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Monday, April 04, 2011
Sunday, April 03, 2011
International Fashion Show
Andres had a performance, that included a song, a fashion show and dance.
William said his family was from Ecuador and USA, but Andres' teacher said he could only say one, so he didn't say USA.
Unfortunately Andres is in the back, so you can't really see him.
William said his family was from Ecuador and USA, but Andres' teacher said he could only say one, so he didn't say USA.
Unfortunately Andres is in the back, so you can't really see him.
Reading
William tries to sound things out and tries to read things he doesn't know now, I think that's so cool, because he's going to get better at reading because of this. I'm so impressed with my boys. Andres is starting to read too. William woke up Saturday morning and said, "I can spell photography". Then he said, "take off the y and add er and you get photographer."
Saturday, April 02, 2011
football
William doesn't like soccer so far. His body language is slumpy and he said, "I'm the worst player ever." At least he tries. One little girl won't do it, though she insisted on putting on a jersey. I get frustrated when the kids don't listen to the kind focused coaches. Andres is into it more but is younger and will just stop playing and ask me if we can buy lego.
They do like the shin guards I got them.
They do like the shin guards I got them.
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Thursday, March 24, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
melancholy
William said he felt "melonkely", so later I asked him what he meant. And then he said with a kind of tiredness, "it's melancholy daddy."
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Parent / teacher night
The science teacher says William fidgets, but can pay attention. Andres can't pay attention when he's talking. I asked Andres about that and he says he tells others to "shush" when they talk to him, but they don't do that with him, and he needs their help. I told him to take responsibility for his actions.
Andres' teacher says I can come and read a book to the class, have it video taped and get a copy of it and the book. Sounds like fun. Andres fall asleep sometimes in school, and his sleep issues make it hard for him. He's going to be evaluated. Sometimes when I sleep next to him, I think, "breath, please!" He's trying to breath through his nose, and it's stuffed. He's improving on his writing.
William's teacher was happy with him. He's reading on almost a 2nd grade level, and doing good work. They're talking about authors as mentors.
The boys were very excited playing with Isaih and Camilo, Urpe and Kori, and others. Then their cousins came, Emma and AJ and baby Caleb. The boys had a lot of energy, and I bought them some books.
Andres' teacher says I can come and read a book to the class, have it video taped and get a copy of it and the book. Sounds like fun. Andres fall asleep sometimes in school, and his sleep issues make it hard for him. He's going to be evaluated. Sometimes when I sleep next to him, I think, "breath, please!" He's trying to breath through his nose, and it's stuffed. He's improving on his writing.
William's teacher was happy with him. He's reading on almost a 2nd grade level, and doing good work. They're talking about authors as mentors.
The boys were very excited playing with Isaih and Camilo, Urpe and Kori, and others. Then their cousins came, Emma and AJ and baby Caleb. The boys had a lot of energy, and I bought them some books.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Friday, March 04, 2011
upstate pillow fight
I took my sons to visit a friend in upstate New York, who has children, and I recorded this video of a pillow fight, from the fall of 2010.
Santa Fe
In the summer of 2010, I took the boys to Santa Fe to visit their grandparents. They were playing with a soccer ball.
Andres breaks his record
In the summer of 2010, Andres took to seeing how many rungs he could swing across. On this summer day he did 6 and broke his record.
basketball video
William is 6, Andres is 5. They are in a church basketball league. Andres is the one in the yellow jersey, the other in a yellow jersey is a girl. It's kind of wild, they don't dribble the ball, they travel and whatnot, but it's a lot of fun. And I actually caught a score. William is lying down, in a red jersey. I think he was upset about the coach/referee not calling something his way.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
pie
I was reading William and Andres Harold and the Magic Crayon Friday night. Harold drew 19 pies to eat. Andres said, "This one is apple, this one is cherry, this one is pumpkin and this one is tomato."
Tomato pie?
Yes.
It is a fruit.
Tomato pie?
Yes.
It is a fruit.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
beautiful boy
So I've been reluctant to write here because I don't really want to look at my separation with Diana, but I think this is a nice story.
I had a stressful evening with the boys. Picked them up (they were not dropped off as usual, I feel like I'm traveling a lot to get to them).
Wrangled them to a pizza place. They wanted McDonalds. I know pizza is not much more healthy than McDonalds, but I think it is. They got a can of soda and then William said, "say something mean to me." I wouldn't do it. Andres did. He crushed his can. Then he was ripping it apart. "Be careful, it's easy to cut yourself with the cans edge." Of course Andres cut himself later, and was crying pitifully.
At home we struggled to do homework. Diana laid into me when I didn't notice all the homework, so I spent the whole evening doing homework, which seems wrong for a first grader. William cut himself working on a project. He did quite well. So as usual, time got away from me, and I'm so afraid of Diana's anger, and she gets angry when I'm late, so we were rushing back to their place. I was a bit frazzled.
William said to me, "Daddy, I had a good time with you tonight." And all my criticism of the night, the problems faded away. It's about being together. He just melted my heart, my anxieties, my worries. I love him so much. He's a good boy.
I've been reading Learning from the Heart by Daniel Gottlieb, and it's really touching. His advice is to chill about our expectations about our children, to understand how some of our projects are just mental confusion. I look at pictures of the boys a lot, I don't feel like I spend enough time with them. We have to accept things and just roll with things.
Thank you to Will for The Fantastic Mr. Fox, which we read together recently and I quite enjoyed.
Looking forward to going apple picking with aunt Di the weekend after this one, and Halloween.
I had a stressful evening with the boys. Picked them up (they were not dropped off as usual, I feel like I'm traveling a lot to get to them).
Wrangled them to a pizza place. They wanted McDonalds. I know pizza is not much more healthy than McDonalds, but I think it is. They got a can of soda and then William said, "say something mean to me." I wouldn't do it. Andres did. He crushed his can. Then he was ripping it apart. "Be careful, it's easy to cut yourself with the cans edge." Of course Andres cut himself later, and was crying pitifully.
At home we struggled to do homework. Diana laid into me when I didn't notice all the homework, so I spent the whole evening doing homework, which seems wrong for a first grader. William cut himself working on a project. He did quite well. So as usual, time got away from me, and I'm so afraid of Diana's anger, and she gets angry when I'm late, so we were rushing back to their place. I was a bit frazzled.
William said to me, "Daddy, I had a good time with you tonight." And all my criticism of the night, the problems faded away. It's about being together. He just melted my heart, my anxieties, my worries. I love him so much. He's a good boy.
I've been reading Learning from the Heart by Daniel Gottlieb, and it's really touching. His advice is to chill about our expectations about our children, to understand how some of our projects are just mental confusion. I look at pictures of the boys a lot, I don't feel like I spend enough time with them. We have to accept things and just roll with things.
Thank you to Will for The Fantastic Mr. Fox, which we read together recently and I quite enjoyed.
Looking forward to going apple picking with aunt Di the weekend after this one, and Halloween.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Santa Fe Trip
So I took the boys to Santa Fe to see their Glamma and Grandpa.
The highlight for me was them snuggling up to me on the trip home. Andres was snuggling on my lap and William spontaneously joined in. As I was enveloped in this wonderful warm snuggle cloud, the physical pleasure of being attached to my boys for a week, culminated in such a lovely warmness. I shall never forget.
Other highlights were hikes, one in Bandalier, where William spotted a rattle snake, after we were cooling off in the stream. We ended up going to the rattle snake museum on Albuquerque, the day before we left, to learn more about rattle snakes. I love looking into archeological sites of the ancestral Pueblos. I think kiva's are really cool.
