Phalaenopsis, phalaenopsis…pretty flower, pretty flower… (to the tune of Frère Jacques) — Lucy’s song after visiting the orchid farm

We’ve had a pretty mild summer, a few hot days here and there. On the hot ones we head out of town…to the foggy city or to the cool beach. Here are some snaps from our summer so far, mostly beach pics. Stay tuned for part 2…

The kid loves it when her parents tell her pirate stories (usually starring the kid as the captain and Wubert as her fuzzy first mate.) Imagine her glee when she saw this “real” pirate ship!

Yes, she ultimately did have to see the doctor and yes, there was a bit of crying involved. However, before and after the appointment she got to roam the seven seas in her pirate ship, a much better prospect than sitting in a cold sterile office for an appointment she didn’t really want to keep anyway.

She also got to ride three seals, (whom she dubbed “Larry”, “Daisy”, and “Mickey Mouse”) point out starfish and crabs, follow footprints in the sand, and do a lot of climbing, jumping, and running around. Not bad for an afternoon at the doctor’s office.

Another thing we like to do is illustrate Lucy’s ideas. We’ll gather in front of Lucy’s easel and she’ll start shouting out ideas like “We’re at the beach!” or “Wubert is in trouble with bumblebees!” As she does this, we’ll scribble frantically with crayons, hopelessly trying to keep up with our little girl’s imagination. Almost all of Lucy’s stories star Wubert, who usually plays multiple roles in each story. He’s also usually in some type of trouble.

Here’s one of Lucy’s stories…

“Doo is having a picnic at the beach with Wubert. They have a bucket and a shovel. They have cake. Wubert goes in the water (there are fish!) and Doo has to save him. Wubert’s sleeping. I’m tickling Wubert. I am walking with Wubert on a hill. I’m first. It’s really sunny, and there’s cake.”

Going to the Snow from Mike C on Vimeo.

We spent the weekend in Grass Valley with Lucy’s grandparents. Lucy had been looking forward to the trip all week, especially our Saturday trek to Soda Springs where she’d be able to play in the snow.

Lucy got her first taste of snow last year. However, she wasn’t really prepared for that encounter. Her excitement dissipated quickly once she realized how cold and wet snow could be.

However, this year was very different. Lucy’s three now, a grizzled veteran compared to the two year old rookie we plopped into the snow last year. This time she had a much better idea of what to expect. We also planned things a bit better, making sure to bring along a snow sled for the kid.

In this video you’ll see us all having a great time in the snow. Lucy’s excitement can be quite infectious that way. Also, if you watch the whole video, you just might catch a special moment where Lucy and her Gpa cut the rug together. Fun stuff.

Jill and Lucy came back from a visit with Auntie Laura the other day raving about a radio show Auntie had playing, Little Steven’s Underground Garage. The music is really cool, much of it neat pop/rock stuff from the 60s. (I didn’t even know Soupy Sales had a catchy tune called Your Brains Will Fall Out.) Note: though the music is great, the web site is pretty terrible.

We usually listen to music while we play, so the kid is already developing her own taste about what she likes. (note: the kid just dropped by again. I’m running late!) She’s even got to the point where she’s curious about making music. Jill and I will do our best to encourage this curiosity. Who knows, maybe she’ll turn out to be another Soupy Sales! Probably not.

Other examples of Lucy and music:

• Dancing (and Falling Down) to Green Day
• Just Making Noise

Oh well, I’m off to play blocks. Bye.

Here’s one located on an island, reached by a bridge. (Note the mice floating on cake islands.)

The other day we built a house for the mouse family which reminded me of the Guggenheim museum, hence the title of this post:

The mouse family inside their new house, they also got some furniture this build:

An overview shot, and a clue to how long it lasted:

He endures from her things which he would never tolerate from anyone else…like being dressed in hats and covered in blankets.

He has seen her grow from a tiny baby, and it seems he knows her vulnerability, and that she is little, and still growing.

He loves to play with her, and when she is asleep, he often sits next to her, watchfully, or if it has been a very long nap, prods her to wake up so he can play with her.

He rarely bites or scratches, unless he is really provoked. It takes a lot to get him to do it, and she almost always deserves it.

Even when he is napping, he always seems to have an ear cocked listening for her. The vet says this is the kind of interaction that will keep him young, keeping his mind active and occupied.

So here’s to you Wubie, the very patient cat!

Lucy playing (large version) from Jill C on Vimeo.

I found a neat tool online, The Squirrelizer, that lets users make their own Squirrel Crasher pics. Check it out if you find yourself thinking your photographs need that little something extra.