blades of squeal

Kenny started taking skating lessons a few weeks back, and with three Saturday morning lessons under our belt, I'm proud to announce that we are still excited about it (even if the progress is a bit slow going).

The instructor, Ms. Lisa, is incredibly patient and good with the kids, and, as luck would have it, the class is very small in size. So far, the most kids in Kenny's group has been three, with an average of two. This means a lot of personal attention, which is great, since Senor Bambi Legs has a tendency to lose his focus.

I'm out there on the ice with him, and I have to admit that it's a bit odd to be out there without really doing any skating. Mostly, I glide around him, trying to be encouraging and echoing whatever Ms. Lisa tells him to do.

On the upside, Kenny like to watch the other kids play hockey on the main rink (we practice on the studio rink), and has shown interest in playing too. However, I've told him that if he wants to play hockey, he has to learn how to skate first. After all, that's the way I should have done it. Ahem.

Here are some pixs from the first three lessons.

WEEK 1: "Hey, this ice stuff is slippery."


Ms. Lisa tries to help Kenny stay on his feet. This is harder than you might think.


Toys are used as a way of getting kids to skate. They learn to bend down, pick up the toy, then throw it a few feet away. If they want it, they have to skate over and get it. Kenny was a big fan of throwing the iguana. Going to get it, not so much.


Kenny ponders whether or not it's worth the effort and possible concussion to go get the iguana.

WEEK 2: Properly Equipped


Newly protected with a helmet and gloves, Kenny and his skating buddy Logan learn the proper way to get up off the ice by practicing on dry land first. The technique involved pretending to be a lion, or in Kenny's case, a cat, and starting on all fours. Then you pick one foot up and then the other. I have to say, Kenny does a very convincing "Cat tries to stand on ice" impression.


Kenny practices his new technique on the ice. Or at least he was supposed to. See, Kenny discovered that the ice is covered in tiny snow shavings, which are cool and fun to play with.


See the way his front leg appears to be sliding up and outward? Yeah, that's not an optical illusion.

WEEK 3: Getting There

Kenny did a bit better in Week 3, showing a touch of improvement, but still a lack of desire to be self-sufficient. We're working on it, though. Slowly.


Ms. Lisa attempts to get Kenny to skate on his own, taking tiny steps. He liked the stomping idea, but got a bit overzealous at times. Small stomps = good. Big stomps = high probability of falling down.


Kenny contemplates combining hockey and soccer into one glorious game.


Check it out! Standing on his own! Ice capades here we come!

all zoos should have dinosaurs

Especially ones you can control. I'm just sayin'.

We went back to the Brookfield Zoo a few weekends back so Kenny could hang out with his animatronic dino buddies again. Our friends graciously gave us their extra membership card, so not only was this a fun outing, but an inexpensive one. Huzzah!

Kenny had a blast pointing out all of the dinosaurs ("Look, Daddy! A parasaurolophus!") and then going back when we got to the end so he could say goodbye to all of them before leaving ("Goodbye, Triceratops!").

We also saw a bunch of other animals that were actually, you know, alive, including sea lions, seals, snow leopards, lions, camels, elephants, bears and even a persistent bee who wanted to taste Kenny's lunch.

To her credit, Chloe maxed and relaxed in her carrier and enjoyed a nice bottle of formula while Kenny rode the carousel (twice).


This is the face of a boy who loves him some T-Rex.


This is the face of a boy who loves him some carousel.


Happiness is riding the carousel (twice).


Mr. Man worked up a healthy appetite while running amok at the zoo.


Zoos are exhausting. I think it took him about three minutes after being strapped in to pass out.

activity girl

Chloe has a fine time lounging about on her activity mat. Here we have some shots of her contemplating the various components, in between tummy time sessions.


"That turtle has a mirror on the bottom. I wonder if that's natural or if he had work done?"


"I would totally smack that if it weren't so freakin' far out of reach. Oh well."

bouncy seats are fun

Chloe enjoys hanging out in her bouncy seat. She usually has a court-side seat for the action in the kitchen or living room.


"Okay, wait. Okay, almost. Okay, now I'm ready."


"I love it when they kick on the music and massager!"

he's like a freakin' cat or something

Kenny can not be trusted when placed within arm's reach of a full roll of toilet paper. Let's just say this isn't the first time we've had this happen (just the first time I was smart enough to get photographic evidence).

chloe in repose

So I could take a few minutes to get dressed, Chloe got nice and comfy in our bed.


"I wonder if they have room service?"


"It'd be a lot easier to get my day going if I could actually get out of bed. Seriously. Little help here!"

culinary artist

Kenny was gonna eat his grapes, but then decided that he would express himself artistically instead.


"It's a caterpillar!" he shouted with glee.


"Let's build something bigger, Mommy. Do we have enough grapes to make an elephant?"

chloe from above

Too much Kenny and not enough Chloe around here for ya? Hope this helps...


The thought of an morning meal brings a happy grin.


This is the "maybe gonna smile, but probably gonna poop" face. Very popular.

Our happy girl! Probably 'cause Daddy said something funny. Probably.