We also went to the Georgia O'Keeffe museum, and hung out in downtown Santa Fe.
My parents joked that it was monsoon season, and then it did start raining a lot, and they said, "I've never seen it rain so much." One rainy day Glamma took the boys to see Sorcerer's Apprentice, which the boys liked. It was the one time the boys were not with me, and Glamma reported the boys were good.
The boys enjoyed roasting marshmallows in the fireplace outside, and running around, and kicking the soccer ball around. They enjoyed the Railyard Park near my parents and also Cowgirl's BBQ, where they seated us in the kiddie coral, where they played with some girls and the mother complimented the boys on how sweet they were.
In the down time, they played their DSi, with lego, watched YouTube and Mario Brothers on Netflicks, or iCarly on TV. They also ran around a lot and I like how physical the trip was. My boys are good athletes, nice strong boys. They are also artists, as their artwork shows. We read some and I got them to do homework one day, when their mother reminded me. After that I kept asking William if he wanted to do homework and he said, "no."
Glamma gave them math lessons and tried to do other education things along the way.
So you can see the photos if you're a friend of mine on facebook. It was a lovely trip. I loved being with my boys, even if I was overwhelmed at times, and if they had silly fights sometimes, or didn't listen well. I loved seeing them running around and playing and laughing. I hope they grew from the experience, as I'm sure they did.
Thank you to Glamma Kathy and Grandpa Rich for their generosity, support, caring and attention. Thank you to Glamma for cooking and taking us out for meals, and doing laundry, and generally caring for us, giving the boys baths and whatnot, plus providing structure and organizing most of the trip. Thank you to Rich for your humor and teachings and showing us fun things, and generally hanging out with us, and trying to corral the wild beasts when they got a little out of hand and organizational support. It was a wonderful trip that I shall remember for the rest of my life.
The highlight for me was them snuggling up to me on the trip home. Andres was snuggling on my lap and William spontaneously joined in. As I was enveloped in this wonderful warm snuggle cloud, the physical pleasure of being attached to my boys for a week, culminated in such a lovely warmness. I shall never forget.
Other highlights were hikes, one in Bandalier, where William spotted a rattle snake, after we were cooling off in the stream. We ended up going to the rattle snake museum on Albuquerque, the day before we left, to learn more about rattle snakes. I love looking into archeological sites of the ancestral Pueblos. I think kiva's are really cool.
We also went to the Georgia O'Keeffe museum, and hung out in downtown Santa Fe.
My parents joked that it was monsoon season, and then it did start raining a lot, and they said, "I've never seen it rain so much." One rainy day Glamma took the boys to see Sorcerer's Apprentice, which the boys liked. It was the one time the boys were not with me, and Glamma reported the boys were good.
The boys enjoyed roasting marshmallows in the fireplace outside, and running around, and kicking the soccer ball around. They enjoyed the Railyard Park near my parents and also Cowgirl's BBQ, where they seated us in the kiddie coral, where they played with some girls and the mother complimented the boys on how sweet they were.
In the down time, they played their DSi, with lego, watched YouTube and Mario Brothers on Netflicks, or iCarly on TV. They also ran around a lot and I like how physical the trip was. My boys are good athletes, nice strong boys. They are also artists, as their artwork shows. We read some and I got them to do homework one day, when their mother reminded me. After that I kept asking William if he wanted to do homework and he said, "no."
Glamma gave them math lessons and tried to do other education things along the way.
So you can see the photos if you're a friend of mine on facebook. It was a lovely trip. I loved being with my boys, even if I was overwhelmed at times, and if they had silly fights sometimes, or didn't listen well. I loved seeing them running around and playing and laughing. I hope they grew from the experience, as I'm sure they did.
Thank you to Glamma Kathy and Grandpa Rich for their generosity, support, caring and attention. Thank you to Glamma for cooking and taking us out for meals, and doing laundry, and generally caring for us, giving the boys baths and whatnot, plus providing structure and organizing most of the trip. Thank you to Rich for your humor and teachings and showing us fun things, and generally hanging out with us, and trying to corral the wild beasts when they got a little out of hand and organizational support. It was a wonderful trip that I shall remember for the rest of my life.
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Andres
Andres had 2 cavities, and was brave (with some help of laughing gas), at the dentist today. The picture is before the laughing gas.
In other news Great Grandpa Parks turned 88 today. He's no April fool, he's had an amazing life as befits someone from the great generation. Happy birthday Grandpa. My life, as your grand son, is so much better with you in it, and so is your great grand children's.
In other news Great Grandpa Parks turned 88 today. He's no April fool, he's had an amazing life as befits someone from the great generation. Happy birthday Grandpa. My life, as your grand son, is so much better with you in it, and so is your great grand children's.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
William's school work
Here's a bit from the wall of William's school. He has inventive spelling, and he's working on spacing and other writing conventions. I'm so proud of my boy, he got a good report from his teachers.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Bedbug ordeal
Supposedly bedbug free, we're back home. Andres doesn't like pizza any more, he's sick I think. He wants to eat at Grandma's house. I thank Abuela for letting us stay at her place so long. Hopefully we'll sleep in our own beds tonight for the first time in about 3 weeks. I think I adjusted well after the initial shock. My heart goes out to others who have suffered the blight of bedbugs.
I was looking at the photos I have on Flickr last night on my new Droid. Next post will be a photo and you can click the Flickr link there if you'd like to look at the oldish photos (177 of them--you pay after 200 photos).
I was looking at the photos I have on Flickr last night on my new Droid. Next post will be a photo and you can click the Flickr link there if you'd like to look at the oldish photos (177 of them--you pay after 200 photos).
Monday, February 01, 2010
1,117th post
On my other blogs I hit 500 and 200 entries, but this blog has been more popular because it's updates about the boys.
So what's new? We've been enduring a bedbugs crisis by the kindness of my mother-in-law. She's letting us stay at her place. So there's some chaos in the world, you can't shield it from your children. Bedbugs are not about cleanliness, or class or anything. They're just a really bug bummer. Had to put everything into bags, essentially almost move out of our house, and then stay out for 2 weeks. They squirted stuff into our light sockets and really did a thorough job.
William seems to be becoming a reader. He asks to spell things. He reads books to me. Of course he did not know "Musk Oxen", but he knew every other word in a book he read to me the other day. I've been reading the Flat Stanley series to them, which are becoming some of my favorite children's books.
Andres is a cute boy who got his shortest haircut. He is ruled more by jealousy than some kids, and can be quite cruel sometimes. He's also very cuddly and snugly. He's learning to write and read some without even trying, just watching his brother. He's different temperamentally than his brother and 18 months younger. He seems to have a different head and face, and body type.
I sing Puff The Magic Dragon to them when I put them to bed, among other things, and that song is really for adults about the impermanence of childhood. The window of childhood closes fast. I'm glad I'm done with school for the moment, and can really enjoy the boys. I lament that I have a night job 3 times a week, and miss out on 3 evenings.
Anywho, a quick update, while I'm at the computer. I hope everyone is well.
So what's new? We've been enduring a bedbugs crisis by the kindness of my mother-in-law. She's letting us stay at her place. So there's some chaos in the world, you can't shield it from your children. Bedbugs are not about cleanliness, or class or anything. They're just a really bug bummer. Had to put everything into bags, essentially almost move out of our house, and then stay out for 2 weeks. They squirted stuff into our light sockets and really did a thorough job.
William seems to be becoming a reader. He asks to spell things. He reads books to me. Of course he did not know "Musk Oxen", but he knew every other word in a book he read to me the other day. I've been reading the Flat Stanley series to them, which are becoming some of my favorite children's books.
