Liam has been learning about December holidays in class lately. They studied Kwanzaa first, and Liam made a kinara in art class. He explained the order of lighting the candles, and told me it was different from a menorah, because it had 7 candles instead of 9. He couldn't tell me anything more, but was able to tell Matt one more thing he remembered. On the third day of Kwanzaa, according to Liam, you clean. And paint the fence. Matt tried to protest that he was sure you didn't actually paint a fence, and Liam got upset, and insisted the fence needed to be painted before you went on to the fourth day. Matt argued that we didn't have a fence that needed painting, and Liam got a little ticked off. Matt was pretty excited to have the day of cleaning, and that also ticked Liam off.
Today Liam brought the menorah he had made home. He also brought a picture of a man, colored, cut out, and glued to a popsicle stick. It was labeled, "Judah the Maccabee." Liam was excited to tell me about the menorah, and when I asked him about Judah, he said happily, "he fought the Christians!". He then explained how Judah tried to protect the temple from the Christians, who wanted to tear it down, but it got torn down anyway. But then God rebuilt it, and they hid inside with only enough oil to last for one day, but a mirable happened and it lasted for 8.
Good thing we chose a secular school for him. I can't wait to hear about Christmas.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Swimming like Pops
When Liam was little, he loved the pool. He would jump in anywhere and assume someone would catch him. His first swimming lesson at age three changed all of that, and he became very, very fearful of the water. Swim lessons this summer made a very little improvement.
Since starting swim classes at school, however, with what I assume to be adequate peer pressure, Liam has improved quite a bit. He wanted us to go to the pool the other weekend so he could show us how he swam underwater.
The biggest excitement of all, though, was when he managed to imitate Pops. Apparently, he had been trying unsuccessfully to sit on the bottom of the pool the way his grandfather does. When he eventually asked Matt about it, he was told he had to blow the air out of his lungs so he would sink to the bottom.
Now, not only is he really excited to go "swimming" at every opportunity, but he can sit on the bottom of the pool, just like his Pops.
Since starting swim classes at school, however, with what I assume to be adequate peer pressure, Liam has improved quite a bit. He wanted us to go to the pool the other weekend so he could show us how he swam underwater.
The biggest excitement of all, though, was when he managed to imitate Pops. Apparently, he had been trying unsuccessfully to sit on the bottom of the pool the way his grandfather does. When he eventually asked Matt about it, he was told he had to blow the air out of his lungs so he would sink to the bottom.
Now, not only is he really excited to go "swimming" at every opportunity, but he can sit on the bottom of the pool, just like his Pops.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Politico
A couple of weeks ago, we were notified by Liam's school that some of the political discussions going on at afterschool were getting a bit heated. We were asked to remind our children to use appropriate language and be respectful of other people's opinions. I figured this was just something going on in the upper grades, but it still made me laugh that instead of getting notices of vandalism or truancy, we were notified of heated polical debate.
Nonetheless, Liam did show interest in the election. He was amazed that someone voted for McCain, and very excited to cast his vote in the library on Tuesday. Now today, he informed me on the way to school that McCain chose a bad vice president (this did not come from Matt or me!).
On the way home he told me that McCain said, "I have been tested; he has not!". He also informed me that Obama said, "To those who want to destroy us, we will defeat you!" Then Liam and Finn broke out into delighted choruses of "We will defeat you! We will defeat you!" He also insisted that McCain didn't like Obama. There was really no arguing with him about their both being good men who have different opinions.
I asked him if they were talking about Obama and McCain in school and he said no. Then where did he hear them speak? He said he heard it on the radio, in the car. I guess we've been listening to NPR a lot. It must be a good way to create a 5-year-old political junkie. When I asked Liam if he wanted to be president someday, he told me it was really hard to get to be president. Too true.
Nonetheless, Liam did show interest in the election. He was amazed that someone voted for McCain, and very excited to cast his vote in the library on Tuesday. Now today, he informed me on the way to school that McCain chose a bad vice president (this did not come from Matt or me!).
On the way home he told me that McCain said, "I have been tested; he has not!". He also informed me that Obama said, "To those who want to destroy us, we will defeat you!" Then Liam and Finn broke out into delighted choruses of "We will defeat you! We will defeat you!" He also insisted that McCain didn't like Obama. There was really no arguing with him about their both being good men who have different opinions.
I asked him if they were talking about Obama and McCain in school and he said no. Then where did he hear them speak? He said he heard it on the radio, in the car. I guess we've been listening to NPR a lot. It must be a good way to create a 5-year-old political junkie. When I asked Liam if he wanted to be president someday, he told me it was really hard to get to be president. Too true.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
second breakfast?
We all had a really nice trip to a "cabin" at Fall Creek Falls last weekend. Thanks to Lolita's organizing, we had a great place to stay (complete with large screen tv for the red sox game) and lots of great meals. Liam and Finn enjoyed the playgrounds and hiking quite a bit, too.
On Saturday morning, Lo planned a pontoon boat ride for us before a hike, so we asked the boys if they were hungry before we left. Second breakfast ensued, and Liam put away a hot dog quite neatly. He ended up hiking almost three miles, so that hot dog "snack" was put to good use.
On Sunday, second breakfast was particularly exciting. The boys had been promised s'mores at some point during the weekend, and with time running out, and a fear of s'mores-induced sugar highs before the car ride home, we all enjoyed a very special brunch together. Having both a grill outside, a fireplace inside, and a "S'mores maker" from secret santa of years past, we mutually decided that roasting marshmallows over the electric stove worked best. Hopefully, either Mike or Lo will email me pictures to post.
