our week with zeeke

Zeeke is continuing to get over his fear of dogs.  Every day more pooches fall into his "so cute" judgment, which means he wants to greet them and sometimes pet them.  Even bigger dogs are not getting instantly disqualified, although he still needs to see the dog coming from a ways off to work up his courage.

Thursday, at school, when the kids were drawing, Zeeke asked for "a piece of paper with lines" (a coloring sheet).  The teacher didn't have one, but she offered him a piece of graph paper.  Steve, who had just arrived to pick him up, joked that he could could make a dungeon with it.  Zeeke was excited so he got an early lesson in Dungeons & Dragons.  In Room 6, Zeeke put a monster he called "birds-piss-a-lots" and in Room 12 he just put an "underwater wizard monkey."  Room 13 was "the room where the cyclops took a really stinky poop."

Saturday, we went to the zoo in the morning.  In the afternoon we went to his cousin Jackson's birthday party.  Zeeke had a great time in general, sundaes and a pinata, but his mind was really blown when a fire truck showed up.  He got to sit in the driver's seat and climb up onto the back.  He was in heaven.

Conversations with Zeeke:

"Daddy, that tiger was madder than a fireman in an oven."

On Tuesday, Steve picked Zeeke up from school early and they had a picnic at Marconi Plaza.  They enjoyed fried chicken and lemonade while laying in the grass, staring up at clouds, birds and airplanes.  Zeeke conquered his fear of big dogs and got friendly with a sweet, elderly pooch.  Once they were well fed, Zeeke had a great time at the playground.

Saturday, we drove down to Maryland and went to the National Aquarium with Karen's dad, Grandpop Bob-Bob.  Zeeke particularly enjoyed the jellyfish, the rainforest room, and the the computers that told you what different marine animals eat.  After we were done, Grandma Joy had a bag of art supplies for Zeeke.  The five of us went to Friendly's for dinner and Zeeke had shark sundae for dessert.

After spending the night in a nearby hotel, Steve & Zeeke went downstairs for breakfast, then went out for a drive while they waited for the pool for open.  They picked up a superhero coloring book and then had a nice swim.  Zeeke loved hotel living, particularly watching television while lying in bed wrapped in a towel.  After checkout, we were back at Grandpop Bob-Bob's for a crab and corn feast.  Zeeke had a great time playing with his cousins, Riley & Bella.  After crabs, they went down to the creek and played. 

Zeeke's been having some strong feelings lately.  Dropoffs at daycare have become tear-filled ordeals where he refuses to let go of Steve and sometimes has to be dragged off by a teacher.  Part of the problem is that he's abandoned their normal goodbye routine, but there's probably more to it than that.  On the positive side, he's been extremely loving lately.  We're overflowing with hugs and kisses and declarations of love.

He's also started calling us "baby."  Were not sure if it's something he picked up at school or from Elmo, but he responds to most questions with either "yes, baby" or "no, baby."

Saturday morning, his pal Zoe came over for a drop-off playdate.  They swam and see-sawed in the backyard, then played a complicated version of house that involved lots of climbing into bed together, drinking tea, and protecting their baby sister from vampires.

Sunday morning, Steve & Zeeke went to the dinosaur museum, where they spent a while playing with Lego and K'nex.  Zeeke got completely over his fear of the animatronic dinosaur just in time for the arrival of more of them.  After his nap, all three of us went to Jersey to spend the afternoon with Katie, Dave & Greta.  The kids had a great time playing in the sprinkler and trying to get the adults soaked.

Conversations with Zeeke:

"Daddy, I heard that in India, a vampire kidnapped a gypsy's brother and the brother got killed by the hunters of India who live in the forest and there's plants that can walk around and kill you."

Zeeke's steadily increasing height means he can now easily reach light switches, so any room threatens to become a disco at any moment (at least until the bulbs blow out).

Tuesday, Zeeke and Lettie had a epic sidewalk dance party after school. 

Saturday, we went to the zoo and for the first time this year.  Zeeke amazed Steve by not wanting to watch the bird migration movie, which he always makes us watch at least once.

Sunday morning, we ran into Brad, Zooey & Ash at the playground.  Zeeke & Zooey had a great time playing together and then just as she left, Dave & Greta arrived to keep the party going.  In the afternoon, we went to Jen, Kim, Jack & William's house for a fun-filled afternoon of sprinklers, bouncy house, and burgers.

Zeeke had been obsessed with a book of map puzzles that Karen brought home.  Each puzzle is a different continent and he would do them all every day if he could.  Zeeke has been enjoying the responsibility of watering Nadine's garden while she's out of town.

Wednesday, after Purple Flower Mountain, we went to P'unk Burger with Jen & Amelie. 

Saturday morning, Steve & Zeeke dropped Karen off at work and went to the zoo.  After his nap, they watched "Yellow Submarine" which he loved.