Andres is a cute boy who got his shortest haircut. He is ruled more by jealousy than some kids, and can be quite cruel sometimes. He's also very cuddly and snugly. He's learning to write and read some without even trying, just watching his brother. He's different temperamentally than his brother and 18 months younger. He seems to have a different head and face, and body type.
I sing Puff The Magic Dragon to them when I put them to bed, among other things, and that song is really for adults about the impermanence of childhood. The window of childhood closes fast. I'm glad I'm done with school for the moment, and can really enjoy the boys. I lament that I have a night job 3 times a week, and miss out on 3 evenings.
Anywho, a quick update, while I'm at the computer. I hope everyone is well.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
comment on William's report card
His teacher writes:
William is an extremely respectful, well-mannered and friendly child. He has a great personality and sense of humor we all enjoy. William is always willing to lend a helping hand to myself as well as his classmates. I can always count on him! Please continue working with William at home by reading and writing with him daily. Also, please encourage William to keep up the great work.
William is an extremely respectful, well-mannered and friendly child. He has a great personality and sense of humor we all enjoy. William is always willing to lend a helping hand to myself as well as his classmates. I can always count on him! Please continue working with William at home by reading and writing with him daily. Also, please encourage William to keep up the great work.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
school 2009 (1 photo), by Stephen Bell
I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
if you want to be free, be free
There's a commercial that reminded me of this song, and I've been singing it to the boys when we walk home from Abuela's.
Here are the lyrics:
Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
'Cause there's a million things to be
You know that there are
And if you want to live high, live high
And if you want to live low, live low
'Cause there's a million ways to go
You know that there are
Chorus:
You can do what you want
The opportunity's on
And if you can find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it undo
You see ah ah ah
It's easy ah ah ah
You only need to know
Well if you want to say yes, say yes
And if you want to say no, say no
'Cause there's a million ways to go
You know that there are
And if you want to be me, be me
And if you want to be you, be you
'Cause there's a million things to do
You know that there are
Chorus
Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
'Cause there's a million things to be
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
Here are the lyrics:
Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
'Cause there's a million things to be
You know that there are
And if you want to live high, live high
And if you want to live low, live low
'Cause there's a million ways to go
You know that there are
Chorus:
You can do what you want
The opportunity's on
And if you can find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it undo
You see ah ah ah
It's easy ah ah ah
You only need to know
Well if you want to say yes, say yes
And if you want to say no, say no
'Cause there's a million ways to go
You know that there are
And if you want to be me, be me
And if you want to be you, be you
'Cause there's a million things to do
You know that there are
Chorus
Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
'Cause there's a million things to be
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
odds and ends
Here's an interesting article from the NY Times, about talking to your children.
We went on a hike last weekend, it was wonderful. Here's some pictures on facebook. They did a good job.
We went on a hike last weekend, it was wonderful. Here's some pictures on facebook. They did a good job.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
a day
We spent the day at an aquarium in Riverhead. Harry came along with his brood, plus Joseph. It was a nice place, though I'm done before we leave. I admire Harry's continuing to be open and playful, ditto for Diana. I liked the Parana feeding frenzy.
My favorite part was listing to the boys blather in the back seat on the ride home, and in their bedroom while they awaited their mother coming out of the bathroom to put them to bed. They have a silly patter.
Yesterday I somehow subtracted one from the address of a museum we were looking for, and thus we didn't find it. We went to Katz's, and then to Thompkins Square, where they have a superb park for children.
I lived in the East Village for many years, but it seems after being away for quite a while that many of the business have changed. My favorite breakfast spot was gone, among other changes. While I had difficulty recovering from the lost museum debacle, Diana had fun, and everyone else seemed to.
My favorite part was listing to the boys blather in the back seat on the ride home, and in their bedroom while they awaited their mother coming out of the bathroom to put them to bed. They have a silly patter.
Yesterday I somehow subtracted one from the address of a museum we were looking for, and thus we didn't find it. We went to Katz's, and then to Thompkins Square, where they have a superb park for children.
I lived in the East Village for many years, but it seems after being away for quite a while that many of the business have changed. My favorite breakfast spot was gone, among other changes. While I had difficulty recovering from the lost museum debacle, Diana had fun, and everyone else seemed to.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Indy Indy Jones
Happy birthday AJ (9), Natasia (12) and Erin (1). We spent the weekend celebrating their birthdays.
We watched Raiders of the Lost Arc, and William calls him "Indy Indy Jones". I say "Indy Anna" and he says, "no, Indy Indy Jones".
William woke us up Sunday with the question, "What's the movie where the man is trying to kill the pig?" Diana said, "mumble mumble mumble". William said, "why are you talking like that?" I said, "She's sleeping." We finally got him the answer, Charlotte's Web.
My idea of having one big bash for all the July birthdays and one big bash for the August birthdays wasn't so well received. Nope, we've got to have a bunch of birthdays.
I want to put a list of the cousins in the U.S.A. birthdays ( (from oldest to youngest): Josh, Katie 21 (June 8, 1988), Will and Bart 22 (July 28, 1987) (all in their early 20's), Joseph 16 (August 19th) Oliver 14 (October), Venus 14 (June 29th), Brian 12 (Feb. 8), Natasia 12 (August 7th), Robyn 10 (January 4th), AJ 9 (Aug. 4th), Emma 5 (April 2nd), Braxton 5 (April 4) William 5 (April 14), Nicole 5 (July 14), Andres 3 (Sept 23), Christian 3 (Oct. 21st), Gavin 2 (April 10) Ariana 2 (Aug 30), Breana 2 (Jan. 6th), Sebastian 1 (January 12), Ashton (April 4), Erin 1 (July 21st), Eric Jr. 1 (August 2nd) Sasha (Oct. 21) Dylan (June 25th). Also Alex, and her sister, who's birthdays I don't know, plus another one on the way. Twenty six cousins, twenty seven upcoming.
So where's the next child coming from in Diana's family?
That list chronologically through the year (of the ones I know):
Robyn 10 (January 4th, 1999)
Breana 2 (Jan. 6th, 2007)
Sebastian 1 (January 12, 2008)
Brian 12 (Feb. 8, 1997)
Emma 5 (April 2nd, 2004)
Braxton 5 (April 4, 2004)
Ashton (April 4, 2008)
William 5 (April 14, 2004)
Katie 21 (June 8, 1988)
Dylan (June 25th, 2009)
Venus 14 (June 29th, 1995)
Nicole 5 (July 14, 2004)
Erin 1 (July 21st, 2008)
Will and Bart 22 (July 28, 1987)
Eric Jr. 1 (August 2nd, 2008)
AJ 9 (Aug. 4th, 2000)
Natasia 12 (August 7th, 1997)
Joseph 16 (August 19th, 1993)
Ariana 2 (Aug 30, 2008)
Andres 3 (Sept 23, 2005)
Oliver 14 (October 1995)
Nobody in March, Nov. or Dec.
We watched Raiders of the Lost Arc, and William calls him "Indy Indy Jones". I say "Indy Anna" and he says, "no, Indy Indy Jones".
William woke us up Sunday with the question, "What's the movie where the man is trying to kill the pig?" Diana said, "mumble mumble mumble". William said, "why are you talking like that?" I said, "She's sleeping." We finally got him the answer, Charlotte's Web.
My idea of having one big bash for all the July birthdays and one big bash for the August birthdays wasn't so well received. Nope, we've got to have a bunch of birthdays.
