princesses and fairies

Dylan,

Your buddy came over today and brought both his pairs of fairy wings.

You've taken a liking to them.

Dad

flying machine

You say it can fly "higher than a cloud can flow, higher than a kite
can fly", and I believe.

Dad

gingerbread

Dylan,

Your appetite for stale gingerbread has proved impressive.

Dad

bubble beard

Thanks for the bubble bath, Santa!

Christmas card

Thanks, Dylan. A Merry Christmas it was.

Dadi

bowling

D,

First time at the lanes. I think you bowled a 53.

Dad

Vegetable Monster

Dylan,

We've recently forbidden you to eat anything healthy, particularly any "grown-up vegetables" like asparagus, beets, and romanescu. Funny thing though, all we have to do is tell you NOT to eat it and you'll wolf it down and laugh like you've just pulled one over on us.

You get it. You know it's a game, but it's just so much fun that you practically beg us to put the roasted rutabegas on your plate and instruct you not to eat them. You love it when we remind you that if you keep eating vegetables like that you're going to grow up to be huge--maybe more than a hundred feet tall! And you also love to remind us of all the foods which are "grown-ups only" so you can savor the conquest of forbidden territory.

You are a self-proclaimed "vegetable monster".

No plant material can be considered safe in your presence. It is a wonder to see a boy your age so consumed with the consuming of vegetables even when you come across one you clearly dislike (such as the roasted parsnips tonight that you pulled back out of your mouth once the taste hit) that you go right back at it, spitting that parsnip out a second time(!) before finally getting it down on the third attempt. Such vegetable-related determination I have only before seen under threat of severe corporal punishment. It is an absolute spectacle.

You are a wonderful and very special boy.


Dad

More skating

Ice skating

Dylan,

You went ice skating tonight for the first time. We waited in line for
90 mins, but it was worth it.

Dad

lego vehicle

Dylan,

You tell me it's a "flying pirate car". That's a giant cannon on the front.

Dad

Letter to Santa

Dylan,

You sat down to write a letter to Santa. Your contribution here is
"bubble bath from Santa". You originally spelled "bath" b-u-h-t,
adding the corrected vowel a bit later.

I'm fairly impressed at how well you're writing for a boy of barely four years.

Dad

Monster puppetry

Poolside

Dylan,
You are enjoying our vacation thoroughly. You've spent all day most
every day in the pool.

Deck the Halls

Dylan,
My goal this year was to get the Christmas lights up right after
Thanksgiving. Thanks to your 'help' Dad was able to get it done by
Saturday. I'm really looking forward to sharing the spirit of the
season with you this year.

More pancake face

Flying machine

Dylan,

You built this, on your own, from a picture with no step-by-step
instructions:

sumtimz i hLLp mi daD

Dylan,

Your first sentence. Written today (spaces added above for those of us that aren't used to deciphering) while making a list of things you do. It's all phonetically written, and I did not help you.
So cool!

Love,
Mom

Making tangerine juice

Dylan,
This is activity you quite enjoy doing at school. I bought one of
those big packs of tangerines to use for lunches, but when I offered
you one for breakfast, you told me you wanted to make juice.

Ideas

Dylan,

We have a new pastime, mostly enjoyed while we're driving. You'll make an observation and ask a question about it, like: "Why is that sidewalk closed over there?"

I'll ask you what you think, or offer up a possible explanation of my own. Then you say "I have an idea! Maybe a rocketship took off from right there and the sidewalk got burned up in the fire! Do you have any other ideas, Dad?"

"Maybe it got crushed by an asteroid from Space", I'll offer.

"I have an idea. Maybe it turned into marshmallow and got toasted by the fire from a rocketship and then eaten up", you add.

Back and forth we go, neither of us making any attempt to constrain ourselves to plausibility.

I've been very impressed with how long you can keep this up, continuing to ask if I have any other ideas and making up your own very creative submissions (not always featuring rocketships), though sometimes when you're pressed you just rehash the last thing I said, in nearly identical language.

It is a lot of fun to hear you being so creatively engaging. I don't know how much of it is just you having fun or how much is an exploration of genuine possibilities, but you are definitely enjoying yourself either way.