Sunday, we dropped Zeeke off at his pal Zoe's house and then went to a concert in Camden.  Zeeke and Zoe had a great time playing and eating together.  There was an attempt at a sleepover, but at 10 pm, they were still chatting and giggling with each other, so we picked Zeeke up on our way home.    

Karen was taking an intensive one week course at U. Penn, so Steve & Zeeke had a lot of time together.  Zeeke invented a new game where Steve draws an animal and Zeeke has to guess what it is then color it in.  Many, many sheets of paper were filled with animals that way.  In Karen's absence, they ate a lot of her most hated food: tuna salad. 

Thursday after school, Zeeke was munching on ultra-fresh carrots, tomatoes and basil at the community garden.

Saturday morning, we tried to catch yoga at Gold Star Park, but it didn't happen, so Karen & Zeeke headed off for a fun-filled trip to the museum.  He especially enjoyed the cafe and the elevator.  After lunch, Steve & Zeeke watched The Never Ending Story.

Sunday morning, we went to the movies with Tara, Matt & Moira.  We saw The Secret Life of Pets.  After Zeeke's nap, we went to Pop-Pop and Gigi's house to celebrate his cousin Connor's birthday.  

Conversations with Zeeke:

Learning about cryptids:
"Daddy, you can be the skunk ape and I'll be the mothman, ok? Ok, Daddy?"
"Sounds good."
"Daddy, can we both live in the swamp?"
"Sure."

Monday was the Fourth of July.  Zeeke had a playdate at his friend Zoe's home, complete with red, white & blue cupcakes.  He had so much fun there, we had to drag him away.  After the playdate, all of us went to P'unk Burger and had root beer floats.  

Saturday, Steve & Zeeke went to zoo and did just about everything:  the carousel, the swan boats, the train, horse ride, pony ride, and the lorikeet house.  In the afternoon, Karen & Zeeke took a trip to Target and the toy store where Zeeke bought a shark puzzle.  

Sunday, Zeeke begged to go back to the zoo, so we took a quick trip back there.  

Conversations with Zeeke:

On the subject of raptors:
"They're very proud because they're all birds. How can that be fun?"

Thursday, Steve & Zeeke ended up at Tollentine instead of Purple Flower Mountain after school.  Zeeke & Sadie put on a fine demonstration of synchronized jumping and yoga.

Friday was a half day for the holiday weekend.  Steve picked up Zeeke & Lettie and they had a playdate.   Zeeke introduced her to all of his stuffed animals and they jumped on all the beds.  After Lettie left, Zeeke wanted to make a carrot cake so we shredded some carrots and got to baking.  While the cake was coolling, he asked if he could take some pictures with Steve's camera and got some great artistic shots.  

Saturday, we went to a pool party for Bella's birthday.  At first Zeeke was reluctant, but once he was there he loved it.  He spent all day splashing around in the one foot deep kiddie pool, playing with his cousins and eating great party food.

Sunday, we went to Ocean City to spend the day with Jen, Kim, Jack & William.  He took a while to warm up to the beach, so he and Steve went for a hike down the boardwalk.  When he got back he was ready to play in the surf and we had to drag him away.  Back at the house, the triplets took a bath together and then we all went back to the boardwalk for dinner and amusement rides.  Zeeke rode a train, a motorcycle ride, and a rollercoaster.  He had to be dragged away from the fun, but was out like a light before the car even reached the highway.

Conversations with Zeeke:
"Dog biscuits! I never want to eat dog biscuits!"

Tuesday was Zeeke's annual checkup.  He's 41 inches, 37 pounds, and fit as a fiddle.  He got three vaccinations and took all three needles without complaint! 

Saturday morning, Steve & Zeeke went to his friend Zooey's birthday party.  There was dancing, pinatas, a unicorn costume, games, toys, and herds of children running up and down steps.  Zeeke had a fine old time and had to be torn away.  In the afternoon, they did puzzles and paintings.  

Sunday, Karen & Zeeke took a trip to the art museum.  Zeeke had a blast and made some cool crafts.

Each night as he's falling asleep, Zeeke shouts out, "When are we going to wake up?" and the answer pretty much always has to be "Seven hours, eight minutes and nine seconds" no matter what time it actually is and how many times he asks it.  The consistency seems to calm him.  His follow-up question is usually, "What do you want to do when we wake up?"

Friday at Purple Flower Mountain, the kids set out on a mission to gather up sticks from the grass and ended up making quite an impressive pile.

Saturday morning, Jen, Kim, Jack & William took us to Adventure Aquarium in Camden.  Many sea creatures were gazed at, touched, and walked over, but mostly it was an excuse for the kids to climb on everything that was remotely climbable.  In the afternoon, we went to the playground at Marconi Plaza with Tim, Tanya, Lettie & Winnie. Zeeke and Lettie did some serious work on their monkey bar skills.

Sunday was Father's Day.  Karen & Zeeke let Steve sleep in, then presented him with a bag full of Father's Day presents he'd made at school that week.  We went to lunch at Nam Phuong and then to dinner with Steve's family in Jersey.