The Smell of Adventure

Along with his Mama, Alex has fallen in love with the Old Spice commercials featuring Isaiah Mustafa. After he'd seen the newest one; of Isaiah walking on a log, catching a cake, walking through a kitchen and 'Swan Dive[ing]' into a hot tub, Alex asked me to play it again and again.

Luckily I found the Old Spice channel on You Tube that not only features Mustafa's commercials, but also all of the video responses the agency had Mustafa record in response to fan's internet comments and tweets. This included one recorded to Demi Moore that involved Mustafa beating a pirate pinata with a fish and opening it without ever looking at the thing. That one seems to be Alex's favorite.

Soon after spending some time playing these videos, Alex was walking around saying 'Hello Ladies', in a strange accent. Then I could hear more snippets of the commercial's copy coming out.

'Do you like the smell of adventure???'

Watch out Isaiah Mustafa. There's a new heartbreaker in town.

Saturday, July 31

The Big Celebration: Playland

Alex didn't take his nap as I would have hoped. We'll be working back in a Quiet Time when Big Boy Boot Camp starts, but not today. This means that we'll be heading to a night at Playland on no nap. Oh well, maybe it means that sleeping in the Big Boy Bed will be easy. He's bound to be passed out when we get home.

Alex was confused as to why we were leaving for Playland so late. We'd already had lunch and it seemed like the afternoon when we got on the bus. We arrved at Playland shortly before 6 PM and we were due to meet Daddy at about 7:30.

Alex went on some rides like the boats and the kiddie carousel. We grabbed a bite of chicken quesadilla at Cocina Fresca. Of course, Alex didn't want any until I had some. We walked around watching the games and the Grinches, as he always wants to do. We stopped to watch the show of 'Wonder', featuring music of Stevie Wonder. It was there I noticed that Daddy had called, so we left for a quieter space to call Daddy.

Daddy was at the carousel like we'd planned. Alex was surprised to see Daddy there. We told him that we were going to have Family Dinner AT Playland and then stay to see the fireworks. He was getting to be a Big Boy now, so he could be out at night for a very special occasion.

We ate at Burger King, so that Alex could get his beloved 'lemonade', which he asked for by name. (I'd given it to him on an earlier occasion because it was the only non-carbonated drink I could get at Burger King that didn't have caffeine as well.) What Alex wanted more than anything else was to play the video games and arcade games with Daddy. They played a driving game and some quarter/ticket winning games. Daddy even won a water squirt gun for Alex. Alex was thrilled! He'd wanted a squirt gun for weeks!

Then it was time for "High Voltage" again. Alex loved it again, clapping with the crowds over the juggler. Soon enough, we needed to change Alex's diaper, fill up his water gun of course and head to see the fireworks. The water gun was a goodly amount of competition for the fireworks, but eventually they won over.
We ended our night with a family ride on the Ferris Wheel and on the submarine; Alex's two favorite rides. Of course, some lemonade had to be included to end the evening as well.

We took a cab home and by the time we got to West Street, our Big Boy was out cold. Getting him to sleep in the Big Boy Bed with no bedtime bottle was a breeze - because he was already asleep.

For the win!

Friday, July 30

Next Stop in Big Boy Celebrations: The Park

We'd joined J. Tumbleyou Tumbles and we'd had our ice cream, but Mommy now wanted to collect some special items to mark this big celebration. Our next stop towards our Big Boy Boot Camp Kick Off was Florence Street Park. Mommy wanted some nature treasures to mark the special day.

Alex was happy to visit the part of the park that he calls 'My garden'. It's a special butterfly garden, planted within a wooden circle. Through the years, we've seen plenty of bunnies and squirrels find cool shelter in the grasses there. Now, however, was the perfect time of year to see the butterflies it was planted to attract.

Mommy snuck some clippings from the garden to help represent the season. Alex continued to walk around in 'his garden'. Mommy was lucky enough to capture a butterfly in photos. Alex laughed when he saw them flying around. 'Come to my garden, butterflies!'

He didn't want to leave it, of course. I talked him into it by telling him that we could go get another apple from the apple tree. I lifted him up to the lowest branch I could reach and we picked a new apple. (Alex wants to plant the seeds so we can have our own apple tree. )

After Mommy collected a few more clippings from around the park, we were ready to go. Only the promise of warm milk coaxed Alex out of the park, but he needs to take a nap! We have a huuuuuge night planned.

