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An optimistic resource for on-the-go families.  Ollie and BOP join forces to go fetch products, tips, tools and inspiration to make this fleeting time in life all the better.

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Posts Tagged ‘fun’

Meet The Boys {“Mac and Cheese!”}

It’s been a rainy, dreary day and I’m in the mood to share something light. Something that brings happiness to our house every day — our pets, Ollie and Pablo {a.k.a.”the boys.”} We have this thing in our house; Ella has decided that whenever the boys are being super cute, we have to yell “mac and cheese!” and everyone must instantaneously turn their attention toward Ollie and Pablo. Lest we miss epic cuteness.

You haven’t heard much about Pablo so far. I think the only appearance he’s made on Olliebop before is here. We adopted him after the launch of this blog — and Ollie had stolen the spotlight by then. So, meet Pablo! He is Ella’s cat, and he loves to sit upon us whenever he gets the chance.

EllaandPablo

Ollie and Pablo are best buddies. They wrestle every single day, without exception. Ollie gets down in play position and Pablo often makes little squeaky hunting noises which mean that he’s ready to rumble. Here’s one of the numerous videos I have taken of the boys in action:

Ella took the camera around the house on Saturday morning for her own Ollie/Pablo photo shoot. These are her pictures of the boys — first the lying around. And the waiting. For something to happen…

Ollie in waiting

Pablo

Then they casually inch closer to each other until one of them decides to attack. Pablo was the aggressor during Ella’s photo shoot, starting things off with a nice bite {nibble!} to the ear. And then the wrestling had begun — and one of us of course was yelling “mac and cheese! mac and cheese!”

OllieandPablo

I can’t imagine Ollie and Pablo without each other’s companionship. Without Pablo, I guess Ollie would simply be…

Ollie3

The cheese.

After the Rain… Family Fun in the Sun

Yesterday brought unexpected, but simple, pleasures — with the sun that followed the torrential downpour of the day before. Though I had decided to look on the bright side of the rain with my previous post {by shopping for the best rain coats and boots} we desperately needed some brightness around this dreary place.

We awoke to see that the stream in our back yard had swelled quite a lot in the storm — moving briskly, but still no more than a few feet high. The water was all lit up and sparkly by the unfamiliar sight of sun, so we headed outside to soak it in. It was gorgeous — like a movie director had flipped the switch on the set from “rain” to “sun.”

Hudson proposed that we drag our metal canoe {from Mr. BOP’s childhood; circa 1970} out of the woods and go for a spin in our newly formed rapids. Mr. BOP was on board, as he usually is with things like this, and they were off:

Canoeing across the yard was the highlight of the day; as we would cruise for several hundred feet, pull the canoe out at the bend, and carry it across the lawn and back upstream. And repeat. Our rapids offered a thrill ride that was surprisingly satisfying. We all took turns, except for Ollie {we wondered if the current was too strong for him}.

So a 40 year old canoe provided the day’s main entertainment. Who would ‘a thunk?

I should say our kids are just like other “typical” tweens and teens — they have their moods, they don’t always want to go outside, and they love media and a lit up screen as much as anyone. And that’s why this spontaneous fun in our canoe meant something to all of us. It gave us a break from some of the typical things that can sap the energy of a family. There was no money. No plugs. No planning. No negotiating. No hurrying.

It wasn’t that this activity was so special, but it had all of the combined simple elements that are rejuvenating. I’m sure that many of you had a replenishing moment this weekend, too. I hope so — as they can carry us through those long weekdays. This one was a lesson to me that for all of the planning and scheming that I do on behalf of our family, it can be even better to just let it flow — and see where it takes us.

Welcome to The Hudson Hotel

Hello! I hope you’re enjoying summer. We’ve been on the go, in the sun, and generally not spending much time in front of the computer. As it should be!

I thought this would be a fun thing to share; especially for anyone else who — like us — does not have a beautiful guest room all made up and waiting for summer visitors. When we have company Hudson relinquishes his teen room with its queen bed, and it becomes the guest room. Not ideal, but Hudson and Ella recently made the accommodations surprisingly swish by creating “The Hudson Hotel” for the grandparents. Here it is:

The Entrance

The Key

The Reveal

The Warm Welcome {in the frame on the bed}

The Perks

And, the fun. The Hudson Hotel has been enjoyed by both its guests and proprietors. Free WiFi and big smiles.

Soooo, we don’t have a guest room. But I’m quite happy with our new hotel.

Happy Feet: A Kid Being a Kid

Ella came home recently from a Sunday playdate and flopped on the couch to put her feet up. These Feet.

Happy Feet.

I stopped to look at her, feeling a rush of gratitude for my friend Diane — the mom who hosted the playdate. The mom who allowed my daughter’s legs come home looking like this.

To me, these legs are beautiful. Dirty, scabby, painty, fuzzy, little legs.

We are in that ramped-up phase of family life now. With one tween and one teen, we are willing participants in the culture of busyness. Of improving. Of learning. Of driving. Most days involve a well orchestrated plan.

So these these little feet {oh, cancel that — they’re size 7 1/2!} were ready for a day off.  To just play.

And be.

 

I love those precious days when her only job is simply, to be a kid. And all is well.

 

 

Just Can’t Help Myself — Sharing Some Silly

There’s something about this week — I keep being drawn to the silly stuff. Must be because it’s been a whilrlwind around here and sometimes concentrating on what’s funny makes the not so funny a little bit better. So, I was quite entertained by this video {click here to watch}, forwarded by my step father, Dick {who never ever shares this kind of thing and I promise not to very often, either}. I’d love to try it with Ollie, although I think I’m too afraid of the behavioral repercussions.

Watching it reminded me of how much fun this campy stuff is, so I went back in the archives for these family reunion photos of a skit, in which my cousin, Andy and his niece, Mackenzie are playing the parts of our Grandparents, Granny and Boppy, early in their courtship…

Why does this baby {above} have a gold chain and money in her waistband, you ask?  It looks here as if the plot line was a bit sordid — but I suppose Mackenzie just didn’t have any pockets — as not many babies do! The story was something along the lines of Boppy trying to woo Granny with expensive gifts and jewelry — but of course it was his heart and true love that won out in the end!  They married and moved across the country to California — one of many adventures that they lovingly shared.

The curtain was drawn and the crew was revealed — Andy and his sisters, Molly and Kate {Mackenzie’s mom}. Oh, and I should mention that Mackenzie has now grown into a beautiful girl and big sister. Click here and she’s the one in the blonde braids. How time flies.

We have a houseful of six guests arriving this afternoon for the weekend — my parents and sister with her family. So, I’m wondering if it’s about time to haul out the bed sheets and revisit this longstanding silly art form. Or, maybe this one {the video quality is terrible but it actually is of my kids, Hudson and Ella}. I hope your weekend includes plenty of laughter and fun — in whatever form it may come!