Both Isaac and Lizzy have been to day camp this week. Isaac chose to go to Chess Camp - and it's definately been a good choice for him.
Isaac began getting interested in Chess earlier in the year. He was coming home from school and telling us he'd been playing chess at school. Since then, he's borrowed nearly every chess book from school and last week we even borrowed a chess DVD from the library. It wasn't a hard decision to make, when we saw there was a chess camp during summer.
He's been coming home most afternoons with lollies/candy. Each time they win a game, they recieved a toothpick and when they got 3 toothpicks they could choose a candy. The person who won the most toothpicks over the week was the winner at camp. Overall, he came 3rd against all the little campers. Naturally he was very proud of himself. However, Ben & I smiled at each other when he annouced that he could have come 1st or 2nd but he never got to play against the winners. Obviously he thought he would have been able to beat them too!
The coach of the chess camp suggested that Isaac might like to come back another week, and join the harder camp. Not surprisingly, Isaac beamed and wants to go back to Chess Camp.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Laughter
We have laughter!
Three days ago, Kai laughed for the first time. I just love the sound of baby laughs. They start at the bottom of their tummies and spread over their whole faces. The beauty of it all is that it doesn't take much to get a baby to laugh. You don't need to tell a joke, you don't even have to be funny - you just have to be you and let him enjoy life.
Both Ben & I were present for his first laugh, although he really laughed at Ben. Ben was pointing to himself, Kai and I, saying our names and touching our noses. He laughed for a second and then had a startled look on his face, as if to say "Where did that noise come from?"
He laughed again for Ben yesterday, when Ben was saying "Jump" and lifting him up in the air.
Today he laughed for me alone, for the first time. Kai was being carried by Ben but he was looking at me. I just smiled at him and he laughed. And my heart melted for the hundreth time.
Three days ago, Kai laughed for the first time. I just love the sound of baby laughs. They start at the bottom of their tummies and spread over their whole faces. The beauty of it all is that it doesn't take much to get a baby to laugh. You don't need to tell a joke, you don't even have to be funny - you just have to be you and let him enjoy life.
Both Ben & I were present for his first laugh, although he really laughed at Ben. Ben was pointing to himself, Kai and I, saying our names and touching our noses. He laughed for a second and then had a startled look on his face, as if to say "Where did that noise come from?"
He laughed again for Ben yesterday, when Ben was saying "Jump" and lifting him up in the air.
Today he laughed for me alone, for the first time. Kai was being carried by Ben but he was looking at me. I just smiled at him and he laughed. And my heart melted for the hundreth time.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Melting
We are melting here. Seattle is known for it's mild weather. We usually have days in the high 20's with the nights getting cool, so in the morning the house is cool again. However, that was not the case yesterday. Yesterday it was 41 degrees, the hottest day ever recorded in Seattle. They've been recording temperatures since the late 1800's so that's really saying something.
Today is a little more bearable at 35, although there is still a chance it will get slightly hotter as the temperature usually peaks between 4.00 and 6.00pm.
Surprisingly, the kids have been dealing quite well with the heat. Last night we did quiet reading out on the back verandah, as outside was cooler than inside. We'd told them they only had to wear their underwear to bed which they were quite happy to do. Lizzy had her bath and happily started quiet reading on the back verandah in just her undies. However, at 7, you're a little bit more modest. Isaac didn't want to come out until I suggested perhaps he might like to wear his pajama pants while outside. I noticed however, they came right off again once he was back in bed for sleeping.
We've only got one more night to survive in this heat. By Friday it should be back to pleasant Seattle summers.
Today is a little more bearable at 35, although there is still a chance it will get slightly hotter as the temperature usually peaks between 4.00 and 6.00pm.
Surprisingly, the kids have been dealing quite well with the heat. Last night we did quiet reading out on the back verandah, as outside was cooler than inside. We'd told them they only had to wear their underwear to bed which they were quite happy to do. Lizzy had her bath and happily started quiet reading on the back verandah in just her undies. However, at 7, you're a little bit more modest. Isaac didn't want to come out until I suggested perhaps he might like to wear his pajama pants while outside. I noticed however, they came right off again once he was back in bed for sleeping.
