We went to the beach yesterday, first time of the year. As always, it was just awesome. I talk to friends here who are all about going to the pool, and look askance at the beach. Maybe there are two kinds of people, beach people and pool people; maybe it's just about how you grew up; maybe it's where you go. Anyway, to some degree it's who you are.
(Lyndsay said in the morning she didn't like the beach; she liked the pool. But I think we have a convert, because she had a really good time.)
In the car on the way there, we heard the pop song "Dynamite," which is a big hit with the kids (who proceeded to sing along). We unloaded and lathered up on the beach, and it was like Jack and Kate had never left -- they immediately ran down to the water, Kate with pail and shovel, Jack to collect seashells and rocks, Lyndsay joining them.
That was pretty much the day, but a few moments stood out.
We always look in the water for horseshoe crabs, and did see a few, including a pair with a clam or oyster stuck onto them -- cool! We watched them for a while. Later, we saw another one, in the sand at the water's edge. Not moving; probably dead. It happens. I tried putting it back in the water, but it just washed gently ashore again.
I kind of wanted to distract the kids, so I got them interested briefly in building a sand castle. Then I looked up and Jack wasn't there. I spotted him a minute later near the water's edge.
He had taken his sand shovel and used it to scoop up the crab, and he was wading out up to his knees in the water to bring it out deeper. Struggling just a little bit, but managing. As Emily and i watched, he lowered it into the water, then ran back, with some effort, to the shore.
I went up to him, barely knowing what to say. But I said, Jack. That was great what you did.
And he said, "I like horseshoe crabs. I didn't want him to die."
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Kate is nervous around animals, nervous around a lot of things -- a sliver of soap in the bathtub puts her into near hysterics. So it was odd when, standing in waist-deep water, she stumbled and fell on her face, floating for a moment, getting drenched, before stumbling to her feet. I ran over to grab her out of the water, expecting tears or fright.
Instead she kind of blinked, smiled, and said, "I got my eyes wet!" And then shrugged and continued to play in the surf.
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As I put Jack to bed tonight, Lyndsay having gone home, I told Jack I had a great weekend with him, and he said, "And with Lyndsay."
And then he was quiet for a minute, and then said, "I miss Lyndsay. Because she was here for 3 days, so it was like she lived here. And it's weird that she's gone."
And I kissed him goodnight.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Lyndsay
We had a guest this weekend, cousin Lyndsay. Both kids are pretty fond of her. I haven't read a bedtime story to either one all weekend; they've requested her. So they all get together on inflatable mattress and she reads to them, their choices. There's a lot of laughing.
We usually help Jack with showers, turning on the water, making sure he gets himself clean, etc. Still help him with brushing his teeth, too, given that cavities like him.
But since the first night Lyndsay was here, after she showered, Jack has gone in to shower on his own. "I can do it myself," he insists. I let him, just watching carefully to make sure he didn't run it too hot or anything. He did all the washing and drying himself, then moved on to brushing his teeth. Wanted to do that himself, too. I said, no Jack, we still need to help you. "But I want to be like Lyndsay!" he said plaintively.
Jack has finally come around on the bees in our backyard. He doesn't like them and still flinches on occasion (so do I), but he now plays readily in their presence. I overheard him talking to Lyndsay yesterday, after she noticed them. "Oh, those are carpenter bees," he said knowingly. "They don't sting."
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Jack had T ball yesterday. A fierce desire to play first base has developed among the players; they all run to it at the start of each inning, and usually end up sharing it during the inning, with coach Moore dictating when it's time for somebody else's turn. I talked to him about it afterward, telling him I thought he'd handled it well, and that it was odd to me that everyone wanted to play first base. He said, "Well, it's a chance to touch the ball."
_______________________________________
We usually help Jack with showers, turning on the water, making sure he gets himself clean, etc. Still help him with brushing his teeth, too, given that cavities like him.
But since the first night Lyndsay was here, after she showered, Jack has gone in to shower on his own. "I can do it myself," he insists. I let him, just watching carefully to make sure he didn't run it too hot or anything. He did all the washing and drying himself, then moved on to brushing his teeth. Wanted to do that himself, too. I said, no Jack, we still need to help you. "But I want to be like Lyndsay!" he said plaintively.