Friday, July 30

Next Stop: Carvel

After it was time to leave J. 'Tumbleyou Tumbles' - about which Alex was not happy in the LEAST - we headed off to Carvel for a Last Day of School treat. On the way, I told Alex that on days he has class, I would sit at the deli across the street and work on my Mommy journal over a cup of cofffee. That seemed to put his mind at ease about where I would be when I wasn't in class with him, but he asked about the 'other gym times - not class'. I assured him that he and I WILL play together during the 'other gym times - not class'. He cheered.

When we got to Carvel, I ordered a tiny soft serve vanilla with rainbow sprinkles for him and a small soft serve vanilla with chocolate sprinkles for me. We sat down at the table and he pushed his tiny cup towards me. 'You have this one. >I< take this one', he said as he grabbed my ice cream and slid it to himself. You know how this ends. Me, done with ice cream sooner than I expected and trying to get SOME of my ice cream with chocolate sprinkles. That was met with 'Stop stealing my ice cream Mama!!'. The larger amount of ice cream was left half eaten - too much for a little guy. Sigh.

When he was done he wanted water. So I said we'd go home for water. Not good enough. I watched with amazement as Alex got up from the table and tried to open the heavy door to the ice cream parlor. He fell backwards the first time and was more successful when I helped him the second time. I figured he would get in there and see no water at the ice cream counter and agree to leave.


Jokes on me - he recalled exactly where the refrigerator was with the bottles of water in it. He walked over to the fridge, opened it up and removed a Dasani water. Then he walked over to the counter and announced "I'd like to buy this water, please!" I was too amazed to say "No", so I bought the water.

He had to stop a few times on our way home to drink more of it.

Friday, July 30

J. Tumbleyou Tumbles

There's a kid's gym on Boston Post Road that Alex has wanted to join FOR-evah! The first time I checked them out about a year ago, they were waaaaaay overpriced, wanting the equivalent of about 100 a month for one weekly class and about two additional opportunities to use the gym per week - both of which occurred during times I would be trying to get naps back. Uh, no thanks. My own gym is only 79 dollars a month and I can go there anytime I want. We joined Bruce Chung's Tae Kwon Do instead and Alex loved it!

But Chung's doesn't have the art classes and music classes that J.W. Tumbles has. It doesn't have the playground equipment and bouncy balls. After all, it's really a dajheng for martial arts. Alex has wanted to go back to the 'other gym' every time we pass them.

I picked Alex up from his last day of school and walked straight to Tumbles. I found that their prices have crashed and that they have expanded their available hours. Now for the equivalent of 67 dollars a month, Alex will get an instructed class and 9 times a week to use the gym. We can go to Open Gym any time and Pay-to-Play if we wish. We can sit in on a music class to see if we'd like to sign up for that too, which we'd get for a discount because of our other class.

Very good Tumbles. You got yourself a new student. We joined for the session that ends September 3 and just in time for OPEN GYM!!! Yayyy! The director invited Alex to play right then and there. We took off our shoes and had ourselves a time.

First class is next Wednesday afternoon.

Friday, July 30

Last Day of Day Camp

Today was Alex's last day of school. I was a little sad for him, but he seemed to handle it well. He said good-bye to his favorite aide, Jo-Jo and good-bye to his teachers. They gave us the last of his art projects and some photos of him taken through the weeks.

On the way out of school, Alex asked me if we could go to J. Tumbleyou Tumbles (J.W. Tumbles) now that he can take gym classes. Our conversation last night about choosing whether he wanted to take Tae Kwon Do with Master Chung or go to J.W. Tumbles for his gym classes seemed to pre-occupy his mind this morning. Oh! I see. Yeah, well, see ya Nursery School! I'm going to TUMBLES!

I told him that I was so proud of how well he handled going to school, we would join Tumbles today.

Bye Mamaroneck Community Nursery School! Enjoy the rest of your summer! We're off to Big. Boy. Boot. Camp!!!!

Friday, July 30

Bye, Bye, Baby!

It's been a big month. We've been busy with fun and we've been busy with learning. Through this month, I've had the chance to see just how much Alex has grown. Placing him in Day Camp gave me the opportunity to watch him thrive independent of me and make connections with other people. I've watched him deal with punishment and reward; with instruction and choices.

Dan and I decided that it was time to do away with the last of the Baby Things in Alex's lifestyle. We told Alex that on the last day of school, we would kick off a new phase in his life: Big Boy Boot Camp. I'd been preparing Alex for this new phase for a couple of weeks, telling him of the things to which we would say 'Goodbye'. 'Bye-bye beanbag!' 'Hello, Big Boy Bed!' And new sheets! 'And a new blanket!' Alex added.

