M's End of The Year Program

http://www.youtube.com/v/M-pPls0L_C4



This is M's end of the year presentation with his class. They are "singing" and "dancing" with Following the Leader from Peter Pan. M begins as the third from the right and then you'll have to find him as he "follows" the leader. At the end there are two boys in front of the tipee; he is the one who dives from the left.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

On Wednesday, I took the boys to Pixieland in Concord with some friends. Pixieland is small amusement park for toddlers with something like 7 rides. There's a train, airplane, cars, merry-go-round, tea-cups, roller coaster and a ride like a free-fall for kids.

The boys had SO much fun. B loved the airplane and cars and, of course, they both loved the train...I'm not sure they like any ride more than a train. It's a bit of an obsession for them. M had fun on all of the rides, as was clear when on the drive home I asked him which ride was his favorite and he listed them all. (Maybe he doesn't understand the term "favorite"...or choosing. Hmm.)

Anyway, when we got to the free-fall ride, I thought for sure M was definitely not going to want to go on it. All of his little friends were thrilled about the ride and M emphatically told me that he wanted to go as well. I thought there was a possibility that M would scream hysterically when he got to the top. Nope. M was laughing so hard the whole time, that I'm surprised he didn't pee himself. It was great to see him having so much fun.

Next, we went on the tea-cups...my least favorite ride of all time. I spun it as quickly as I could and M loved it. I thought I was going to toss the contents of my stomach, but M didn't seem affected at all...except for when he banged his head backwards. He didn't seem to care for that too much. (Hopefully no permanent damage was caused.) Finally, he LOVED the roller coaster. I have to be honest, it turned my stomach and I was a bit scared. M just laughed and screamed, "More." This is the same boy who hates swings and will only use the short slides at the park. Invasion of the body snatchers? I'm still looking into it.

B had a great time as well. In the beginning, he screamed every time I took him off of a ride. I'm guessing that he didn't grasp the concept that when a ride stopped moving, it was over. As we went on more rides, B stopped fussing as much until he seemed to understand that we would go on more rides. He was even a pretty good sport when M got to go on rides in which he wasn't old enough for. B did fuss a little when M and I got off of the rides and he realized that I wasn't going to then take him, but overall he was in a good mood.

A good day for all...and only one of us needed a nap afterwards.

Shower, Interrupted

This morning, I left M and B playing in the playroom so I could shower. I told M, as always, that he was to take care of B and to stay in the playroom. M said okay and the boys continued racing their trucks around the room.

As I was about to get into the shower, M came racing down the hallway to inform me that there were monsters in the playroom. (M has renewed his fear of monsters lately. They are apparently hiding all throughout the house and they only disappear when Papa Bear or I appear. Hmm...) I told him that there were no monsters and to go back and take care of his brother. He said okay and stomped back down the hallway.

I thought I was in the clear to take my five minute shower in peace but alas, it was not to be. While standing there with shampoo and soap streaming into my eyes, I heard something that sounded suspiciously like a stampede racing towards the bathroom. I tried to wash the shampoo and soap off my hair and body in anticipation of this latest crisis. A moment later, I heard M screaming, "Mommy! Moooooommmmmmmmmmy!".

I turned off the water and opened the bathroom door and surprise, surprise, both boys were standing there expectantly. I have to say, there was an air of excitement about them, so I asked what was going on. "Mommy," M raised his hand towards me. "I got a spider." I looked at his hand and noticed a black squirming thing between his index finger and thumb. He was plainly proud of his acquisition.

What is a mother to do? Tell her son how proud she is of him, of course. "Good job, M," I proclaimed. "Let's let the little guy free outside." We walked across the room to the french doors leading outside and released the lucky creepy-crawler.

M and B ran back to the playroom and I quickly finished my shower before another "crisis" arose.

B's First Three Word Sentence

B has recently stopped needing quite as much sleep as previously required. It is so great that he is growing up and developing. I mean it! I love that he sleeps less; it means that we get to spend more quality time together.