Jack has finally come around on the bees in our backyard. He doesn't like them and still flinches on occasion (so do I), but he now plays readily in their presence. I overheard him talking to Lyndsay yesterday, after she noticed them. "Oh, those are carpenter bees," he said knowingly. "They don't sting."
_______________________________________
Jack had T ball yesterday. A fierce desire to play first base has developed among the players; they all run to it at the start of each inning, and usually end up sharing it during the inning, with coach Moore dictating when it's time for somebody else's turn. I talked to him about it afterward, telling him I thought he'd handled it well, and that it was odd to me that everyone wanted to play first base. He said, "Well, it's a chance to touch the ball."
_______________________________________
Friday, May 20, 2011
Recap of the day
Jack was in a play at school. All the kindergartners were there, dressed in green shirts and tan pants; it was a play about the rainforest. Every kid had a line; Jack's was first. He stood up, wearing his light green dress shirt and khakis, walked to the mike, and said "The play you are about to see is the story of the Great Kapok tree...." Delivered his line and sat down. We all clapped and took pictures. Jack waved from his seat.
Afterward, as I walked to Jack to tell him he did a great job, he said, "Nick's Mom has my MightyBean! Will you get it from her?" So, he hadn't let the play go to his head or anything.
Walking back to the car, Kate walked between Emily and me and held our hands. She didn't walk much at all; she just swung. She's getting heavier.
At home, we played some in the backyard. She helped me a mow a little, then watched me mow, then went on the swings. She lay over it like a folded newspaper and swung back and forth. "I'm Supergirl!" she said.
The neighbor with two young kids walked over and they played in our yard for a bit. They brought out the T ball set for a bit which went well until Kate swung the bat with one of the kids standing too close to the tee and whapped him in the face. He cried. I managed to extract one of Kate's slow, monotone, "sorrrryyyyy"s out of her. Later he was on the slide and it seemed like he was waiting for Kate to walk by the end so he could take her out. Nah, I'm just kidding. He probably wasn't really doing that.
We picked up Jack at school. As usual, they ran around the playground together, and I looked for the mighty bean Jack had dropped in the tall grass yesterday. I was touched by the fact that a couple of his little friends helped out. I said, guys, there's no chance of us finding this thing, you can go play.
We went home and they played with these little bead things that Emily irons and they make little figures and designs that fascinate Jack for about 2 days until he forgets about them.
We ate pizza, and watched some of the Red Sox game. I read Kate "Ferdinand the Bull." And everyone went to bed.
Afterward, as I walked to Jack to tell him he did a great job, he said, "Nick's Mom has my MightyBean! Will you get it from her?" So, he hadn't let the play go to his head or anything.
Walking back to the car, Kate walked between Emily and me and held our hands. She didn't walk much at all; she just swung. She's getting heavier.
At home, we played some in the backyard. She helped me a mow a little, then watched me mow, then went on the swings. She lay over it like a folded newspaper and swung back and forth. "I'm Supergirl!" she said.
The neighbor with two young kids walked over and they played in our yard for a bit. They brought out the T ball set for a bit which went well until Kate swung the bat with one of the kids standing too close to the tee and whapped him in the face. He cried. I managed to extract one of Kate's slow, monotone, "sorrrryyyyy"s out of her. Later he was on the slide and it seemed like he was waiting for Kate to walk by the end so he could take her out. Nah, I'm just kidding. He probably wasn't really doing that.
We picked up Jack at school. As usual, they ran around the playground together, and I looked for the mighty bean Jack had dropped in the tall grass yesterday. I was touched by the fact that a couple of his little friends helped out. I said, guys, there's no chance of us finding this thing, you can go play.
We went home and they played with these little bead things that Emily irons and they make little figures and designs that fascinate Jack for about 2 days until he forgets about them.
We ate pizza, and watched some of the Red Sox game. I read Kate "Ferdinand the Bull." And everyone went to bed.
Monday, May 16, 2011
baptism
Got the kids baptized over the weekend. Strangely affecting.
- Nana and Baba came down from Vermont. It's a long trip for them and they no doubt missed the comforts of home and their own beds but they didn't make so much as a whisper of complaint. Both looked wonderful at Church and I could hear Baba's voice during all the songs, except when Kate was on his lap and he wasn't able to follow along.