Dad

Above average

Dylan,

we had a parent/teacher conference yesterday. As your teachers walked us through your portfolio of work they explained that in several areas, like reading and math, you are performing at the level typical of a five yr old in their program.

We talked about our options -- because of your birth date -- to either use next year as your kindegarten year or to keep you in this program for two more years before sending you on to first grade. Our current inclination is to do the latter. Our primary concern with that plan is being able to find a first grade classroom where you will be able to continue learning on your current trajectory and not get bored working on material you've already mastered.

It is a good problem to have.

Dad

swimming buddies

Dylan,

You've been taking swimming lessons with David. Mom says you're a wild and rowdy combo at the pool.


Dad

Shopping break

Between your upcoming birthday party and Halloween I've had to drag
you all over the place on my days off to get all the things we need.
Right now we're taking a little break and letting off some steam.

The best laid plans...

falling water

Dylan,

"Momma". "Momma". "Momma!", you called from the shower, unable to hear her at the dinner table as your repeated entreaties drowned out her attempts to respond between bites.

I stuck my head into the hallway.

"Whenever I'm thirsty in the shower, I just drink some of this falling water", you told me and I nodded my head.

"You can go", you said in a lilting, friendly voice, motioning me back through the doorway with your hand.


Dad

ps: Still in the shower, you're now singing a made-up-on-the-fly song about "I like to play unicorns, in my school."

sweetness and light

Dylan,

I always make you hold my hand through the parking lot when I take you to school. This morning you continued holding my hand, humming yourself a tune -- the quintessence of innocent childhood bliss -- all the way to the classroom.

I appreciate that you are still at a place in life that I can get a hug, in full view of whomever, every single day when I drop you off. I'll miss that when it's no longer so normal and natural a thing for you to do.


Dad

Dylan meets four hot chicks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aZPtexemtw

Decorating Trunk

Dylan,

You woke up early this morning. Rather than disturb us, you busted out
a bag of sticker-letters and decorated your elephant.

Thanks.

Dad

New babies

Dylan,
We're embarking on a new project of sorts. Today I took a class on
how to keep chickens and at the end of class I was sent on my way with
a brooding kit and 4 chicks. You were very excited to see your new
pets. Hopefully they will fair better than your fish have. They were
hatched Wednesday the 14th so they are 3 days old...

Mom

New track for Dylan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTy5MvnagBk&feature=youtube_gdata

Sent from mobile device.

Picking grapes

Dylan,

We're making wine this year for the first time. You had fun playing at
the farm/vineyard where we picked our grapes.

Dad

Row Cart

Memorization

Dylan,

This was my first time hearing this, but you seem to know it well.

writing your name

Dylan,

You wrote your name on the "sign in sheet" at school today. The "D"
was small, the "Y" huge.

Dad

The list

Dylan,

This morning you woke me up by asking for a piece of blank paper.
When I asked why, you said you needed to make a list of what you were
going to do today. It sounded like an intriguing enough reason to
drag me out of bed, so we went to get some paper. I left you so I
could start getting ready for the day. I heard you sounding out words
down the hall as I made breakfast. I was impressed. I called you to
breakfast then continued on with getting us ready and the list was
forgotten.

Now, hours later as you nap I walked by this piece of paper on the
floor...

Mom

story time

Frog and Toad stories tonight (again).

Lincoln logs

Poison ball!

my mom

Dylan,

You quite often refer to Mom as "my mom" when you talk to me about her, as in "My mom is feeding me cheerios this morning". It always stands out when I hear it.


Dad

Hanging out at the lake

Budding photographer?

Dylan,

One of your forms of entertainment on our drive to vacation was
learning how to use the camera on my iPhone. Not a bad photo for a
beginner, but we should talk about the subject matter...

Sleep Train

Dylan,

You're riding the rails with Mom today. Three hours each way to visit a big train museum in the capitol. I was worried you wouldn't manage a nap and that it would end up a long, unpleasant day for Mom (you're not due back till 9 pm). I was wrong about the first part, at least:




Dad

Bribery

Dylan,

we're still plying you with promises of treats to get you to sit for a haircut. Just know that it's not going to stay that way forever, alright? Even if you are adorable sitting on the back step eating a chocolate popsicle.

