Jack was up too late last night, so he was a little out of it today. Plus he had a slight cold. But, the day came anyway...
- Start with last night, we had breakfast for dinner. I make faces on their plates: the mini-bagels are the eyes, scrambled eggs for mouth (or hair sometimes, with bacon for the mouth), and a strawberry for a nose. I think they enjoy it as much as I do. Maybe it's a toss-up.
- This morning they had breakfast for breakfast. Yogurt, cinnamon toast, cereal. Canteloupe. Whatever one of them asks for, the other one wants. "I want milk TOO!" "I want canteloupe TOO."
- Went to the bank. Jack requested the latest rock and roll CD. Sonic Youth. I don't think there's any cursing in it, though I'll need to screen things closely as time goes on.
- Took Jack for a haircut. Kate ran around the barber shop, peering through glass into cabinets. I read them both the Scooby Doo, Haunting at the Playground book. I've read that thing for basically every haircut Jack has had, so I'm thinking about 6 times a year for the last three and a half years. I think that's the main reason Jack wants to keep going to Ruvo's, even more than the lollipops afterward. That book.
- They got lollipops.
- We went to the library. Found the book Jack wanted, that he'd seen with his class this week. Found a book for Kate, who of course walks around picking random books off shelves that she wants, even if she has no idea what they are.
- Outside the library, they sat on the statue of a bull, as they also do every time. Last time they went with Emily, and maybe she called it an ox. Because Jack said, "Can we go sit on the axe?" And I'm like, WHAT?
- Went to the little playground. Jack was kind of tired and went through the motions at the slides and stuff. Kate wanted to go on the swings. I put her on a swing next to a little boy, a bit younger than her, being pushed by his Mom. Kate laughed gaily as I pushed her. The boy was absolutely silent as he swung. It was a little embarrassing. When Kate laughs, she really laughs.
- Went to McDonalds. They'd moved on from How to Train Your Dragon toys, but the woman went in the back and found a couple. They were happy. Both ate all their food. Something about McDonalds.
- At home, Kate napped. Jack could have but didn't. We had a quiet afteroon and they went to bed early. Like I'm going to do now.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Coach
Soccer started today for Jack. I was an assistant coach last year, and was planning to do the same thing this year. Then Monday the woman at Parks and Recreation called me and basically said there weren't enough coaches and there might not be a team if I didn't become the head coach. So, I'm the head coach. I mentioned it to Jack yesterday. This morning I was in the kitchen giving Kate breakfast when Jack walked downstairs. I said, Hi Jack. He said, "Good morning, Coach."
So we had soccer, I handed out the jerseys, met all the little kids. And they did fine with drills, Red Light, Green Light, etc. Jack messed around for the first minute -- like I was his Dad, which makes sense -- but then I told him to be serious, and he was. Then his friend Teddy showed up and there was great happiness.
The game itself was OK. It's strange how much changes in a year. A year ago, when the kids were all 4, I don't think anyone had any idea what the score was. This year, with 5 and 6 year olds, everyone knew. You had kids saying, "We have 3 and you only have 1" and stuff. It was crazy. I guess that's how it is.
Jack was game enough. He ran after the ball. He was usually around it, and kicked it when it was near him. And he likes to run around kicking it and pretending to score in the backyard. But that's probably as far as it goes. I think he does it for the heck of it, and likes the running part, but I don't think he cares all that much about scoring. It's just something to do. Which is fine; it beats a year ago when frequently he acted like he'd rather be somewhere else. So that's progress.
Afterward, we had donuts.
So we had soccer, I handed out the jerseys, met all the little kids. And they did fine with drills, Red Light, Green Light, etc. Jack messed around for the first minute -- like I was his Dad, which makes sense -- but then I told him to be serious, and he was. Then his friend Teddy showed up and there was great happiness.
The game itself was OK. It's strange how much changes in a year. A year ago, when the kids were all 4, I don't think anyone had any idea what the score was. This year, with 5 and 6 year olds, everyone knew. You had kids saying, "We have 3 and you only have 1" and stuff. It was crazy. I guess that's how it is.
Jack was game enough. He ran after the ball. He was usually around it, and kicked it when it was near him. And he likes to run around kicking it and pretending to score in the backyard. But that's probably as far as it goes. I think he does it for the heck of it, and likes the running part, but I don't think he cares all that much about scoring. It's just something to do. Which is fine; it beats a year ago when frequently he acted like he'd rather be somewhere else. So that's progress.
Afterward, we had donuts.
Friday, April 23, 2010
today
Jack helped Kate draw a picture today. "I drew the outline, but she drew the face...see?" Two eyes and a line for a mouth, in one of Jack's little stick figures. It was a Kate all right.
Jack made a Hiccup the Vikings and a Toothless the dragon out of playdough, and snuck them up to his room to dry out forever.
We played at the playground; Jack climbed up something he normally doesn't climb up, and was proud; Kate walked across the shaky bridge by herself, and was proud. "Look, Daddy, I did it!" she said. The first time I helped her, but then a little later she went back and did it on her own.
