Week Two Hundred and Ninety-Four

Each day after school this week, Zeeke was methodically putting together the elaborate and complex Lego Star Wars Tie Fighter he got for Christmas from Pop-Pop & Gigi.  He really enjoyed following the instructions and waiting to see how each part would contribute to the final spaceship.  Playing with it once it was done was nice too!

Thursday, after school, Steve & Zeeke went out to pick up a present for his teacher and visit the Christmas lights on 13th Street one last time.

Friday, Tanya snapped a great photo of Zeeke, Lettie, Peyton, Zoe, & Sadie hanging out before school.

Saturday, we had Dudley, Maripatt, Sadie & Lulu over for a lovely evening of chat and pizza. 

Sunday was Christmas Eve.  We went to the Arden Theatre for a modernized production of Peter Pan.  Zeeke enjoyed the show and chatting with the cast afterward.

Conversations with Zeeke:

"Daddy, I made friends with the fifty monsters."
"Oh yeah? Where'd you meet them? At the rec center?"
"Well, no, I just see them all over. They're the fifty ancient monsters."
"Oh, which one's your favorite?"
"The Asslick Chameleon Monster."
"The what now?"
"The Asslick Chameleon Monster."
"What does he lick? Never mind. Who's your second favorite?"
"The Ice Spider. And my third favorite is the robot yeti who beats up bigfoots."
"What's his name?"
"He's just called the robot yeti who beats up bigfoots."
"Haha.  These are terrible names."

Week Two Hundred and Ninety-Three

Zeeke is in a Spanish immersion kindergarten class so most of his day is in a foreign language.  For the first two months, it was tough to tell how much of it was sinking in, but lately he's been slipping into Spanish even at home and it's really amazing.  One night, while washing his hands in the cold kitchen sink, he started yelling, "Mucho frío! Mucho mucho frío!"  Sometimes it comes out as Spanglish:, "Daddy, all your música is about un mapache."  Even when he gets the words a little wrong, his accent is always great.

Friday evening was the Christmas party at the rec center.  Santa Claus was there and Zeeke had a blast playing hula hoop games with Lettie and others.

Saturday, while Steve was out Christmas shopping for his side of the family, Karen & Zeeke mailed the Christmas cards, bought donuts, and went to the library where Zeeke got to try out his new headphones from Grandma Joy.

Sunday morning, they went to the art museum where Zeeke drew Karen's portrait.  In the afternoon, we all headed out to Pop-Pop & Gigi's for an early Christmas with the Wilsons.  Zeeke got some great presents and played a lot with his cousin Jackson.

Conversations with Zeeke:

Offering Steve financial advice:
"Did you know that a good way to be rich is to like make something people really like and make it cost like... FIFTEEN DOLLARS?"

Week Two Hundred and Ninety-Two

Sadly, after a month of being well-behaved at school, Zeeke has started to slide back into his old ways.  He doesn't seem to even really understand how his behavior is any different or why he does the things that he gets in trouble for.  Since sending him to the first grade class as punishment doesn't bother him, his teacher is considering sending him to the pre-k class.  When she suggested the plan, he sank into such a depression that he spent most of the night crying.  We consoled him, of course, but kept reminding him that it was his behavior that was causing this punishment.  

Saturday, we got a little snow, which made for some fun walks around the neighborhood.  While Karen was at work, Steve & Zeeke picked up some more Christmas lights and decorated the tree.  When Karen got home, we all went out to P'unk Burger for dinner.

Sunday, Grand Pop Bob and Grandma Joy came up for a fun-filled extravaganza.  We started with a trip to the Franklin Institute to see the Terracotta Warriors.  Zeeke made it a little deeper into the giant heart before freaking out and fleeing this time around.  After that we grabbed lunch at the Imperial Inn in Chinatown, visited the Reading Terminal Market, toured Septa's Christmas bus, and checked out the Christmas Light Show and Wanamaker Organ Concert at Macy’s. 