Dad

Mucho

Dylan,

You made several new friends at the playground today. The mother of one was impressed to hear that you spoke some Spanish. She asked you something like "...habla poquito Espanol?"

"No, mucho!" you boasted.


Dad

PBS kid

Dylan,

We were looking at pictures of dinosaurs on my iPod, talking about what makes an omnivore, carnivore, and herbivore when you said you wanted a "really long Sid the Science Kid video". I said we'd have to look on the computer for that

So you climbed into the office chair while I brought up pbskids.org in a browser. Soon after a video started playing you said to me: "Can you leave me?"

I heard you laughing out loud right before I shot this clip of you navigating your way to the next video.

Dad

And again... Fishing

Dylan,

You and I have both had enough of the indoors so I packed up the Bob
with some snacks and your pole and threw on my running shoes. We went
for a run then stopped by the local creek to drop in your line. I
think the outdoors is doing us both some good. You didn't have a
fever this morning so I've started the 24hr countdown. Technically
you still have flu cooties, but were staying away from other folks.

minor milestone #1,314

Dylan,

You just woke up early from your nap, used the bathroom, and climbed back into bed.

Very nice. Possibly an offshoot from the other night: We were out of the heavy-duty "overnight" diapers so I put you in two pull-ups (I had accidentally purchased some that were too big, which was handy here), the first layer being the kind that produces a cold sensation when wet (you know, the ones with the giant snowflake stencil on 'em, and that you say you don't like) and I told you that if you woke up wet you could take off both pull-ups, use the bathroom and put the dry pull-up back on. Sure enough, you got up about an hour later that night and followed my instructions to the letter.


Dad

Sleeping on the couch

Unprecedented.

Watching the teevee...

...glassy eyed

H1N1

Dylan,

The flu bug has gotten a lot of attention this year, even though we've yet to reach the traditional "flu season". Reasons include an especially virulent strain, high profile cases in Mexico -- including some deaths --, an atypical demographic impact pattern, and a scary but catchy nickname: Swine flu.

We got a call from your school Saturday morning letting us know that a student who had been at your school all week (though in the other classroom) had received confirmation of the Influenza-A/H1N1/Swine Flu virus at 8pm Friday night.

You made it through the weekend okay, but slept 12 hours last night and woke up this morning (Monday) with a fever.

I have to note here that since it takes 1-2 days to confirm H1N1 after a blood draw, if that student really was at school "all week" as we were told, somebody seriously dropped the ball there.

Mom stayed home with you this morning and I'm home for the afternoon (and probably working from home all week, as it's likely that I'm already exposed and would sure like to avoid spreading it at the office). Your doctor cleared both Mom and I to go to work as long as we're asymptomatic, but I think everybody's glad to let me WFH.

So far, you're taking the virus pretty well. You've been going to your room of your own accord when you feel tired, and then sleeping for extended periods. You were up just long enough this afternoon to take your meds, watch a Thomas video, and get your temp taken again: 101.2. You're taking acetaminophen, and just started Tamiflu (oseltamivir) which could hopefully shorten your symptomatic period by 12-36 hours. We'll see.

Dad

Like a steel trap

Dylan,

You amaze me with the things you remember.

Last night I suggested we read Rory To The Rescue since it had been a long time (probably months) since we read it last. Half way through the book I mis-read a line as "It sure is getting windy out there". "Wild" you said, matter-of-factly. "It sure is getting wild out there" you continued, giving me the explanation I obviously needed.

I checked the text and saw that you were right.

How you can recall such a small detail, and with such certainty, is very impressive on both counts.