The kids ran around the backyard and I sat at the table in the sun and was happy.
Jack made a Hiccup the Vikings and a Toothless the dragon out of playdough, and snuck them up to his room to dry out forever.
We played at the playground; Jack climbed up something he normally doesn't climb up, and was proud; Kate walked across the shaky bridge by herself, and was proud. "Look, Daddy, I did it!" she said. The first time I helped her, but then a little later she went back and did it on her own.
The kids ran around the backyard and I sat at the table in the sun and was happy.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Kids on Break, Day 5
It was rainy and grey today, and we were out of groceries. We still had coffee, but were basically out of cereal and fruit, two morning staples. So we managed breakfast as best we could (Cheerios, not that filling for me) and headed out.
Went to the supermarket, so Jack and Kate could both ride the bus -- the cart shaped like a bus. Jack mentioned it on the way there, and Kate chimed in, "Want to ride BUS!" It was available. We took it. Cruised through the store loading up on cereal and fruit and yogurt and milk.
Went to the post office. Jack played with the pen on a chain while we waited in line. He acted like it was a rocket. I pulled out the hand sanitizer as soon as we were back in the car. Mailed Jack's birthday cards to Ireland.
At home we drew some pictures. I taught Kate how to draw a face. First make a circle....then dots for eyes....no, press harder.....then a line for the mouth. Yes, that's it! Great face, Kate!
Macaroni and cheese for lunch. Plus they wanted cheese sticks. I tried to explain how it didn't make sense, but whatever. Juice boxes. Toast. They ate well.
During Kate's nap, Jack and I played Dragon Choose. We chose dragons, one by one, from his collection, named them, and played with them. We also made a Lego dragon.
After Kate's nap we all had apples, then sat on the couch and I read them a story from Highlights. Ku Dong or somesuch. Jack liked it, Kate liked sitting on me. We played some rock music, and I bounced each up and down, in turn, on my lap. Much laughter. They watched TV while I worked.
Dinner was French toast and bacon, yum.
Put Kate to bed. I used to cradle her in my arms, now she wants to be held to my shoulder. So I did that for Swing on a Star. She seemed really long, I think she's grown. Then she sang me Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and Edelweiss. Then I sang her Itsy Bitsy Spider and put her to bed.
Jack came in to hug me goodnight. He hugged me, then as he walked off said, "And that's for tomorrow and Sunday night, too." (I'm going to Vermont for a couple of days.)
And then the week was over, and I miss it already.
Went to the supermarket, so Jack and Kate could both ride the bus -- the cart shaped like a bus. Jack mentioned it on the way there, and Kate chimed in, "Want to ride BUS!" It was available. We took it. Cruised through the store loading up on cereal and fruit and yogurt and milk.
Went to the post office. Jack played with the pen on a chain while we waited in line. He acted like it was a rocket. I pulled out the hand sanitizer as soon as we were back in the car. Mailed Jack's birthday cards to Ireland.
At home we drew some pictures. I taught Kate how to draw a face. First make a circle....then dots for eyes....no, press harder.....then a line for the mouth. Yes, that's it! Great face, Kate!
Macaroni and cheese for lunch. Plus they wanted cheese sticks. I tried to explain how it didn't make sense, but whatever. Juice boxes. Toast. They ate well.
During Kate's nap, Jack and I played Dragon Choose. We chose dragons, one by one, from his collection, named them, and played with them. We also made a Lego dragon.
After Kate's nap we all had apples, then sat on the couch and I read them a story from Highlights. Ku Dong or somesuch. Jack liked it, Kate liked sitting on me. We played some rock music, and I bounced each up and down, in turn, on my lap. Much laughter. They watched TV while I worked.
Dinner was French toast and bacon, yum.
Put Kate to bed. I used to cradle her in my arms, now she wants to be held to my shoulder. So I did that for Swing on a Star. She seemed really long, I think she's grown. Then she sang me Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and Edelweiss. Then I sang her Itsy Bitsy Spider and put her to bed.
Jack came in to hug me goodnight. He hugged me, then as he walked off said, "And that's for tomorrow and Sunday night, too." (I'm going to Vermont for a couple of days.)
And then the week was over, and I miss it already.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Kids on Break, Day 4: "Corn is not the best part of my life"
Kids were in a good mood today. Kate actually got into bed for a minute with me and Jack before we went downstairs. Normally she's all "Go downSTAIRSSSSS!" as if she wants a cup of coffee as badly as I do. I don't know what the rush is, I guess she misses her plastic food or something.
We went out early. Went to the bank to deposit a check; kids got lollipops. Jack's turned his mouth blue and he was still eating it 20 minutes later. Kate ate hers like a cookie and it was gone in 2 minutes. "I have more lollipop?" she said. No, Kate.
Went to the toy store to get a birthday gift for Max, next door. Kate hadn't been in a toy store recently, and it was the first time I'd experienced her really noticing things. She was reaching and pointing at everything. Jack looked for dragon toys.