'Bye-Bye bottle! Hello, cups all the time'. He wasn't too thrilled about losing his pre bedtime bottle, but he meekly said 'Hello cups!'

'Bye-bye diapers! Hello underwear!' He was a lot more enthusiastic about that one.

So Mommy made a big chart and ordered it printed on a poster. She ordered a whole bunch of treats and prizes for the Big Boy Boot Camp. And she made a certificate for Alex. It would certify that Alex was officially done with being a baby. He would receive that at a special ceremony with Daddy along with a Kick Off prize that we received from Abeula.

The big day is tomorrow - July 30th. That's Alex's last day of Day Camp. Let's let the festivities and learning begin!

Thursday, July 29

Wacky Wednesday Brunch

Alex's school held a family brunch this morning. There were bagels and fruit, even strawberries that Alex loves to have, but not eat. Dan and I got to see Alex's favorite part of Day Camp - the playground!
He was thrilled to be there with us, showing us how he plays there and his favorite climb-on attractions.

At brunch, he seemed a little proud to have friends and teachers that he knew better than we did. He was most excited to see 'Jo-Jo', or Joey, a teen boy who helps out at Alex's classroom, the Blue Room. We got to see Alex's classroom and cubby, see some photos of Alex through the 6 weeks of day camp and even play with Alex on the playground.

It was wonderful to see how well he adjusted to the idea of going to classes without Mommy. He's getting to be a Big Boy, indeed!

Wednesday, July 28

A Little Off the Top

Today was haircut day! It meant a trip to the barber and a little day out with Daddy. First a trip to the Harrison Donut Shop and then to City Cuts two doors down.

Alex is getting a lot braver with hair cuts these days. He loved the car seat and didn't cry at all this time! He's a little too big for the car seat, but he still wanted it!

Then it was off to the Harrison playground to run around and have some fun with Daddy. What a fun day!

Saturday, July 24

Swoon!

Alex has been giving me kisses 'Good Night' before he goes into bedtime with Daddy. Sometimes, he'll even run out of his bedroom telling Daddy that he forgot to give Mommy a kiss. His kisses are usually on my arm or my leg.

This evening, he gave me a hug and kiss on my arm. I told him that I really liked our rest time today in my bedroom. He smiled and grabbed my face and turned my head with his hands. He kissed me gently on my cheek. Then he turned my head the other way and kissed my other cheek.

Wow! A double kiss! On my cheeks! I told him he made me feel so good and he danced away.

I love my boy.

Friday, July 23

A Cool Ride on a Hot Day

The Volkswagen!! Through a busy July of school days and being sick, Mommy forgot all about Alex's Volkswagen, the prize we were working so hard to win at Playland.

We had to fix that right away. So, Mommy planned a day for us to get to Wiggle & Giggle time at the Rye Library and then a trip to Playland. We didn't make it to Wiggle & Giggle Time, but luckily we made it to a music class at the Polka Dot Penguin, a pottery painting store. Alex was thrilled to run around catching bubbles and singing songs - and the Polka Dot Penguin didn't charge Mommy! (We got there for the tail end of it).

After a quick visit to the Dress-Up Museum (which Alex didn't want to leave again), we were off to Playland.

The bad news is that the arcade was OUT of the Volkswagen Beetle. Booo! The good news is that they had an F-16 fighter jet that Alex was just as excited about. Yaaay!

It was a really hot day - in the low 90s - so Mommy needed a cool-off. We headed to the lake and saw that the Lake Boat Rides were running! Mommy excitedly dashed with Alex to the dock and we boarded the boat. At first, Alex wasn't too interested in it. That was until we saw the deer running around the small island in the lake and along the shores. Alex said that the Captain had to be very quiet with the boat or we'd scare the deer! The captain thanked Alex for his advice.


Alex loved the ride so much that he asked for us to go again. Oh, uh, yeah, kiddo? This is separate from our season passes. We don't get unlimited rides on this one. But Mommy was hot enough to get off and buy two more tickets and around the lake we went. More deer! More egrets! Alex wanted to see the plastic African animal sculptures more than anything else, though.

That was until we saw the giant goose family we'd seen in June. FOURTEEN goslings to one mated pair. That large family is still together and still floating around Manursing Lake. Alex said hi and bye to them and told them we'd see them soon.

