Took the kids ice skating today. Almost didn't because Emily was tired and Kate was whining about something or other, but Emily rallied and Kate suddenly decided she wanted to go too, and there we were. We grabbed the bike helmets and extra padding for Daddy's butt and we were off to Playland's ice rink.
Waiting in line, a guy gave us two free passes on his way out, saying he couldn't use them since they expired tomorrow. I mean, sweet! Talk about a great sign. I figured the result of the two free passes would be that our kids would huddle in the corner of the rink while Emily and I took turns skating around, but no! They were great.
It was Kate's first time on the ice, and she was a little wary at first, clinging to our legs and stuff, but she toughed it out and then she was actually skating. And Jack, at first wary of the big rink, rallied too, and then he and Emily were going around the big rink, and then he and I went around, with him of course leaving me in his dust...ice shavings...whatever.
And the first time we went around I told Kate how proud I was of her and how proud Mommy would be, and then she looked across the rink and saw Mommy and yelled, "Mommy, look! I'm skating!"
And after an hour or so (my ankles think it was more), we got the kids juice boxes and cookies at the vending machine and I let Jack beat me at Air Hockey, and I got to play World Cup Soccer pinball for the first time in 15 years, and it was awesome.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Christmas blog
- My parents came down, and for Jack and Kate it was like they'd never been away. Jack showed Baba his Jets players mural he'd drawn. He had Nana read him the book adaptation of Charlie Brown Christmas, and impressed her by reading a couple of pages himself. Kate wanted to hold Nana's hand as we walked outside.
- We went to church, which had great singing and kind sentiments and beautiful flowers. It was a little long and late for the kids; Jack drew in the activity book he was given, but after finishing all the puzzles he elected to draw a series of Tic Tac Toe boards and convince us to play with him. Kate restlessly traveled from one end of the bench to the other, finally sitting next to Nana. Then Jack sat next to Nana, and there was a brief scuffle over who got to sit next to her until I asked Baba to slide closer to me, and they each affixed themselves to a side. She threw me a look of helplessness at first, then contentment; I think she and Kate were chatting at one point, perhaps about the flowers. I took both kids to the bathroom during the service. At the end, when we all held candles, Jack got a turn to hold one this year. He was a little nervous but when he saw he could do it he had a little smile on his face. It glowed a little, probably from the candlelight.
- We got home late, and since we still had to do letters to Santa (Jack made a nice picture of Santa on his note) and wash up for bed and I had to read Twas the Night before Christmas, it was a late one. Nobody got to bed early, but at least I didn't have to wrap presents or build an art table in the playroom this year. I think the kids were still awake close to 10, and Jack came in at 4 a.m. and maybe one other time. I had an image from A Christmas Story where the younger brother was sleeping under the tree hugging his toy blimp or whatever and thought that would probably be Jack later in the day. (It wasn't, but he was pretty beat.)
- Emily woke up early and went down and made coffee cake. And coffee. The kids were bouncing off the walls but I got them to hang out on the stairs...they kept wanting to peek around, very excited, but they were mostly good. Finally we turned them loose and Jack grabbed the Pokemon Ball toy first, which he is now completely unenthused by. He discovered the T-Rex pillow pet second and loves the thing. And I've hid his microscope under the couch until we can look at it carefully without losing all its little pieces in the chaos of the day or two after Christmas. Kate loves her Doodle Bear and Snow White princess doll; credit to Kate, who consistently for a month named those two things as the things she most wanted.
- I had this idea we'd go slow and careful with the presents, but naturally that's not how things worked out. They were always more interested in the wrapped present across the room than the one they had just unwrapped, which I think is an interesting statement about kids perhaps or maybe people in general. But everyone was really happy with everything and when the presents were finally unwrapped it seemed like they could probably play with them for days without stopping. As I write this two days later I have to bring out things and remind them about them, of course, but that works too.
- Mostly the kids spent the afternoon playing downstairs with the new Wii gaming system. Jack is really into it, making me wonder why I worried briefly he wouldn't be. Emily and I decided we could basically have given him nothing else. Emily kicked some tail on Just Dance 3 the other morning, and I'm planning on setting some track records on Mario Kart. You know, when I get a turn anyway.
The problem with writing these blogs two days later is I forget the little things, but I know that they were the best. One that I do remember is getting a book from Emily -- a book of this blog, all the way from Day 1 through last week or so. It's awesome.