Went to the book store to get gift cards for Jack's cousins, whose birthday was Monday. At the counter, all of the impulse buy stuff was a little too accessible for kids. They grabbed fistfuls of, I don't know, bookmarks, candy, funky pens, whatever. I wearily put everything back, fortunately not having to buy anything additional due to it getting broken.
Went to Starbucks, in the same strip mall. Gift card, got my iced coffee. Jack was getting weary of it all at this point. "Why do we keep going to more stores?" he asked. It wasn't quite a whine, it was almost more befuddlement. Then Starbucks had free samples of little pastry things that I gave to him and Kate. That ended the complaining right quick.
Went to the playground, Lyon's Park, the one we'll one day walk to. Fun was had. There was a little boy, about 3 I later learned from his Mom, who followed Jack around. Jack wanted no part of him; as he explained later, "He kept following me. So, I went down below when he went up on the top part, and when he came down, I went up." Kate, of course, was fascinated by the boy. They made a little train around the playground for a bit.
Went over to Max's to give him his birthday gift. Jack climbed around on the ...climbing wall thingy.... that they'd got for his birthday.
Had lunch. Kids ate cheese sticks, turkey, rolls, and Kate ate peanut butter and jelly. She calls it, "peeberjehwy."
While Kate napped. Jack built an army. Literally; he lined up all his coolest looking toys in a big army on the living room floor. Dragons, robots, Transformers, superheroes, some dinosaurs. More dragons. Then we drew a picture of them together. And he kicked my butt in Yahtzee Jr., as usual.
At one point I looked at the couch, where Kate had been for a while earlier. A brand new box of crayons had been opened. All 15 crayons lay naked on the couch. All their paper wrappers lay strewn about in little scraps. I asked Jack, Why does she do this? The paper keeps crayon from getting on your hands. He started to say something like, "That's Kate..." when I pointed out that he used to do the exact same thing.
After Kate's nap, they ate apples. They're both into green apples these days. Jack eats everything but has me bite out the center part, closest to the core. Kate eats the slices right up to the peel, like it's a watermelon. Four little apple peels sit forlornly on her plate when she's done. Sometimes, feeling bad for them, I eat them.
We went to feed the ducks. We had about three pieces of bread. While we stood there throwing crumbs from those pieces into the water, a woman drove up, parked, and opened her trunk. She had about a dozen entire loaves of bread; they must have been day old or something from a restaurant? I dunno. Anyway, she threw them all in the water, whole pieces, a shower of bread. Roughly 100 pieces of bread floated in the water as we threw our little crumbs from three pieces in. I felt really stupid. If the kids did too, they didn't mention it. Now I know why the ducks are often not very hungry; they're clearly eating well if this woman is a frequent visitor.
We had dinner, chicken nuggets and fries and corn. Jack ate all of his fries and all of his nuggets. He knew we wanted him to eat his corn, but delayed as long as possible. At one point we looked over; he was sitting with his head bent, gazing down at his plate. He noticed us looking at him.
By way of explanation, and with no small amount of regret, he said, "Corn is not the best part of my life."
Put Jack to bed tonight. We told stories. I told him one about a hero rounding up a bunch of other heroes to fight a monster. He enjoyed it. Then he told me one. It bore a suspicious resemblance to the plot of How to Train Your Dragon.
We went out early. Went to the bank to deposit a check; kids got lollipops. Jack's turned his mouth blue and he was still eating it 20 minutes later. Kate ate hers like a cookie and it was gone in 2 minutes. "I have more lollipop?" she said. No, Kate.
Went to the toy store to get a birthday gift for Max, next door. Kate hadn't been in a toy store recently, and it was the first time I'd experienced her really noticing things. She was reaching and pointing at everything. Jack looked for dragon toys.
Went to the book store to get gift cards for Jack's cousins, whose birthday was Monday. At the counter, all of the impulse buy stuff was a little too accessible for kids. They grabbed fistfuls of, I don't know, bookmarks, candy, funky pens, whatever. I wearily put everything back, fortunately not having to buy anything additional due to it getting broken.
Went to Starbucks, in the same strip mall. Gift card, got my iced coffee. Jack was getting weary of it all at this point. "Why do we keep going to more stores?" he asked. It wasn't quite a whine, it was almost more befuddlement. Then Starbucks had free samples of little pastry things that I gave to him and Kate. That ended the complaining right quick.
Went to the playground, Lyon's Park, the one we'll one day walk to. Fun was had. There was a little boy, about 3 I later learned from his Mom, who followed Jack around. Jack wanted no part of him; as he explained later, "He kept following me. So, I went down below when he went up on the top part, and when he came down, I went up." Kate, of course, was fascinated by the boy. They made a little train around the playground for a bit.
Went over to Max's to give him his birthday gift. Jack climbed around on the ...climbing wall thingy.... that they'd got for his birthday.
Had lunch. Kids ate cheese sticks, turkey, rolls, and Kate ate peanut butter and jelly. She calls it, "peeberjehwy."
While Kate napped. Jack built an army. Literally; he lined up all his coolest looking toys in a big army on the living room floor. Dragons, robots, Transformers, superheroes, some dinosaurs. More dragons. Then we drew a picture of them together. And he kicked my butt in Yahtzee Jr., as usual.