Dad

Hush Little Dylan

Dylan,

Mom made up this adaptation of a classic:

Hush little Dylan, don't say a word
Mommy's gonna buy you a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird won't sing
Mommy's gonna buy you a diamond ring

If that diamond ring turns to brass
Mommy's gonna buy you a looking glass

If that looking glass gets broke
Mommy's gonna buy you a billy goat

And if that billy goat runs away
Mommy's gonna buy you a bale of hay

And if that bale of hay gets wet
Mommy's gonna buy you a fishing net

And if that fishing net has a hole
Mommy's gonna buy you a fishing pole

And if that fishing pole should snap
Mommy's gonna buy you a lobster trap

But if that lobster trap won't sink
Mommy's going to buy you a skating rink

And if that skating rink melts away
Mommy's gonna buy you some modeling clay

And if that modeling clay dries up
Mommy's going to buy you a drinking cup

And if that drinking cup does break
Mommy's gonna buy you a garden rake

If that rake gets rusty in the rain
Mommy's gonna buy you an air-o-plane

And if that airplane flies up in the sky
Mommy's gonna buy you a piece of apple pie

And if that piece of apple pie gets eaten all
Mommy's going to buy you a basketball

And if that basketball goes flat
Mommy's gonna buy you a tumbling mat

And if that tumbling mat's too firm
Mommys gonna buy you some juicy earthworms

And if those earthworms wriggle in the dirt
Mommy's gonna buy you a new plaid shirt

But if that new plaid shirt's too small
Mommy's going to buy you a bouncy ball

If that bouncy ball goes over the fence
Mommy's gonna buy you a si-ix pence

And if that six-pence is really neat
Mommy's gonna buy you a lobster to eat

So hush little Dylan, don't say a word
Mommy's going to buy you a mockingbird



Mom sings this to you every night at bedtime. You know all the words, and you're quick to catch any errors.

Dad

Shark

Dylan,

Up 'til now, your artwork has been just lines and scribbles. You've shown little interest in actually putting the lines together to create any recognizable form. Well, today after you sharpened your pencil, you asked for a piece of paper and proceeded to draw a shark. You described what you were drawing as you went, and once you got to the "lots of really sharp teeth" I realized there was a true form unfolding before my eyes. After the teeth came the fins, again drawn with purpose. Dad doesn't seem to get my excitement, but I've been waiting for the pictures to emerge. I look forward to a fridge littered with your drawings for years to come. For today the shark stands alone.

More Thomas

Day out with Thomas

Coloring with my best bud David at Spanish school yesterday

Just another Wednesday spent with mom fishing off the docks

Papa's shoes

Rubbing off

Dylan,

Dad and I (read me) decided to send you to a Spanish immersion program this summer while your regular preschool was on summer break. I had these great visions of you being fluent by the time summer was up, but it became very apparent to me that while they speak only Spanish to you, they speak it very fast, and you generally just smile and nod your head to them in response to everything they say. It's that "I know I'm cute so I'll just try smiling at you and batting my lashes" look. Even those words you actually know are said so rapidly, there's little chance you actually catch them. I'm sure they spend time during specific lessons and such where they slow down and teach you words, but it was really the conversation piece I was hoping you'd gain from the experience. The fact that you have volunteered the Spanish word for various things around the house over the last week has given me hope though I have since re-adjusted my expectations. I have settled for the fact that the constant exposure is beneficial, and many young children exposed to second languages in the home begin to understand them even if they don't speak them.

Tonight you demonstrated that all this Spanish time is rubbing off. You spent practically the whole afternoon and evening (when not battling with us to finish your dinner, take your bath, and get ready for bed) singing songs in Spanish over and over. Not just the same song, but many different ones. There was one you sang on the train, one on the car ride home, and two in the bath. There might have been more, but I don't recall. Not sure if you actually know what you are singing about, but you've at least got the words mostly right because I can recognize what your saying. Ah, who knows, you probably do know what your singing.

It should come as no surprise to me it's through singing that you internalize a second language.

Mom

Constant bruises

Dylan,

My nick-name around your age was "the bumper kid" because I was always banging into things. You seem to have my gracefulness.

I can only wonder what the neighbors/teachers/strangers must think when they catch a glimpse of that.


Dad

imaginary jack

Dylan,

You've got an imaginary friend. His name is Jack, and you've described him as "the guy that looks at me in the mirror", among other things.