Conversations with Zeeke:

"Daddy, which would you rather kiss? A giant kissing bear..."
"I pick the giant kissing bear!"
"...whose kisses are poisonous.... or.... an alligator?"
"Sticking with the giant kissing bear."
"But it will poison you!"
"Yeah, well, still seems about as safe as the alligator."
"But the alligator looks just like a little baby and it's soooooo cute!"
"Awwww... but I'm going to stay with the giant kissing bear."
"Ok, but the giant kissing bear is so scary, it will make you run away."
"Well, maybe that's for the best...."

Week Two Hundred and Ninety-One

Monday, we went over Lettie's for an impromptu after-school play date.

Tuesday, Zeeke drew an amusement park for art class.

Wednesday morning, Zeeke came running into the kitchen to deliver a weather report. "Daddy, today, it's going to be sunny, but tomorrow and the day after that it's going to be rainy."  Steve was grateful and impressed, but remained suspicious since his weather app disagreed.

Thursday, Zoe came over for a play date after school, then we went up to the neighborhood tree lighting at the fountain.  Zeeke enjoyed all the festivities and free food and told Santa he wanted "a Transformer that can change into ANYTHING!"

Saturday, we took a cold trip to the Zoo.  

Sunday, we met up with Zoe at the playground and tried to visit the library but it was closed.  When we got back home, we decided to swing over to West Philly and catch the movie Coco with Jen & Amelie.  It was great and the kids had a blast.  "Daddy!" said Zeeke enthusiastically. "There's a lot of Spanish words in this movie!"

Conversations with Zeeke:

Late night bathroom chat:
"Daddy, if three people ever sit in that tub, a big mouth will open up and swallow them. I'm really scared."

Week Two Hundred and Ninety

Thursday was Thanksgiving.  We went to Cris & Lily's new house in Maryland for a lovely feast with Karen's family.  Zeeke had a blast playing in the leafs with his cousins Riley & Bella, gorged himself on his favorite food, ham, and slept the whole way back to Philly.

Friday morning, Nadine & Zoe joined us for a Family Nature Hike at The Wissahickon Environmental Center.  We balanced on fallen trees and a slack line, made a roaring fire to cook smores and hot dogs, explored a giant teepee made of branches, and took a very fun hike.  

Saturday, Steve & Zeeke went out to buy stamps for Christmas cards, but the line was too long so they just got donuts and went to the playground. In the afternoon, Karen & Zeeke went to library and another playground.

Sunday, Karen & Zeeke went to the semi-surprise birthday party Zoe was throwing for their friend Sadie and had a great time.

Conversations with Zeeke:

Playing with an astronomy app on his ipad:
"I better check on Saturn. Ok, looks like Saturn's doing fine. And its moons are fine too. I'm going to make the day longer."

Week Two Hundred and Eighty-Nine

Saturday was Zeeke's last art class of the season at Fleisher Art Memorial and we finally got to see the last two pieces he's been working on for a while.  

Sunday morning, we went to Ali, Kate, Delano & Rosa's house for a great Friendsgiving brunch with the families of a lot of his old pre-school friends.

Conversations with Zeeke:

"Daddy, did you know that there's a certain medicine that if teenagers take it, it makes them dance for like a half and hour and then act really silly for about an hour."
"I think I know that one."

Week Two Hundred and Eighty-Eight

Tuesday, Zeeke's school was closed for Election Day, so we met up with Tim, Tanya, Lettie & Winnie at The Franklin Institute.  Zeeke and Lettie had a blast running around like little maniacs and they introduced us to some rooms we hadn't visited on our trip.  After many, many hours, we headed home in the rain.  At our polling place, Zeeke insisted on working the machine and was happy to get his "I Voted" stickers in both English and Spanish.  

Friday, school was closed again, this time for Veterans Day.  Fortunately, Tim & Tanya invited us and Nick & Zoe over for an afternoon play date.  Lettie, Zoe & Zeeke played games, tortured each other, and put on shows while the grownups had some drinks.  

Saturday, we went to the fabulous CraftNOW Create event at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.  Zeeke sewed a fabric flower, decorated a top, and made beautiful balancing dragonfly.  We even got to see our friend Addie and her woodworking friends making chairs!  After a quick lunch, it was off to art class.