I want to put a list of the cousins in the U.S.A. birthdays ( (from oldest to youngest): Josh, Katie 21 (June 8, 1988), Will and Bart 22 (July 28, 1987) (all in their early 20's), Joseph 16 (August 19th) Oliver 14 (October), Venus 14 (June 29th), Brian 12 (Feb. 8), Natasia 12 (August 7th), Robyn 10 (January 4th), AJ 9 (Aug. 4th), Emma 5 (April 2nd), Braxton 5 (April 4) William 5 (April 14), Nicole 5 (July 14), Andres 3 (Sept 23), Christian 3 (Oct. 21st), Gavin 2 (April 10) Ariana 2 (Aug 30), Breana 2 (Jan. 6th), Sebastian 1 (January 12), Ashton (April 4), Erin 1 (July 21st), Eric Jr. 1 (August 2nd) Sasha (Oct. 21) Dylan (June 25th). Also Alex, and her sister, who's birthdays I don't know, plus another one on the way. Twenty six cousins, twenty seven upcoming.
So where's the next child coming from in Diana's family?
That list chronologically through the year (of the ones I know):
Robyn 10 (January 4th, 1999)
Breana 2 (Jan. 6th, 2007)
Sebastian 1 (January 12, 2008)
Brian 12 (Feb. 8, 1997)
Emma 5 (April 2nd, 2004)
Braxton 5 (April 4, 2004)
Ashton (April 4, 2008)
William 5 (April 14, 2004)
Katie 21 (June 8, 1988)
Dylan (June 25th, 2009)
Venus 14 (June 29th, 1995)
Nicole 5 (July 14, 2004)
Erin 1 (July 21st, 2008)
Will and Bart 22 (July 28, 1987)
Eric Jr. 1 (August 2nd, 2008)
AJ 9 (Aug. 4th, 2000)
Natasia 12 (August 7th, 1997)
Joseph 16 (August 19th, 1993)
Ariana 2 (Aug 30, 2008)
Andres 3 (Sept 23, 2005)
Oliver 14 (October 1995)
Nobody in March, Nov. or Dec.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Coxsackie & Croup
Andres had Coxackie last week and Croup this week. Both are viral and you can't really do anything about them, except to monitor to make sure it doesn't take a turn for the worse. He missed 4 days last week, he'll miss 2 days this week. Poor lamb is lethargic. He gets so reactionary at the doctor's office, but the doctor is kind.
William has left the garden. He covers up sometimes, he feels self conscious when he's naked at home. Not nude. He didn't just offer his hand to cross the street the other day. Diana says he's resisting holding hands crossing the street. He's into lego star wars, spiderman, x-men and other heroes of the cartoon and movie world.
I'm collecting artwork photos on facebook:
For William
For Andres
William has left the garden. He covers up sometimes, he feels self conscious when he's naked at home. Not nude. He didn't just offer his hand to cross the street the other day. Diana says he's resisting holding hands crossing the street. He's into lego star wars, spiderman, x-men and other heroes of the cartoon and movie world.
I'm collecting artwork photos on facebook:
For William
For Andres
Monday, August 03, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sorry, haven't been blogging. I suppose it takes a real commitment, and well, I prefer to blog about the spiritual life more at times. The boys continue to develop wonderfully. Right now William is into lego star wars, and the amateur movies on YouTube. The one below also combines music with a favorite artist, Weird Al Yankovich.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Sullivan Island Trip
Highlights of the trip going down: Andres woke up at 4am, on the drive down, and started singing “John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt”. He announced North Carolina so all could wake up. We drove down from Queens in New York City to Sullivan Island South Carolina, outside of Charleston. We stopped for breakfast, and made it in 13 hours.
The beach was really good for kids, not too wavy and it took a long time to get deep. We went to the beach most days, and the boys did very well there. There are beautiful para boards flying around, I counted 13 last night. Will and Bart have a kite that mimics the action, and William got a chance to fly it some. They dig holes, wreck castles others make, and splash about. There’s a little kind of inland lake that they swim in too. The tide goes up and we have to move our chairs. I think William sat staring out into the ocean for a while, while I read, and Andres and Diana played in the surf.
I particularly enjoyed teaching my cousins to meditate. We go up to the 3rd floor porch in the shade and do mindfulness of breathing and metta for 20 minutes, with the birds chirping, people running by.
We have the second floor of a house, with AC, internet connection, DVD player, 4 rooms and 2 bathrooms, a nice kitchen, dinning room and living room. There is a screened in porch and a high deck. Di gave us the king sized bed, so the boys can sleep between us. Wes was here, and left Saturday. Celeste and Katie left Monday. Bevery and Dennis arrived Monday, with beach bikes.
I brought down the DS that Diana gave me, and the adults are competing for the best brain age. William and Andres are playing Star Wars, Mario Brothers and drawing. We watched Wall-E last night. We’ve all been having interesting dreams, but Diana got the worst of it, when she woke up to Andres slapping her in a dream. They have been rough housing with Will and Bart.
We went to the Middleton Place, which is an old estate outside of Charleston, which was a central showcase for the Middleton family in the 17th and 18th Century. It was pretty awesome, but much was lost on the boys. We chatted with the blacksmith, who educated me. I didn’t know Charleston was the biggest ports in those days and that rice was the cash crop of those times. Thinking about it, we get Carolina brand rice. I thought the south was all about cotton, but that wasn’t until the cotton gin was invented and could produce the quantities that made it feasible. He also talked about how the Union soldiers burnt and looted much of the south, and that Lincoln was complicit with that—he quoted a general’s journal, not Sherman’s, but another general, I forget. So I also felt kind of guilty about living in the north. I asked if there was any kind of Marshall Plan after the Civil War and he said no. He said Mississippi was a wealthy state before the Civil War. I felt bad for the south and the devastation after the Civil War, even though I vaguely remember a weird documentary called Sherman’s March, which wasn’t much about that, but did reference the devastation.
Miscellaneous activity: I went for a bike ride to the edge of Sullivan Island nearest Charleston. Dennis did a knife show, of his artistry. Andres has gotten lots of mosquito bites, and William too.
We went to the the Low Country Children’s Museum in Charleston. I really liked it. The boys seemed to like it. There was a castle room, with costumes and a crown and throne where Andres really liked the dragon cape and hood. There’s a puppet show area.
They had an art area that was well stocked with markers, glue, scissors, and magazines, colored paper and glitter. They had a room where you roll golf balls through a bunch of cool things. They had a water room, where there was a stream and you could race boats, and rain, with all kinds of watery educational things. Then there was a fishing boat that you could fish off of. Then they had a fake grocery store. The boys had a lot of fun and then they wanted to go back after we had lunch at Juanita Greenberg’s, who’s motto is “Oye vey, ole”.
I woke up Thursday morning to the sound of water. Andres had his underwear off and was sprinkling himself. Diana thinks he was having a dream that he was going to the bathroom, and therefore took off his pajamas and underwear.
Thursday we went to the Aquarium. The boys went through it in a couple of hours. I took lots of photos on my phone camera that I sent to facebook. Andres liked the snakes and William liked the sharks. They played with the snakes and action figures at Momma Brown’s BBQ that night.
Friday morning I went with Di, Will and Bart to the beach to see the dogs. Dogs are allowed on Sullivan Beach till 10am. We tossed the Frisbee around. There are jelly fish and other detritus on the low tide beach. We went to the beach later, and had a jolly old time on our last full day at the beach. I particularly loved watching the parasail boarders, who zoomed back and forth across the area before the sandbar. I loved playing Frisbee with Will and Bart, diving for the Frisbee. A little girl was being swept away in the current, not out to see, but away from the sand bar, and Will and Bart saved her.
Will and Bart were very nice to the boys and William and Andres absolutely loved playing with them. Di was a wonderful and generous host.
