We're back!

Faces
Originally uploaded by Wingates.

We've been away for a while--from the computer mostly. It's been a flurry of activity the last few weeks as summer vacation drew to a close. Cora started school again last Wednesday. Kate and I drove with her to school. Some kids were screaming and crying, Cora was absolutely giddy. We pulled into carline next to one of her classmates from last year. She rolled down the window and yelled, "Hey Alex! Are we friends now?" She has been happy as a clam all week.

I went to a workshop for orthopedic massage in Pennsylvania a few weeks ago...amazing. The instructor could assess and treat complicated pain conditions that had been present for decades. I have a lot of studying to do.

It's hard to believe we're over halfway through the week already. Last weekend was a whirlwind of fun and family as we flew into Philadelphia for my cousin Adam's wedding. It was a blast for many reasons--first of all, Cora is quite the traveller. She adores airplane travel, particularly the snacks. But the best part was seeing all the cousins on the Davis side get together for the first time (for us at least). We are now faced with the enviable task of having to figure out how to take enough vacations each year to see everyone. We may have to start mixing sides of the family to get it all in. But it's clear that a beach trip in the summer is a necessary tradition that needs to continue from when we were kids.

Sarah took some great photos of the trip. See them here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cree/sets/721679/

They're Ba-ack!

Kate self-portrait
Originally uploaded by Wingates.

SuperMom and her progeny made it back safely last night after a whirlwind trip packed with adventures. Cora was happy to be home and even shed some happy tears when she saw her Daddy again. Happy tears all around.

Cora started in on her stories as soon as we got in the car and hasn't missed a beat since. W've been playing hard all day, playing Captain Hook and doing sidewalk chalk and having treasure hunts. Clearly she has grown accustomed to a new level of service from the big people in her life.

There is a photo album online of selected pics from the trip; just click on the picture and it will take you to the page. Look to the right of the screen for the "Kate and Cora and Oliver Road Trip" folder. Kate will be adding comments soon.

The Epic Journey

Kate and the kids are in Maryland now on the last leg of their epic trip. From all reports they have had a grand time so far. Cora has been caving, fishing, horseback riding, kayaking, eating, and loads of other stuff to keep her engaged. It is scary to see what her idea of a "good day" is--nonstop activity from dawn til dusk.

Equestrian Cora

Equestrian Cora
Originally uploaded by Wingates.

Things are a little different in West Virginia...the yard animals are much bigger. Cora's bike helmet came in handy as equestrian safety gear yesterday. She also went fishing and roasted marshmallows. From what I hear she had a fabulous day. At the end of the day Rena asked her to make a wish. Cora said "I wish this day would never end."

Kate had a great day too; she took Oliver to Morgantown to visit with old friends. It was good for her to get away from Cora for a little while and catch a breather.

Safe Travels

Kate and the kids set sail for Baltimore bright and early this morning. Thankfully the plans for a true road trip (i.e. car) were changed to air travel (despite Kate's insistence that she would be fine in the car for ten hours with two squirming kids smearing the windows). We got up and out on time and I left them at the security checkpoint, waving and smiling as Kate walked through the metal detector with Oliver on one hip and Cora holding onto her sweater. Then the metal detector went off. I know at that moment even the security guards thought, "This poor woman. She'll kill us if we stop her. Wave and smile." They didn't hassle her too much, and once Kate got through security she could put Oliver in the backpack again.

They're in West Virginia now, safely ensconced at Pop-Pop and Grammy Rena's house. And so begins their 11-day adventure.

Aunt Sarah's Flickr page

If you click on this strange white rectangle, it will take you to Aunt Sarah's Flickr page. Look to the left of the page for her "Sets" of pictures, including over 50 snapshots from Cora's birthday party.

Technical Note on Comments

I have changed the settings on the blog so you can comment without registering or leaving vital personal information. So comment if you like; we're glad you're here!

Eating Cake

Eating Cake
Originally uploaded by Wingates.

Cora finally had her big day today--her "real" birthday party with friends her age instead of the other one with only grown-ups around. She has invited half of Nashville to her party over the last few months. Talk to her for more than two minutes and she'll invite you to her party.

We had a great time. The kids mixed well and we had just enough guests for our house. The kids were playing in the sprinkler within minutes of arriving, running naked soon thereafter, followed by dress-up, playing house, a pinata slugfest, and of course sugar overload. Cake and ice cream and chocolate (and a good time) was had by all. Aunt Sarah took a lot of pictures. Once we get them we'll post an album in our Flickr account. Just click on this post picture to go there.

Sarah Siskind show

Sarah Siskind show
Originally uploaded by Wingates.

Sarah played a show with her band at The Family Wash in East Nashville Saturday night. I had a big week of bodywork and wasn't sure if I would make it through both sets of music. I brought along my buddy Lew from work, who had had a longer week than me. We were kind of pitiful on our way out to the show. Two young guys feeling old and complaining of low back pain.

And we stayed the whole time. I went to bed at 1:30am. We had a great time. That's the beauty of a good show in a good venue with good people and three full glasses of good locally brewed Yazoo beer on tap. It makes everything all right. All good.

Feet and flowers

Feet and flowers
Originally uploaded by Wingates.

Cora has been taking some pictures with the digital camera lately. This one is my current favorite. Click on the image to see it closer and to go to our Flickr account where we have photos stored online. There is a folder of her "selected works". We'll be adding more as the muse strikes her.

