

-has no interest in formula from a bottle, except to play with the bottle and spit it out

J:

-is making lots of smoothies with exotic ingredients like coconut water and chia seeds

-played the Hindemith sonata on Monday and the LCS concert on Tuesday, during which she ran back and forth between the flute, piccolo, and piano

-has temporarily given up coffee in the hopes of avoiding the caffeine/sugar crashes mid-afternoon

-entered James' room yesterday and by some act of trickery convinced him to help clean it

-couldn't be more thrilled with the hot weather

-will take the boys to PA this weekend

Me:

-attempting to practice all sorts of fundamentals and back-burner technique projects now that I have no big concerts or auditions for the next few months

-have struggled to get up early and do my morning routine the last few weeks because of odd late nights and travel

-finished the annual LCS concert

-am less than thrilled with the hot weather and consequent sweaty, grimy, sticky, lethargic afternoons

-spilled birdseed all over the garage when the bottom of the bag ripped open

-need to figure out how to trim the odd bits around the house that the lawn mower can't reach and where exactly the water in the northern wall of the basement is coming from