The drive to Annapolis was better in that it was 4-5 hours shorter than hoofing it all the way to NYC. Also we went in daytime, which helped me keep awake. The boys really enjoyed hanging out with Gretchen, Georgia and Kalamazoo. We had a lovely dinner and then ice crème. Gretchen knows the sweets store guy, and he gave the boys some free chocolate. They gave them free cookies at breakfast, so people are very nice to the boys. They’re at the park now, I came home to shower and use some free Annapolis wifi. Anyway, I’ll post this. I assume we’ll get home OK tonight and back to school, work and whatnot tomorrow.
The beach was really good for kids, not too wavy and it took a long time to get deep. We went to the beach most days, and the boys did very well there. There are beautiful para boards flying around, I counted 13 last night. Will and Bart have a kite that mimics the action, and William got a chance to fly it some. They dig holes, wreck castles others make, and splash about. There’s a little kind of inland lake that they swim in too. The tide goes up and we have to move our chairs. I think William sat staring out into the ocean for a while, while I read, and Andres and Diana played in the surf.
I particularly enjoyed teaching my cousins to meditate. We go up to the 3rd floor porch in the shade and do mindfulness of breathing and metta for 20 minutes, with the birds chirping, people running by.
We have the second floor of a house, with AC, internet connection, DVD player, 4 rooms and 2 bathrooms, a nice kitchen, dinning room and living room. There is a screened in porch and a high deck. Di gave us the king sized bed, so the boys can sleep between us. Wes was here, and left Saturday. Celeste and Katie left Monday. Bevery and Dennis arrived Monday, with beach bikes.
I brought down the DS that Diana gave me, and the adults are competing for the best brain age. William and Andres are playing Star Wars, Mario Brothers and drawing. We watched Wall-E last night. We’ve all been having interesting dreams, but Diana got the worst of it, when she woke up to Andres slapping her in a dream. They have been rough housing with Will and Bart.
We went to the Middleton Place, which is an old estate outside of Charleston, which was a central showcase for the Middleton family in the 17th and 18th Century. It was pretty awesome, but much was lost on the boys. We chatted with the blacksmith, who educated me. I didn’t know Charleston was the biggest ports in those days and that rice was the cash crop of those times. Thinking about it, we get Carolina brand rice. I thought the south was all about cotton, but that wasn’t until the cotton gin was invented and could produce the quantities that made it feasible. He also talked about how the Union soldiers burnt and looted much of the south, and that Lincoln was complicit with that—he quoted a general’s journal, not Sherman’s, but another general, I forget. So I also felt kind of guilty about living in the north. I asked if there was any kind of Marshall Plan after the Civil War and he said no. He said Mississippi was a wealthy state before the Civil War. I felt bad for the south and the devastation after the Civil War, even though I vaguely remember a weird documentary called Sherman’s March, which wasn’t much about that, but did reference the devastation.
Miscellaneous activity: I went for a bike ride to the edge of Sullivan Island nearest Charleston. Dennis did a knife show, of his artistry. Andres has gotten lots of mosquito bites, and William too.
We went to the the Low Country Children’s Museum in Charleston. I really liked it. The boys seemed to like it. There was a castle room, with costumes and a crown and throne where Andres really liked the dragon cape and hood. There’s a puppet show area.
They had an art area that was well stocked with markers, glue, scissors, and magazines, colored paper and glitter. They had a room where you roll golf balls through a bunch of cool things. They had a water room, where there was a stream and you could race boats, and rain, with all kinds of watery educational things. Then there was a fishing boat that you could fish off of. Then they had a fake grocery store. The boys had a lot of fun and then they wanted to go back after we had lunch at Juanita Greenberg’s, who’s motto is “Oye vey, ole”.
I woke up Thursday morning to the sound of water. Andres had his underwear off and was sprinkling himself. Diana thinks he was having a dream that he was going to the bathroom, and therefore took off his pajamas and underwear.
Thursday we went to the Aquarium. The boys went through it in a couple of hours. I took lots of photos on my phone camera that I sent to facebook. Andres liked the snakes and William liked the sharks. They played with the snakes and action figures at Momma Brown’s BBQ that night.
Friday morning I went with Di, Will and Bart to the beach to see the dogs. Dogs are allowed on Sullivan Beach till 10am. We tossed the Frisbee around. There are jelly fish and other detritus on the low tide beach. We went to the beach later, and had a jolly old time on our last full day at the beach. I particularly loved watching the parasail boarders, who zoomed back and forth across the area before the sandbar. I loved playing Frisbee with Will and Bart, diving for the Frisbee. A little girl was being swept away in the current, not out to see, but away from the sand bar, and Will and Bart saved her.
Will and Bart were very nice to the boys and William and Andres absolutely loved playing with them. Di was a wonderful and generous host.
The drive to Annapolis was better in that it was 4-5 hours shorter than hoofing it all the way to NYC. Also we went in daytime, which helped me keep awake. The boys really enjoyed hanging out with Gretchen, Georgia and Kalamazoo. We had a lovely dinner and then ice crème. Gretchen knows the sweets store guy, and he gave the boys some free chocolate. They gave them free cookies at breakfast, so people are very nice to the boys. They’re at the park now, I came home to shower and use some free Annapolis wifi. Anyway, I’ll post this. I assume we’ll get home OK tonight and back to school, work and whatnot tomorrow.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
boys
Sorry I haven't written in a while, my faithful readers.
I thought this was funny. One thing that is lost in a rapidly changing society is that wisdom can not accumulate. I wonder whether what I know is relevant to what the boys need to know. The world can't change that much, maybe the changes are superficial and technological, and all you need for the technology is a spirit of interest and perhaps skepticism that the technology actually improves things.
In a way I'm jealous of Diana, being able to spend time with the boys. I go to work on Monday and I miss my boys, even though I struggle at times on the weekend, feeling overwhelmed.
We were supposed to have a party for William yesterday, but the weather forecast canceled it. When the clouds parted, I took the boys to the park. We had some pizza, and they ran around some. Then we went to the other end of the park and played in the mud, with one of the older boys who is nice to the boys.
Friday night we watched The Tale of Despereaux. William watches intently, while Andres squirms and tries to find something else to do and snuggle with us on the couch. Saturday night Andres fell asleep while we were watching X-Men, which is almost not appropriate for William and Andres. William is so interested in superheroes.
We've gotten Netflicks and I have one DVD for the boys and one for Diana and I. William wanted to send back Despereaux, and get a Star Wars: Clone Wars DVD. I've gotten terrible sleep this week, watching In Treatment and Weeds. Which makes me realize that at this point, not being well rested can no longer be blamed on the boys. I've set my alarm to try and contain my staying up for entertainment. I'm also read Cartwheels In A Sari, about growing up in the Sri Chimnoy cult.
William informed Diana that he believes in God, is not a Buddhist. I suppose I wish it was otherwise, but I really need to support my son's spiritual path. I think I said to him, he can choose his own path, and that it's good to explore all of them when he's young. Diana says Sunday school starts for his age next year. We went to a christening and there was a good preacher. I respected his intensity, even though it's not my tradition.
There was a BBQ in the parking lot, after the park, on Saturday, and the boys began playing with a little girl who is on the t-ball team, the Lugnuts. I called Diana to spell me relief, and she kindly came outside. I watched almost 2 episodes of In Treatment, which I find interesting. They came back in a huff, William wasn't following directions and spiraled into a delusional state of threats and accusations that got to Diana.
This morning I don't want to turn on the TV. Usually they watch TV in the morning, but I want to make Sunday a no TV morning. William went off in a huff when I told him watching YouTube was the same thing as watching TV. Andres woke up and snuggled, and played with lego and cars. Now Andres is asking to see the Spiderman video set to Weird Al Yankovich. I want to catch up on my google reader, the blogs I'm following.