At one point I looked at the couch, where Kate had been for a while earlier. A brand new box of crayons had been opened. All 15 crayons lay naked on the couch. All their paper wrappers lay strewn about in little scraps. I asked Jack, Why does she do this? The paper keeps crayon from getting on your hands. He started to say something like, "That's Kate..." when I pointed out that he used to do the exact same thing.
After Kate's nap, they ate apples. They're both into green apples these days. Jack eats everything but has me bite out the center part, closest to the core. Kate eats the slices right up to the peel, like it's a watermelon. Four little apple peels sit forlornly on her plate when she's done. Sometimes, feeling bad for them, I eat them.
We went to feed the ducks. We had about three pieces of bread. While we stood there throwing crumbs from those pieces into the water, a woman drove up, parked, and opened her trunk. She had about a dozen entire loaves of bread; they must have been day old or something from a restaurant? I dunno. Anyway, she threw them all in the water, whole pieces, a shower of bread. Roughly 100 pieces of bread floated in the water as we threw our little crumbs from three pieces in. I felt really stupid. If the kids did too, they didn't mention it. Now I know why the ducks are often not very hungry; they're clearly eating well if this woman is a frequent visitor.
We had dinner, chicken nuggets and fries and corn. Jack ate all of his fries and all of his nuggets. He knew we wanted him to eat his corn, but delayed as long as possible. At one point we looked over; he was sitting with his head bent, gazing down at his plate. He noticed us looking at him.
By way of explanation, and with no small amount of regret, he said, "Corn is not the best part of my life."
Put Jack to bed tonight. We told stories. I told him one about a hero rounding up a bunch of other heroes to fight a monster. He enjoyed it. Then he told me one. It bore a suspicious resemblance to the plot of How to Train Your Dragon.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Kids on Break, Day 3
Well, I worked on Day 2, but Emily had a very nice day with the kids. They went to the library and the playground. Today it was me again.
- I took Kate downstairs, which often begins with Kate getting breakfast for me -- play food, of course. Today, though, she told me she'd be getting breakfast for the babies. Like Jack, certain toys cycle in and out of popularity for her, and now she's into the baby dolls again. So she set them up on the couch and arranged a fine breakfast of waffles and pie for them. She also determined to bring a chair from the kitchen; fortunately Emily came down and talked her into a dining room chair instead, which didn't have as far to travel and made less noise as Kate pushed it across the floor. I made coffee.
- Jack came down and busily drew for a while. Afterward, he showed me what he'd made: a book, titled TOTHLIS (Toothless)THE DRAGON BE (by) JACK RICHARDSON. First page, a picture of TOTHLIS the dragon. Second page, TOTHLIS again. Third page, HICCUP the Viking. Fourth page, Hiccup and Tothlis, Fifth page, Tothlis and a rocket ship. I don't recall a rocket ship in the movie. Sixth page, another rocket ship. Then more Tothlis and Hiccup. Hiccup had a very cute Viking helmet with little horns on it. It might be tough getting him to give up the Vikings even if Favre finally retires.
- After breakfast they played a little, and I went upstairs to work. I heard them come upstairs and head into Jack's room. I checked on them after a few minutes. They were sitting on the bed, and Jack was reading Kate a book, Little Yellow Dog Says Look at Me. I watched for about 5 minutes before Jack noticed me, said "Ahhhh!" and put the book over his face. He was probably reading a lot of it by memory, but I think he was also recognizing and reading a lot of words. It was pretty cool. At certain parts, where Kate laughed or whatever, he looked fondly at her.
-We drove to Stamford to deliver Mommy's suit jacket. The kids were pretty agreeable about hopping in the car, so off we went. We then went to Bruce Park playground. There are a couple of silver slides, side by side. Jack went down one, I went down the other with Kate in my lap. Pretty fast. "Whee!" she said.
- Lunch at McDonalds. Incredibly -- I mean, not THAT incredibly, the movie is out and all, but still -- the Happy Meal toy was a How to Train Your Dragon toy. Jack was thrilled. The booths were all full, so we grabbed a table; they were pretty high with high stools, at least for the kids. Jack did fine, but I worried a little about Kate. Who, remarkably, was perfectly fine, perched on the edge of her high stool, eating her fries one by one, followed by her nuggets. Jack did the same, then eagerly opened his dragon toy.
- The kids played with their new dragon toys at home for half an hour. I think Jack talked Kate into having them fight. Nobody got hurt, which is the best kind of fight I think.
- During Kate's nap, Jack and I played Yahtzee Jr. Dragons played with us. Jack beat me, as usual, in large part because his drops count as rolls if they're good and as drops if they're bad. So some turns he gets a few extra rolls. I also watched a Phineas and Ferb with Jack. I don't watch them enough, because normally I do stuff when they watch TV. It was really funny.
- After Kate's nap, they each had an apple for a snack, counteracting the McDonalds food, dontcha know.