Wednesday, July 21

More on Playland

There was too cool a photo to skip on this day. This summer, Playland is featuring a stage act called 'High Voltage'. The star performer is a juggler who performs stunts while a chorus line dances and sings around him. It's a pretty cool show. Alex was thrilled to catch the show again, but even more excited to see the juggler OFF stage in front of the front arcade.

Then it was topped off by a steel drummer. Alex LOVES the steel drums, but he got a little shy in front of the drummer. I guess he didn't think that he could see a REAL musician like that.

Wednesday, July 21

Alex Delgado, Unifier

While I was trying to get my tasks in line for today, Alex urgently called me into his room. He needed to show me his 'churches'. It was something that seemed very important to him. 'I have to show you something, Mama!'

When I went in there, I saw that he had lined up boxes in front of his L'il People Barn. Pointing to the boxes he said 'This is the Cathanist Church and this is the Lutheranist Church' and at the barn he said 'And this is the Methodist Church'. Then he showed me the school behind the Methodist Church and how his version meets with the 'Cathanist' church school.

Alex attends a community nursery school day camp, sponsored by the Methodist and Lutheran churches in the village. It's held in a school building connected to the Methodist church. A Catholic church is a few blocks away. It also has a nursery school with a playground in its backyard area. Apparently, Alex was thrilled to have united them all into one big school and playground on his table.

I asked where the Meeting House was and he pulled over his schoolhouse and placed it next to the Cathanist church. I asked him where the Meeting House School was and he said 'No. We don't go to Meeting house school anymore, Mama. We're not Quakers. We're Cathanists and we go to the Methodist Church.'

Yo George Fox, I'm happy for you with the Principles and no dogma and all and Imma letchu finish, but the Methodists have the best sandboxes of ALL TIME! Christian unity? Mission accomplished!

Tuesday, July 20

He's Here! He's Here!

We've suffered several unsuccessful attempts at catching the ice cream truck. We'll often hear his music - Music Box Dancer. Alex will dash to the window to see him, but he either doesn't pass by this street or we're not quick enough to stop him.

This time, Mommy was quick and flagged him down. She had her wallet ready. Alex was thrilled, but he wouldn't walk out of the house to cross the street to the truck. No shoes! So Mommy carried him to the truck where we ordered ice cream together.

Mommy ordered a Toasted Almond bar while she got a chocolate fudge sundae cup for Alex and a Cookie's n' Cream cup for Daddy. Once inside, Alex decided that he liked the look of Mommy's bar better.

'No, you have this one', he said as he pushed his sundae cup to me.

Then he proceeded to rather HAVE the bar than eat it. Mommy got a little miffed at that while she watched it melt.

Saturday, July 17

A Special Friend

While we were in Battery Park yesterday, Alex ran into a special friend - Spiderman!

He was so star struck that he didn't speak to him at first. He was even too nervous to pose for this photo! I'm glad Spiderman was nice enough to get Alex smiling and at ease enough for it.

July 16, 2010

Ahoy There!

Alex was delighted by our adventure to the South Street Seaport yesterday. I knew he had loved the historic ships the last time we were there. This time proved to be even more exciting.

I met Alex after school and told him that we were going to have a big adventure, so he had to jog, jog, jog to the train station. Once in Manhattan, Alex got to ride the subway without a stroller, informing me that he was holding on to the rail while sitting. That made him a Big Boy all right!

At the museum, Alex grew impatient while I was asking the woman about membership and the historic ship sails. He yelled out 'OK, thanks! Bye-bye! We have to go now!'. He got even more impartient with me while I stopped him to take his picture at the Seaport. He wanted to get to the ships already!

His favorite is the Ambrose. He wanted to go up and down its stairs and stay in its hot, hot, HOT engine room. (Due to it being a hot day). He was thrilled to turn the ship's wheel and tell the tour guides there all about the ship. We learned that the Ambrose was a 1908 Light Ship, sent out to the end of the harbor to act as a guiding light for incoming ships. The water is too deep to erect a lighthouse.

He didn't want to leave the Ambrose, but I had promised him that we would return to the Peking - the first ship we visited. The Peking is a 1911 freighter.

During the course of the day, we walked down to Pier 11 and onto the water walkway that extends out past the shoreline; visited Engine 4 company on South Street where Alex got to sit in a real fire engine; got lunch at the Seaport and a cool drink inside the air conditioned mall later and Alex even got a new toy fire engine!