Anyway, on Thursday M was at school so B and I spent the morning reading books and playing with his various toys. He really wanted to play with a bucket of blocks that has openings at the top of the container in the shapes of the different blocks. B was really concentrating and sometimes actually fitting the blocks into their correct shapes, but more often than not the blocks would get stuck...and B would scream. He has started to screaming to express his displeasure...it's pleasant.

Several times I tried to move his hand with the block to the correct opening and B would get pretty unhappy. He actually shook my hand off once. So, I was once again attempting to help B try to fit a block in the correct space, to prevent the screaming, when he looked up at me and proclaimed, "I do it."

It figures that B's first three word sentence would be him proclaiming his independence. Not even twenty months old and already using a three word sentence. I'm so proud.

Brave Little Jumpers

The boys and I have been going to the pool about three to four times per week. It's been fairly warm, so it's a great way to cool off in the afternoon and it occupies us for several hours.

Today, we ran into some friends at the pool and the boys had fun splashing around the little kiddie pool and then "swimming" in the larger pool with E and J. I have been trying for weeks to get them to jump into my arms in the pool, but both M and B have firmly refused. B will jump at me from the stairs inside the pool, but it's more like walking off of the stairs into my arms.

Today E, she's a really sweet almost five year old girl, was jumping from the side of the pool into her mom's arms and having a great time. M took one look at this and decided that he had to try this as well. He climbed out of the pool and prepared to jump. Then he hesitated and said, "Mommy, come closer to the wall." I moved closer. "Closer, Mommy." I was now standing right next to the wall. M walked off the wall into my arms. "Mommy, I jumped! I jumped!"

Yes, M, you jumped. Sort of.

B saw this and made me take him out of his floaty tube and place him on the side of the pool. He actually leaped off of the side of the pool without waiting to see if I was ready to catch him. B continued this process about ten more times.

The world would be a boring place if we were all the same.

Jealousy

Yesterday was Father's Day. In honor of the occasion, the boys and I went with Papa Bear to spend the day with P.B.'s family. We went to a Japanese restaurant to have Sushi for lunch. It took a super long time for the food to arrive and by that time, some of us were ready to pull our hair out...I don't want to name any names, but it was P.B.

When I was done eating, I held baby D (the boys' 8 month old cousin) so that everyone else could finish their meal...and so I could hold him. D is so cute and chubby. Anyway, B took one look at the baby on my lap and immediately began to SCREAM for me...in the middle of the restaurant. Not at all embarrassing. B started trying to climb out of the highchair and when P.B. removed him, B started squirming out of his arms. B then walked around the table crying, "Mommy, mommy, mymie, mooooooommmmy!" until he got to me and I picked him up.

B calmly turned towards D, with a huge smile on his face, and pointed out the baby's facial features. But, just as soon as I thought all was settled, B turned around and tried to shove baby D off of my lap. When I stopped him from actually pushing the baby, B became very angry and said, "No. Mine!" Apparently, I am his possession.

I'm almost ashamed to say that B's jealousy made my heart a little bit glad...almost, but not quite.

Who Is Stronger?

This afternoon, I was looking up some information on the web while the boys played on the living room floor. I looked down because the movement seemed to stop momentarily. B was lieing on top of M, in what can only be described as a wrestling move, and had him pinned to the floor. M looked up at me, his eyes pleading. He could not move. That's right, 1.5 year old B had immobilized 3.25 year old M.

I don't want to condone this type of behavior, but way to go B.

This may be the beginning of some interesting struggles between those two. Who do you think will win? I'm taking bets.

The Jumping Crickets

It has been HOT here lately, in the 90's. Sometimes when the mercury rises to that level for several days, the crickets begin to congregate in the shade of the house. After dinner a few evenings ago, I walked into the backyard and noticed several seeking solace by the rear wall of the house. As the boys are fascinated with insects of late, I called them outside to see the crickets.

I believe that I have previously mentioned that I have been trying not to act like a "girl" in regards to insects while in the presence of the boys. I'm not sure exactly what I am hoping to accomplish by this other than to not scare them and also to allow them their healthy interest without my prejudiced input. So, back to the crickets.