We've only got one more night to survive in this heat. By Friday it should be back to pleasant Seattle summers.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Girl Dramas
Lizzy is at day camp this week - and what an up and down adventure it has been. At first she was very excited about going but then, about a week ago, she started crying whenever camp was mentioned. Mean mummy did the "we've paid for it, so you're going" talk. Yesterday, as we walked into the camp ground, she exclaims "I remember here. I do want to go to day camp!". I have to admit I rolled my eyes.
It turned out that one of Lizzy's preschool friends was in the class with her. However, when I picked Lizzy up, she asked me "Do you think once you become friends with someone they should always be your friend?" Oh dear - I know what's happened. "Yes I do Lizzy. Did Emma say she didn't want to be your friend anymore". Eyes welling up, she tells me yes.
So come today, our second day and Lizzy doesn't want to go back to camp. "I don't have any friends there". "Lizzy, sometimes when people are mad they say things that they don't really mean. Was Emma angry when she said she didn't want to be your friend." "Yes - she didn't like something I did". Ahhh...the truth is coming out. "I'm sure she didn't really mean it, and wants to be your friend still".
We had arranged to pick up Emma on the way to camp, and Emma was thrilled to see Lizzy. Isaac, Lizzy & Emma were all in the back chatting, when it is mentioned that another of their preschool friends is in chess camp with Isaac. Emma pipes up and says "One of my preschool friends is in camp with Isaac and another preschool friend is is camp with me!"
I smile to myself, and in my mind I'm saying "Thank you so much for saying those magic words Emma!" For I have seen in my rear vision mirror a little girl who is beeming because Emma has said that she was friends with Lizzy.
I never realised raising a girl would mean dealing with such drama. Am I allowed to confess that I'm glad to have two boys?
It turned out that one of Lizzy's preschool friends was in the class with her. However, when I picked Lizzy up, she asked me "Do you think once you become friends with someone they should always be your friend?" Oh dear - I know what's happened. "Yes I do Lizzy. Did Emma say she didn't want to be your friend anymore". Eyes welling up, she tells me yes.
So come today, our second day and Lizzy doesn't want to go back to camp. "I don't have any friends there". "Lizzy, sometimes when people are mad they say things that they don't really mean. Was Emma angry when she said she didn't want to be your friend." "Yes - she didn't like something I did". Ahhh...the truth is coming out. "I'm sure she didn't really mean it, and wants to be your friend still".
We had arranged to pick up Emma on the way to camp, and Emma was thrilled to see Lizzy. Isaac, Lizzy & Emma were all in the back chatting, when it is mentioned that another of their preschool friends is in chess camp with Isaac. Emma pipes up and says "One of my preschool friends is in camp with Isaac and another preschool friend is is camp with me!"
I smile to myself, and in my mind I'm saying "Thank you so much for saying those magic words Emma!" For I have seen in my rear vision mirror a little girl who is beeming because Emma has said that she was friends with Lizzy.
I never realised raising a girl would mean dealing with such drama. Am I allowed to confess that I'm glad to have two boys?
Monday, July 20, 2009
How to Make a Baby Happy
Well...how to make one baby in particular happy...
1. Let him know that he is not illegitimate
Kai's great aunt Glenda gave us a beautiful frame for our wedding certificate when we married. It just so happens that Kai's change table is in our room, directly under the frame. He loves to talk to the certificate and give it big smiles. We think he likes knowing that he has a mummy and daddy who are married.
2. Watch Mummy & Daddy kiss
It's especially fun to watch mummy and daddy kiss. It almost always guarantees a smile. And so it should - he has read the marriage lines so it must be a good thing that the people mention are kissing :)
1. Let him know that he is not illegitimate
Kai's great aunt Glenda gave us a beautiful frame for our wedding certificate when we married. It just so happens that Kai's change table is in our room, directly under the frame. He loves to talk to the certificate and give it big smiles. We think he likes knowing that he has a mummy and daddy who are married.
2. Watch Mummy & Daddy kiss
It's especially fun to watch mummy and daddy kiss. It almost always guarantees a smile. And so it should - he has read the marriage lines so it must be a good thing that the people mention are kissing :)
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Look at me...I can hold up my head...
I did a "photo shoot" with Kai this afternoon. He's getting so strong these days and can hold up his head quite well. He also loves to push down on his feet if you hold him in a standing position.
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