I first heard of him the other day when you were talking to our friend Jill. She asked you where Jack's parents were. "Oh, they died" came your reply.

From time to time you've mentioned having a brother, or a sister. Sometimes both, but usually it's a sister. Jack is like a whole other level. I guess that's more common with first-born/only children. Uncle Chris used to accuse me of having "no imagination" when we were young. I guess I never had to imagine what it would be like to have siblings.

I'll try to keep tabs on Jack so we have a record of him as he grows up.


Dad

Bike ridin'

Dylan,

You really enjoyed riding your new bike when we went out for dinner on
Mommy's birthday.

Cool dude at the dentist

Dylan,

Very cool.

sand tiger

Dylan,

You had your first dentist appointment today. Tonight while Mom flossed your teeth (a new practice) you decided to open your mouth "like a sand shark". I don't know where you picked that up but it's pretty convenient for flossing!

Dad

sliver

Dylan,

I've told you in the past that it's not OK for someone -- anyone -- to hurt you, me included.

I recognized an acute problem with that formulation when I sat down to remove a large sliver from your foot (it was just in front of your heel, and had probably been there for almost 24 hours) and started to say, more or less, "This is going to hurt. A lot."

You don't have a very impressive pain threshold to begin with, and I could see that this sliver was going to require some digging to have any hope at all of finding a handle. Of course I wasn't looking forward to inflicting significant pain on you, but the look of confusion on your face told me that you couldn't quite process why in the world I would ever do such a thing, making me wish all the more that it wasn't so.

I put something cold on your foot, then worked gingerly to remove the tiniest pieces of skin possible as I pursued the invader. After a short while I voiced -- to myself, really -- that I wished Mom was there because she'd really be much better than I at the task. Slightly, I think, misunderstanding my comment you looked at me and said "I want your Mom to do it."

Slightly grateful for the out, and comfortable that GiGi has an extensive resume, I passed on your request. She dug and dug. You screamed and writhed. I had to hold you down at times, working hard to keep you still. It was a stubborn thing, buried deep. After a while, I called for a break, wanting to pursue options for pain mitigation. I was open to a visit to the ER if needed.

First, we drove to the drugstore where the pharmacist recommended a hemorrhoid treatment as the best topical analgesic available, but the spot on the shelf was empty. At another drugstore (which didn't even carry the hemorrhoid stuff) they recommended something different that came in a spray bottle. I knew the analgesic effects of this were going to be very minimal, but I figured the spray would at least make an excellent placebo. I also bought the most expensive tweezers in the joint to substitute for the one back at the house, a blunt needle-nosed pair I recognized my from own childhood.

Grandma had done good work, and made critical progress, but when we got home I knew I wanted to finish this job myself.

It took some coaxing to get you back in the game -- or even to let me touch your foot again -- but after just a little more discomfort, the extraction was complete:




Dad

Keeping a Close

Dylan,

While my voice was out of commission recently, Uncles Chris and Ben each took a turn helping me sing Walk The Line to you at bedtime.


Dad

fast car

Dylan,

You built a derby car at the FVC last week. Rocket-ship inspired, it had flames made from yellow and orange string shooting out of dual engines at the back. A counselor nick-named it "Fire, Fire, Fire".

It finished in second place on race day, ahead of almost thirty other creations.

When I told you that your car had finished first in it's heat, you said "That means I'm a winner!"


Dad

ferry boat captain

Dylan,

We spent the last couple of weeks on vacation. There were a million little things that would have made for great blog posts, but it's hard to recapture them once they start getting a little stale. Here's one that made a lasting impression:

We rode the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston and back again. While in Kingston (which you preferred to call "Kingstontown" in reference to a great little song you learned at your old school) we started chatting with a man who asked about your hat. It turned out that his girlfriend was the Captain of the boat we were waiting to take us back across the Sound. In a very generous gesture, she invited us all up to the bridge.

It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

You got to drive the boat the whole way back -- steering all the while -- and even got to blow the giant horn to signal our coming in to dock. This boat was the Puyallup, which as a Jumbo Mark II Class ferry(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Puyallup) is one of the second-largest double-ended ferries in the world.

