Wednesday, June 4, 2008
History Buff
Liam is very interested in space, and is still planning to be a space police officer when he grows up. He has also resumed his interest in reading "Conquest of the Sky" from the children's encyclopedia series that Matt had as a kid. Previously we have read about the history of flight, and tonight Liam picked out the chapter on the Battle of Britain. We learned about bombers, fighters, aircraft carriers, and how never was so much owed by so many to so few. Finn had a lot of questions about the guns, and the shooting down of planes, and the fires in the buildings. It was quite a bedtime story. We finished our bedtime reading with the exploration of Mars by the Mariners and Viking Landers, and it was nice to have a chapter without shooting.
Material Boy
Liam is getting excited for his birthday well in advance. At first he was just planning the party, and I encouraged it because I need all the help I can get. Now, however, he is heavily invested in what gifts he would like to receive. The other day he asked for "one of those drawing things, with two knobs". An etch-a-sketch, I ask? Yes. Good. An etch-a-sketch is a good toy. More recently, though, his requests have gotten a bit bigger. He told us that he really wants an earpod. "You mean an ipod?" "Yes." When Matt and I told him, unequivocally, no, he said other kids in his class had one. When told it was too expensive, he said he just wanted the really small one (!). When I asked what he would even listen to, he said, "Rock, country, jazz, I like a lot of music." Sigh. I hope he'll still be happy with legos and an etch-a-sketch.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Worst Blogger Ever, Part 2
Okay, now that I am a bit more motivated, I'll try to summon a few Liam stories.
1. Baseball. Liam has been improving a little in baseball, and seems to be still enjoying it quite a bit. Last week, we went out to the batting cages in the evening, and Matt pitched while I played catch with the alternate boy outside of the cage, then we switched. It was soo much fun, even despite the fact that neither boy is really able to either throw or catch. Finn has a pretty decent swing, though. Liam learned what "hustle" meant, at least in terms of moving fast. That evening, as we tucked them in, Finn said to me, "Mama? I liked playing baseball with you today." So sweet! I love baseball! Last night, Liam got hit in the face with a ball, and Matt was off in the bathroom with Finn. I was still at work, so one of the coaches checked on him. I felt a little guilty when one of the parents commented to me on it, but he didn't seem upset by it at all. At least he also got a good hit in!
2. Biking. We went out to the Shelby Bottoms greenway this weekend, and Liam showed off his biking skills. I rollerbladed, and he went twice around the loop on his bike. We had so much fun! I'm not sure that Matt has as much fun pushing Finn on his trike. Liam was working pretty hard on his 12" wheels, though, and I think a 16" bike is in his near future.
3. Swinging. Liam has learned to pump his legs on the swing, and now proudly gets himself started and goes way up high. I was excited too--no more pushing! But then I learned that my job is to watch him pump his legs and get way high into the air.
1. Baseball. Liam has been improving a little in baseball, and seems to be still enjoying it quite a bit. Last week, we went out to the batting cages in the evening, and Matt pitched while I played catch with the alternate boy outside of the cage, then we switched. It was soo much fun, even despite the fact that neither boy is really able to either throw or catch. Finn has a pretty decent swing, though. Liam learned what "hustle" meant, at least in terms of moving fast. That evening, as we tucked them in, Finn said to me, "Mama? I liked playing baseball with you today." So sweet! I love baseball! Last night, Liam got hit in the face with a ball, and Matt was off in the bathroom with Finn. I was still at work, so one of the coaches checked on him. I felt a little guilty when one of the parents commented to me on it, but he didn't seem upset by it at all. At least he also got a good hit in!
2. Biking. We went out to the Shelby Bottoms greenway this weekend, and Liam showed off his biking skills. I rollerbladed, and he went twice around the loop on his bike. We had so much fun! I'm not sure that Matt has as much fun pushing Finn on his trike. Liam was working pretty hard on his 12" wheels, though, and I think a 16" bike is in his near future.
3. Swinging. Liam has learned to pump his legs on the swing, and now proudly gets himself started and goes way up high. I was excited too--no more pushing! But then I learned that my job is to watch him pump his legs and get way high into the air.
