Car troubles

Sigh. I do wish that we lived in a walker friendly place. The problem with the car was the power steering pump -- which we had replaced late last year (then it failed on the drive home and we had to return and have it re-replaced). The good news is that the part is still under warrenty and so there is no charge. The bad news is that this will be the third time these folks redo it in just 6 months... And more. The part was due in yesterday afternoon. It did not arrive so we have to wait through today. The boys will miss swimming -- which fries me a bit. Usually if they miss it it is because one or both is sick. That they should miss it because of the car... and, unfortunately, Tom can't work from home today because, surprise, surprise, his day is filled with meetings.

Oh well, such is life.

On a happier note, Jason is doing better and better at reading. He read to me for 1/2 an hour yesterday, finishing an entire Morris and Borris book despite his little brother's help. (Xander kept leaning over the book, trying to get a good look at the words and pictures. When Jason finished the book, Xander snatched it and announced 'NOW I WILL READ IT TO YOU MOMMY!') Jason is enjoying also the Saxon Math Kindergarten set that I bought. He did two lessons yesterday and would've done more but Mom resisted... had to get him ready to go to baseball. Both boys find the manipulatives fascinating and Jason and I have been talking about patterning -- ideas of symmetry and asymmetry etc. That is really rather fun, especially when I showed Jason how symmetry and asymmetry pertain to addition...

And then there are the words: both boys are creating useful words. Jason introduced 'yestereve' and 'reremembering' and Xander has contributed 'nexterday' -- I think I shall start a little journal of words that should be -- a sort of sniglets file, what do you think?

I also mentioned to Jason that if he had art work that he was willing to sell (and which passed Mom's inspection for quality) we could submit a few pieces to the Maple Valley Art show. The pieces might not sell, of course, but he has to be willing for that to happen since it is required of all submissions. He thought it a great idea ("HEY! I could sell my art and earn money for Legos!"). It will be interesting to see what comes of that plan.

Funny and not so funny

Yesterday was swimming. Both boys did remarkably well -- though Xander showed a marked interest in swimming the LENGTH of the pool, rather than the width. His teacher gently explained, for the zillionth time, that when he was swimming as well as his big brother -- and that meant no more floats etc -- then he could swim the length like his brother. Well, Xander proceeded to use 'big circle arms', to kick beautifully, to swim 'eyes in' -- all heading the length of the pool... his progress was a zig zag. He would start swimming and would veer towards the long direction, his teacher would redirect him, he would shift back to the length, she would redirect him... Then came the back stroke. "I WANT TO DO IT MYSELF" he roared. 'Okay' she agreed, 'Show me.' He smiled sweetly and cork screwed. 'No' she said firmly, 'No cork screwing. We are swimming on our backs. Here, I will help you.' 'NO!' he shrieked, piercing the air and everyone's eardrums with his cry. 'NO! I WANT TO DO IT MYSELF!' Again she gave him the chance. Again he cork screwed. Finally, after three repetitions, he looked at her with a wide brown eyed smile -- and did the back stroke!

Jason swam beautifully and dived beautifully, though in the former case, he had a marked tendency not to take breaths... And all seemed relatively well until swimming was over and we went back to the changing room. There Jason, agreeably enough, undressed and went to use the rest room. Returning to the main room, however, he became distracted and wandered around the room with his underwear half on, half off. I asked him to finish dressing PLEASE! while I struggled to undress a squirming two year old who had suddenly decided that he wanted to wear the towel. I managed to get Xander's clothes off (Jason had still not pulled his underwear up) only to have the imp discover that HEY! HE HAS MALE GENETALIA! Oh, he was thrilled! He began dancing around (naked) singing his 'peen' song and when he noticed his brother's barely dressed condition, sang about Jason as well. From behind the changing room curtain, I could hear the grandmother of the other little boy (Sam, 5) laughing. I am grateful that she chose to be amused. I told Xander firmly 'Yes, I know you have a peen. Now please put it away and GET DRESSED!' They did, eventually, and we managed to get out of there but oh...

Another amusing anecdote: My mother claims that Xander has 'melting brown eyes.' When I told Xander this, he drew himself as tall as he could and said in a dauntingly repressive tone 'I DO NOT MELT!' I laughed and laughed, much to his disgust, and then explained that 'No, that wasn't what I meant. I meant that Gma melts when she sees them.' He cocked his head, thought for a moment and said 'That is okay then.' Awhile later, when I was repeating the story to my mother, he overheard and informed me solemnly 'GIRLS MELT.' Aiiiyeee.

And finally, one day when Xander demanded something I responded with 'Yes, sir, Lord of the Universe!' He glared at me and said firmly 'NO! I AM BIGGER. I AM XANDER!' Oh heavens above!

