Andres

Andres
Originally uploaded by sravacitta

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.

William's school work

IMAG0220
Originally uploaded by sravacitta

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.

Fudgecycle face

STP60602
Originally uploaded by sravacitta

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).

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.

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.

My handsome eldest son at age 5

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

not so bad after all

Child Whisperer

There's an article in the New York Times that suggest that parents looking for guidance beyond super nannies, look to the Dog Whisperer.

DaddyCast, a podcast, talks about how to apply the Dog Whisperer lessons to children.

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

10\17\09 (233 photos), 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

12 years

a message from his teacher

when i grow up I want to be a Jedi Warrior

That's some artwork by William from preschool

William the preschool graduate