- They played in our room for a little while, Jack climbing into suitcases we pulled out to start packing things up for the pending move, and playing peek-a-boo with Kate. Funny.
- I played a CD for Kate, which has baby sounds on it. She loves it. Jack is sick of it. She heard it for 10 minutes, just laughing at every little baby laugh. Then it was Jack's turn, so we took that CD off in favor of another one. Kate WAILED. I went to make dinner.
- Putting Kate to bed, she sang Edelweiss and Take Me Out to the Ballgame to me. She was still singing when I put her in her crib and left the room. Um, good night Kate. Good night! I like to think she noticed.
- I took Kate downstairs, which often begins with Kate getting breakfast for me -- play food, of course. Today, though, she told me she'd be getting breakfast for the babies. Like Jack, certain toys cycle in and out of popularity for her, and now she's into the baby dolls again. So she set them up on the couch and arranged a fine breakfast of waffles and pie for them. She also determined to bring a chair from the kitchen; fortunately Emily came down and talked her into a dining room chair instead, which didn't have as far to travel and made less noise as Kate pushed it across the floor. I made coffee.
- Jack came down and busily drew for a while. Afterward, he showed me what he'd made: a book, titled TOTHLIS (Toothless)THE DRAGON BE (by) JACK RICHARDSON. First page, a picture of TOTHLIS the dragon. Second page, TOTHLIS again. Third page, HICCUP the Viking. Fourth page, Hiccup and Tothlis, Fifth page, Tothlis and a rocket ship. I don't recall a rocket ship in the movie. Sixth page, another rocket ship. Then more Tothlis and Hiccup. Hiccup had a very cute Viking helmet with little horns on it. It might be tough getting him to give up the Vikings even if Favre finally retires.
- After breakfast they played a little, and I went upstairs to work. I heard them come upstairs and head into Jack's room. I checked on them after a few minutes. They were sitting on the bed, and Jack was reading Kate a book, Little Yellow Dog Says Look at Me. I watched for about 5 minutes before Jack noticed me, said "Ahhhh!" and put the book over his face. He was probably reading a lot of it by memory, but I think he was also recognizing and reading a lot of words. It was pretty cool. At certain parts, where Kate laughed or whatever, he looked fondly at her.
-We drove to Stamford to deliver Mommy's suit jacket. The kids were pretty agreeable about hopping in the car, so off we went. We then went to Bruce Park playground. There are a couple of silver slides, side by side. Jack went down one, I went down the other with Kate in my lap. Pretty fast. "Whee!" she said.
- Lunch at McDonalds. Incredibly -- I mean, not THAT incredibly, the movie is out and all, but still -- the Happy Meal toy was a How to Train Your Dragon toy. Jack was thrilled. The booths were all full, so we grabbed a table; they were pretty high with high stools, at least for the kids. Jack did fine, but I worried a little about Kate. Who, remarkably, was perfectly fine, perched on the edge of her high stool, eating her fries one by one, followed by her nuggets. Jack did the same, then eagerly opened his dragon toy.
- The kids played with their new dragon toys at home for half an hour. I think Jack talked Kate into having them fight. Nobody got hurt, which is the best kind of fight I think.
- During Kate's nap, Jack and I played Yahtzee Jr. Dragons played with us. Jack beat me, as usual, in large part because his drops count as rolls if they're good and as drops if they're bad. So some turns he gets a few extra rolls. I also watched a Phineas and Ferb with Jack. I don't watch them enough, because normally I do stuff when they watch TV. It was really funny.
- After Kate's nap, they each had an apple for a snack, counteracting the McDonalds food, dontcha know.
- They played in our room for a little while, Jack climbing into suitcases we pulled out to start packing things up for the pending move, and playing peek-a-boo with Kate. Funny.
- I played a CD for Kate, which has baby sounds on it. She loves it. Jack is sick of it. She heard it for 10 minutes, just laughing at every little baby laugh. Then it was Jack's turn, so we took that CD off in favor of another one. Kate WAILED. I went to make dinner.
- Putting Kate to bed, she sang Edelweiss and Take Me Out to the Ballgame to me. She was still singing when I put her in her crib and left the room. Um, good night Kate. Good night! I like to think she noticed.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Kids on Break, Day 1
Kids are on vacation this week, so it's time for a daily blog. It's late though, so this one will be fairly quick.
- Woke at 4:45. Heard Kate around then. Her window was open and she may have been cold. I went in to close it around 5:15 because she was still making noise. She thought it was time to get up and wailed when I left. That didn't work.
- Took the kids out to Dunkin' Donuts around 8:30; wanted to start the week off right, or at least better than when we'd woken up. Kate walked some, then held her arms up: "Pick me up." Donuts were had and they got the iced coffee to cream ratio right for a change.
- Went to the playground. "Baby playground?" said Kate hopefully. There's a smaller one we go to sometimes. We went there and raced around until Daddy wanted to curl up on the bench with his iced coffee.
- When Kate napped, Jack and I made more pictures of Toothless (Jack spells it TOTHLIS with the L backward, it's very cute) the Dragon from How to Train Your Dragon. Then we played Yahtzee Jr.
