SPRING TABLESCAPES

Dear Olive,

I can't wait until spring.  Then we can dine outside.  And set these pretty tables.    

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It's hard to believe that there is still grass under that snow.  This is literally the winter of my discontent.

TIME FOR FESTIVAL

Dear Olive,

It is the season that I look forward to all year:  The Cleveland International Film Festival!  I love to go to the Shorts.  It's like two hours of an array of super satisfying previews that hold no obligation for a full movie commitment.

I'm going to ask Mabel if she wants to try for a viewing Friday night.  Perhaps we'll try this restaurant first!

LEPRECHAUN DAY

Dear Olive,

Gabriel has taken to calling St. Patrick's Day, "Leprechaun Day."  He's super stoked about it because he remembers that; last year, I let him eat this:

We also always read this, which was a gift from you:

This year, Gabriel made his own leprechaun traps like those in the book.

He put bits of "gold" toys inside to try to lure them in.

Later, he reasoned, the traps didn't look super welcoming, so we needed to make something more "free range" looking.

So we made these mushroom domes out of play dough and moss left over from Halloween.

I hid chocolate golden coins in each.  Most of these holidays are pretty much just about the sugar.

HOW NOT TO DECORATE THE NURSERY

Dear Olive,

This designer children's wallpaper is the stuff that kid nightmares are made of.

How horrifying to have all of those eyes staring at you while you try to sleep.  And a situation like this would totally fly under the radar of a psychological intake.

MOTHER'S BLESSING

Dear Olive, 

I was fully prepared to throw you a fabulous sprinkle for baby number two.  Here is my design inspiration.  They even used your name!

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But when you told me that you would prefer a "mother's blessing," I had to do my research.  Apparently, a mother's blessing is a Navajo Ritual, created to spiritually support and empower the new mother for her journey of birthing and motherhood.

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You are such a hippie!

So, I'll switch gears and aim for something similar to this:

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Instead of this:

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I love you, but I will not be creating a communal womb for the party.

FROCKS AND FISH

Dear Olive, 

Did you watch the finale of Downton Abbey last night?  I'm planning on watching it tonight and I can't wait!  Last weekend my mom and I checked out the Western Reserve's exhibit of Grand Style, which reflected the high style of the wealthy residents of Cleveland from the 1870s to the 1930s.  Oh, that we had an extravagant social engagement to attend.

But instead of a ball; afterwards, we crept to the West Side Market for fish mongering and crepes.

Still a fantastic time. 

KONGS FOR KIDS

Dear Olive,

You know those rubber dog toys called Kongs?  The ones that you put a treat in and the dog chews at it for hours trying to get the snack out?  It occurred to me recently that most of the independent activities that I seek for my children have in common the same premise.

All of these Pinterest kids crafts tote: "this kept my three year old busy for 30 whole minutes!"  We're basically just trying to create a bunch of kid Kongs.  Here are a few examples:

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And; unfortunately, this.