Worst Blogger Ever
Okay, I admit it . . . I am the worst blogger ever! My last blog was about getting ready for Florida, and nothing since. That was early April. Sigh. Then I got so everwhelmed by the thought of catching up that I couldn't face it. Sarah tells me I don't need to catch up, so I am going to try to get back in the saddle with a few tidbits to help motivate me. I'll start with Finn:
1. Finn saw me eating a vegetable quiche one evening, and asked what is was. I felt confident that my children would have no interest in something where food groups were mixed, and it was covered in mushrooms, tomatoes, and spinach, so I answered happily that it was called quiche. Finn replied, "Am I allergic to quiche?" Um, yes .. . "Can I have soy quiche?" Now, on the one hand I am flattered that the child thinks I can convert anything into a non-allergenic soy version, however the thought of a soy quiche makes even me feel rather nauseated. Poor kid. He wasn't very happy about my answer.
2. Finn developed some serious hero worship on our Florida trip, and it persists to this day. Finn's big nine-year old cousin, Erik, was very sweet with Finn in Florida, but eventually got very tired of having him continually attached to his body. The adoring gaze was pretty sweet, though. Now, he found Erik's old indoor soccer shoes, and refused to wear anything else. He is also currently refusing to wear anything but clothes with baseball on them, and the other day we had no clean baseball clothes. He threw an outstanding temper tantrum when we suggested a soccer shirt, declaring, "I don't like soccer!!!!" I remembered the Erik connection, fortunately, and reminded Finn that Erik played both soccer and baseball, and he agreed to wear the soccer shirt. The next day, his temper tantrum was because he couldn't wear it again.
3. A couple of weeks ago, both boys came home with bad notes from school. Finn had been talking back to his teachers, and Liam had been naughty for a reason that I have already blocked out. They both got a big talking to. Now, every day before school, Finn tells me, "I'm not going to talk back to my teachers today!" And every day after school, he tells me, "I didn't talk back to my teachers today!" I guess I made an impression!
Okay, I'll try to come back later with some Liam posts . . .
1. Finn saw me eating a vegetable quiche one evening, and asked what is was. I felt confident that my children would have no interest in something where food groups were mixed, and it was covered in mushrooms, tomatoes, and spinach, so I answered happily that it was called quiche. Finn replied, "Am I allergic to quiche?" Um, yes .. . "Can I have soy quiche?" Now, on the one hand I am flattered that the child thinks I can convert anything into a non-allergenic soy version, however the thought of a soy quiche makes even me feel rather nauseated. Poor kid. He wasn't very happy about my answer.
2. Finn developed some serious hero worship on our Florida trip, and it persists to this day. Finn's big nine-year old cousin, Erik, was very sweet with Finn in Florida, but eventually got very tired of having him continually attached to his body. The adoring gaze was pretty sweet, though. Now, he found Erik's old indoor soccer shoes, and refused to wear anything else. He is also currently refusing to wear anything but clothes with baseball on them, and the other day we had no clean baseball clothes. He threw an outstanding temper tantrum when we suggested a soccer shirt, declaring, "I don't like soccer!!!!" I remembered the Erik connection, fortunately, and reminded Finn that Erik played both soccer and baseball, and he agreed to wear the soccer shirt. The next day, his temper tantrum was because he couldn't wear it again.
3. A couple of weeks ago, both boys came home with bad notes from school. Finn had been talking back to his teachers, and Liam had been naughty for a reason that I have already blocked out. They both got a big talking to. Now, every day before school, Finn tells me, "I'm not going to talk back to my teachers today!" And every day after school, he tells me, "I didn't talk back to my teachers today!" I guess I made an impression!
Okay, I'll try to come back later with some Liam posts . . .
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Ready for Florida
Liam has been excited about going to Florida for months. He asks frequently if we are going soon, despite having apparently no idea what we will be doing there. I think he is mostly excited about seeing Nana and Pops. When Matt took him on a very special lunch trip to McDonalds one day, Liam picked out a pirate toy for his happy meal (over the princess toy, mind you!). He was really excited, and Matt put forward the suggestion that the pirate toy was related to Disney and wasn't Disney World in Florida? Liam was dismayed at the suggestion of going to DisneyWorld, and had to be reassured that there would be no pirates.