- After Kate's nap, we played some in the backyard. Ran around with golf clubs, threw a football, kicked a mini basketball. Neither Jack nor Kate hit each other in the mouth with a club. Or me.
- Watched Backyardigans "Mighty Knights" episode, because Kate loves Backyardigans, and Jack loves dragons right now. There's a dragon in it.
- Gave Kate her bath. She doesn't like the shampoo but her hair is long enough now that she puts her head down and soap doesn't get in her eyes. She announced this to me happily. "Not in my eyes."
- Put Kate to bed. She sang me "Edelweiss." At the end, when you're supposed to say "Bless my homeland forever" after the title, she starts the song again ("Every morning greet. me...."). Theoretically it could go on forever, if I didn't put her to bed.
- Hugged Jack goodnight. Day 1 pretty good.
- Woke at 4:45. Heard Kate around then. Her window was open and she may have been cold. I went in to close it around 5:15 because she was still making noise. She thought it was time to get up and wailed when I left. That didn't work.
- Took the kids out to Dunkin' Donuts around 8:30; wanted to start the week off right, or at least better than when we'd woken up. Kate walked some, then held her arms up: "Pick me up." Donuts were had and they got the iced coffee to cream ratio right for a change.
- Went to the playground. "Baby playground?" said Kate hopefully. There's a smaller one we go to sometimes. We went there and raced around until Daddy wanted to curl up on the bench with his iced coffee.
- When Kate napped, Jack and I made more pictures of Toothless (Jack spells it TOTHLIS with the L backward, it's very cute) the Dragon from How to Train Your Dragon. Then we played Yahtzee Jr.
- After Kate's nap, we played some in the backyard. Ran around with golf clubs, threw a football, kicked a mini basketball. Neither Jack nor Kate hit each other in the mouth with a club. Or me.
- Watched Backyardigans "Mighty Knights" episode, because Kate loves Backyardigans, and Jack loves dragons right now. There's a dragon in it.
- Gave Kate her bath. She doesn't like the shampoo but her hair is long enough now that she puts her head down and soap doesn't get in her eyes. She announced this to me happily. "Not in my eyes."
- Put Kate to bed. She sang me "Edelweiss." At the end, when you're supposed to say "Bless my homeland forever" after the title, she starts the song again ("Every morning greet. me...."). Theoretically it could go on forever, if I didn't put her to bed.
- Hugged Jack goodnight. Day 1 pretty good.
Friday, April 09, 2010
Stories and Spies with Jack and Kate
I sat on the couch reading books to them today: Madeline, which I think I'd read way back when I was a kid, and neither of them seemed really into, but Jack picked it out so I did; the Very Hungry Caterpillar; and several Clifford stories, which they love and I absolutely despise. Like his birthday story, where none of his friends show up at his birthday party, and they find them at the park, where they say, they didn't come because they didn't think their presents were good enough for a great friend like Clifford. I mean, what?
Anyway. I read them stories and they loved them, and then I got up and did something else for a bit. When I came back, Kate was standing at the couch reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar. She turned each page, looking at all the things the little caterpillar supposedly ate. As she turned the pages, she said, "Strawberry!" and "Cake!" and so forth.
At bedtime, Kate found the very old book of I Spy, that was ours growing up and I think Robin might have sent us at one point. Or Mom. I'm sorry, I don't remember which of you sent the thing. Anyway, we read that before bed tonight. It was fun, I pointed to things to see if she knew them. A lot she got right away: "Tomato!" "Apple!" "Banana!" "Door!" Some she surprised me with; I can't remember now, but I was like, Good, Kate! One -- "Monkey!" -- I was confused as to where the average child would see such a thing around the house, as the book claimed. Then there where the things she had no idea what they were, either because they were dated (typewriter) or because she only sees them cut into manageable pieces (pineapple).
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Jack wanted to play spies today. He made all the rules. First he built a rocket ship in our kitchen. He used three chairs and a bunch of blankets, and brought down Puppy and Gromit (because they had to go with him) and his suitcase, and had a whole lot of play money, I guess for the treasure spies find. I rode with him in the rocket for a while; we went to Africa. And before you point out that you don't need a rocket to go to Africa, as I almost did, just remember it would be a whole lot faster.
Jack wore his floppy hat as his spy hat. He'd left it upstairs, and Kate was napping, when we played spies midday, so I went up to get it. I said to Jack, your first mission will be to find your spy hat. So we played warmer....warmer....colder....in the living room, until he found his hat. He thought that was a good mission. Our other missions were finding the fake money, and taking the rocket ship places. He had other rules, like sitting down meant this and standing against the wall meant this. I'm a little hazy on the details, but I know it all made sense to him.
Anyway. I read them stories and they loved them, and then I got up and did something else for a bit. When I came back, Kate was standing at the couch reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar. She turned each page, looking at all the things the little caterpillar supposedly ate. As she turned the pages, she said, "Strawberry!" and "Cake!" and so forth.