Finn had a one-smore second breakfast, and Liam managed his way through 3 before being turned down for a 4th. This will now fall under the category of "only on vacation".
On Saturday morning, Lo planned a pontoon boat ride for us before a hike, so we asked the boys if they were hungry before we left. Second breakfast ensued, and Liam put away a hot dog quite neatly. He ended up hiking almost three miles, so that hot dog "snack" was put to good use.
On Sunday, second breakfast was particularly exciting. The boys had been promised s'mores at some point during the weekend, and with time running out, and a fear of s'mores-induced sugar highs before the car ride home, we all enjoyed a very special brunch together. Having both a grill outside, a fireplace inside, and a "S'mores maker" from secret santa of years past, we mutually decided that roasting marshmallows over the electric stove worked best. Hopefully, either Mike or Lo will email me pictures to post.
Finn had a one-smore second breakfast, and Liam managed his way through 3 before being turned down for a 4th. This will now fall under the category of "only on vacation".
It's beginning to feel a lot like . . .
We are two weeks away from Halloween, not even close to Thanksgiving, and Liam has already decided to start planning for Christmas.
He announced the other day that, for Christmas, he was going to ask for a computer. And an ipod. And some very pricey Legos. Shocked, I told him that those were all very expensive items, and we couldn't really afford to have that sort of Christmas. His response?
"No, Mom, they are for Christmas. From Santa. So it's all free, see?" Oh dear.
I explained that Santa would think him quite greedy and put him on the naughty list. Santa, I'm pretty sure, brings just one nice present, and you might ask for some smaller things from Mama and Dada.
He thought this reasonable, and settled, a bit sadly, on an ipod. He thought he'd write his letter to Santa right then and there, but I thought he might want to wait a bit, since a letter to Santa is irrevocable and he mght change his mind.
Since he has been asking for an ipod since his birthday, I am beginning to warm to the idea. For my 5-year-old. I must be crazy. So I ask him, again, what music he would want on his ipod.
He replies, "The Rolling Stones, The Clash, Queen, Johnny Cash, and Pay me my Money Down (his favorite Dan Zanes song). And some jazz."
Okay, fine, how can I argue with that?
Now back to Halloween!
He announced the other day that, for Christmas, he was going to ask for a computer. And an ipod. And some very pricey Legos. Shocked, I told him that those were all very expensive items, and we couldn't really afford to have that sort of Christmas. His response?
"No, Mom, they are for Christmas. From Santa. So it's all free, see?" Oh dear.
I explained that Santa would think him quite greedy and put him on the naughty list. Santa, I'm pretty sure, brings just one nice present, and you might ask for some smaller things from Mama and Dada.
He thought this reasonable, and settled, a bit sadly, on an ipod. He thought he'd write his letter to Santa right then and there, but I thought he might want to wait a bit, since a letter to Santa is irrevocable and he mght change his mind.
Since he has been asking for an ipod since his birthday, I am beginning to warm to the idea. For my 5-year-old. I must be crazy. So I ask him, again, what music he would want on his ipod.
He replies, "The Rolling Stones, The Clash, Queen, Johnny Cash, and Pay me my Money Down (his favorite Dan Zanes song). And some jazz."
Okay, fine, how can I argue with that?
Now back to Halloween!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
From Lolita
This is from Lolita, who came in to Nashville to save the day and help Matt out in my absence:
" I have to share this Finn story. At breakfast Sat. Finn asked for more milk but didn’t say “please.” We had just discussed the need to use special words so I said. “I didn’t hear you say something.” To this he yells his request even louder, still not saying “please”. Liam chimes in and says, “You’re supposed to say please.” Finn then yells please. I say, “You need to use a complete sentence and not yell.” He looks at me blankly. I then give a verbal prompt and exaggerate the word “may” with a rising intonation, “May…..” He looks at me straight in the eyes and says, “June” and then smiles widely. I totally dissolved into laughter as did Liam. Pretty funny, huh? I think we can deduce he is learning the months of the year."
I hope he finally asked correctly!!!
" I have to share this Finn story. At breakfast Sat. Finn asked for more milk but didn’t say “please.” We had just discussed the need to use special words so I said. “I didn’t hear you say something.” To this he yells his request even louder, still not saying “please”. Liam chimes in and says, “You’re supposed to say please.” Finn then yells please. I say, “You need to use a complete sentence and not yell.” He looks at me blankly. I then give a verbal prompt and exaggerate the word “may” with a rising intonation, “May…..” He looks at me straight in the eyes and says, “June” and then smiles widely. I totally dissolved into laughter as did Liam. Pretty funny, huh? I think we can deduce he is learning the months of the year."
I hope he finally asked correctly!!!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Star Wars
Last Saturday, Matt gave the boys light sabers. Liam has a green one, and is calling himself Luke Skywalker, and Finn's is blue. He will tell you he is Obi-Wan Kenobi . On Sunday, Matt let them watch Episode 4 for the first time. On skype that night, Liam told me about the movie, and how he wasn't even scared. It was a pretty big deal for him. Finn had apparently been silently entrances thoughout. Liam then he went back to playing light sabers with Finn. Finn was too busy to talk.
Eventually, Liam came back to the computer to reiterate that he was Luke and Finn was Obi-Wan. And Daddy was Darth Vader. Apparently, Daddy wanted to play, too, and got himself a red light saber.
Does this mean I am once again relegated to Princess Leia? I guess it is better than being the blue power ranger.
Eventually, Liam came back to the computer to reiterate that he was Luke and Finn was Obi-Wan. And Daddy was Darth Vader. Apparently, Daddy wanted to play, too, and got himself a red light saber.
Does this mean I am once again relegated to Princess Leia? I guess it is better than being the blue power ranger.
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