(These are all real and self created!)
Monday, June 17, 2013
Hide N' Seek
He really does not get the concept. It's hilarious to watch though! A few of my favorite hiding places (when he's not running out of the spot laughing hysterically):
(These are all real and self created!)
(These are all real and self created!)
Museum and Sirens
We went to an MFA playdate today, which is an organized art activity based around a painting at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. It was quite a trek to get in, with both kids, stroller, etc, but it was nice once we were there. Roz got us into the museum with a pass, so it was free, other than the parking meter.
After the little activity, I was going to take Sam around to see a few exhibits before we left and was trying to find a museum map.
In the lobby/cafeteria area that we were in, there is a huge Chihuly piece, Lime Green Icicle Statue (aptly named), which about two stories high and construction of thousands of beautiful glass "arms." Looking at it, one wants to reach out and feel the glass icicles. So of course after one warning, Sam circled it, after the second, he reached out with his drawing paper and touched it. I was convinced either the alarm would sound or a glass icicle would break right off. I grabbed his armed and hauled him away, saying, "the alarm is going to go off! Why did you touch it after I told you not to?"
"My paper just did a little touch."
Luckily, nothing actually happened and we found a map. I studied it and asked him if he wanted to see some more paintings.
"No, let's get out of this place." he told me. It was close to lunch time, so I didn't argue and we headed outside.
Sirens were blaring down the street and Sam froze and looked terrified.
"It's okay, the sirens are just going to help at an emergency."
"What emergency?"
"I don't know Sam, come on, let's walk." We were standing in the sun outside and melting and he wasn't moving.
"Am I an emergency?"
"No, you're not. The sirens aren't coming for you."
"I didn't make the fire alarm go off?"
"No, you didn't."
"The sirens aren't coming because my paper did a little touch?"
SO tempting to say yes!
"No, they're not."
"There's a fire in the museum?"
"No fire."
"Where are the sirens going?"
"To help people. Not in the museum, no fire, not here."
He still had to check a few more times. We went to visit Nana to change the subject.
Glass Chihuly statue amongst Boston banners. It really looks like it would be fun to touch.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Strollers and Puddles
We got a toy stroller for $1 from a neighbor's yard sale today. Sam loaded up the basket underneath with toy cars (obviously) and his baby went it and luckily got buckled in. Then he raced around the house crashing and yelling, "oh no! The baby tipped over! The baby bumped!"
(Nothing to do with his feelings for his sister of course).
Later on we went to a graduation party and wanted to take his stroller and walk down the sidewalk with Vivian and I, and push strollers together.
This is what happened to the stroller at the party when he found a giant mud puddle. You can't tell in the photos, but the basket is caked in mud. Glad I only paid a dollar!
(Nothing to do with his feelings for his sister of course).
Later on we went to a graduation party and wanted to take his stroller and walk down the sidewalk with Vivian and I, and push strollers together.
This is what happened to the stroller at the party when he found a giant mud puddle. You can't tell in the photos, but the basket is caked in mud. Glad I only paid a dollar!
Car Maintenance
Sam listened to me booking my car an appointment to get tires rotated, oil change, and some other routine maintenance.
When I got off the phone, he was full of questions.
Sam: "What's wrong with your car?"
Me: "Nothing, it's going for a healthy check, like your doctor does at your check-up."
Sam: "Why?"
Me: "To make sure it's healthy and has oil and the lights work and brakes."
Sam: "The brakes and lights don't work?"
Me: "They do now, but we're getting them checked so that they keep working."
Sam: "Where? The oil change place that we go to for a long time and see the car in the window?" (Translation: Jiffy Lube).
Me: "No. The dealership where we bought it."
Sam: "It's in the water?"
Me: "What? No, cars don't go in the water, they go on the street."
Sam: "Duckboats go in the water and they drive."
Me: "Yes, but mummy's car is not a duckboat."
