Lillian and Her Dad

It’s the eve of Lillian’s third birthday, and she’s got her dad drawing Wonder Pets for her.

As you can probably tell from the picture, Lillian thinks that her dad, Josh, is incredibly talented, kind, funny, knowledgable, and wise; and that she could not have a better father.

And I think I agree with her.

Lunching with Artists

Lillian enjoys the visual arts; place any pencil, pen, crayon or paint-laden brush in her hands and she will quickly and thoroughly decorate any surface you wish — or don’t wish. (We’ve learned that many of the instructions you find on google for removing Sharpie permanent marker from various surfaces don’t work or actually make the problem worse).

Lillian’s dad, Josh, is himself a talented artist and able to produce pictures on demand when she requests. Unfortunately, she now thinks any adult should be equally skilled. Her grandfather can produce a passable eye or mouth or cat or dog — well, at least arguably recognizable. But lately, Lillian has grown bored with these mundane illustrations. “Draw a jaguar,” she will command. Or, “Draw a puma.” Or, “Draw an orangutan.” She is a demanding consumer and pitiless critic, and judges her grandfather’s efforts harshly, claiming that his best effort at an orangutan resembles a lizard or, perhaps, a spider.

That’s usually when grandpa suggests going for a walk.

Lillian Grace, Queen of Comedy

Josh, Lillian’s dad, posted this on Facebook tonight:

Lillian just opened up her sandwich and put her foot in the peanut butter.

“Sandwich dirty!” she says.

“Hmmmmm. Yes.”

“Daddy eat it!”

“Hey now.”

Foot Drawing

Lillian, who will be three years old in just nine days, likes to draw (on anything and anywhere). Sometimes, she finds that holding markers in her hands is just too simple and boring, so she uses her toes to grasp the markers.

She was a little disappointed with the markers she is holding in the picture, which her Yia-Yia got for her, because they only work on special paper, so she wasn’t able to leave traces of her presence on the walls or cover herself in dramatic markings. Grandmothers can be sneaky that way.

Friends

Hanging out with two-almost-three year olds is, while exhausting, often loads of fun. They are endlessly inventive and curious and their light, sweet voices are a most delightful music.

And, once in a while you get a monologue like this:

Lillian (points to herself): “That’s Lillian.”
(Points to her grandfather): “That’s ePa.”
(Pauses, places finger on chin, considers): “Lillian. ePa. Friends.”

Hugging Bugs

Lillian has two plastic bugs that buzz and move when you press a button on their rears. They kept running into one another: “Yook!” Lillian said, “Huggin’ bugs!”

In Performance

Lillian spent her mornings last week at St Thomas’ Episcopal‘ VBS, hanging out with other kids, making various craft-y things, and practicing for the big Friday evening performance. She’s a bit of a ham and really enjoyed it, but her interpretations of her parts in the songs were certainly idiosyncratic.

She’s also gotten to spend a lot of time with her great uncle Paul, great aunt Nina and cousin Samuli, who have been visiting from Kerava, Finland, while her grandpa was amusing everyone by passing a few kidney stones and otherwise making a general nuisance of himself. The Finns return to Finland today and we’ll all miss them, though I suspect they are looking forward to the weather ( highs in the low 70s) and to their garden in full bloom.

As Lillian says, “See ya later, guys!”

Happy 4th of July

Lillian and Josh hang out with a gaggle of Graves’s. (front) Richard Graves, Lauren Roesler, Anne Graves (back) Miranda, Nathan, Michelle, David, Daniel, Nancy, Samuli, Nina, Paul Graves, Lillian and Josh Denby.

Passed Out

It’s a hot day in Houston and girls who are always on the go grab a few winks where ever and when ever they can.

Drumming with Dad

Lillian went to see her cousins Miranda and Nathan in a student production of the musical “Oliver!” this afternoon. It was her first theatrical experience.

When the cast began to sing the opening number, she turned to her grandmother with delight. “Yia-yia,” she said, “They’re singing!” A little later, she stood in her seat, pointed at the singer on the stage and said, “That’s Miranda!” (She did not recognize Nathan, playing the artful dodger, due to his large top hat and cockney accent.)

When she got home, she needed to make music of her own, so had her dad and Yia-Yia accompany her while she played the drums.