A Birthday and A Scooter

For Jayce's birthday this year we got him a scooter.  

It was a funny thing because he wasn't asking for one, but we knew he would like it and use it a lot.  But it was also for Chris and I a little bit.  We don't have a car, and even with public transportation we walk a lot.  And sometimes it's too much walking for a 5 year old.  When we first arrived we noticed that almost all of the kids had scooters and now I know why.

It's the most efficient/easiest way to get your 3-7 year old from spot A to spot B without constant whining, complaining about tireless or boredom, and it's fun.  And kind of cool.When Jayce opened it he was pleased.  For a minute.  Then he went back to the few random things that I got him.Chris said, "Well that was a bust."  But I was sure that it would be a hit, just after the Superhero books and new lego set.
But the real kicker was that Hannah was interested in it and Chris started scooting her around the flat.  That got his attention.  So we headed outside to try it out.And I was right, it's a hit.We took the soccer ball out for Hannah to run around after and that was a hit too.
When she saw that she couldn't scoot just yet, she decided to explore the little sidewalks/gardens between the flats and I just followed her and let her roam.  But eventually she did get her turn and was delighted.So in the end, I was right about the scooter.

Jayce rode it to and from school every day since his birthday.  He's really proud of it and himself, and is serious about the rules: walking it across the street, wearing his helmet, and slowing down a bit before he loses control.  On his first day he would stop periodically to look back and wave at me or give me a thumbs up, and my heart swelled with pride.

Also, I didn't have to push a stroller that he was also riding on, or coax a very tired and whiny boy every 20 feet or so on the way home after school.  And you can't put a price tag on success like that.

Read More

You Are My Wild

I am your parent you are my child,
I am your quiet place, you are my wild.

I am your calm face, you are my giggle,
I am your wait, you are my wiggle.

I am your audience, you are my clown
I am your London Bridge, you are my falling down

I am your Carrot Sticks, you are my licorice,
I am your dandelion, you are my first wish.

I am your water wings, you are my deep,
I am your open arms, you are my running leap.

I am your way home, you are my new path,
I am your dry towel, you are my wet bath.

I am your dinner you are my chocolate cake,
I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake.

I am your finish line, you are my race,
I am your praying hands, you are my saving grace.

I am your favourite book, you are my new lines,
I am your nightlight, you are my sunshine.

I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo,
I am your kiss goodnight, you are my I love you. 

by Maryann Cusimano     

Happy 5th birthday sweet Jayce.  You are our dream come true.

XOXO
Mom and Dad 

Read More

Mother's Day

We celebrated the US Mother's Day this year.  

This is partly because the UK Mother's Day was right after Hannah and I arrived home from our trip home in March.  I was looking at something on the computer and turned to Chris.

Did you know that tomorrow is Mother's Day?  

It is?  No, I didn't…actually…Jayce made you a Mother's Day card at school this week and I told him it wasn't Mother's Day...

Then they told me they would take me to dinner, but since I was jet lagged I took a 3+ hour  nap instead.  So we delayed it.Also, and more importantly, this year I would actually be with my mom on Mother's Day, which I haven't been able to do for about 4 years, so it was due.  And it was great.This is also why I have been MIA for about 2 weeks.  

I meant to write briefly about that on here, but instead I was doing the "frantic scrub down of the house" that I do before company comes, despite the fact that, not only do my mom and sister not care if my house is clean, they would have helped me clean if I had just waited a few more days.  Oh well.And now I have hundreds (literally-like 600) photos to sort through and share here.  I promise I won't share all 600.

I need to get on it because there is a big birthday party this weekend as well.  Wish me luck.

Read More

Freeze

Hannah.  You should know that right now, at this exact age, (22-ish months), is where your dad and I would like to freeze you.You are SO fun.  So so fun.  

You are chattering all the time.  Walking around the house, being pushed in your stroller, riding the bus, playing with your toys-it doesn't matter.  You are narrating what you see, reacting to it, telling us about it, and engaging in it, and with your ever expanding vocabulary and baby pronunciation, it is often a joy to listen.

Oh!  A cat!!  Hi cat!! Meow.  Mommy, a cat go? Where gone cat? Ca-at!  Where are you cat?!  Oh, flower!!  Mom, flower!  Bu-ful flower.  Smell flower?  Delicious. (Yes she thinks flowers smell delicious.)

As I'm typing this out, I realize that it sounds a little crazy and maybe a bit much.  And sometimes it is.  But it is so funny too.  More and more of the baby babble are actual words and it is a delight to hear you actually speaking in little fragmented sentences.
Daddy!  A chocolate cookie!  Come on! 
Listening to the joy in your voice as you react to the things around you makes it almost impossible not get excited with you.

You are hugging us with tight squeezes around the neck.  You often decide that it is time for squeezes or kisses and won't sit down until everyone in the house has received them, at least once.  But you normally reserve multiple hugs for Jayce, who is the least excited to receive them.

You are repeating what you hear in hilariously appropriate times.  It just makes me laugh how spot on you normally are.

Yesterday I loudly exclaimed "Oh no!" to myself when I realized that I had forgotten something.  You came running over with a concerned face, and said, "A wrong mommy? You okay?"

If we sneeze or cough, you'll say bless you, "Besh you. Besh you mommy. A cough." 

You say "yes sir" now, even to me.  I remember Jayce going through the phase of saying "yes sir" to me as well, though he was much older.  But it sounds so funny though in your little voice and pronunciation, which sounds like "ye-shu."  I smile every time.

I think you have a little crush on one of the tv presenters on the kids channel, Andy.  I don't really know why he stands out to you, he isn't on a favorite show or anything.  But I noticed last week that when he's on, you yell "Andy!," run over in front of the tv, and smile and dance around a little bit.  True, he is a part of a duet that dances and sings about a different number every day, but you seem to like him in between as well.  This morning you were playing on your phone and I heard you saying, "Wha doin' Andy? Okay.  Buh bye.  See you soon."  So I guess now we have to deal with you pretend talking on the phone with boys.  You still just LOVE your bear.  Whenever you first grab it, you give it a bit hug between your cheek and shoulder and say "Awwww!!" like you are in the picture above.  It is so precious.  I have no intention of taking that thing away from you.  The paci, however, it's days are numbered.
Your favorite other thing right now is a show (and the characters) called In the Night Garden, but you call it Iggle Piggle, who is the main character.  Whoever made it has obviously cracked into the minds of 1 and 2 year olds everywhere, because little kids are crazy over it and you are no exception.  Even though I can barely pronounce the names of the characters and their things (the Ninky Nonk, Macka Packa, The Tombleyboos, etc.) you declare all of their names as soon as they pop up onto the screen and just adore the whole thing.
There is a live show coming to Richmond this summer, and though your dad isn't happy about it, I think we'll be taking you.  You are absolutely delighted every time that it comes on, so I can't wait to see how you'd respond to seeing it in person. 

There are a million other things that you do every day that just kill me and try as I may, I just can't get pictures of them all or remember each thing to record here.  So if you could just freeze at this age for a little bit, that would be great.

Read More