Meanwhile, Jason has completed the next section of the Captain Wavy Cape comic strip and is working on his 'Scooby Doo and the Monster Chef' story. I am thinking of entering some of his work into the local art show. We will see. I have to do some investigating on that. It could be fun, though.

On a less happy note, the Merc is acting up. The boys and I have been carless all day, something that would not bother me if this area were walkable but it is not. There are no sidewalks and people drive the roads here with no evident awareness that there is anyone else about -- not the sort of situation I would want to chance with two little boys. The mechanics said that the problem is the power steering pump which, luckily, is under warrenty and so will be replaced no charge -- but we won't have the car until tomorrow. And, of course, they did find other items that they claim need to be worked on -- the brakes, the air filter etc. Sigh. I really don't want to have to take on car payments. Oh for the lucky ticket in the lottery!

Jason is on a roll

Jason seems to be on a roll the last couple of days. On Sunday we stopped at the Starbucks in Target. Jason asked if he could have an oatmeal cookie and when I went to collect the coffee drinks that Tom and I'd ordered, the young woman who was serving said to me, 'Oh, your son is so polite! He asked me ever so nicely if he could please have a cookie and when I gave it to him, he said 'Thank You.' He is sooo cute!' I thanked her and repeated what she'd said to Jason, figuring that he deserved to know. At the same time, I had to wonder at her surprise that a child would know to use please and thank you...

Today we went to the gym. When I came back to collect the boys, the lady who runs the child care room came to me and said 'I just have to tell you, your son is amazing. He is so smart and clever -- but more than that, he is so kind! I watched him with his little brother and he is so patient with him! Even when his little brother grabs a toy from him, he doesn't get upset or throw a tantrum. And he plays very nicely with him. Your son is really very impressive. I thought you should know.' So again, I repeated what was said to Jason -- it is always nice to know that someone other than your family think you are special...

Gene Coulon Park

Yesterday was one of those amazingly beautiful spring days with which the Pacific Northwest likes to tease folks. Warm, sunny -- I even ended up with a slight sunburn and the after effect of congestion! So after a morning of errands and noontime rest periods, I loaded the boys in the car and we went to Gene Coulon park, a large beach park in Renton. We met Tom and a friend there and the boys played happily in the playground. Xander, of course, wanted to play on the big kid play equipment. He was less inclined after one child slid down the slide into him. At that point, his father, being very controlled, suggested that we go for a walk around the park.
We began the walk at the beach and there the boys discovered the joys of the tide. Jason was the first. He walked up to the sea and stood watching it. Slowly, bit by bit, he inched forward until the tide was just lapping on his shoes. 'NEAT!' he cried, 'I can stand here and not get my shoes wet!' He would walk forward then back, doing that dance of the sea that generations of children have done. Xander, never to be outdone, tried also but he didn't quite understand the principle behind Jason's actions so he (of course) ended up soaking his shoes. Not that he minded, of course. He is a veteran of the puddle wars and accepts wet shoes with a very high degree of equanimity. Following their sea adventure, the boys ran through the sand -- and Xander, at least, discovered that sand can be tricky stuff and will trip you if you are not careful. Daddy helped him up, though, and he took off after his brother and the Coots, shrieking and hooting for all he was worth. The birds were not all that impressed, I fear. But then, they never are.

New passions

Jason has discovered two new passions: Mystery stories and slapstick movies. The first began, as you might expect, with the Scooby Doo Mysteries and Nate the Great. (Xander also likes Nate the Great. He has coopted my magnifying glass and wanders around with it, examining things.) Now he and Tom are reading the Encyclopedia Brown books. I guess it is not too much of a surprise, given his scientific bent. Of course, for pure light hearted fun, the Minnie and Moo books are favorites -- if you haven't read them, you should. They are really rather funny..

Jason's second delight these days is slapstick -- I borrowed an old collection of silent movies, not quite keystone cops (haven't been able to find them) but along those lines. Jason watched them with his Gma Pat and laughed and laughed and laughed. Then we watched some Laurel and Hardy and some Abbott and Costello. He loved them. Now all I have to do is find the LH episode with the piano...

Xander, of course, absorbs all of this like a sponge. His delight, however, is doing things that he knows will send Mom up the wall... like turning the stereo WAY UP or openning the linen closet doors for the cats. You always know when he has done something because you hear a wicked little giggle and see him vanishing. That one is a pistol.

Xander's Poem

Xander, upon hearing that his brother had created a poem, decided to create a poem of his own. His poem is rather loosely based on one by Milne:

Halfway down the Pooh
Is a Pooh where I always sit.
There isn't any other Pooh
quite like it.

Hmmm...