I thought this was funny. One thing that is lost in a rapidly changing society is that wisdom can not accumulate. I wonder whether what I know is relevant to what the boys need to know. The world can't change that much, maybe the changes are superficial and technological, and all you need for the technology is a spirit of interest and perhaps skepticism that the technology actually improves things.
In a way I'm jealous of Diana, being able to spend time with the boys. I go to work on Monday and I miss my boys, even though I struggle at times on the weekend, feeling overwhelmed.
We were supposed to have a party for William yesterday, but the weather forecast canceled it. When the clouds parted, I took the boys to the park. We had some pizza, and they ran around some. Then we went to the other end of the park and played in the mud, with one of the older boys who is nice to the boys.
Friday night we watched The Tale of Despereaux. William watches intently, while Andres squirms and tries to find something else to do and snuggle with us on the couch. Saturday night Andres fell asleep while we were watching X-Men, which is almost not appropriate for William and Andres. William is so interested in superheroes.
We've gotten Netflicks and I have one DVD for the boys and one for Diana and I. William wanted to send back Despereaux, and get a Star Wars: Clone Wars DVD. I've gotten terrible sleep this week, watching In Treatment and Weeds. Which makes me realize that at this point, not being well rested can no longer be blamed on the boys. I've set my alarm to try and contain my staying up for entertainment. I'm also read Cartwheels In A Sari, about growing up in the Sri Chimnoy cult.
William informed Diana that he believes in God, is not a Buddhist. I suppose I wish it was otherwise, but I really need to support my son's spiritual path. I think I said to him, he can choose his own path, and that it's good to explore all of them when he's young. Diana says Sunday school starts for his age next year. We went to a christening and there was a good preacher. I respected his intensity, even though it's not my tradition.
There was a BBQ in the parking lot, after the park, on Saturday, and the boys began playing with a little girl who is on the t-ball team, the Lugnuts. I called Diana to spell me relief, and she kindly came outside. I watched almost 2 episodes of In Treatment, which I find interesting. They came back in a huff, William wasn't following directions and spiraled into a delusional state of threats and accusations that got to Diana.
This morning I don't want to turn on the TV. Usually they watch TV in the morning, but I want to make Sunday a no TV morning. William went off in a huff when I told him watching YouTube was the same thing as watching TV. Andres woke up and snuggled, and played with lego and cars. Now Andres is asking to see the Spiderman video set to Weird Al Yankovich. I want to catch up on my google reader, the blogs I'm following.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
photos
Someone lost the charger for our camera, so we haven't been able to charge up our camera, to take photos. I take photos with my phone and send them to facebook, which you can see here.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
William is 5!
My wonderful little boy has turned 5 today.
Here's a photo of him in his baseball outfit, on Facebook.
Here's a photo of him in his baseball outfit, on Facebook.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Sunday, April 05, 2009
update
The boys celebrated Ashton's birthday with the whole family. Here's a dark grainy photo I took with my cell phone.
Their fish died.
Their fish died.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
They're posing
The boys are starting to pose for photographs. I've captured it on cell phone photos that I sent to Facebook. Click on the links to see the photos for those of you who are not on Facebook, and havne't seen the photos.
My boys are posing with hand gestures like gang members, except they hold up the peace sign.
I'm not sure where William got this idea.
Andres being slick.
Peace brother.
And in a final non sequitur note, on the day I was born, Groovin' by The Young Rascals, was the hit single. For William it was Yeah! by Usher featuring Ludacris & Lil Jon. For Andres it was "Gold Digger" by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx. For Diana it was "(They Long to Be) Close to You" by The Carpenters.
My boys are posing with hand gestures like gang members, except they hold up the peace sign.
I'm not sure where William got this idea.
Andres being slick.
Peace brother.
And in a final non sequitur note, on the day I was born, Groovin' by The Young Rascals, was the hit single. For William it was Yeah! by Usher featuring Ludacris & Lil Jon. For Andres it was "Gold Digger" by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx. For Diana it was "(They Long to Be) Close to You" by The Carpenters.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
William's wish list
I spent a few minutes coming up with some of the things William likes for his upcoming birthday April 14, a month away! William will be 5! I can't believe it.
Other virtue of a wish list is that there are no duplicates this way.
Other virtue of a wish list is that there are no duplicates this way.
Weird Al's Spiderman
The boys like this video. They like Spiderman and the song, they don't know the original Billy Joel Song.
They also like the original Spiderman theme song:
They also like the original Spiderman theme song:
Monday, March 02, 2009
Snow Day
The boy's school was canceled. I thought, like many weather reports that the threat was exaggerated for attention. But now, the snow is pretty deep outside, and city schools are closed. We called up our school and it's closed.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
the merriment
The boys have been watching some Spiderman shows from 1967, the year I was born. William's obsessions and interest went from Thomas to dinosaurs to Spiderman and superheroes.
William uses the phrase, "oh the merriment!" He got it from Spongebob.
I've heard the phrases, "I want to watch Calliou," and, "I want ice cream," about 30 times today from Andres. He's a persistent little bugger sometimes.
I was really proud that Andres accepted his brother winning a game he really likes, Brown Bear - Panda Bear, what do you see, which is based on a story by Eric Carl. He's really into puzzles, especially his Lighting McQueen puzzle Zane and Bridget gave him for Valentine's Day, and a Veggie Tales puzzle that their mommy bought them.
I'm not blogging so much because work and school are draining me. The boys have had the week off from school. They slept over at Josephine's and Aida and Natasia's to get out of our house and mix it up. We enjoyed Sebastian's birthday party last week. Josephine gave the boys some old costumes. Along with old clothes throughout the years and other cast offs that we really appreciate.
William uses the phrase, "oh the merriment!" He got it from Spongebob.
I've heard the phrases, "I want to watch Calliou," and, "I want ice cream," about 30 times today from Andres. He's a persistent little bugger sometimes.
I was really proud that Andres accepted his brother winning a game he really likes, Brown Bear - Panda Bear, what do you see, which is based on a story by Eric Carl. He's really into puzzles, especially his Lighting McQueen puzzle Zane and Bridget gave him for Valentine's Day, and a Veggie Tales puzzle that their mommy bought them.
I'm not blogging so much because work and school are draining me. The boys have had the week off from school. They slept over at Josephine's and Aida and Natasia's to get out of our house and mix it up. We enjoyed Sebastian's birthday party last week. Josephine gave the boys some old costumes. Along with old clothes throughout the years and other cast offs that we really appreciate.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine's Day
The boys made excellent art projects and cards for Valentine's Day. Zane and Bridget sent some excellent presents for the boys. Diana and I are going out for a movie and dinner, which we haven't done for ages.
I haven't been writing a lot because I've been busy with work and school, and indeed parenting. Last weekend the boys went to the Central Park Zoo. They liked the web play thing.
I haven't been writing a lot because I've been busy with work and school, and indeed parenting. Last weekend the boys went to the Central Park Zoo. They liked the web play thing.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Play
Psychology Today has an interesting article on play.
I notice the boys play spontaneously. I remember William used to want me to get him started with trains, but disliked if I went on further, he wanted the story to go his way.
The article suggests adult interference ruins child play. I'm not sure if that's really true, I think if you're aware, awake and sensitive, then you might be good at entering children's play. Perhaps it's a cautionary tale, to be careful and don't assume you know what is best.
I notice the boys play spontaneously. I remember William used to want me to get him started with trains, but disliked if I went on further, he wanted the story to go his way.