At bedtime, Kate found the very old book of I Spy, that was ours growing up and I think Robin might have sent us at one point. Or Mom. I'm sorry, I don't remember which of you sent the thing. Anyway, we read that before bed tonight. It was fun, I pointed to things to see if she knew them. A lot she got right away: "Tomato!" "Apple!" "Banana!" "Door!" Some she surprised me with; I can't remember now, but I was like, Good, Kate! One -- "Monkey!" -- I was confused as to where the average child would see such a thing around the house, as the book claimed. Then there where the things she had no idea what they were, either because they were dated (typewriter) or because she only sees them cut into manageable pieces (pineapple).
----------------
Jack wanted to play spies today. He made all the rules. First he built a rocket ship in our kitchen. He used three chairs and a bunch of blankets, and brought down Puppy and Gromit (because they had to go with him) and his suitcase, and had a whole lot of play money, I guess for the treasure spies find. I rode with him in the rocket for a while; we went to Africa. And before you point out that you don't need a rocket to go to Africa, as I almost did, just remember it would be a whole lot faster.
Jack wore his floppy hat as his spy hat. He'd left it upstairs, and Kate was napping, when we played spies midday, so I went up to get it. I said to Jack, your first mission will be to find your spy hat. So we played warmer....warmer....colder....in the living room, until he found his hat. He thought that was a good mission. Our other missions were finding the fake money, and taking the rocket ship places. He had other rules, like sitting down meant this and standing against the wall meant this. I'm a little hazy on the details, but I know it all made sense to him.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Restaurateurs
Toy food never goes out of style. The kids have been playing with it lately.
We came home today and they started lining up all the plastic toy food on one of the couches. They'd been doing it a little bit, to a lesser extent, of late; putting together meals for their stuffed toys the Easter Bunny brought: Gromit the dog for Jack, a kitty cat for Kate. But they had bigger plans today.
"Who's ready to come to the restaurant?" yelled Jack. "Everybody should come to the restaurant!"
Kate then came into the kitchen. She was wearing her plastic sunglasses up on her forehead, holding her hair back, and talking into the plastic phone that came with her toy kitchen. "Are you coming to the restaurant?" she said. I'm not sure whether she was talking to me or into the phone. Or both. Then she said it again, and then "Yes? You're coming? OK bye." She held the phone down and walked over to grab my hand.
I went out to the living room, where Jack stood with the feast. All of their plastic food -- it's quite a lot, really -- was spread out on the couch. I asked if I could sit on the floor, and did.
Jack said, "We have lots of food at our restaurant. Do you want lunch, dinner, or snack?" Well, we're about to have dinner, I said, so how about a little snack. Jack said, "OK." Kate brought me a piece of cake. "No, Kate!" said Jack. "That's dessert." Kate sat down next to me and pretended to eat the cake.
Jack asked me what I wanted. I said, how about chips? He said, "All we have is a pretzel." I said, fine. He said, "It's fifteen hundred dollars." I said, wow, that's a little steep. He said, "OK, do you want a piece of bread? It's a dollar." I said that sounds good. He handed me the bread. "Do you want butter?" Sure, that would be great.
I ate my bread and butter, Kate ate her cake. Jack said, "Do you want pizza now?" I said, well, how much is it? He said, "It's a dollar." The market had clearly driven prices down.
We ate dinner together, then Emily got home, and we all went into the kitchen and did it again.
We came home today and they started lining up all the plastic toy food on one of the couches. They'd been doing it a little bit, to a lesser extent, of late; putting together meals for their stuffed toys the Easter Bunny brought: Gromit the dog for Jack, a kitty cat for Kate. But they had bigger plans today.
"Who's ready to come to the restaurant?" yelled Jack. "Everybody should come to the restaurant!"
Kate then came into the kitchen. She was wearing her plastic sunglasses up on her forehead, holding her hair back, and talking into the plastic phone that came with her toy kitchen. "Are you coming to the restaurant?" she said. I'm not sure whether she was talking to me or into the phone. Or both. Then she said it again, and then "Yes? You're coming? OK bye." She held the phone down and walked over to grab my hand.
I went out to the living room, where Jack stood with the feast. All of their plastic food -- it's quite a lot, really -- was spread out on the couch. I asked if I could sit on the floor, and did.
Jack said, "We have lots of food at our restaurant. Do you want lunch, dinner, or snack?" Well, we're about to have dinner, I said, so how about a little snack. Jack said, "OK." Kate brought me a piece of cake. "No, Kate!" said Jack. "That's dessert." Kate sat down next to me and pretended to eat the cake.
Jack asked me what I wanted. I said, how about chips? He said, "All we have is a pretzel." I said, fine. He said, "It's fifteen hundred dollars." I said, wow, that's a little steep. He said, "OK, do you want a piece of bread? It's a dollar." I said that sounds good. He handed me the bread. "Do you want butter?" Sure, that would be great.
I ate my bread and butter, Kate ate her cake. Jack said, "Do you want pizza now?" I said, well, how much is it? He said, "It's a dollar." The market had clearly driven prices down.