I tried to get him to the Staten Island ferry for a boat ride, but it wound up being too late - seeing as how we didn't even leave Mamaroneck until noon. So we strolled through Battery Park and met up with a good friend of Alex's - Spiderman! More on that in a later entry.
We ended our day with a visit to the outdoor Meeting at the labrynth in Battery Park. There were only two other Friends there at the time, but Alex and I were able to do about 15 minutes of silence while we watched the butterflies in the park.

Then we did our trip home. Alex slept well that night.

Friday, July 16

More firsts! Whatta Month!

First sandwich with peanut butter, even! - July 10
Riding rides alone - Playland in May, but through to the Carnival, July 2 and 4
Singing into a microphone - July 7
Wanting to bathe alone - July 13
Saving treats for later - July 15, chocolate Munchkins, placed in a bag by himself.
Sitting in a subway seat - July 15 (4 from GCT to Fulton Street)

Getting bigger everyday!

Thursday, July 15

A First!

So behind. So behind. I'm doing lots of housework today and haven't made the time to tell the tales of early July, but breaking news is upon us.

Today while trying at the potty Alex did - POOPIES!

A little bit. At first he didn't even realize he had, but it had happened anyway.

He won Doc for this first.

Tuesday, July 13

Taste What's Next...Ice Cream!

A boring week because of Mama's illness. We couldn't even go to Picnic Stories today. Mama had a bunch of housework to catch up on after being ill. Alex wants to go out.

Then, it was heard...the faint sounds of 'Music Box Dancer'. It passed by the house. The ice cream truck!!! Mama tried to flag him down, but he didn't see us. Then, it came again - and it was missed again!

Oh noes! No ice cream truck now. What to do?

Carvel visit! Yup, now it's a good day.

No sharing rule still in effect, apparently.

Tuesday, July 13

Life Interrupts Life

A sore throat that began on Tuesday, July 6 decided to stick around for more than a week. A sore throat to nasal congestion to a cough and back again. A doctor's visit yielded the good news that no strep was present. Anti-biotics were taken as a preventative measure against a penumonia relapse.

Oh what a drag. It stole a week of my July fun. Grump, grump, grump.

(Pic is of Alex watching a Bruce concert with Daddy one morning that Mommy was sleeping in to get well.)

Saturday, July 10

The Boss

At Trotta's this afternoon, Alex picked up a toy guitar he's had his eye on for months. He's also recently become fond of Daddy's DVD, 'Bruce Springsteen: Live from Hyde Park'. He's even asked us to play it for him.

Well, anyway, the guitar...

Today while playing with the guitar, Alex declared 'I'm like Bruce! Trapped! Ooooo-yeah-aaaah. Trapped! Ooo-ye-ah-ah!'

Thankfully, Dan was able to get a replay of it on video. When we got home, Alex asked for the song to be played. I played the Bruce version on iTunes and the Jimmy Cliff version on YouTube from an appearance Cliff did on Letterman in the mid-80s.

Alex now calls the Jimmy Cliff version 'Talkin' 'bout Trapped!' and throws his head back like Jimmy Cliff does in the performance.

Saturday, July 10

Separation Anxiety - Part III

Mommy was too sick to take Alex to school yesterday, July 8. Daddy reported that Alex walked right into the classroom with no fears at all. This morning, Mommy came along to school. It was amazing to see Alex stroll right into his room, take off his backpack and hang it up in his cubby. What a Big Boy thing to do!!

Kudos to Daddy for coming up with the explanation that school is a 'Special Alex Place' for Alex, his friends and his teachers. It may have gone a long way in helping the adjustment.

Friday, July 9

Well...MAYBE Carnivals are Cool

The Carnival was given a second chance on July 4. This time, though, Daddy was an attraction in himself. The rides that had bored Alex only two days before now took on a new light, what with Daddy around to watch him ride!

The games were fun, but the prizes didn't excite. Who needs a giant red, blow-up crayon when there are sharks to fish? The hit was the light up sword that was a guaranteed win at the bell-ringing hammer game.

Alex has apparently decided that sharing ice cream is passe. As promised, he and Mommy began a shared vanilla soft-serve cup with rainbow sprinkles. It wasn't long before he was pulling the cup away from me, pushing my spoon away from it. 'No!' he declared. 'No more ice cream for Mommy. No sharing now.'

And he meant it too, because after he was done with his vanilla cup, he grabbed and stole Dan's chocolate cone.

We wondered how Alex would fare with the fireworks this year. When he was 1 year old, we'd taken him to see the fireworks - being sure to stand even behind the whole carnival in the parking lot of Harbor Island. Even that was too close for the then Baby Alex. He wanted out.