M asked if he could touch one of the crickets because, let's face it, bugs are only fun to touch, poke at, or prod...or dispose of into the nearest receptacle. I told him to go ahead and touch, but to be aware that they jump. M, with B directly on his heels, leaned down to touch the cricket which promptly began jumping. Unfortunately, the little bugger jumped right into my legs. Despite my best intentions, I began screaming, jumping up and down and flailing my arms like, well...a girl.

M and B thought this to be the height of hilarity. They began screaming, jumping up and down and flailing their arms. They continued to prod the crickets so that the crickets would jump and the boys could persist with this mimicry.

Lesson learned: Jumping cricket=Jumping mom=Jumping boys. (I didn't say there was a moral, just a lesson.)

M's End of The School Year Program

When I taught the fifth grade, I absolutely loathed the Christmas program that the music teacher put together for the parents every year. The kids worked hard for a month or so to memorize a song, dance, etc. to show their parents in an auditorium of a nearby school that we rented out for the night. At the time, I was fairly resentful of having to spend an evening of my time watching other people's kids perform something that I could have cared less about. (I just re-read what I wrote and realize that these statements are enough of a reason that parents should pray I never return to the classroom.)

Well, tonight Papa Bear and I dressed the kids and raced out the door to attend M's very first end-of-the-year program. We sat through ten to fifteen minutes of other people's children singing and dancing (and quite a few picking of noses) and waited patiently for M to take the stage. We brought a video camera and two cameras (one of which has video capabilities as well) and went to town capturing our oldest son and his classmates on all three devices...over kill? maybe, but so worth it.

We sat in eager anticipation wondering if M would be one of the criers, the nose-pickers or the one who stood there staring out at the audience in a kind of deer-caught-in-headlights stance. As we waited, some more patiently than others...B was not thrilled with his forced confinement...the excitement grew. Okay, I'm just being melodramatic for effect, but it was pretty exciting.

Then, the preschool owner got on stage to announce Ms. Wendy's class and the curtains opened to M and his little classmates standing there in their various Peter Pan themed attire. (M was a Lost Boy in raggedy white t-shirt and ripped jeans.) The song "Following The Leader" started to play over the loud speakers and the kids started walking around a tipee in the middle of the stage...and walking, and walking, and walking. They all followed the leader...I honestly have no idea who that leader was, but they all did a great job of walking. Then it was over.

The audience, comprised of family members and those forced to accompany family members, applauded and M's performance was over just like that. And I couldn't have been more proud. M was not the nose picker (thank god for small miracles.) M was not the crier. M was not the deer-caught-in-headlights. He followed the leader and did a great job.

This time I was not the irritated teacher who had to give up a night to watch a herd of kids perform badly. I was the proud mother watching her son perform perfectly.

(If I ever figure out how to post video on this blog, you too will get the privilege of watching M in his breakout role.)

Our Outdoor Weekend

On Friday, Papa Bear took the day off of work and we decided that we should take the boys to see one of their favorite things...trains. Unfortunately, I didn't have the foresight to check on whether the steam trains in Tilden Park were open on weekdays...they are not. M was so excited to see the trains and was sooooooooo very sad when we arrived only to leave without getting aboard a train. We told him that they were sleeping because they have to work so hard. It was awfully sad to hear him continue asking about them the entire rest of the day...and it did get a bit annoying after a while.

Anyway, we quickly rectified the situation by taking the kids to "Little Farm" which is also located in Tilden Park. We've taken the boys before and they love it. There are cows, goats, sheep, chicken, rabbits, pigs, geese, turkeys and ducks...your basic farm animals. If one plans to come, one can bring lettuce and celery to feed the animals. Fortunately, a nice woman gave M some celery to feed a cow and he was thrilled. The boys pointed out all of the animals and told us what sounds they make and got to pet some of them. All in all, it was a successful day. (I almost forgot to mention that our picnic before hand was hummus and naan. Yep, our 1.5 and 3 year olds LOVE hummus.)

On Saturday, we borrowed a child backpack carrier from a friend, to carry B, and took the boys on their first "hike". We took them to Dry Creek which is where we used to take Scooby regularly before we had the kids. Surprisingly, M did very well. He walked about 3/4 of the way, which I estimate was about a mile. He had a blast picking flowers (weeds), finding sticks, examining insects, and looking for birds. We stopped at a point where the creek still had some water and let the boys run around throwing twigs and pebbles into the water. They also tried to pick up some of the assorted insects from the ground. They had a blast and M asked to go on another hike.