- Aunt Robin sent the nicest card from Ireland -- here several relatives lamented the inability to find baptism cards for non-infants -- and beautiful Celtic crosses for the ceremony. Jack wore his even though it got tangled in his tie; Kate might still be wearing hers for all I know.
- All the Rosenfelds and Papa Earl were on hand, with Reanna going up to read the first reading (from the Old Testament) and everyone looking so nice that I didn't feel overdressed in my suit.
- During the baptism, Kate said with some chagrin to Pastor, "You're getting water on my dress." But she didn't freak out, as she does when I drip water on her after washing her face. Jack was completely calm and well-behaved as Pastor put water on his forehead. They shared a towel with each other to dry off, happily not fighting.
-Kate was completely unwilling to smile and look at the camera for family photos, so we got several with all of us smiling beautifully while Kate showed the back of her head. Then we got some without her in them. Later, Reanna took a picture of me and my Dad, and Kate said, "Can I see?" I showed it to her, and I said, this is what a picture looks like when the people in it are smiling and looking at the camera. She said, "OHHHhhhh." I said, do you think you could do that sometime? She said, "Yes! Yes, I will!" So we took some pictures of her with Baba, and maybe later we'll use the magic of technology to doctor one of the other pictures with a smiling Kate face. Or not.
- Jack smiled broadly (a little too much so at times) for almost every photo, willingly bribed by the promise of jelly beans.
- The kids made an amazing amount of noise playing together that evening, while I sat with Baba on a bench and watched. Kate chatted away happily with Uncle Ian ("Ekan! Ekan!" she said if he looked away).
- Dinner was cereal with strawberries and toast with apricot jam. And it was really good.
- Nana and Baba came down from Vermont. It's a long trip for them and they no doubt missed the comforts of home and their own beds but they didn't make so much as a whisper of complaint. Both looked wonderful at Church and I could hear Baba's voice during all the songs, except when Kate was on his lap and he wasn't able to follow along.
- Aunt Robin sent the nicest card from Ireland -- here several relatives lamented the inability to find baptism cards for non-infants -- and beautiful Celtic crosses for the ceremony. Jack wore his even though it got tangled in his tie; Kate might still be wearing hers for all I know.
- All the Rosenfelds and Papa Earl were on hand, with Reanna going up to read the first reading (from the Old Testament) and everyone looking so nice that I didn't feel overdressed in my suit.
- During the baptism, Kate said with some chagrin to Pastor, "You're getting water on my dress." But she didn't freak out, as she does when I drip water on her after washing her face. Jack was completely calm and well-behaved as Pastor put water on his forehead. They shared a towel with each other to dry off, happily not fighting.
-Kate was completely unwilling to smile and look at the camera for family photos, so we got several with all of us smiling beautifully while Kate showed the back of her head. Then we got some without her in them. Later, Reanna took a picture of me and my Dad, and Kate said, "Can I see?" I showed it to her, and I said, this is what a picture looks like when the people in it are smiling and looking at the camera. She said, "OHHHhhhh." I said, do you think you could do that sometime? She said, "Yes! Yes, I will!" So we took some pictures of her with Baba, and maybe later we'll use the magic of technology to doctor one of the other pictures with a smiling Kate face. Or not.
- Jack smiled broadly (a little too much so at times) for almost every photo, willingly bribed by the promise of jelly beans.
- The kids made an amazing amount of noise playing together that evening, while I sat with Baba on a bench and watched. Kate chatted away happily with Uncle Ian ("Ekan! Ekan!" she said if he looked away).
- Dinner was cereal with strawberries and toast with apricot jam. And it was really good.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Movies and art
---
Jack and I went to a movie today, "Rio." He and his classmates had the day off because of testing for older kids; this apparently doesn't apply to very many schools or classes, because he and I were the only people in the theater. Jack said, excitedly, "We're the first ones here!" As the movie itself began, and we were still the only ones there, he said, "Where are you, people?" We had our own private screening.
Jack enjoyed it, initially naming it his second-favorite movie behind "Star Wars." I said, what about "How to Train Your Dragon"? And he said, "Oh. My 3rd favorite movie." And he called "Tangled," which he saw with Emily last weekend, his 4th favorite, until I mentioned "Cars" and "Madagascar." So he then proceeded to name his top 10, which I believe included every movie he's ever seen, except for the first movie he ever saw in a theater, "Horton Hears a Who," which I believe scared him. And I will never forget because we walked up the steps to the row of seats, and I said he could sit down, and he agreeably sat down on the step in the aisle.
