They can both catch me off guard sometimes with how wonderful they are!
Today I got a little stolen time with both wonderful things-- the sun came out unexpectedly after school, and we spent some lovely family time out in the yard, raking and cleaning and looking for buds on the trees...
I wish I could just record everything that boy says, sometimes. Every line he speaks is funny and sweet and utterly adorable these days.
Upon being told that the sand in his sandbox was pretty wet today: "Yeah, it really sticks to my hand a lot! And it falls right off into my sandbox!"
As I mentioned I needed two shovels to load up some lawn waste into the wheelbarrow "Oh! I have a little shovel!" And off he went to get it... (note: this is not actually a little shovel. We, apparently, do not believe in "children's versions" of adult tools. Jack's little shovel is a full size garden shovel with a somewhat small blade... it is important to picture him carefully wielding this tool as you read the next section.)
He proceeded to have the most splendid time shoveling up piles of dead grass -- "It's easy with my shovel. I pick up a little pile like this!!" -- and hoisting them up into the wheelbarrow (as tall as he is, almost!)
And everytime Nat raked more into the pile-- oh! the joy in Jack's voice as he exclaimed "Thank you Daddy!!!" Never seen a kid more excited to do work!
And on an unrelated note-- tonight Jack learned the word "flatulent". Yep. There you have it.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Easter Eggs and IKEA
We had a most delightful weekend. Saturday-- laid back, close to home. Went and got our taxes done. Jack charmed Bonnie, our accountant, with train noises and chatting. Went out to breakfast because we happened to be around the corner from a breakfast-only restaurant. First Watch-- pretty good food, nice atmosphere. One got the sense that most of the customers were "regulars". Jack continued to charm. He met a few kids in the waiting area and spent approximately 1 minutes smiling and waving at a little boy who stared fixedly at Jack's toy train the whole time. Thereafter, for the rest of the time at the restaurant, Jack referred to this boy and his family as "his friends" and asked repeatedly if he could go "check" them or sit with them. He is, as you can see, becoming increasingly friendly.
After breakfast we adjourned to the Annual Cleveland Heights Egg Hunt. Advertised as being located "in the Meadow" at Forest Hills Park, I had pictured the event as a rather bucolic scene of children frolicking in the long grasses, traipsing between the trees that dot that lovely expanse of lawn. As the day had dawned sunny and clear, I was ready for photo-ops galore...
Well.
It turns out that "egg HUNT" was a bit of a misnomer, as was "meadow." Try "Annual Egg Grab" located conveniently in the tennis courts.
Sigh.
After I got over my disappointment in the non-photogenic quality of the event, I had to admit it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life. Seriously. Hundreds of children, separated by age group into sections of tennis courts like cattle into corrals, all waiting patiently behind the white lines, beyond which lay hundreds of plastic Easter eggs, carpeting the courts entirely. A child would have been very hard pressed to not "find" an egg at this hunt. What is it with our society and "success for all??" At the appointed hour (11am sharp!) a city councilwoman released the children who then rushed in a pack out into the eggs...
While mom and dad mocked the proceedings, Jack enjoyed himself thoroughly. He was excited to learn that eggs had something inside, and then wanted to open each egg as he "found" it. We couldn't seem to impress upon him that really, this was all about quantity. While other 2 year olds got into it and began to shovel the eggs, two at a time, into giant baskets, Jack wandered around, curious about "wat over dere???" and examining the eggs he'd already found. It's always entertaining to have the unique child! :)
Here are a few photos of the morning (we did have the camera along, after all!!)
Waiting...
Almost time
the intrepid "hunter"
Sunday-- a road trip. We headed off to IKEA, needing a few items around the house and an excuse to see friends Fiona and Anthony (who we are excited to learn, are expecting their first baby in August!) I can sum up the day by saying that Jack was perfect. We really couldn't get over it. From the moment he woke up til we got home at past-his-bedtime, he was the most well-behaved, funny, lovely kid you can imagine...
Details to follow...
After breakfast we adjourned to the Annual Cleveland Heights Egg Hunt. Advertised as being located "in the Meadow" at Forest Hills Park, I had pictured the event as a rather bucolic scene of children frolicking in the long grasses, traipsing between the trees that dot that lovely expanse of lawn. As the day had dawned sunny and clear, I was ready for photo-ops galore...
Well.
It turns out that "egg HUNT" was a bit of a misnomer, as was "meadow." Try "Annual Egg Grab" located conveniently in the tennis courts.
Sigh.