Today, we decided to take the boys back to the steam trains. P.B. told M while I was out of the room and he came running to me, full of excitement. "Come on Mommy, the trains are awake! They're not sleeping, Mommy! Come on Mommy, we go see the trains. Now!" His excited chatter continued the entire way to the trains and both boys were absolutely thrilled to ride on the scaled down, but real steam trains. Boys and their trains.

It was a fun weekend.

Big Brother M - The New Super Hero

Papa Bear and I have been trying to teach M how to be a good big brother. Now, I realize that this is probably a subjective concept as in, ask ten people what a "good" big brother is and you'll get ten different answers. For our 3 year old though, a "good" big brother is one who does not hit, pull hair, shove, bite, or otherwise manhandle his little brother. Not that M regularly practices any of the aforementioned physicallities, but it is not a far stretch to occasionally view something unpleasant transpire between the munchkins.

P.B. and I decided that in order to get M to be nicer to his little bro, we needed to get him to feel responsible for B's safety and well being. Thus, over the past few months we have been coaching and encouraging M to help B with various endeavors, asking M to keep B away from certain dangers (nothing serious) and reminding him that it is his job to take care of his little brother. Recently, it was heart warming to see M putting these lessons to work.

On Wednesday, we went to feed the ducks and geese with Ama, which is a favorite pastime of the boys. A couple of the geese were getting overly familiar with the boys...they were super close to the boys' faces like they were going to peck their eyes out if the bread didn't come forth quickly enough. I was about to step in and shoo the birds away when M started yelling at the birds to "go away". M then grabbed B's elbow and tried to pull him away from the birds. How sweet is that! Of course, I told M WHAT A GREAT BIG BROTHER he is!

A few hours later Ama and I took the boys to Heather Farm park in Walnut Creek for a picnic. After eating, the boys went to play in the sand and on some of the structures. B was sitting in a play car turning the steering wheel with Ama, Matthew and me sitting in the back...enjoying the ride. A little boy about M's age crawled into the back with the three of us and then climbed into the front seat where B was located. M followed that boy and told him to leave his brother alone; he said a lot more than that, but let's just leave it there. I suppose it should be noted that the little boy didn't talk to B, touch B or in any way harm B. However, Big Brother M decided that it was his job to make sure that should this boy decide to try anything nefarious towards his brother, that BBM would be on the job. At least it was well intentioned and our job's done...B will be well cared for should we need M to take over. That's legal...right?

Spiders, Spiders Everywhere

M, B and I were sitting on the floor in the living room this morning when a thick, hairy, super-big spider raced towards us. My instincts told me to jump up, scream and drag the kids out of the house to safety...I am indeed very scared of spiders. Instead, I looked at the boys' faces and realized that this option may not be the best way of dealing with such impressionables in my presence. So, I swatted at the spider and hoped it and it's disgustingness would scurry off in a different direction. It was not to be...the little bugger raced right back towards us with M and B laughing hysterically.

At this point I, too, was hysterical, but NOT with laughter...but I kept this to myself and didn't allow the boys to see how horrified I was. M and B were having a great time laughing and examining the arachnid, when M reached over and swatted the spider himself. It curled up for a few seconds before once again racing towards us while the boys squealed with delight. It was time to put an end to this immediately, but what to do? I grabbed a wet-wipe, used it to scoop up the creepy-crawler and dumped it outside. The boys ran over to watch the freed creature scurry away.

That would have been the end of this story, but you will remember that these boys are impressionable and also love insects, bugs, animals...you get the picture. Anyway, M and B were playing behind the Lazy-Boy this afternoon when M screamed excitedly, "There's a spider, Mommy! Come, look." I, of course, did not go look. A second late, M came walking out from behind the chair, spider in hand and asked me to open the door so that he could put it outside. Monkey see, monkey do...not that I'm implying that either one of us is a monkey.

At least I'm not passing on the inordinate fear of all things insect to my off-spring.