At home, I had to check my email, and I heard him sit down at the table to draw a little. Ten minutes later, I saw his picture. He'd written "Rio" across the top, with different colors for each letter, and drawn striking renditions of all the main characters, which were brightly colored birds. The detailing was kind of amazing, I have to say.
Later on, he drew another picture, of himself, riding a shark. "Shark!" it say, and in the picture Jack has a big smile. I said, uh Jack, where did you get this idea? And he said, matter-of-factly, "It just came to me. And, I like to draw, so...."
Jack and I went to a movie today, "Rio." He and his classmates had the day off because of testing for older kids; this apparently doesn't apply to very many schools or classes, because he and I were the only people in the theater. Jack said, excitedly, "We're the first ones here!" As the movie itself began, and we were still the only ones there, he said, "Where are you, people?" We had our own private screening.
Jack enjoyed it, initially naming it his second-favorite movie behind "Star Wars." I said, what about "How to Train Your Dragon"? And he said, "Oh. My 3rd favorite movie." And he called "Tangled," which he saw with Emily last weekend, his 4th favorite, until I mentioned "Cars" and "Madagascar." So he then proceeded to name his top 10, which I believe included every movie he's ever seen, except for the first movie he ever saw in a theater, "Horton Hears a Who," which I believe scared him. And I will never forget because we walked up the steps to the row of seats, and I said he could sit down, and he agreeably sat down on the step in the aisle.
At home, I had to check my email, and I heard him sit down at the table to draw a little. Ten minutes later, I saw his picture. He'd written "Rio" across the top, with different colors for each letter, and drawn striking renditions of all the main characters, which were brightly colored birds. The detailing was kind of amazing, I have to say.
Later on, he drew another picture, of himself, riding a shark. "Shark!" it say, and in the picture Jack has a big smile. I said, uh Jack, where did you get this idea? And he said, matter-of-factly, "It just came to me. And, I like to draw, so...."
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
My brudder
Jack and I typically pick up Kate after preschool. He enters the wrong code to the door before I can enter the correct one, and then we eventually get in. He asks to go up and say hi to his old teachers sometimes, and we do that.
Then we head into the tumble room, which is where Kate's class usually is, running around and playing with various toys and such. Jack climbs into one of the little cars and drives it around, or kicks a ball and I hold my breath hoping it doesn't catch some toddler in the side of the head.
But today Kate's class was up in her room, crowding around one of the teacher's who was reading a story. We walked in, Kate spotted us, and ran over and greeted us happily. Then she went back to the group, and pointed to Jack and said -- as if we didn't pick her up almost every day -- "That's my brudder! That's my brudder." Very happy.
Jack sits down with the group, shows them his new toys, "Mighty Beanz," and they all ooh and aah. And then we head off, me and Kate and her brudder.
Then we head into the tumble room, which is where Kate's class usually is, running around and playing with various toys and such. Jack climbs into one of the little cars and drives it around, or kicks a ball and I hold my breath hoping it doesn't catch some toddler in the side of the head.
But today Kate's class was up in her room, crowding around one of the teacher's who was reading a story. We walked in, Kate spotted us, and ran over and greeted us happily. Then she went back to the group, and pointed to Jack and said -- as if we didn't pick her up almost every day -- "That's my brudder! That's my brudder." Very happy.
Jack sits down with the group, shows them his new toys, "Mighty Beanz," and they all ooh and aah. And then we head off, me and Kate and her brudder.
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Catching up
Wow, it's been a while. So what's been going on?
- Kate was stick with a stomach flu over Easter. She couldn't do an Easter Egg hunt (which was indoor because it rained so much), so she sat on the couch while Jack searched around the house for eggs. He gave her all the pink and purple ones.
- Finding eggs was so much fun for Jack we continued to hide them, even emptied of candy, for the next two days, and then he did the same for us.
- Kate continued to be sick and drowsy until midday Monday. Then either because I kept giving her water in case she was dehydrated, or because Jack came home from school Monday afternoon, she suddenly made a dramatic improvement. She went from sleeping on the futon most of Monday morning to running around and playing with Jack Monday afternoon as if she'd never been sick. Seeing Jack made her happy and healthy, I sincerely believe it.
