At the first party, Aviva had a great time in the playhouse and on the playground. She even went down the giant wooden slide on her own without hesitation. However, she didn't come down straight and so she twisted around and got spooked. She wouldn't try it again, even with me.

We talked about how the next time (at the second party, a few weeks later), we would do it together, but when we got there she still wouldn't try it. Mommy showed up later and Aviva was willing to try it with her. They both had a great time and now Aviva goes down the slide happily (though still not on her own).

So now it was Jonah's turn. I didn't think he'd hesitate, but it turns out that he was quite scared and refused to go down the slide with me. We hung out at the top for some time, but he never warmed up to it, even as he watched Aviva going with Alena. So we all went to another area of the playground (it's is quite big).

I decided to try to talk to Jonah about it. It's so hard to know what he does and doesn't understand, but he usually does pretty well so I figured it was worth a shot. I explained that we were all scared about going down, but that it was important to be brave, and that even though we were scared, he could see how much fun everyone was having. I asked if he would like to try to be brave and try again. He said he would and though I wasn't sure he really understood, and asked who he wanted to go with and he said Mommy. So she grabbed him up and took him over to the slide. They went up to the top and he happily went down with Robin. We went back again yesterday with Nanny and Grandpa and everyone had a really wonderful time.

Here's Jonah mixing some eggs this morning. He'll be two next week.

Recently, after seeing the recipe on America's Test Kitchen, we had to make these amazing chocolate cupcakes.

Aviva discovers the best part of making cupcakes! (2/4/07)

Things have been quite busy for the past 6 weeks, so we haven't been able to write. Here's a smattering of pictures we've been meaning to post. And big thanks to Alena for taking most (all?) of the pictures!

Aviva and Jonah drawing. (12/27)

Aviva drawing on her pad. (12/27)

Jonah putting together his alphabet train puzzle. (1/13)

Jonah all the way up to "Q". (1/13)

Jonah playing with the train set - thanks Easterns! (2/10)

Another of Jonah with the train (2/10)

Aviva and Jonah at the kiddie piano that Kiki is loaning them. (2/11)

Aviva belts out Old MacDonald. (2/11)

Aviva with some friends. (2/11)

There was a lot of playing cowgirl and cowboy, Jonah and I took turns as cowboy, Alena and I tooks turns being horsies. (2/11)

Our Poochie boy. Amazing, huh? (2/11)

Later that day - Aviva wanted to be Jonah's horse! (2/11)

They didn't get very far... (2/11)

A few days before Thanksgiving, Robin, Alena, and I took Aviva to see Brian Wilson in concert at the Keswick Theater. It wasn't the first time Aviva went to a concert, but it was not only the first night concert, but the first concert where she actually was (very) familiar with the music. I'll restrain myself from writing multiple pages of obsessive praise for Brian Wilson - most people who've come within earshot of me during the last year have heard it already anyway. Suffice to say that our entire household has a very deep love for Brian Wilson, his band, and his music.

Well, Aviva loved it (as we all did)! She sat agape for most of the show, soaking it all in, especially her favorite, "Sloop John B". She is well versed in the entire Pet Sounds album, which was being performed for the third to the last time ever in its entirety that night.

After the show, we waited at the stage door to see who from the band we'd see. We ended up seeing everyone from the band, including Brian, who was surrounded by at least six bodyguards who wouldn't let anyone within about 12 feet of Brian. But we did see some of the members of the band go by. The best, though, was waiting until pretty much the end to see perhaps our favorite band member, Darian Sahanaja. Our love, admiration, and gratitude for Darian is probably best saved for another time as well. In any case, Robin introduced him to Aviva and asked him to sign Aviva's ticket stub, on which he wrote "Aviva, You're the Cutest!!"

To me, though, one of the biggest surprises (and moreover, such a surprise that *this* is the big surprise) is this: We've all seen parents (including, hopefully, our own) admiring their child's primitive artwork with great enthusiasm - "honey, that's beautiful!" I never bought it as a child and as a pre-parent adult wondered if I'd be able to adequately feign enthusiasm if/when it'd be my turn. Well, the amazing thing is that it turns out that it really is beautiful!

But that's not the real story with these pictures. First, they're done by Aviva who's just over three. Second, more interesting to me than her age is the speed with which she has advanced. A few weeks ago, Grandpa gave her a notebook of blank drawing paper which she quickly and diligently filled, moving on to another book and more paper. Within a week or two, she went from what looked like scribbles to what you see here. There's even noticeable advances in the three days between the green paper and the purple.

Anyway, whatever you get from them, we hope you'll enjoy seeing what she's been creating lately.

This one is a drawing of Kiki (Max's brother, Richard).

And this one is Mommy and Daddy (me!)

Lastly, here's a recent painting as well.

Thanks to everybody -- near and far -- for sending Aviva your good wishes.

Fruit salad a la Kiki:

Daddy spent most of the weekend obsessing, as usual, over the Uniqua birthday cake. She's Aviva's favorite character on The Backyardigans.