Dan and the new 'phew

Dan and the new 'phew
Originally uploaded by Wingates.

We miss you Uncle Dan! See you at Christmas!

Back in Business!

We're back online after a hiatus of several weeks. Our dial-up connection crossed us for the last time--I was cut off twice in the middle of posting the account of Cora's birthday celebration, losing everything both times. As George W. Bush says, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice.....uhh, don't fool me again. Or something like that. At any rate, we now have a cable modem and I am reasonably confident that it will not boot me off in mid post.

This picture is one from the vault--Cora at around a year old with us out on the balcony at Cumberland Retreat Apartments. A lot has changed since then to be sure.

Kate made some big plans with the kids today. They're embarking on an 11-day trip up to West Virginia on July 20th to visit Grammy Stella and Pop-Pop. Not long after they get back we go to my cousin Adam's wedding, and then in August I'm going to a five day intensive retreat for orthopedic massage. We're taking advantage of summer vacation while it's here.

Cora's new favorite word is "eventually". She usually uses it correctly, but yesterday she walked outside and, with the confidence of a grizzled farmer, exclaimed "Shew! It is eventually hot out here!"

Fam Pic!

Fam Pic!
Originally uploaded by Wingates.

We loved having Uncle Dan come down for Cora's birthday. Click on this picture to see some other B'day pics on our flickr account.

Cora's B'day was a big success. We had lots of fun with the family and she also performed a great rain dance on the deck.

Back in town

We're back in town and recovering nicely from our trip to California. We all had a fabulous time, and it's easy to see why so many people are willing to cram themselves on top of each other to live there. We saw glimpses of Las Vegas and Phoenix during layovers, and the prevailing impression was that of a splat of humans in the middle of a sun-parched desert. Southern California took all the good elements of a desert climate (low humidity being the main plus) and left out the searing heat and lack of any plant over six inches tall. Cora loved the palm trees and swore she would tell her teachers all about them when she got home.

Uncle Dan is in town now for Cora's birthday tomorrow, so the party continues. Cora is quite excited to be four years old. Fireworks started last night, so it looks like the Independence Day festivities are taken seriously in this neighborhood.

california!

Here we are in california. I am posting this on Mary Pat's blackberry...a cool device but a little alien...not used to typing with my thumbs. Today it feels like California...no humidity, blue skies, palm trees and beautiful vistas marked by junior sized mountains. More like ambitious hills. We are near the town of Perris, which is about ninety miles out of San Diego. The reunion is at a great camp-rv park place called Wilderness Lakes Resort--swimming pools, game rooms and the works.

Yesterday was a full travel day. At one point Cora said to me "Is George Bush still our President?"
"Yes."
"We don't want him to win. I want Ham Lincoln to win". The trip itself went as well as could be expected, considering it takes all day to get to california, and traveling with a four year old is like carrying a wet monkey in a sack. A little unpredictable and scary with some potential for entertainment.

Enough of the alien keyboard for now.

bed bouncers

bed bouncers
Originally uploaded by Wingates.

We're off to California tomorrow for the 5-year Meyer family reunion. Cora's so excited she can hardly stand it. Airplanes and Cousin Elise are the main reasons for her enthusiasm.

She worked out some energy this morning with a vigorous bed bouncing session. Oliver was enchanted; he squealed and squawked at her the whole time and lunged back and forth on his chunky legs. His admiration for her is growing daily. He still has a smile ready for the big people, but he reserves the biggest belly laughs for Cora. She has been great with him lately now that it's obvious that he's such a big fan.

God's sedative and G'ma birthdays

Summertime has arrived, and with it comes the blessed arrival of God's finest sedative for children--the swimming pool. Cora and Kate swam for hours yesterday at Cumberland Retreat, the apartment complex we lived in before we moved into our house. An advantage of having cute and articulate offspring is lifetime swimming passes granted by the property managers who can't stand to see them go.

Cora napped hard in the car on the way home and at the end of the day actually requested bedtime last night. That almost never happens. Then this morning she broke all records by sleeping in until 8:00am. We were getting worried that she might have expired in the night. Needless to say, we're taking her swimming again today.

Last night was family dinner at the Wingate G'parents house, this week celebrating Sally's birthday. Happy birthday Mom! Cora helped Aunt Sarah decorate the cake and managed to resist eating it along the way. Some chocolate icing did mysteriously appear around her mouth though. An accident no doubt....

G'ma Carol to the rescue

G'ma Carol to the rescue
Originally uploaded by Wingates.

Father's Day was nice and all, but the deciding factor this weekend was the grandparents. Gma Carol flew in for the weekend and rescued us from the spiral of sickness stress that has marked the past month. She cooked, cleaned the house, cleaned babies (see photo),shopped, and everything else in between.

We lounged on Father's Day at G'ma Sally's and Granddad Mark's. What started as a brunch turned into an all-day affair enjoying the covered porch and wraparound deck. What a day.

dust bustin

dust bustin
Originally uploaded by Wingates.

There hasn't been much to report this past week as much of our time was marked by numbing sameness--coughing, coughing, more coughing, with occasional episodes of spitting, some retching, and gasping for breath after any or all of the above. Cora was the main victim with Oliver and Kate getting some coughs in there as well. The mood is lighter now--Cora is getting her energy back and we are able to go outside again. Her eyes are both completely bloodshot from the force of coughing, which will take a while to heal. This morning she donned sunglasses and proceeded to clean her room. We know she's feeling good when she cleans.