Another came this morning, when we thanked Jack for giving up his bedroom so Nana and Baba could sleep there. He looked at us in confusion. "Well of COURSE I did. You TOLD me too. I didn't want to get GROUNDED."
- We went to church, which had great singing and kind sentiments and beautiful flowers. It was a little long and late for the kids; Jack drew in the activity book he was given, but after finishing all the puzzles he elected to draw a series of Tic Tac Toe boards and convince us to play with him. Kate restlessly traveled from one end of the bench to the other, finally sitting next to Nana. Then Jack sat next to Nana, and there was a brief scuffle over who got to sit next to her until I asked Baba to slide closer to me, and they each affixed themselves to a side. She threw me a look of helplessness at first, then contentment; I think she and Kate were chatting at one point, perhaps about the flowers. I took both kids to the bathroom during the service. At the end, when we all held candles, Jack got a turn to hold one this year. He was a little nervous but when he saw he could do it he had a little smile on his face. It glowed a little, probably from the candlelight.
- We got home late, and since we still had to do letters to Santa (Jack made a nice picture of Santa on his note) and wash up for bed and I had to read Twas the Night before Christmas, it was a late one. Nobody got to bed early, but at least I didn't have to wrap presents or build an art table in the playroom this year. I think the kids were still awake close to 10, and Jack came in at 4 a.m. and maybe one other time. I had an image from A Christmas Story where the younger brother was sleeping under the tree hugging his toy blimp or whatever and thought that would probably be Jack later in the day. (It wasn't, but he was pretty beat.)
- Emily woke up early and went down and made coffee cake. And coffee. The kids were bouncing off the walls but I got them to hang out on the stairs...they kept wanting to peek around, very excited, but they were mostly good. Finally we turned them loose and Jack grabbed the Pokemon Ball toy first, which he is now completely unenthused by. He discovered the T-Rex pillow pet second and loves the thing. And I've hid his microscope under the couch until we can look at it carefully without losing all its little pieces in the chaos of the day or two after Christmas. Kate loves her Doodle Bear and Snow White princess doll; credit to Kate, who consistently for a month named those two things as the things she most wanted.
- I had this idea we'd go slow and careful with the presents, but naturally that's not how things worked out. They were always more interested in the wrapped present across the room than the one they had just unwrapped, which I think is an interesting statement about kids perhaps or maybe people in general. But everyone was really happy with everything and when the presents were finally unwrapped it seemed like they could probably play with them for days without stopping. As I write this two days later I have to bring out things and remind them about them, of course, but that works too.
- Mostly the kids spent the afternoon playing downstairs with the new Wii gaming system. Jack is really into it, making me wonder why I worried briefly he wouldn't be. Emily and I decided we could basically have given him nothing else. Emily kicked some tail on Just Dance 3 the other morning, and I'm planning on setting some track records on Mario Kart. You know, when I get a turn anyway.
The problem with writing these blogs two days later is I forget the little things, but I know that they were the best. One that I do remember is getting a book from Emily -- a book of this blog, all the way from Day 1 through last week or so. It's awesome.
Another came this morning, when we thanked Jack for giving up his bedroom so Nana and Baba could sleep there. He looked at us in confusion. "Well of COURSE I did. You TOLD me too. I didn't want to get GROUNDED."
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Emmett Otter
Gave Emily "Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas" as an early Christmas present. Was surprised to find it and bought it as a gift, then realized we wouldn't want to watch it as much after Christmas, so she opened it early and we watched it tonight.
For us, it was just as good as ever. Smart, sweet, great voices and songs, pretty amazing puppetry too.
Kate was into it because I'm not sure I can show her anything on TV she isn't fascinated by. She always likes the girl characters best. I think she identifies with them, all of them. "I like the lady singing."
With Jack, we saw the difference in a kid growing up in a faster-paced, South Park/Phineas and Ferb world, for lack of a better term. (There's probably a better term.) He watched it, but it was clear he thought it was ... slow. Simple. Which it is! But that's the beauty of the thing.
But he kept watching, and at the Talent Show, where Emmett's Mom sings, followed by Emmett's Jugband, followed by the rock'n'roll Riverbottom Nightmare Band, Jack weighed in on that final loud, rude act.
"I have to say that this is the best," he said.