The article suggests adult interference ruins child play. I'm not sure if that's really true, I think if you're aware, awake and sensitive, then you might be good at entering children's play. Perhaps it's a cautionary tale, to be careful and don't assume you know what is best.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Ears
Happy birthday yesterday for Sebastian. They cut a cake for Sebastian at Abuela's. The party is this weekend.
I got up early yesterday and drove "Gali's boy" to the airport. Carlos Alejandro and Jorge Washington went back to Ecuador after a visit to the USA.
I was sitting on the toilet. What's the big emergency? William has to tell me that Andres has big ears. Then Andres has to show me his ears. When I got out I measured them. We were watching Sid The Science Kid, and they had a show on measurement. So I got out the ruler. Andres' ears are 5.5 cm long. So is William's.
William doesn't feel well, so he's not going to school today.
Last weekend they had a play date with their cousins Nicole and Christian, also with Erin and Joseph.
I got up early yesterday and drove "Gali's boy" to the airport. Carlos Alejandro and Jorge Washington went back to Ecuador after a visit to the USA.
I was sitting on the toilet. What's the big emergency? William has to tell me that Andres has big ears. Then Andres has to show me his ears. When I got out I measured them. We were watching Sid The Science Kid, and they had a show on measurement. So I got out the ruler. Andres' ears are 5.5 cm long. So is William's.
William doesn't feel well, so he's not going to school today.
Last weekend they had a play date with their cousins Nicole and Christian, also with Erin and Joseph.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
spiderman lessons?
Diana was talking about getting William art lessons, and Andres music lessons, and William said, "I want Spiderman lessons." He's wearing his Spiderman costume from Halloween all the time. I remember liking Spiderman and the Hulk when I was little. I bought comics of them when I was younger.
Here's a Spiderman photo on facebook.
Andres says, "I told you so," when you pester him to do something and he does it. I wonder if I gave him the know-it-all jean.
We're having a lovely Christmas. I hope everyone is well.
Here's a Spiderman photo on facebook.
Andres says, "I told you so," when you pester him to do something and he does it. I wonder if I gave him the know-it-all jean.
We're having a lovely Christmas. I hope everyone is well.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Loss and illness
Tim is in the hospital and we're hoping he's OK.
Patrick Kavanagh passed away.
Punya passed away, he's a Buddhist friend. I can't find an on-line obit.
Patrick Kavanagh passed away.
Punya passed away, he's a Buddhist friend. I can't find an on-line obit.
Newnan part two
We had a nice dinner at Sprayberry’s Tuesday night and then Molly and Ben came over. The boys really took to Molly, it was quite sweet to see her enter into their play and listen to them. The boys were their usual energetic and alive levels, with their egotistical pursuits where they worked to include others. I must say I think William is a wonderful social being. Andres is a little more withdrawn, and perhaps watches his older brother, but also joins in and plays wonderfully. I do wish they would take turns in conversation better, but that will come with time, I’m sure. I see streaks of know-it-all, and interrupting that are uncomfortable mirrors, and just plain difficult behaviors at times. Just before they came over I was upset at William for punching me in the eye during some rough housing. Turns out he’d just punched his mother in the eye too, which really annoyed me. I can get so angry one minute, and feel their sweetness the next, which is what children are like. Anyway, I’m a big fan of Molly now after he sweetness to the boys. Molly said a funny story about Braxton. He looked at the Target flier and said, “I want all the toys for boys and some of the toys for girls.”
Wednesday was rainy, and I rested up for the trip back. The boys played well. We left 7am the next day and arrived at 2am in the early morning the next day. Nineteen hours of travel. I was sad to leave them. Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa for their generosity in hosting us while we were there. Thank you to everyone who visited.
Wednesday was rainy, and I rested up for the trip back. The boys played well. We left 7am the next day and arrived at 2am in the early morning the next day. Nineteen hours of travel. I was sad to leave them. Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa for their generosity in hosting us while we were there. Thank you to everyone who visited.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Newnan
We drove to Annapolis Saturday evening, which took 5 hours from NYC. Gas prices have dropped and are cheaper outside the city—I was happy to learn that. The boys watched a lot of movies, and Andres took a nap. We stopped for dinner in Deleware. We got to Gretchen’s around 10. The boys were scared of Georgia the bulldog, and Kalamazoo the cat, but they got to playing with them eventually. I played with the cat, and they copied that.
In the morning they were more into playing with them, they enjoy the tug-of-war with Georgia, who out weighs them. We went to breakfast at a really good place. Gretchen lives in an interesting part of Annapolis, so it was cool walking around there. We thought we might come back another time seeing how cool it is.
The drive from Annapolis to Newnan was grueling, but the boys did really well. They had me stop for an emergency pit stop quite a lot, but there were no accidents. We let them run around at rest stops and when we got gas. Andres took 2 naps. We left around 11am and got there around 11pm. We’ll be doing that on Thursday again, when we reverse course.
We’ve just been hanging out here. The boys have been gentle with Grandma. I went food shopping with Grandpa. The boys draw, play with lego or trains. The boys like running around the house. Braxton came over yesterday, and they played for a while. Braxton is really cute. William was really excited to see him. Braxton liked playing with the puzzle, and the trains. He also liked running around with the boys.
They’re out raking leaves with great grandpa. I found a wifi spot to do some internet. They have 3 networks in range of my grandparents but I don’t know the passwords. I thought to knock on doors, offer them some money. But decided to find another spot. The library is close, so that's where I am.
In the morning they were more into playing with them, they enjoy the tug-of-war with Georgia, who out weighs them. We went to breakfast at a really good place. Gretchen lives in an interesting part of Annapolis, so it was cool walking around there. We thought we might come back another time seeing how cool it is.
The drive from Annapolis to Newnan was grueling, but the boys did really well. They had me stop for an emergency pit stop quite a lot, but there were no accidents. We let them run around at rest stops and when we got gas. Andres took 2 naps. We left around 11am and got there around 11pm. We’ll be doing that on Thursday again, when we reverse course.
We’ve just been hanging out here. The boys have been gentle with Grandma. I went food shopping with Grandpa. The boys draw, play with lego or trains. The boys like running around the house. Braxton came over yesterday, and they played for a while. Braxton is really cute. William was really excited to see him. Braxton liked playing with the puzzle, and the trains. He also liked running around with the boys.
They’re out raking leaves with great grandpa. I found a wifi spot to do some internet. They have 3 networks in range of my grandparents but I don’t know the passwords. I thought to knock on doors, offer them some money. But decided to find another spot. The library is close, so that's where I am.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
New cell phone
I got a new cell phone, so I'll be taking more pictures again, that go easily to Facebook. Here's the latest photo.
Here's one of Andres.
Here's one of Andres.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Chicago
We had a lovely trip to Chicago.
Our flight there was not too stressful. I think I'm getting more used to traveling with my pollywogs. Here's a link to Andres on plane.
Here's a link to a photo of William on the plane.
Andres was next to me, and he fell asleep and I got to finish my Paul Auster book, Brooklyn Follies.
We had a lovely Thanksgiving meal when we arrived. The boys liked the apartment my parents are renting near the Navy Pier. They had some presents, a big collection of markers and paper, plus scissors and glue. William and Andres made some pictures for them.
Friday we went to the Field Museum. Above is a photo of William in front of the famous Sue. Then Kathy and Rich treated the boys to some presents in the Sue Store. I got to look at the little Tibetan section.
We had a lovely lunch at Wishbone. Then we hung out at home, after the boys tried a nearby park. Rich and Kathy were amazed at the animation and sophistication of children's movies like The Incredibles, and Ratatouille. The boys played together nicely for the most part.
