A new year . . .

with new things to crawl for! Charlie has recently been completely mobile -- in his walker from Santa as well as just army crawling on the floor. So we decided to capture it on video! Warning: they are a bit blurry and dark but it's possible to see.

Oops . . .

I'm not sure how but we all got so caught up in the Christmas joy we couldn't keep up with the continuous blogging of treats. Well have a merry Christ - Hanukkah - mas and a happy Rama - Kwanzaa - dan!

Anna @ The Bitter End

And here's Anna last week at the Village club The Bitter End, where her school's songwriter's workshop held its annual showcase, singing an original song. The Bitter End is famous for having hosted a lot of famous people back in the day: Neil Young, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, and even Bob Dylan. (See a much longer list here.) Add Anna to that hit parade! This is the second time she's played there. Last May she sang another original song, "Sinking Ships":

"I got a C on my coat hanger sculpture?"

At Molly's middle school Winter Fair, she represented the drama club by performing her comedic monologue. She was the only one to do this sort of solo performance -- and in front of a large audience! This piece is from You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown; the lines are Sally's. At the end her friends started chanting: "Mol-ly! Mol-ly! Mol-ly!" This is one of the two monologues she used in her drama auditions for a few performing arts high schools. The other was a dramatic monologue, Emily's farewell speech from Our Town.

Handsome devil

High School auditions are over!

I should let Molly say more about her own high school application process, but we're just relieved that it's over for now. No more auditions, interviews, or tests! Now we just wait for the results.

She did audition at the Fame school -- in both visual arts and drama -- and she had drama and/or art auditions at 4 or 5 other arts high schools, too, including a new one called Frank Sinatra High School, which was started by Tony Bennett. For her interview at Anna's high school, she was grilled by one of Anna's favorite teachers, which gave her a boost of confidence once she made that connection. We think she did really well everywhere she went, though.

Her art portfolio included some really big pieces, like the self-portrait pictured here. It was part of an assignment to draw yourself upside down, which means she completed it by sitting exactly the way she's pictured here! She also had photos of her pottery so they could see where 8 years of lessons have taken her. Her drama auditions consisted of two monologues, one comedic and one dramatic. Hers came from You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Our Town.

Wish her luck on landing her top choices! She was a real trooper through a long and often tiring audition process.

Doorbell

Tonight Anna performed a very sultry version of this song with her band at a music program fundraiser at her high school. I wish I had footage. If someone else posts it to YouTube I'll be sure to let you know:



The other song they did a version of:



They didn't have anyone on double-necked guitar, though.

Man, was I proud!

Homework helper

The other morning everyone was busily getting ready for school when Charlie started complaining that he wanted to be held. When I came in from the kitchen to get him I found that his big sister had already responded.

25 days of Christmas Days 4 - 6

Sorry about the missing days, the whole Smith Waterman family has had long weeks. But here are days 4 - 6! And days 7 - 10 will be up tomorrow!

Even Charlie loves the Holiday Season!

Merry Christ - Hanukkah - mas and a happy Rama - Kwanzaa - dan!

This week in Charlieland ...

Mmm ... an arm. It's big, but I think I can eat the whole thing if I try hard enough. I certainly have enough slobber to do some damage.


I can roll over! In fact, I will always roll over if left to my own devices, which is why you can no longer leave me on a bed unattended! Looking at the ceiling all the time was becoming just plain boring.


I found my feet! And they sure taste good.

Alternate caption: So, so, suck your toe, all the way to Mexico!

25 days of Christmas Day 3

This time we got a picture of the happiness we had when we opened the surprise!

Merry Christ - Hanukah - mas and a Happy Rama - Kwanzaa - dan!

25 days of Christmas Day 2

It's one day late but the treat was too good to ignore!

Merry Christ - Hanukah - mas and a Happy Rama -Kwanzaa - dan!

25 days of Christmas Day 1

I had an idea today! I would use the gingerbread house (acually a wooden house) that my mom got for the 25 days of Christmas. Each day I would post the things we get, and on the 25th day I'll put up pictures of Christmas!

Merry Christ - Hanukah - mas and a Happy Rama -Kwanzaa - dan!

Thanksgiving special

We're in Philly for a smallish Thanksgiving with one other family: no major up-and-down-the-coast thing happening this year, which is kind of a relief!

Was Underdog ever anyone else's favorite in the Macy's parade? He was always a highlight for me. They even made a major Underdog Thanksgiving special one year, which I don't really remember, though it sure brings back other Underdog memories.

For your holiday viewing pleasure, all four parts:

In memoriam: my brand new bike

Stolen in broad daylight from where it was locked up in front of my office. I think I had it for all of three or four months. I hardly knew ye!

my first blog post-- what a moment!

Inconceivable

The man who said "Inconceivable." I just saw him about 25 minutes and 35 seconds ago. Wallace Shawn. Do you not know him? Well I have some pictures for you.

This is when he was in The Princess Bride and when I think he first said "Inconceivable."

This is when he was in Clueless,  as the teacher who got married in the end, because of a staged date that was set up by teenagers.

And this is him, closer to present day. He also has recently been on Gossip Girl and has played many animated voices such as:

The T-Rex in Toy Story

The Boss in The Incredibles

and many others.

Where did I see him? I saw him as I was walking out of the theater of Fantastic Mr. Fox (Highly Recommended) and there he was, green sweater, glasses, and bald head. Sigh. And what did I do? I stalked him around the corner. I found Anna and I walked around looking for him, turned the corner, saw the sweater, walked past him, looked at him, and he . . . LOOKED BACK AT ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE! OH WOW WHAT I MOMENT! I WILL NEVER FORGET IT! HE LOOKED AT ME WITH A GRIN THAT SAID "That girl is obviously a fan, I think she might be the girl from the front door too. I think she might be stalking me." He is a classic man. And if you don't know his inconceivable lines I feel deeply bad for you, so here is a montage:

Well, I hope now that I have spent much time informing you on Wallace Shawn's amazingness you will appreciate him more. As for me, I am containing myself from jumping around the walls in excitement!

My Day in a Pie Chart

Where the hell(o dolly) is Matt?

14 months, 42 countries, a cast of thousands.

Use full screen or click on the video for larger view.

Guess who's ...

... cut a tooth in the last couple days?

More from Sesame Street

Four takes on the alphabet:









They don't make them like they used to.

Happy Birthday, Sesame Street

I've put up several posts at my blog A History of New York over the last week about Sesame Street's 40th anniversary, which officially occurs today. Check them out: Part I, II, III, IV. Did I leave out anyone's favorites?

I have very clear memories of my sister Mandy alerting the whole household whenever John John -- the kid in the photo -- came on.

Sunday Afternoon Soundtrack

One for dancing with the baby:



And one for rocking him to sleep:

Trick or Treat

let the wild rumpus start!


how many costumes does a little boy need!?


"honey, what do you think that girl is?"

"a box."


lego my eggo!


and move it to the left! and lunge! and twist! and squat!