Emily and I laughed for a while, which was confusing to Jack and Kate. Kate's opinion on the band: "They sure have a long song."
So anyway, it's official, we're old, and our son thinks our music is too slow and lame.
For us, it was just as good as ever. Smart, sweet, great voices and songs, pretty amazing puppetry too.
Kate was into it because I'm not sure I can show her anything on TV she isn't fascinated by. She always likes the girl characters best. I think she identifies with them, all of them. "I like the lady singing."
With Jack, we saw the difference in a kid growing up in a faster-paced, South Park/Phineas and Ferb world, for lack of a better term. (There's probably a better term.) He watched it, but it was clear he thought it was ... slow. Simple. Which it is! But that's the beauty of the thing.
But he kept watching, and at the Talent Show, where Emmett's Mom sings, followed by Emmett's Jugband, followed by the rock'n'roll Riverbottom Nightmare Band, Jack weighed in on that final loud, rude act.
"I have to say that this is the best," he said.
Emily and I laughed for a while, which was confusing to Jack and Kate. Kate's opinion on the band: "They sure have a long song."
So anyway, it's official, we're old, and our son thinks our music is too slow and lame.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Jets game
Took Jack to a football game today. He'd been to another one but wasn't yet 4 at the time and admits he didn't remember it. So I said, What? You don't remember us meeting Favre in the locker room after the game? And him giving you a game ball... A good laugh was had by all.
We bundled up, it being December, and headed off to the game. We left early, which was good since I got lost for a bit. But we made it there, and parked, and walked easily right up to the Stadium, like it was waiting for us. Me and my son, it was pretty cool.
Once inside, we immediately bought our winter Jets hats, as planned. Jack tried on one, liked it, and at the last minute decided on the other one. Classic Jack. I bought the simplest one there was. Classic me.
We bought hotdogs, found our way to our seats, inhaled the food, watched the game. Football live isn't a great game for little kids, because everyone stands whenever anything happens. We worked it out that I could pick him up at times, or he could stand on his seat with my arm supporting him, so he got to see a lot. We slapped high fives at Jets scores, and there were a bunch, and he insisted on a chest bump after a clinching touchdown, so I stooped down for that. The adult fans around us looked for Jack to slap high fives after scores, too. He obliged.
Best thing about having a kid at a ballgame: Family restroom! No lines! Excellent.
I think one of the highlights for Jack was a little beachball getting batted around. At one point in ended up near us, and he grabbed it. I think he was planning to keep it until I told him that's not how it worked. So he batted it up in the air and it went off again. Big smile. And a hopeful look in his eyes that it would come back to our section again.
At halftime we got popcorn, hot chocolate (it was pretty cold out), stuffed toy for Kate (Jets bear), stuffed Mark Sanchez (I guess it kind of looks like him...) for Jack. Took in a couple of cheerleader routines (Jack: "I guess they're there because girls like to watch the dancing."), watched the Jets score some more, but he was seeming pretty cold and tired, so we cleared out midway through the fourth quarter. He slept some on the way home, as well.
But when we got in the house, Emily noticed his big smile. And we both laughed as he described the Jets' first touchdown: "Sanchez threw it to Shonn Greene...but he actually kept it! And --" here he demonstrated by running across the living room -- "ran it in himself!"
So it was a big win for all.
We bundled up, it being December, and headed off to the game. We left early, which was good since I got lost for a bit. But we made it there, and parked, and walked easily right up to the Stadium, like it was waiting for us. Me and my son, it was pretty cool.
Once inside, we immediately bought our winter Jets hats, as planned. Jack tried on one, liked it, and at the last minute decided on the other one. Classic Jack. I bought the simplest one there was. Classic me.
We bought hotdogs, found our way to our seats, inhaled the food, watched the game. Football live isn't a great game for little kids, because everyone stands whenever anything happens. We worked it out that I could pick him up at times, or he could stand on his seat with my arm supporting him, so he got to see a lot. We slapped high fives at Jets scores, and there were a bunch, and he insisted on a chest bump after a clinching touchdown, so I stooped down for that. The adult fans around us looked for Jack to slap high fives after scores, too. He obliged.
Best thing about having a kid at a ballgame: Family restroom! No lines! Excellent.
I think one of the highlights for Jack was a little beachball getting batted around. At one point in ended up near us, and he grabbed it. I think he was planning to keep it until I told him that's not how it worked. So he batted it up in the air and it went off again. Big smile. And a hopeful look in his eyes that it would come back to our section again.