After I got over my disappointment in the non-photogenic quality of the event, I had to admit it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life. Seriously. Hundreds of children, separated by age group into sections of tennis courts like cattle into corrals, all waiting patiently behind the white lines, beyond which lay hundreds of plastic Easter eggs, carpeting the courts entirely. A child would have been very hard pressed to not "find" an egg at this hunt. What is it with our society and "success for all??" At the appointed hour (11am sharp!) a city councilwoman released the children who then rushed in a pack out into the eggs...
While mom and dad mocked the proceedings, Jack enjoyed himself thoroughly. He was excited to learn that eggs had something inside, and then wanted to open each egg as he "found" it. We couldn't seem to impress upon him that really, this was all about quantity. While other 2 year olds got into it and began to shovel the eggs, two at a time, into giant baskets, Jack wandered around, curious about "wat over dere???" and examining the eggs he'd already found. It's always entertaining to have the unique child! :)
Here are a few photos of the morning (we did have the camera along, after all!!)
 |
| From March 2010 |
Waiting...
Almost time
 |
| From March 2010 |
the intrepid "hunter"
| ||
| From March 2010 |
 |
| From March 2010 |
Sunday-- a road trip. We headed off to IKEA, needing a few items around the house and an excuse to see friends Fiona and Anthony (who we are excited to learn, are expecting their first baby in August!) I can sum up the day by saying that Jack was perfect. We really couldn't get over it. From the moment he woke up til we got home at past-his-bedtime, he was the most well-behaved, funny, lovely kid you can imagine...
Details to follow...
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
We celebrated in style this evening! "Family Style," that is... Gone are the days of pitchers of green beer, that is for sure! But our evening together as a family rivaled any of those nights, I would say.
Nat is on his spring break, which is lovely. We have gotten used to our schedule of barely seeing each other all week, but I could easily be convinced to get used to having both of us around more. To add to the loveliness, we were blessed with a perfect 65 degree day and blue-sky March sunshine. So, we walked to Turtle Park. I am glad it is Turtle Park season again! I've missed it, and I've missed walking places. Long snowy winter + pregnant momma + trying to take a stroller/dog everywhere = very few walks over the past few months! I may be feeling our mile-long walk tomorrow! Despite being taken at a rather slow, lumbering pace, the walk was grand. Jack was excited to go to Turtle Park. We woke him from his nap around 5:30 and asked him if he was ready to head to the park. He said "yeah" and then asked if we would see Tare at the park. Took me a minute but we finally agreed that he was talking about Claire, his friend from the parent center. He was insistent that we would see her at the park. Or perhaps at her house. "We meet Tare at her home? Yeah! Her will talk at Turtle Park!" Finally Nat e-mailed Claire's dad to let him know we were heading to the park and that Jack had wanted to invite Claire. Turns out Eric happened to check his e-mail, they happened to be free, and Jack got his wish: Claire met us at the park. Those two kids are so insanely cute together. Two little blondies, just the same size, climbing and running and digging in sand. Nat, Eric and I sat around and talked about teaching and ski vacations, and soaked up the sun. Fabulous.
All of a sudden it was 7 so we adjourned to Chipotle for supper. Jack was inspired by Claire, who is an excellent eater-- for the first time he took a fork and dug right in to our burrito bowl. Rice, tomatoes, lettuce, salsa and all. Amazing! He also kept getting out of his chair, going over to Claire, and patting her leg while leaning in towards her and saying "hi!!" or making a silly noise to make her giggle. Quite the ladies man already, eh?? We are definitely encouraging this as Claire is a cutie pie and we really like her family! :)
The boy was a tired little bug by the time we waddled slowly home, watched some Thomas, and made it upstairs for bed. But not too tired to make my evening perfect by singing along with his lullabies. I know I can't put it into words, how perfect and silly and adorable and happy his singing is. The way he says the words, the funny little syncopation he throws in, the smile on his face and the enthusiastic, full volume, off-pitch tune..he has to name the song we are to sing, and then we can sing together. But I have to say it is hard to sing a soothing tune when you are trying so hard not to laugh...
Love that boy!
