This and That

Some more of this and that... little clips of life around here.

The other night Jonah had a particularly interesting bath... at least the things that he said and did were entertaining to Erik.  He began the bath by peeing on his sister.  Thank goodness she had no clue.  He peed on her back and she was looking the other way.  Though gross, Erik thought it was SOOOOOO funny.  Then, when it was time to wash Jonah insisted that we wash HIS girl parts.  We tried explaining to him that he didn't have girl parts he has a peanut (his term for penis) instead.  He just laughed and said, "My peanut hangs out."  Good observation, J.  To finish his bath he ripped one and said, "Ha, ha.  My farted. My peed in the bathtub."  He seemed very proud of himself.  Great, now I have two men in the family with a very male sense of humor.

I got a text from Erik that said, "Jonah was complaining that he didn't want butter on his bread so I turned it over. While he was watching.  And he ate it."   Wow, Daddy, you sure know how to pull one over on J.  I hope that Jonah is this easy to fool/appease in the future.

On our way home from ballet Cairo poked a hole in her ballet tights and completely ruined them.  When I voiced my displeasure, she told me that I could just buy her some new ones.  It's time for Cairo to have a reality check.  I told Cairo that instead of going and getting ice cream this weekend, I would take that money and buy her new tights and she could watch the rest of us enjoy our ice cream and remember why she didn't get any.  When we got home, she said, "Can't I use my Easter money?"  I told her no. that we put her money away in the bank to save for college.  I left the room while she changed from her leotard into her pajamas.  When I came back a few minutes later Cairo was just sitting there crying.  She looked at me, her face crumbled, and she said, " I don't want to go to college." More tears, more tears, and I think a sob, too.  I told her that she could still live at home when she went to college and that it was a long time away.  I just hope she remembers how much she wanted to stay at home and NOT got to college.

Trains

Most afternoons are full of chaos. With three little kids working off each other's energy and bouncing off the walls, the whole house just vibrates.  On occasion, the kids absorb themselves into an activity and just play together- no fighting, no yelling, no running and tackling, just peace. 

Jonah and Xander took time out from the typical ruckus and nicely played trains together.  The maturity gap between the boys seems to be shrinking.  Though up to this point Cairo and Xander have been playmates, Jonah an Xander are closer in age and have similar interests.  They have been playing and conversing with each other a lot more frequently.

Takin' Care of Business

Cairo has been putting her all in on the soccer court (is that what you call it for indoor soccer?).  

At times she just looks like a Rockett (look at that high kick).

But, in the end, it is all about to be a goods sportsman.  (Kids giving each other five at the end of the game.)

While Cairo has been taking care of business on the soccer court, Jonah has been taking care of business.... well, in other ways...

... unfortunately, when he insisted to sit on the potty, he didn't use it.

Street Fair Ponies

In the petting zoo at the street fair, Jonah quietly said to me, "I want to be a cowboy."  I repeated back what he said to me, a little confused, "You want to by a cowboy?"  He said, "yes."  Then, he pointed over to the six little ponies walking in their never-ending circle hauling little kids on their backs.  I guess he wanted to go on the pony ride.

A Field Trip to the Fire Station

Today Cairo's preschool class went on a trip the the local fire station a few blocks from her school.  When I got home from work today I asked her what she did today.  She said that she went to school.  I asked her if she did anything fun at school.  She said she played.  Digging for the information I actually wanted (which was how she liked the fire station), I asked her if she went any where.  Finally, she said, "Oh yeah, we went to the fire station."  Then, nothing.  No explanation about what she saw or what she liked.

I was a little disappointed that she wasn't spilling out to me every detail of her trip.  Sadly, getting Cairo to give details of things she's been doing is almost impossible lately.  Every answer is short and concise, completely lacking all detail.  She reminds he of her father, Mr. Information.  The exception to this rule, of course, is when she tattling on Jonah.  She is full of details and happy to share them then.

So, I had no choice but to ask more questions.  I asked her what she saw there.  This was what I got- "We saw their kitchen.  They have TWO (emphasis on two) refrigerators, a table with more chairs than ours, and six or seven coffees."  (Each?- They must be really amped up fire fighters).  When I asked her if she saw anything else, she shrugged, and that was the end of the conversation. You'd think a three, going on four, year old would be excited about the firemen, the firetruck, the sirens, and equipment.  My daughter?  She was more interested in the kitchen.

The Swimming Red Dragon Ballerina

Spring sports have started and Cairo is doing ballet/tap on Tuesday afternoons, soccer on Saturday mornings, and swim lessons Monday through Thursday.