At halftime we got popcorn, hot chocolate (it was pretty cold out), stuffed toy for Kate (Jets bear), stuffed Mark Sanchez (I guess it kind of looks like him...) for Jack. Took in a couple of cheerleader routines (Jack: "I guess they're there because girls like to watch the dancing."), watched the Jets score some more, but he was seeming pretty cold and tired, so we cleared out midway through the fourth quarter. He slept some on the way home, as well.
But when we got in the house, Emily noticed his big smile. And we both laughed as he described the Jets' first touchdown: "Sanchez threw it to Shonn Greene...but he actually kept it! And --" here he demonstrated by running across the living room -- "ran it in himself!"
So it was a big win for all.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Christmas stuff
- Today the kids and I built and decorated a gingerbread train. I assembled the pieces (and managed to keep the kids from breaking it), slathered the whole thing with icing, and told them to go crazy decorating it with candy. They fought a little over who got to put on what candy, and of course ate too much, but did a pretty nice job anyway. Took 10 pictures, 5 of which had Kate looking in the general direction of the camera, 5 of which had Jack looking at it. Oh well.
- The other day Jack decided he would keep a Christmas journal. Each day he's been drawing a picture and writing a line about it. First day was a picture of a present ("I love Christmas because I get presents..."), another day was a picture of reindeer, another day was a picture of the Elf on the Shelf, sitting on the mantle, and he carefully drew things on the mantle like a stocking holder, a stocking, and half of a picture of himself on the mantle. He was very proud of how he made half that picture of him. I guess at some point Kate ripped it out of the journal and he threw it away, which is kind of sad, but he then drew a new one of the elf in today's hiding place, which is on the Christmas tree.
- We've been watching Christmas specials at night. Jack remembers where the commercials were the previous year and points it out. I imagine I was the same way. Or no, Robin was. Yeah, that's it.
- Kate drew a Christmas tree today. Or rather, she wasn't sure how to draw one, and asked Jack to help her. He did. Pretty sweet. He drew the tree, she drew ornaments on it. And went to show Mommy.
- Jack's been reading a Peanuts Christmas collection book we have. When he reads a funny one, he laughs out loud. Then continues on reading it.
- We went to the Christmas breakfast at Jack's school this morning. Jack sat happily with Santa for a picture. Kate hid behind my legs. Both ate fruit and half a bagel, then really cheered up when they saw friends (Kate saw Sofia, one of Jack's friend's little sister). But that didn't compare to discovering that each child got a Beanie baby stuffed toy; Kate got a cardinal, Jack a komodo dragon ("..the world's largest living lizard...")
- I can't think of anything else right now but aside from Emily being really sick it's been a nice Christmas season so far.
- The other day Jack decided he would keep a Christmas journal. Each day he's been drawing a picture and writing a line about it. First day was a picture of a present ("I love Christmas because I get presents..."), another day was a picture of reindeer, another day was a picture of the Elf on the Shelf, sitting on the mantle, and he carefully drew things on the mantle like a stocking holder, a stocking, and half of a picture of himself on the mantle. He was very proud of how he made half that picture of him. I guess at some point Kate ripped it out of the journal and he threw it away, which is kind of sad, but he then drew a new one of the elf in today's hiding place, which is on the Christmas tree.
- We've been watching Christmas specials at night. Jack remembers where the commercials were the previous year and points it out. I imagine I was the same way. Or no, Robin was. Yeah, that's it.
- Kate drew a Christmas tree today. Or rather, she wasn't sure how to draw one, and asked Jack to help her. He did. Pretty sweet. He drew the tree, she drew ornaments on it. And went to show Mommy.
- Jack's been reading a Peanuts Christmas collection book we have. When he reads a funny one, he laughs out loud. Then continues on reading it.
- We went to the Christmas breakfast at Jack's school this morning. Jack sat happily with Santa for a picture. Kate hid behind my legs. Both ate fruit and half a bagel, then really cheered up when they saw friends (Kate saw Sofia, one of Jack's friend's little sister). But that didn't compare to discovering that each child got a Beanie baby stuffed toy; Kate got a cardinal, Jack a komodo dragon ("..the world's largest living lizard...")
- I can't think of anything else right now but aside from Emily being really sick it's been a nice Christmas season so far.