I called Uncle Chris right away. He's always been a huge Washington State Ferry fan and I knew he'd be jealous.



You even got to push the buttons! (although the Captain asked you not to push the red one which disengages the auto-pilot):


And you got a great tutorial on shipboard radar:









Dad

Fisherboy

Dylan,

You love to throw your line into the calm waters, wherever and whenever we can find some. While we were at the docks a fisherman was so taken by your little pole he brought out a real one, with real hooks and all, and showed you how to "flip the bill" to let the line drop, and jigger the pole to make your bait dance through the murky depths. I'd have taken a picture of that too, but I didn't dare step away to do it lest your giddy exuberance cause you to throw his whole pole in the water. After all, you are 3 and a half.

You and Uncle Marc are going to have a blast fishing on our family vacation later this summer.

Visit to the lighthouse

Ever since we read you "Rory to the Rescue" you've been wanting to
visit a lighthouse. Today you got your chance.

Beach day

Our second Wednesday outing of summer.

Cool dude on the train

Dylan and mom's first day trip of the summer.

On the train!

I Keep a Close

Dylan,

For the record, your bedtime routine remains largely unchanged.

Dinner->Milk->Bath->Jammies->Teeth->Story with Mom->Song from Mom: Hush Little Dylan->Song from Dad: Walk the Line, or as you call it "I Keep a Close"

It's safe to say I've sung that to you more than one thousand times.


Dad

toothbrushing

Dylan,

Yesterday, and the day before that, I let you brush my teeth.

I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. It seems so intuitive now that you might benefit by experiencing toothbrushing without a tool stuck in your mouth. Besides, you're very keen to do it and it serves multiple purposes.

For one, it kinda balances out my brushing your teeth all the time. You've been especially cooperative when the activity has been more symmetrical.

For another thing, you get a better understanding of what a mouth looks like, and how the toothbrush fits into some of those spaces. I mean, a mirror is one thing, but when you're standing up on your stool and I'm on my knees looking up at you like some baby bird, you've got a bigger target, better lighting, and the opportunity to see different angles.

We also get to learn some things from each other. I've been able to show you, hand-over-hand, how to brush in little circles. You've been very considerate asking "Do you need to spit?" much sooner and more frequently than I do, which makes me think you'd appreciate some reciprocation of the same.


Dad

more chocolate chip pancakes

Dylan,

We made chocolate chip pancakes outside again last weekend. You enjoyed them.




Dad

Hummer

Dylan,

You have this fantastically amusing habit of humming and singing to yourself at the table if you're eating something you really like. It sorta starts out like a Mmmmmm Mmmm, then transforms into some Hmmms, then next thing I know, you're working your way through some tune.

Ice cream gets you every time. In general, most desserts, though not all I've noticed, have this effect.

Every once in a while something I cook will bring you to song. It is a wonderful thing to observe because it really is a sign of pure unabashed joy and you're always in your own little bubble of gastronomic pleasure while you perform. It is the highest compliment.

Tonight I prepared paninis. Chicken breasts marinated in a ton of fresh herbs from the garden and young garlic, grilled squash strips, pepper jack cheese, and pesto I adapted from a food network recipe, using basil from the garden, and almonds, not from the garden. Dad did the grilling and pressing.

Then you started singing the praises, literally.

Dad reminds me sometimes that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. It is without a doubt true for him, and you are of the same seed.


Love,
Mom

Dylan,

Right now your pants are on backwards and your shoes are on the wrong feet. Happens a lot, especially the latter.


Dad

pause

Dylan,

I showed you where the 'pause' button is on the DVD remote. I did it to keep you from peeing in your clothes while watching a Thomas the Tank Engine or Bob the Builder video. Now you'll gladly put that video on hold and run to the bathroom.

Not long after, you adapted the action to apply to other contexts. Recognizing the need for a potty break while you and I were playing trains -- and not wanting to miss out on any of the fun -- you stood up, your arm outstretched and pointed my way. With a motion not unlike zipping a tent closed, and an accompanying "whoozj" sound, you paused me.

I froze.

You reversed the process upon your return, thankfully, with an upward motion and sound effect. Now you make a regular practice of this with Mom and I.