Sam: "So it doesn't go in the water."
Me: "Right."
Sam: "Where does it get fixed?"
Me: "This time we're taking it to the dealership." Oh, got it. "It's not a ship, it's just called a dealership. It's a car store. Not in the water."
I hate these conversations.
Sam: "I want to go to the ship not in the water that sells cars."
Of course. "Ok, ask Daddy."
He can interpret that one.
When I got off the phone, he was full of questions.
Sam: "What's wrong with your car?"
Me: "Nothing, it's going for a healthy check, like your doctor does at your check-up."
Sam: "Why?"
Me: "To make sure it's healthy and has oil and the lights work and brakes."
Sam: "The brakes and lights don't work?"
Me: "They do now, but we're getting them checked so that they keep working."
Sam: "Where? The oil change place that we go to for a long time and see the car in the window?" (Translation: Jiffy Lube).
Me: "No. The dealership where we bought it."
Sam: "It's in the water?"
Me: "What? No, cars don't go in the water, they go on the street."
Sam: "Duckboats go in the water and they drive."
Me: "Yes, but mummy's car is not a duckboat."
Sam: "So it doesn't go in the water."
Me: "Right."
Sam: "Where does it get fixed?"
Me: "This time we're taking it to the dealership." Oh, got it. "It's not a ship, it's just called a dealership. It's a car store. Not in the water."
I hate these conversations.
Sam: "I want to go to the ship not in the water that sells cars."
Of course. "Ok, ask Daddy."
He can interpret that one.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Moving Up
Sam had his Moving Up Ceremony at school today, as he ends the toddler program and enters a primary classroom next year! The primary is ages 3-6, so it will be a big change. The children sang a few songs then received flowers from the older kids and crossed a bridge to symbolize the end of the cycle.
The toddlers were pretty overwhelmed by the whole experience, which started a few minutes late. There were tears and children trying to escape when they spotted their parents. Sam cried at least twice, but I think he senses change in school ending and this confirmed things were different ; )
It was a nice ceremony for the older children and the parents though.
It is a wet day here so lots of rain boots and chilly weather clothing. I felt bad for the eighth graders in their pretty summer dresses.
We're sad to see such a nice school year end!
The toddlers were pretty overwhelmed by the whole experience, which started a few minutes late. There were tears and children trying to escape when they spotted their parents. Sam cried at least twice, but I think he senses change in school ending and this confirmed things were different ; )
It was a nice ceremony for the older children and the parents though.
It is a wet day here so lots of rain boots and chilly weather clothing. I felt bad for the eighth graders in their pretty summer dresses.
We're sad to see such a nice school year end!
Monday, June 3, 2013
Math or Reading?
Sam has been doing a lot of counting lately and seems to have a concept of numbers, like which number is smaller or bigger. On the other hand he has very little concept or interest in letters. He knows how to spell his name and can pick out some obvious letters, like X, O, V, and of course S (for Sam). He also happens to think most words are spelled S-A-M.
The other day I was asking him what letter activities he did at school. He told me he wrote his letters on paper. I asked him which he liked more, counting or letters.
He shook his head and told me, "I don't like counting or letters the best, I like trucks and cars."
The other day I was asking him what letter activities he did at school. He told me he wrote his letters on paper. I asked him which he liked more, counting or letters.
He shook his head and told me, "I don't like counting or letters the best, I like trucks and cars."
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Staying Cool
We have temperatures in the 90s, after Memorial Day weekend was in the 50s, no one is quite prepared. We put in one window AC unit yesterday evening, but it is hot.
Here are the kids trying to stay cool.
Vivian on the deck last night, we were trying to catch a breeze after the sun went down. Apparently she felt the need to pull up her dress and air out her belly (she is really just figuring out grasping things and her dress was the closest fabric).
Sam while we were waiting in a sunny line to check out some trucks. The wheel was a shady spot.
Here are the kids trying to stay cool.