Friday, December 02, 2011
Christmas Prep
- Yesterday I finished setting up our lawn decorations; arranging the lights on the bushes, the porch, positioning the reindeer, snowman, and dog. Jack came out at the end to help out. He helped moved lights around. I plugged everything in and turned it on from the porch as Jack stood on the sidewalk. "It looks TERRIBLE," he said. What? I said, stunned. "It looks AWFUL, terrible." I walked out to stand next to him, he broke into a big smile. "I'm just kidding," he said.
- Today we pulled out all the other stuff. Kate locked onto the musical dog who plays Jingle Bells and his ears wiggle. She played it over and over, then put him on the floor so she could dance while he played music. I think we need to get her her own CD player for Christmas.
- Set up all the stockings. Four red ones for us. Jack replaced his with the green Jets stocking that I think we got as a gift at some point. "THIS is my stocking," he said.
- Pulled out the Christmas plates, cups, placemats, hand towels, and the Santa Claus soap dispenser. The kids oohed and aahed properly, it was nice.
- Around 4 p.m., kids said they wanted to watch a Christmas show on TV. I said, well, we have do something first. They looked at me suspiciously. I explained, well, our kitchen isn't very Christmas-y, we need to make some things. Jack, go get red and green and brown and white paper, so we can draw some things: Santa, reindeer, trees, snowmen. Jack ran off, fully into the idea. Kate (sad): "I can't draw those things!" I said, I'll help you.
She drew the pieces of a snowman, then made its face. Her classic line eyes, then a triangle nose. "But I don't have room for the mouth!" she wailed. I showed her how to move the nose up a little, and then she drew happy smile mouth. We cut it out and hung it up. She was happy. Then we did Santa. Same deal. She drew her happy face. I added the beard and hat. I told her to draw his body. She said, "I can't." I showed her how it was just an extra, lager circle. She made it. Then I said, now arms and legs. She said, "This is how I make them," and did her stick figure arms and legs for Santa. Perfect, I said.
Jack drew a Santa on his sleigh with a pack on the back and a reindeer pulling it. Cut out white paper for the beard, mustache, and trim on his hat and gloves. Cut out brown paper for the sleigh, decorated his reindeer, gave him a Rudolph red nose. Kind of impressive. Granted, he also covered it in about half a roll of Scotch tape, because that's his style. We hung everything up in the windows and admired them.
And now our kitchen is Christmas-y.
- Today we pulled out all the other stuff. Kate locked onto the musical dog who plays Jingle Bells and his ears wiggle. She played it over and over, then put him on the floor so she could dance while he played music. I think we need to get her her own CD player for Christmas.
- Set up all the stockings. Four red ones for us. Jack replaced his with the green Jets stocking that I think we got as a gift at some point. "THIS is my stocking," he said.
- Pulled out the Christmas plates, cups, placemats, hand towels, and the Santa Claus soap dispenser. The kids oohed and aahed properly, it was nice.
- Around 4 p.m., kids said they wanted to watch a Christmas show on TV. I said, well, we have do something first. They looked at me suspiciously. I explained, well, our kitchen isn't very Christmas-y, we need to make some things. Jack, go get red and green and brown and white paper, so we can draw some things: Santa, reindeer, trees, snowmen. Jack ran off, fully into the idea. Kate (sad): "I can't draw those things!" I said, I'll help you.
She drew the pieces of a snowman, then made its face. Her classic line eyes, then a triangle nose. "But I don't have room for the mouth!" she wailed. I showed her how to move the nose up a little, and then she drew happy smile mouth. We cut it out and hung it up. She was happy. Then we did Santa. Same deal. She drew her happy face. I added the beard and hat. I told her to draw his body. She said, "I can't." I showed her how it was just an extra, lager circle. She made it. Then I said, now arms and legs. She said, "This is how I make them," and did her stick figure arms and legs for Santa. Perfect, I said.
Jack drew a Santa on his sleigh with a pack on the back and a reindeer pulling it. Cut out white paper for the beard, mustache, and trim on his hat and gloves. Cut out brown paper for the sleigh, decorated his reindeer, gave him a Rudolph red nose. Kind of impressive. Granted, he also covered it in about half a roll of Scotch tape, because that's his style. We hung everything up in the windows and admired them.
And now our kitchen is Christmas-y.
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