Saturday we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo.
William would not say goodbye to Glamma when we got to the airport. He wanted to change the reality by denying it was happening. In the airport we saw a large reproduction of a dinosaur, and the boys got some more gifts. Poor William dropped his winter globe of Sue, and broke it. So I bought him another one. Our flight back was OK. We were in the last row. Andres fell asleep just as we were about to land. Victor was right there with our car. I think it was a lovely trip. Thank you Kathy and Rich for such a wonderful time!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
homework
Andres calls a TV magazine his "homework" and likes to write in it and cut it.
We spent lunch with William's class yesterday. I love making connections with other parents. There's wonderful mixes in the class. One child has a Japanese father and Peruvian mother. Another is half Chinese. Another is half Panamanian. So many interesting mixes. My boys are half Ecuadorian! What a wonderful mix!
We spent lunch with William's class yesterday. I love making connections with other parents. There's wonderful mixes in the class. One child has a Japanese father and Peruvian mother. Another is half Chinese. Another is half Panamanian. So many interesting mixes. My boys are half Ecuadorian! What a wonderful mix!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Update
Thank you to Abuela for cooking and Diana for cleaning for our 20 people early Thanksgiving party. Thanks to everyone who came. We had a lovely time with family early because we're out of town on Thanksgiving.
William got 3 shots and blood taken. Andres has blood taken. They went to the doctor and when Diana got home she said, "you owe me one." The boys had some presents. They were crying a lot with the shots.
A new nickname for Andres is "Gomez" from The Addams Family. You can check out some of his kissing here. Diana called Andres that because he kisses a lot.
They fixed the concrete sidewalks around our house lately.
William got 3 shots and blood taken. Andres has blood taken. They went to the doctor and when Diana got home she said, "you owe me one." The boys had some presents. They were crying a lot with the shots.
A new nickname for Andres is "Gomez" from The Addams Family. You can check out some of his kissing here. Diana called Andres that because he kisses a lot.
They fixed the concrete sidewalks around our house lately.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
overparenting?
The New Yorker has an article about overparenting.
Here's a quote: "This used to be known as “spoiling.” Now it is called “overparenting”—or “helicopter parenting” or “hothouse parenting” or “death-grip parenting.”"
It's a book review of A Nation of Wimps: The High Cost of Invasive Parenting.
Here's another quote: "A third development that pushed people into overparenting, Marano and others believe, is the “brain plasticity” research published in the nineteen-nineties. This research said that, while the infant brain is, in part, the product of genes, that endowment is just the clay; after birth, it is “sculpted” by the child’s experience, the amount of stimulation he receives, above all in the first three years of life."
I think I fall for that one a little bit
Here's a quote: "This used to be known as “spoiling.” Now it is called “overparenting”—or “helicopter parenting” or “hothouse parenting” or “death-grip parenting.”"
It's a book review of A Nation of Wimps: The High Cost of Invasive Parenting.
Here's another quote: "A third development that pushed people into overparenting, Marano and others believe, is the “brain plasticity” research published in the nineteen-nineties. This research said that, while the infant brain is, in part, the product of genes, that endowment is just the clay; after birth, it is “sculpted” by the child’s experience, the amount of stimulation he receives, above all in the first three years of life."
I think I fall for that one a little bit
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
transitinoal objects
Reading Winnicott, and thinking about transition objects, the thing that comes to mind for William was that he would always carry a Thomas train. It was frustrating because we would be at the park and he would need use of his hands to climb a ladder, but he would refuse to give up the train in his hand. He needed the comfort of a train in his hand. The park must have been threatening, he needed the comfort, never mind if it didn't make sense to climb a ladder with a train in his hand. He wanted near the pleasure of his train.
Andres carries the latest present we gave him, he likes to be thought of, though he's not so specific about what he wants. He's wanted cars and taxi cars, and other things. Recently it was a motorcycle we bought the day of Ashton's christening. He carried that around a lot.
In Play and Reality he suggests that if you don't wean the child by 4 months, it will be harder, but we didn't have any trouble at weening the boys at 8 months because we used a bottle with formula and breast milk when Diana pumped, when she was tired.
The boys don't have a blanket or teddy bear they have consistently stuck with, though they have favored toys, cars, trains, things they could hold in their hands that represented our love for them in a tangible gift, and the comfort of playing and fun.
The have suffered through the vicissitudes of our work. Diana working and not me, then both of us, then not Diana and then both of us not working. But they seem pretty OK at the moment. They fight and whatnot, get on each other's nerves, try to hurt each other for past wounds. But for the most part I feel they are healthy and wholesome boys, which many good traits and strengths.
I'll end this post with an old web page with William as a baby when I graduated from NYU.
Andres carries the latest present we gave him, he likes to be thought of, though he's not so specific about what he wants. He's wanted cars and taxi cars, and other things. Recently it was a motorcycle we bought the day of Ashton's christening. He carried that around a lot.
In Play and Reality he suggests that if you don't wean the child by 4 months, it will be harder, but we didn't have any trouble at weening the boys at 8 months because we used a bottle with formula and breast milk when Diana pumped, when she was tired.
The boys don't have a blanket or teddy bear they have consistently stuck with, though they have favored toys, cars, trains, things they could hold in their hands that represented our love for them in a tangible gift, and the comfort of playing and fun.
The have suffered through the vicissitudes of our work. Diana working and not me, then both of us, then not Diana and then both of us not working. But they seem pretty OK at the moment. They fight and whatnot, get on each other's nerves, try to hurt each other for past wounds. But for the most part I feel they are healthy and wholesome boys, which many good traits and strengths.
I'll end this post with an old web page with William as a baby when I graduated from NYU.
Friday, November 14, 2008
wizard of oz
We watched The Wizard of Oz with the boys. It's odd to see classics as an adult, watching as a parent. This movie is really emblazoned on my consciousness, I know the songs. I forgot how camp it is. The boys like it, repeat the line, "I'll get you my pretty!" Those flying monkeys are really creepy. Andres was afraid of the cowardly lion. Diana reminded me of the lines one of our students used to keep saying.
4.5
William is 4 and a half today. Whoop! He woke up and began drawing. He's awesome. I love him. And his wonderful brother. Last night they were playing so much, Diana left the room for a while before they fell asleep. William was counseling his brother to stay int he room.
Monday, November 10, 2008
day with William's class
I spent the day with William's class. It was awesome. While the setting is overwhelming, kids running around, lots of areas to play in. There is structure and guided play. I was asked a lot, "do you have any questions?" I didn't really have any, but it was nice to discuss things with the various staff. I'm really happy with the school and staff, and his teacher. An amazing day. Poor Andres was so jealous. I thought everyone in William's class was really cute.
I've now seen Andres' class and William's class. Now it's back to Andres' class for the next Parent Participation Program visit. I hope to get at least one more in for each of them, maybe 2. These are golden years. Such good adorable boys.
I've now seen Andres' class and William's class. Now it's back to Andres' class for the next Parent Participation Program visit. I hope to get at least one more in for each of them, maybe 2. These are golden years. Such good adorable boys.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Friday, November 07, 2008
Skype
Glamma and Grandpa Rich got to see Andres and William on the computer screen with Skype yesterday. I think it's amazing this technology, it's such a wonderful thing to connect grandparents and grandchildren visually.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Andres has strept throat
We went 2 weeks ago, and they said he didn't have anything, but they said we should come back in 2 weeks for a follow up. And they found it this time. He can't go to school tomorrow, which isn't good because it's pizza day and show and tell for him. Seems OK, though, I think we caught it early.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
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