A pirate story

Jason is discovering his inner writer. Here is the first installment of his story 'The Pirates of Treasure Cove.'

Chapter One:

"On a sunny day, a boat sailed up to the Dock. The Guard loved sunny days but the Guard did not know what (was) about to happen."

Chapter Two

"A pirate climbed out of the boat. All of the Royal Navy rushed at the Pirate. It was a fierce battle but in the end the pirate won."

First Poem

This morning, Jason rose early and wrote a poem for his father. Here is an image of the poem. The text of the poem is as follows:

By Jason 4/12/2007

The snake's coils

run from

thy

worst

fears

or face thy

worst

fears and DO

GOOD

THE END

Amazing fellow.

Sweetness

Sometimes the boys can be so sweet... yesterday was a good example. We have started going for short walks Monday and Tuesday afternoons with our neighbor, Mary Ann. (She wants to improve her physical health before a surgery and asked and I said 'yes') Yesterday, however, she wasn't home. We went for a walk anyway but, oh, it was COLD. Jason was shooting along on his scooter happily enough, while Xander and I followed. (Xander was in the jogging stroller, tucked about with blankets). About 10 minutes into the walk, Jason began to fade -- the wind was very cold and blowing hard and he was not really dressed for it. So I suggested we turn for home. He decided to walk beside me then, instead of scooting, and as we walked he looked up at me with his lovely blue eyes 'Mommy, why are we going back so soon?' 'My hands are very cold' I replied 'and I don't want you two to get cold as well.' He thought for a second then carefully placed his warm little hand on top of mine. 'There, Mommy. Now you won't be cold.' Oh, that child...

Jason really does amaze me. His reading and his writing are improving by leaps and bounds. Yesterday, he wrote thank you notes to Jeff Brewer and to his Gma Mary then sat himself down to begin his 'book' He wrote four pages. I will scan them and include them in this blog. He was having such a good time writing his story that we had a hard time getting him to stop for bathes and books! He also made two new 'Wavy Cape' tee shirts -- one for Jeff (as a retirement present) and one for Xander. His next tee shirts will be for Gma Mary and for Hope.. Then all he has to do is write the next episode of Captn Wavy Cape -- this will be the episode (he informs me) in which Captain Wavy Cape's cape will be revealed! Ah, the suspense. Ah, the tension!

New theme

Yesterday morning, in a desperate bid for privacy, I set the boys down in front of my computer and left them to watch videos of themselves while I used the restroom. One of those videos had Xander dancing to the music of 'Raindance' -- a favorite video of Jason's (Not that we own it -- we borrowed it -- but he loves any form of dance that ressembles Tap). When I returned from using the facilities, Jason asked to watch the video. As I noted, we don't have it but we do have similar item, called 'The Celtic Tiger' so I put that on. Well, in the course of watching it, Jason began to ask questions about the history behind the stories being portrayed in dance. I did my best to answer them but now the young fellow is curious about his own geneology so I promised we would start a new 'theme' in our school -- we will trace our ancestry and read up on the history behind it. He can write stories, illustrate them, etc as part of the process. AND he has decided to try building some of the structures that I showed him in one of my Irish Art books. Should make for an interesting course of study...

April 5, 2007

Sigh. I was getting used to sleep. Unfortunately, Xander once again has a bad cold/cough that kept him (and me) up most of the night. At the moment, he is finally sleeping. Poor tyke. I am looking forward to the days when all this illness is behind us... more or less!

Mom left yesterday and Xander cried. He cried and cried and the only way I was able to appease his offended sensibilities was to promise that he could call her on the cell phone when we got home. He did and as soon as she picked up, he said 'Gma Pat, I want you to come home NOW!' He nodded once, sharply, in emphasis then handed me the phone. 'I'm done.' And off he stalked. He is a decisive fellow, that one.

Then evening came and we took Jason to his second baseball game. All but two of the kids showed up and, according to Tom, it was quite a hilarious game. Xander and I saw the beginning of it: The youngest player on the team, Matty, was the first source of merriment. He stepped up to the plate (just before Jason) and hit the ball. He was SO amazed at having hit the ball that he stood staring after it while all about him people on both teams yelled 'RUN!!!' He did and he made it to first base. Then Jason stepped up and whacked the ball and took off at a dead run. Matty stood, undecided then started for second. Half way to second, he stopped and seemed uncertain WHERE to go. Everyone screamed 'RUN TO SECOND!!!' so, after a moments reflection, he did. Matty made it to third but when the next batter came up, he stood firmly on third, refusing to move -- maybe he had decided that he was safe there:> At any rate, Jason was barreling to third and when Matty stayed on it, Jason blinked at him then ran for home. Meanwhile all the adults were yelling 'Matty, run home -- Jason go back!' It was almost a chant and I was torn between tears of laughteXar and tears of sympathy for the boys, both of whom were looking befuddled by the whole thing.