- Jack had his first T ball game on Saturday. I hustled him out of the house; didn't want to be late! He was probably more relaxed than I was. We walked to the park with him in his little ballcap, T-shirt, and glove. I snapped pictures as we walked. Went to the field where the game was supposed to be played. Everyone looked so big! They were; another team was playing there, with older kids. We walked to the actual field. The team did stretching exercises, Jack with a goofy grin on his face, and the game started. When he came up to bat, he high-stepped to the plate. My son, Deion Sanders? Got his hit -- everyone gets a hit in T ball -- and ran the bases, 90 feet at a time. Three innings of everyone on both teams batting, scoring, and then taking the field. Jack occupied the pitcher's mound, since he's one of the better fielders and most balls don't get out of the infield. Usually he ran to the ball. Occasionally he was looking in another direction. Two of his friends were on the other team; it's sort of like Major League Baseball thanks to free agency. After the game, all the kids slapped hands, and we headed off for ice cream, or at least a cookie.
- Jack had a trip to the doctor. I'm wondering, do all kids touch everything they see, or is it just mine? Bad enough he touches everything; worse at a place I'd rather he keep his hands jammed in his pockets the entire time. Anyway, he's very relaxed at the doctor. He climbed up on the table and stretched out like he was relaxing on the beach. Funny. We had to pick up a prescription, and as we waited in line at the pharmacy I had to constantly remind him not to touch everything.
- Kate's new favorite book is the second Harold and the Purple Crayon book, or the second one we have, Harold's A B Cs. She's taking an interest in words these days. "What does THAT say? And what does THAT say? And...."
- I finish the books when I read to Kate and she clambers over my lap, smiles at me, turns out the light, clambers back over me, and lies down. "Swing on a star?" she asks. Yup.
- Kate was stick with a stomach flu over Easter. She couldn't do an Easter Egg hunt (which was indoor because it rained so much), so she sat on the couch while Jack searched around the house for eggs. He gave her all the pink and purple ones.
- Finding eggs was so much fun for Jack we continued to hide them, even emptied of candy, for the next two days, and then he did the same for us.
- Kate continued to be sick and drowsy until midday Monday. Then either because I kept giving her water in case she was dehydrated, or because Jack came home from school Monday afternoon, she suddenly made a dramatic improvement. She went from sleeping on the futon most of Monday morning to running around and playing with Jack Monday afternoon as if she'd never been sick. Seeing Jack made her happy and healthy, I sincerely believe it.
- Jack had his first T ball game on Saturday. I hustled him out of the house; didn't want to be late! He was probably more relaxed than I was. We walked to the park with him in his little ballcap, T-shirt, and glove. I snapped pictures as we walked. Went to the field where the game was supposed to be played. Everyone looked so big! They were; another team was playing there, with older kids. We walked to the actual field. The team did stretching exercises, Jack with a goofy grin on his face, and the game started. When he came up to bat, he high-stepped to the plate. My son, Deion Sanders? Got his hit -- everyone gets a hit in T ball -- and ran the bases, 90 feet at a time. Three innings of everyone on both teams batting, scoring, and then taking the field. Jack occupied the pitcher's mound, since he's one of the better fielders and most balls don't get out of the infield. Usually he ran to the ball. Occasionally he was looking in another direction. Two of his friends were on the other team; it's sort of like Major League Baseball thanks to free agency. After the game, all the kids slapped hands, and we headed off for ice cream, or at least a cookie.
- Jack had a trip to the doctor. I'm wondering, do all kids touch everything they see, or is it just mine? Bad enough he touches everything; worse at a place I'd rather he keep his hands jammed in his pockets the entire time. Anyway, he's very relaxed at the doctor. He climbed up on the table and stretched out like he was relaxing on the beach. Funny. We had to pick up a prescription, and as we waited in line at the pharmacy I had to constantly remind him not to touch everything.
- Kate's new favorite book is the second Harold and the Purple Crayon book, or the second one we have, Harold's A B Cs. She's taking an interest in words these days. "What does THAT say? And what does THAT say? And...."
- I finish the books when I read to Kate and she clambers over my lap, smiles at me, turns out the light, clambers back over me, and lies down. "Swing on a star?" she asks. Yup.
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