Dad

Amazing

Dylan,

Before this school year ends I must ask your teacher how casually she uses the word "amazing", because she uses it every time she and I talk about you.

Yes, you are amazing.

To me you've been amazing since the day Mom told me, standing in our garage, that you even existed. And of course, few boys are reading at your age and maybe fewer still can be trusted to work autonomously with a roller and tray while painting the front of the house, but I still have to wonder (if for no reason other than to keep my swollen pride in check) whether you are "amazing" in a routine sort of way, or if you're exceptional even among her vast experiences with exceptional children.

At the end-of-year picnic she was telling me about a lesson on the decimal system she was giving a 5-yr-old while you looked on, following everything and correctly answering questions that hadn't actually been aimed your way. She asked me when your birthday was again and said, "Turned three in November. Amazing!"



We'll tackle the porch next:



A vacuum salesman came to the door while we were working. He stopped mid-spiel when he got a look at you and concernedly blurted out, "Uh, he's got paint on his mouth!" You can see it in the second photo (click to enlarge). It's actually Greek yogurt from lunch, heehee!

UPDATE:
I spoke with your teacher. You are amazing among her experiences with children. She pointed specifically to the fact that very few students begin reading in their first year with her. I think that's why she was all the more impressed by your November birthday.

outdoor cookin'

Dylan,

You seemed to enjoy the chocolate chip pancakes we made together on the outdoor griddle.

Dad

tree planting

Dylan,

This morning you and I joined some other volunteers to help plant trees in a "park" that had been badly neglected.

We spent about 90 minutes there in total and planted two trees, each about 8 feet tall. One was a buckeye, the other was unidentified.

I was concerned about how well-suited this activity would be for a guy your age but you handled it like an ace. When the digging started, you told me in a cautious voice that you just wanted to watch. Pretty soon, you warmed up to the idea of getting your gardening gloves dirty and made good use of a very heavy shovel.

This non-profit outfit holds events like this all the time. I think we'll be back for more.












Dad

BRAW*

Dylan,

While you revel in the repetitiveness of reading the same board books night after night, I long for the time when I can cuddle with you in bed as we make our way through a children's novel night after night, chapter by chapter. Don't get me wrong, I cherish the reading time, and you've taken to it so well, often climbing into bed to get a head start on your own and "reading it in my head" as you say, while I tear myself away from the post cooking clean-up to come in your room and settle in with you. But I'm anxious to get to Harry Potter and the likes.

A couple weeks ago I came across a collection of short stories brought back from Scotland for you last year by Aunt Lisa's Mom, Nora. I had set it aside for some time in the future when you would be ready for a book without pictures and many paragraphs per page. As I looked, I wondered when that would be, and ultimately decided to give it a try soon.

Climbing under the covers I explained to you we were going to read a different kind of book, one for older children. I reviewed the no pictures and lots of words on the page thing, explaining that you had to just listen to the story and imagine the pictures in your head. I also explained that the stories in this book were all written by authors living in Scotland, and that some of the language and words would be unfamiliar to us because different countries have different expressions for the same things. I worried that all this was a little abstract to you, but you took it in stride and seemed eager to start.

Reading through the first story, you listened intently, and not once did it seem you were bored or having any difficulty following what I was saying. I was really impressed, while at the same time excited about the possibilities your ability might bring to our reading sessions. I was also a little frustrated with myself for not trying this sooner. I enjoyed the story, and it was fun to explain to you the language variations it presented. A few days later you asked for the same story again, describing the general plot of the story so as to help me understand which story you were referring to. Now I was very surprised. Your comprehension and retention were truly impressive.

Now we're slowly making our way through the book, and I'm on the prowl for "series books" for the 5 and up crowd.

I'd love to entertain suggestions...

Love,
Mom

* BRAW is a network of Scottish children's writers and illustrators, who originally came together to promote books, reading and writing, by authors and illustrators living in Scotland, to Scottish children and young people.

cookin'

Dylan,

You had fun making strawberry-banana mini-muffins while wearing the cooking gear you got from GiGi.







Dad