Xander and I left shortly thereafter. He was becoming seriously unhappy at the fact that he was not being allowed to play with his daddy and his bahbah. 'I JUST WANT ONE BAT!' he roared -- and from the look on his face I felt sorry for anyone whose knees were at batting level! So I collected my unhappy tyke and we came home and read books, a lot of books, and waited for the return of the conquering heros.

Jason and Tom got home 'early' -- around 7:30. 'It was a fast game.' My eldest said solemnly. He got washed up and in bed, had a couple of chapters of Scooby Doo before the nightly ritual of 'lights out, I want to go potty!' (from Xander) began. While Tom was helping Xander use the facilities, Jason told me about the game. 'In the third inning, I was the catcher and guess what I used to catch the ball?' 'Your glove?' I asked, unimaginatively. 'NO!' he said, 6 year old boy scorn sounding in his voice 'My MASK!' Ulp! I thought. 'The mask? Well, that is why you are supposed to get your glove up, to catch the ball.' Patiently he explained 'Mommy, the ball comes in so fast that if I put my glove up, it just sort of bounces off... so I let it hit the mask and it drops 'plop' onto the ground and I can pick it up!' He was so proud. When I told Tom about the conversation later, he cracked up. 'So he was doing it deliberately?' Then he sighed. Ah well, Jason has his own approach to the game.

First baseball game

Sigh

No pictures of this, unfortunately. I didn't get to stay for the actual game. Tom had gone ahead to ready the field (we were the home team so it was his job). Mom, Xander, and I brought Jason to the field around 5:30 pm. The game was to start at 6pm. Xander played on the playground equipment while the team warmed up -- but it was cold, cold, cold and by the time 6 pm rolled around, Xander's hands were so cold that he was complaining about them. We went home. What I know about the first game comes from Jason and Tom and is as follows:

EVERYONE showed up (or, at least, everyone who could play. There is one little boy who broke his wrist. He was not at the game.) so they had a FULL compliment of children -- 24 kids between the two teams. The game begins at 6 pm with no new innings after 7:30. According to Tom, each team batted their entire line up each inning -- made for three VERY long innings. Jason and a boy named Gavin both got homeruns in the first inning. These were the only homeruns in the entire game. Jason was very pleased with himself -- 'I got a homerun, a single and a triple' he told me 'AND' (and this seemed to be his greatest source of pride) 'I didn't get ANY dirt on my face OR MY UNIFORM!' He nodded importantly as he told me this. He was so pleased with himself. Grin. I managed not to laugh or even smile. I just congratulated him. 'You are very proud of yourself, hmmm?' 'Yes' he agreed and marched off to get washed before bed. Considering that they had a few sessions with hail and freezing rain during the game, they seem to have had a very good, very happy game. A good omen for the season!

A new month

April 2

Mom is here visiting and I think she spends a good part of the day laughing. Xander has been providing her with enormous amusement. Not intentionally, of course. She just finds him funny. He is very much his own person and has strong opinions on everything that happens around him. Xander loves having her here -- she is quite good at doing what she is told to do!

Mom's visit has been good for Jason as well. He has got a captive audience when he decides to read. I have been impressed. It is work but he has read three of the 'Mr Putter and Tabby' books by Cynthia Rylant. There are words he does not recognize, and with these he needs assistence. He is also like his mother in that he often 'reads' by recognizing the first few letters and selecting an 'appropriate' word from his vocabulary. I explained to him that there are two ways to figure out words. Both have the potential for error: one can 'sound out' words using phonics. This, however, is not full proof as Tom learned when he sounded out the word 'hour.' He saw the words and used it in a sentence to his mother, something to the effect of 'I will be back in a whore and two minutes.' His mother was flabbergasted, probably wondering where he had heard THAT word. She figured it out but the story stuck. The other approach is one I used as a child. I would see a word, not recognized it though I could figure out its meaning by context. When I wanted to pronounce it, I would mix it with a word I did know how to pronounce. One gets some very odd results. The one I remember the best was the word 'Palimino.' I saw the word all the time. Didn't know how to pronounce it. But it looked like the word 'Pomelo' to me so I said 'Pamilo'... sigh. Jason, of course, thought these stories of parental error were wonderful. I then told him 'When people laugh at mispronunciations, and they will, they may laugh out of sympathy. They may laugh because the word sounds funny. I told him 'you can choose to be offended or hurt or you can think 'wow, I made someone laugh!' If you believe that laughter is a gift to the heart, then laughter won't hurt you.' We will see how well that idea takes.