Soccer- Cairo's soccer abilities and interest in the game have developed A LOT since last year. Flashback to Cairo one year ago- twirling, sitting, daydreaming in the middle of soccer games... when we could get her to play.  This year, she is actively engaged and handles the ball much better.  While Cairo has neither speed, nor aggression, she does have the ability to control the ball.

My little Red Dragon-

For a while Cairo has been asking us to do ballet.  So, we signed her up.  Her first session she spent the entire time giggling, smiling, and following along... and three sessions into it she is just as happy and excited about it as the first time.  Her strengths are listening to directions and flexibility.  Her weaknesses are coordination and "knowing" everything already.  Coordination has never been a strength for Cairo, but it is getting better.  When I watch her in class I can't help but wonder where we will be in 10 years.  Will I still be sitting watching her at ballet class?  I can already visualize her long slender physique maturing into an elegant ballerina... but I guess like it's every little girl's dream to become a ballerina, every little girl's mother is right there with her.  Cairo's favorite part of ballet? The twirling.

Cairo is also in the first week of her first swim lessons without Mom or Dad.  In fact, we sit on a grassy knoll overlooking the pool, not right next to it.  She is one of two kids in her class and she loves her teacher.  She says he's a lot of fun.  She hasn't wanted to put her face into the water, but when she was in the bath this evening she decided she was ready and did it.  In the meantime, she has been happy splashing, kicking, throwing toys, and camping out on the pool steps.

Interviewing Cairo

Me: Cairo, I am going to interview you.

Cairo: What? What Mommy?  Why do you have to inter-do me?

Me: Cause I want to remember what you think when you are three?

Cairo: Are you going to make it into a movie?  [starts singing] Helter Skelter, helter skelter dance...

                 Where did that come from? Has she been listening to the Beatles?

Me: Cairo, what is your favorite color?

Cairo: PINK! My favorite color is pink.  Cotton candy pink and real pink. Both colors of pink.

Me: What is your least favorite color, the one that you think is the most yucky?

Cairo: Green. Because blue and green is the color I don't like and that's why I don't draw with blue and green.

Me: What is your favorite food?

Cairo: STRAWBERRIES.

Me: What is your favorite thing to wear?

Cairo: Pink and Purple.

Me: What is your favorite book?

Cairo: Tip Toe Ballerina and the one with skates on it [Pinkalicious].

                    Notice a theme?

Me: What do you want to be when you get bigger?

Cairo: Um, ballerina and even a soccer player.  I want to be up in Monrovia and up at our house.... because it is so beautiful around here. [starts singing] It's beautiful around here, it's beautiful around here...

Me: What are you most scared of?

Cairo: Monsters.

Me: Anything else?

Cairo: Ah, ghosts. I'm scared of ghosts.  Are ghosts real?

Me: No.

Cairo: Well, then I'm not scared of ghosts... and I'm not scared of lady bugs because they are so beautiful.

Me: What do you call your brother?

Cairo: Jonah Bear

Me: What do you like best about Jonah Bear?

Cairo: When he hugs me and kisses me.  That's nice.

Me: What bugs you the most about Jonah?

Cairo: When he wakes me up when I am sleeping in the night?

M: What is your favorite thing to do with Jonah?

C: Play with him and make sure he doesn't get hurt... and, um, play ball with him... and make sure he gets to sleep.

M: What do you think Jonah should be when he grows up?

C: A doctor. Jonah should be a doctor.

M: Why?

C: Because he is a boy.  Boys and girls can be doctors.

M: What is heaven like?

C: Heaven is where people go when they are old... really, really old, when they were sick.

M: What is one thing that makes your family special?

C: When they all love each other and when they all stand together for a picture.  That's what a family does.

M: Where is your favorite place to go?

C: To Mei's house and to Ba Chan's house!  I'm a little sad I'm not going to Ba Chan's house today.

M: Are you a good friend?  Why do you think so?

C: [Nods her head] Because Mei plays with me and we play together.

M: What is the hardest thing about being a kid?

C: I can't reach the things that are up high that I want.  We can't drive.

M: Tell me the five best things about you.

C: I'm big, I go to school, and I love everybody that plays with me.  I'm a good dancer and a good singer.

M: Are you smart?

C: Yes I am smart!

M: What is the best thing about being a girl?

C: Um, they have girl colors.  Because I'm a princess. And I have girly everything.  Pink- that's the color of my crocks and my boots.

M: What colors are boy colors?

C: White and, um, blue.  Red is a little boy color.

Bapa: Are you going to cook me dinner when you're bigger?

C: Of course not! I'm going to grow babies!

M: What is Daddy's job?

C: Cooking. Cooking is his job. 

M: What's mommy's job?

C: To watch us a little when Daddy's doing something.  You play with me.

M: What do you think of worms and bugs?

C: Yucky!

... and at that, I've completely lost her attention.