This kind of cuteness goes a long way towards getting what you want. Luckily, she's non-verbal at the moment, so I don't have to agree to buying her a car or anything. Yet.

the funky drummer

Always one to encourage Kenny's musical skills, Overboard let him create a makeshift drum kit in the kitchen. He then took his one man band into the more fan-friendly venue known as the living room.


A good rock star has his own stylist. Here, Overboard attempts to brush the maestro's hair. How rock n' roll.

Wish those pictures had sound? You're in luck. Check out his furry bandmate in the back of the shot.


Pretty impressive, right? I can just see the bands lining up to get him in the studio now.

taking kenny for grant(ed)

Grant (and U2) came to town the other month and got some good quality time with everyone. Kenny was very excited to see him and even more excited to show him all around the playground up the street.


Kenny wanted to hold Grant's hand on the way there. It was this cute in person, too.


Kenny shows off his impressive rock climbing skills.


"It's OK! I didn't get stuck and I can still feel my lower back. Success!"

dude

Kenny has apparently taken a shine to a new show on the Disney Channel called "Jungle Junction." It revolves around animals in the jungle who are also vehicles and zip around on various roads through the jungle fauna. I've only seen one episode with him, so I'm no expert yet.

Mr. Man was perturbed this morning when he wanted to watch the show, but it wasn't on (and we had no episodes taped due to my not knowing this was his new episodic obsession). I set the TiVo to tape it, so he could watch a bit when he got home.

When I got home, I asked Kenny what he did today at daycare. He ducked that question, but did mention that he watched "Jungle Junction."

"How was it?" I asked.

"It was awesome," he replied.

chloe's first giggle

Happened yesterday. There is no video or photographic evidence. Just Overboard's word that she quoted some Backyardigans lines to Chloe in a slightly goofy voice and our little girl giggled. Unfortunately, I have been thus far unable to replicate this feat. But I will not stop trying...

fun with math

Kenny loves him some bananas. Now, we usually only give him one at a time, although he likes to request them in bunches. To combat this, we have agreed to call one banana split into two parts as "two bananas." This is working pretty well, and has also been used in iterations of "three" and even "four" bananas.


Banana Boy

summer ice cream at the farm

Did I mention I'm a little backlogged around here?

So, anyway, this was from the other month at Wagner Farm, when they had an ice cream social. Good times (if you aren't lactose intolerant).


Kenny and Overboard enjoy some ice cream al fresco.


"Hey, Mom...you gonna finish that?"

well, he does get points for originality

A few weekends ago*, Kenny was asked to go to the bathroom and do his thing, which he did. I then asked him to get dressed. He didn't. Instead, he opted to do this:



Again, I asked him to get dressed. He opted to do this:



The clothes didn't come back on for, I would conservatively say, about an hour or more.

*Four, to be exact.

once more unto the breach, dear friends

Overboard went back to work last week and I had an awesome five days of paternity leave/Chloe bonding time. But when I went back to work yesterday, it meant it was time for Chloe's first day at daycare. Kenny was there to keep an eye on her, and the daycare ladies RAVED over how awesome she was/is. Great eater, sleeper, smiler. So, all in all, a very nice start to her daycare career.

As for Overboard and I, this time around was A TON easier (as we knew it would be). With Kenny, the idea of handing him over to someone else was anxiety-ridden. Now that he's been there for three years, we're very comfortable with the whole process and the folks who look after him. This made handing Chloe over a breeze. That being said, I still had a twang of, "But I don't wanna give you my child...I wanna keep her with me!"

mr. manners

Kenny is a little boy. This we know.

Kenny is starting to act more and more like a little boy. This we're finding out.

Mr. Man has discovered that when your nose is running, or there's schmutz on your mouth, napkins or tissues are for suckers. No, a real man uses the back of his hand. Repeatedly.

Overboard and I have tried to discourage this, but it hasn't worked so well. In an effort to thwart this behavioral pattern, Overboard even attempted some modifications to Kenny's appendages at dinner one night. It almost worked. Back to the lab, I suppose.


Step 1: Secure napkin to wrist in question.


Step 2: Wait and see if test subject adapts to new technological modification in positive or negative manner.

Result: Test subject was curious, then oblivious, then reticent. Before conclusive evidence could be provided, test subject removed cleaning implement from appendage, and then proceeded to wipe mouth with appendage in somewhat mocking manner.

winter in glenview

Or, Winters, to be more exact.

Jarrod, Molly, Solly and Sammy were in town for a Labor Day weekend wedding and hopped the train up to Glenview for an action-packed morning/afternoon visit. It had been a loooong time in between visits (we last saw them out in San Francisco two (?) years ago), but as always, it was a great deal of fun catching up. The boys ran around the playground by the train station before grabbing lunch, then came back to the house for some toy shennanigans. When Kenny went down for his nap, I took the Winter clan over to the park for more running around. Good times.

Although there was a shameful disregard for picture taking, we did get this nice snap shot of the boys.


Solly, Kenny and Sammy. All proud members of the "End Your Name With a Y" club.