Nat is on his spring break, which is lovely. We have gotten used to our schedule of barely seeing each other all week, but I could easily be convinced to get used to having both of us around more. To add to the loveliness, we were blessed with a perfect 65 degree day and blue-sky March sunshine. So, we walked to Turtle Park. I am glad it is Turtle Park season again! I've missed it, and I've missed walking places. Long snowy winter + pregnant momma + trying to take a stroller/dog everywhere = very few walks over the past few months! I may be feeling our mile-long walk tomorrow! Despite being taken at a rather slow, lumbering pace, the walk was grand. Jack was excited to go to Turtle Park. We woke him from his nap around 5:30 and asked him if he was ready to head to the park. He said "yeah" and then asked if we would see Tare at the park. Took me a minute but we finally agreed that he was talking about Claire, his friend from the parent center. He was insistent that we would see her at the park. Or perhaps at her house. "We meet Tare at her home? Yeah! Her will talk at Turtle Park!" Finally Nat e-mailed Claire's dad to let him know we were heading to the park and that Jack had wanted to invite Claire. Turns out Eric happened to check his e-mail, they happened to be free, and Jack got his wish: Claire met us at the park. Those two kids are so insanely cute together. Two little blondies, just the same size, climbing and running and digging in sand. Nat, Eric and I sat around and talked about teaching and ski vacations, and soaked up the sun. Fabulous.
All of a sudden it was 7 so we adjourned to Chipotle for supper. Jack was inspired by Claire, who is an excellent eater-- for the first time he took a fork and dug right in to our burrito bowl. Rice, tomatoes, lettuce, salsa and all. Amazing! He also kept getting out of his chair, going over to Claire, and patting her leg while leaning in towards her and saying "hi!!" or making a silly noise to make her giggle. Quite the ladies man already, eh?? We are definitely encouraging this as Claire is a cutie pie and we really like her family! :)
The boy was a tired little bug by the time we waddled slowly home, watched some Thomas, and made it upstairs for bed. But not too tired to make my evening perfect by singing along with his lullabies. I know I can't put it into words, how perfect and silly and adorable and happy his singing is. The way he says the words, the funny little syncopation he throws in, the smile on his face and the enthusiastic, full volume, off-pitch tune..he has to name the song we are to sing, and then we can sing together. But I have to say it is hard to sing a soothing tune when you are trying so hard not to laugh...
Love that boy!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Spring ...
... glimmering ahead of us! The past 3 days have been in the 50's and 60's, and gloriously sunny. Almost all of the snow has melted, including the mountain at the base of the driveway, revealing the lovely March mud and the accumulated litter and dog poo of winter. Yet despite this uninspiring scenery, it is delicious and wonderful outside. The boy has been enjoying the varied textures of spring, discovering the mud-- "What is mud??? It's on the ground??? There's some mud! There's some more!"-- and the joy of kicking apart the last slushy piles of snow and jumping in the puddles of melt. Yesterday I tried to get him to take a walk to the park but we ended up in the backyard where he helped me to spot and pick up dog poop for a good half hour. Never has anyone been so excited about looking for dog poop. It was a good day for that excitement as apparently good ol' Corydon had a very productive winter.
This evening we had a lovely family walk to Starbucks. Jack enjoyed picking out and purchasing his own chocolate milk and then talking with me about the ways in which it was similar to my coffee. On the way home Nat and I discussed how really, we ought to just lease a BMW 5 series as our next family car. :) Nat noted that if the lease was $400 or less he could just work at Starbucks to cover it. Which brought on a spontaneous rendition of "everybody's working for a Beemer". Which in turn led Jack to repeatedly sing, and then yell, "everyone working for Beemer!!!!". And then giggle. Who knew that would be the best song ever.
This evening we had a lovely family walk to Starbucks. Jack enjoyed picking out and purchasing his own chocolate milk and then talking with me about the ways in which it was similar to my coffee. On the way home Nat and I discussed how really, we ought to just lease a BMW 5 series as our next family car. :) Nat noted that if the lease was $400 or less he could just work at Starbucks to cover it. Which brought on a spontaneous rendition of "everybody's working for a Beemer". Which in turn led Jack to repeatedly sing, and then yell, "everyone working for Beemer!!!!". And then giggle. Who knew that would be the best song ever.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The things he says, reprise...
"WOOO-WOOOO!" Jack spends much of his day imitating a train, recently. I think, sometimes, this is the noise he uses to get our attention. Makes me think of my mom and Becca making loon calls through the house when they needed to find one another. It's a happy noise, the woo-wooing. Sometimes it's accompanied by the appropriate motions-- pushing around a train, chugging around as a train himself. Other times, he just woo-woos for the joy of it, I think.
"Ting me two tongs, mommy" Jack has gotten into hearing lullabies when he is tucked into bed. he is very specific that they be Tender Shepherd and Lullaby and Goodnight. And god forbid I change any of the words-- he has them memorized and will quickly correct me. He frequently tells me, "member mommy loves you toe much!!", the last line of our made up version of lullaby. :) I tell you, I am going to miss the "s as a t-sound" phase of his talking. So stinking cute. Or, rather, toe tinking cute!
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