We ate dinner together, then Emily got home, and we all went into the kitchen and did it again.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Good Friday
It was sunny and beautiful yesterday. So we spent a lot of time outside.
- We went to the playground. Sometimes they like going to the little playground -- Kate calls it "baby playground" -- because for some reason nobody ever goes there. It's not as nice as Lyon's Park, but it's got most of the same stuff, plus you can use all of it because...well, because no one ever goes there.
They went down the slides, and went on the swings a little bit, but mostly Jack wanted to race. Now, it was 10 in the morning and neither Emily nor I felt a whole lot like running, but we did anyway. It's kind of funny that we let Jack win and he knows we let him win (he once referred to my fake running in slow motion style), but we do it anyway. We ran laps, from the playground to the swingset area, and back. Kate ran some, then stepped in soggy, damp grass, stopped, lifted her foot, looked at it, expressed some misgivings about the situation, then went back to running. Once she took a shortcut from the run and stepped into a hole up to her ankle. She didn't run quite as quickly after that.
Jack tried to teach me how to run. "No, Daddy. OK, we go, 'ready....set....go.' And on 'set,' you have to crouch down like this. OK, now Go! No, wait Daddy." So basically, I said, it's go after you've already started? "Right," he said. We did this for a little while.
I impressed Jack by trying to throw a plastic bottle away into a trash can using only my feet. I didn't want to use my hands because, you know, I don't know where that bottle has been. I was ultimately successful.
- We went home, had lunch, and I took Jack to Home Depot for a sink fitting. We got the racecar cart. He was very happy.
- While Kate was napping, I fixed the sink, while Jack kind of helped. Then Emily took him over to the girls' lemonade stand. Kate woke up, and I took her over to feed the ducks. We had a lot of bread and as we approached the water, Kate yelled, "Here, ducks! Here's your BREADDDDDDDD!" We threw bread in the water, piece by piece. Kate sometimes ate a little.
- Emily and Jack joined us at the duck pond. We walked around the water. Jack showed Kate the little flowers that you could pick up off the ground. We went to a little footbridge and Jack explained how he liked to go to one side, throw the flowers in the water, and run back to the other side to see the current carry them under the bridge. And so we did that.
- At home, we played in the backyard. More running and racing around. Some fun with the bubble machine. We gave Jack his new soccer ball -- it starts in a couple of weeks -- and he and I played a little. I lost. Soccer is a contact sport for Jack, in that if I have the ball he'll typically go for me rather than the ball, leaving me sprawled in the grass while he goes on to score. It's possible I take a dive in these matchups.
- We grilled burgers and had gin and tonics. Emily and I anyway. It felt like summer.
- We went to the playground. Sometimes they like going to the little playground -- Kate calls it "baby playground" -- because for some reason nobody ever goes there. It's not as nice as Lyon's Park, but it's got most of the same stuff, plus you can use all of it because...well, because no one ever goes there.
They went down the slides, and went on the swings a little bit, but mostly Jack wanted to race. Now, it was 10 in the morning and neither Emily nor I felt a whole lot like running, but we did anyway. It's kind of funny that we let Jack win and he knows we let him win (he once referred to my fake running in slow motion style), but we do it anyway. We ran laps, from the playground to the swingset area, and back. Kate ran some, then stepped in soggy, damp grass, stopped, lifted her foot, looked at it, expressed some misgivings about the situation, then went back to running. Once she took a shortcut from the run and stepped into a hole up to her ankle. She didn't run quite as quickly after that.
Jack tried to teach me how to run. "No, Daddy. OK, we go, 'ready....set....go.' And on 'set,' you have to crouch down like this. OK, now Go! No, wait Daddy." So basically, I said, it's go after you've already started? "Right," he said. We did this for a little while.
I impressed Jack by trying to throw a plastic bottle away into a trash can using only my feet. I didn't want to use my hands because, you know, I don't know where that bottle has been. I was ultimately successful.
- We went home, had lunch, and I took Jack to Home Depot for a sink fitting. We got the racecar cart. He was very happy.
- While Kate was napping, I fixed the sink, while Jack kind of helped. Then Emily took him over to the girls' lemonade stand. Kate woke up, and I took her over to feed the ducks. We had a lot of bread and as we approached the water, Kate yelled, "Here, ducks! Here's your BREADDDDDDDD!" We threw bread in the water, piece by piece. Kate sometimes ate a little.
- Emily and Jack joined us at the duck pond. We walked around the water. Jack showed Kate the little flowers that you could pick up off the ground. We went to a little footbridge and Jack explained how he liked to go to one side, throw the flowers in the water, and run back to the other side to see the current carry them under the bridge. And so we did that.
- At home, we played in the backyard. More running and racing around. Some fun with the bubble machine. We gave Jack his new soccer ball -- it starts in a couple of weeks -- and he and I played a little. I lost. Soccer is a contact sport for Jack, in that if I have the ball he'll typically go for me rather than the ball, leaving me sprawled in the grass while he goes on to score. It's possible I take a dive in these matchups.
- We grilled burgers and had gin and tonics. Emily and I anyway. It felt like summer.
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