When I brought home new water shoes last night, he asked me if it was April yet, and got really excited. Finn immediately had to put on his water shoes and run around the house. This morning I heard Liam telling Finn how Pops can sink and sit on the bottom of the pool. Finn got quite excited, and said, "And then we push his head down!" I had no idea that they remembered this, and that it made such an impression last August!
Naturally, this led to games, and in the kitchen this morning, they took turns being Pops. Liam said, "Ok, now you be Pops and I'll be Liam, and I'll push your head down!" They both found this quite fun and were not happy with my suggestion that it might cause one of them to get hurt.
I'm getting pretty excited for vacation myself!
When I brought home new water shoes last night, he asked me if it was April yet, and got really excited. Finn immediately had to put on his water shoes and run around the house. This morning I heard Liam telling Finn how Pops can sink and sit on the bottom of the pool. Finn got quite excited, and said, "And then we push his head down!" I had no idea that they remembered this, and that it made such an impression last August!
Naturally, this led to games, and in the kitchen this morning, they took turns being Pops. Liam said, "Ok, now you be Pops and I'll be Liam, and I'll push your head down!" They both found this quite fun and were not happy with my suggestion that it might cause one of them to get hurt.
I'm getting pretty excited for vacation myself!
Baseball
Liam's first baseball game was Saturday, and even though it was a bit chilly, it was so much fun! Liam is dead last in the batting order, and sat on the bench for 2 of the 3 innings on the field, but he didn't seem to mind.
It was really the unpredictable nature of the game that made it so exciting. You never knew if one of the kids could bat well, catch well, or throw well; even when they did, it was impossible to determine what would happen next. Would two outfielders fight over the ball? Would the 3rd baseman throw to first despite there being a runner coming from second? Would the "pitcher" be unable to pick up a ground ball because he was busy swinging his mitt?
And when one of the outfielders on the other team caught a great hit, we all cheered. So exciting!
I can't wait until the next game--I never knew baseball could be so much fun!
It was really the unpredictable nature of the game that made it so exciting. You never knew if one of the kids could bat well, catch well, or throw well; even when they did, it was impossible to determine what would happen next. Would two outfielders fight over the ball? Would the 3rd baseman throw to first despite there being a runner coming from second? Would the "pitcher" be unable to pick up a ground ball because he was busy swinging his mitt?
And when one of the outfielders on the other team caught a great hit, we all cheered. So exciting!
I can't wait until the next game--I never knew baseball could be so much fun!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
A Major Breakthrough
Tonight has been a night to remember.
After baseball practice, I started making dinner. I put out little ramekins of sour cream (and fake sour cream for Finn, of course) and began assembling bean and cheese (again, fake for Finn) quesadillas. This is my latest attempt at something we can all eat, with extensive modifications.
Finn at once climbed up to his seat, declared happily, "I like sour cream!" and promptly asked for a spoon. We asked him to wait for the quesadilla, which he reluctantly did. Then Liam arrived, asked skeptically, "Is this soy sour cream?" and when told it wasn't, was also happy.
Dinner was served, we all sat and ate together, and no one cried. Liam only got up from his chair without permission once. And no one cried, whined, or threw a tantrum. Everyone just ate dinner and talked.
We'll definitely have this for dinner again! Ah, the little things.
After baseball practice, I started making dinner. I put out little ramekins of sour cream (and fake sour cream for Finn, of course) and began assembling bean and cheese (again, fake for Finn) quesadillas. This is my latest attempt at something we can all eat, with extensive modifications.
Finn at once climbed up to his seat, declared happily, "I like sour cream!" and promptly asked for a spoon. We asked him to wait for the quesadilla, which he reluctantly did. Then Liam arrived, asked skeptically, "Is this soy sour cream?" and when told it wasn't, was also happy.
Dinner was served, we all sat and ate together, and no one cried. Liam only got up from his chair without permission once. And no one cried, whined, or threw a tantrum. Everyone just ate dinner and talked.
We'll definitely have this for dinner again! Ah, the little things.
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