The 3 y.o. Alex gave it a little bit more of a chance. When we stood 'too close' (1/4 mile away), he decided we had to go. When we found a spot under a tree not much further away, he was fine. Then he watched the fireworks with as much glee as his tired little self could muster. After all, they started at around his bedtime.

It was still magic for all involved.


Happy Independence Day, everybody!

Sunday, July 4

Ya Gotta Have Frie-e-e-ends!

This morning, I heard Alex 'introduce' me to someone, 'And this is my Mommy', he said.

I asked him who he was introducing me to and he said 'Max!' I asked 'Max, the bunny? Like in Max and Ruby?' He said 'Yeah!'

I would learn that Max sleeps on Alex's big boy bed while Alex sleeps on the beanbag on the floor. Another friend, Spiderman, also stays on Alex's bed at all times.

An imaginary playmate or two - cool!

Sunday, July 4

Ice Cream Makes a Comeback and the Beach Wins Again.

After having conquered a fear of ice cream trucks from last summer and after having passed his bizarre distaste for ice cream when younger, Alex has decided that ice cream is A-OK.

The rides and games of the Fireman's Carnival took a back seat to ice cream. It was all he asked about, even while waiting to get on a ride. We got a vanilla sundae cup with rainbow sprinkles and shared it as we sat on a bench overlooking the marina.

Once we were done, Alex decided that the fishing pier and beach were much more entertaining than any boring ol' carnival. I mean, where's the 'Dult Ferris Wheel that is big like Playland's huh? Small ferris wheel means Alex is out.

Beach it was!

Friday, July 2

The Sprinklers Tell the Season

Alex has taken to loving the grass-watering sprinklers. Running through them on a hot day has got to be one of the more refreshing moments of summer; something Alex soon discovered.

On Friday evening, I told him that I would take him to the fireman's carnival at Harbor Island Park. He must be all done with rides - what with the season passes to Playland and stuff. He took his time getting there, choosing instead to wait for lawn sprinklers to make their rounds back to any sidewalk we were passing. Sometimes, he made a double pass.

Ahhh, sprinklers - you are so underrated.

Friday, July 2

The Jester Cap Truck

While we were walking home from school this afternoon, a delivery truck passed us by on the Post Road. It was a white truck that had grafitti across its side, advertising the name of the company. Alex noted that it looked like his 'Jester Cap shirt'. We had the shirt done at Playland. It reads 'Alex' in modern-day grafitti letters, with a jester cap hanging off the letters.

'That truck is delivering my Jester Cap shirts.' Alex declared.

I couldn't believe he recognized grafitti style lettering as unique.

Friday, July 2

Red, White and Blue Week Part II

For a little guy who wasn't too thrilled about being left at school, he sure seemed to have a good time while there. After I picked him up from school, I asked him what happened that day as I usually do. This day he was really excited to tell me about it, along with explaining about the American flag that he made.

He told me that Ms. Winter stood on a coyote. (sic 'on') When I said 'A coyote??' He said 'Yeah, a coyote. It's like a dog or somethin' It goes 'Arr-roooo!'' Then he infomed me that Daddy works in Greenburgh. It's near White Plains.

Then when we passed a hole in the sidewalk that once held some sort of metal pole, Alex asked me what it was. I said it was a hole. He asked what it was for. I said that it held a pole once.

He said 'A hole for a pole. Mommy, you rhymed!'

Ya learn something new every day.

We had lunch at the Red Plum that afternoon. We went there because Alex loves the look of the place, especially their waterfall fountain with the koi in it. The waiter was showing Alex how the koi will respond to sounds above the water, as if they're going to be fed. Alex was thrilled!

He wasn't so thrilled with the sushi that they serve, however. That didn't stop him from talking up eating at the Red Plum and stating that he was a cook at the Red Plum while he played with his kitchen at home.

Friday, July 2

Week 2 - Red, White and Blue Week

Today, we kicked off Week 2 of Day Camp. Alex was all sorts of thrilled to walk to school, because it means that he gets a nice walk with Daddy in the mornings. He's even learned to tell us that he needs a 'break' and stop at a stump in Florence Street park along the way.

Leaving him at school didn't go so well. Daddy and Mommy have to learn how to slip out of the Blue Room no matter how much he cries. Thankfully Ms. Winter was quick to distract by painting a shark just like the one on Alex's shirt.

Separation anxiety part II. Stay tuned.

Thursday, July 1