Sunday morning, Steve & Zeeke went for a hike with the Family Nature Club.  Zeeke got to try his hand at starting a fire with both a bow drill and a hand drill.  In the afternoon, Karen & Zeeke went to library, where Zeeke happily discovered a Pokemon manga and played on the computers.

Conversations with Zeeke:

"Hi, Benjamin Franklin."
"That's not Benjamin Franklin, Daddy. That's Benjamin Franklin's butler."
"How do you know the word butler?"
"A book about Batman."

"Daddy, are there any dangerous jobs?"
"Sure. Soldier, police officer..."
"No, I mean super dangerous like... getting struck by lightning."
"I don't think there are any jobs where you get stuck by lightning."
"Or like any job where you get hurt and killed and it's super painful? What are all the jobs where you die?"

Week Two Hundred and Eighty-Seven

Tuesday was Halloween.  There was a costume parade at Zeeke's school in the afternoon.  For ease of getting dressed on his own and because his shield is quite weapon-like, we had him wear last year's lobster costume.  After an early dinner, we got him into his Captain America costume and met up with some of his pals to trick-or-treat along 13th Street.  Zeeke and Sadie held out the longest, neither wanting to stop collecting candy until the other was also done.  A few minutes after Sadie & Dudley dropped Steve & Zeeke off at their house though, Lettie and her family came by, so Zeeke rallied for another couple blocks with her, before collapsing in exhaustion on their front porch.

Saturday morning Zeeke donned the Captain America suit one more time for Moira's epic 6th birthday party.  There were fantastic games, including turn a grown-up into a mummy, and a decorate your own cupcake bar.  And then it was off to his art class.

Sunday we went to Pirate Adventure Day at the Brandywine River Museum of Art.  There were lots of pirates to talk to, pirate crafts, a pirate scavenger hunt in the art galleries, and a two-person interactive production of Peter Pan.  Plus we ran into our friends Karyn, Zack, & Maddie there.  When we were done, we went outside and explored their garden and sculptures.

Conversations with Zeeke:

"Daddy, there are two Armandos in my class. And they're twins, but they don't live together. And they have the same attitude! When they see me, they say 'Ew!'"

"So what does your gym teacher have you do then? Did you run?"
"Well, some of us ran, but we weren't supposed to."
"No? Why not?"
"We can only walk. You see, Daddy, Mr. Horizon is just like this really ordinary person."
"Oh, ok."

After he and Jack made Steve into a toilet paper mummy:
Karen: "Zeeke, what was your favorite part of the day?"
Zeeke: "Moira's party!"
Karen: "What was the best part of the party?"
Zeeke: "Using all that toilet paper! You never let me use that much toilet paper!"

"Daddy, did you know that Aldo's in the lobby and Loggy's in the office? And Little Cookie Lulu is in the sweet treat room trying to get another cookie? And that the sweet treat room is on fire? And that she's Aldo's little sister? Now she's trying to get a chocolate bar but Little Piggy Popper keeps popping out piggies and there's already way too many piggies so she's gotta stop."

Week Two Hundred and Eighty-Six

Zeeke had another good week at school.  He seems to be figuring out how to play the game and control his more disruptive impulses.  Of course a big part of his motivation is getting rewarded with iPad, television, and fruit snacks.  

Thursday evening, there was a Harry Potter Halloween Party at the Rec Center, but it was a little overwhelming for him.  He much preferred just playing soccer outside with his friend Cecily. 

Saturday, we went a birthday party for his pal Sadie where he got to catch up with some of his old pals from day care.  After a great time there, we headed uptown to his art class and did some early trick-or-treating on at the Fall Fest on Passyunk Avenue.

Sunday, we had planned to go for a hike, but it turned out to be a very rainy day, so we stayed in, eating cinnamon rolls and watching The Brave Little Toaster.  We put the finishing touches on Zeeke's Halloween costume and built a chocolate cookie haunted house. 

Conversations with Zeeke:

"I love Bobby."
"Who is Bobby?"
"Bobby is my head. I hate my head. That's why I hit it like this."

"Someday I want to be as old as my head. My head is 98 years old."

"Why do you hate your head?"
"Because it makes me not be able to see my head and I want to see my head."
"And your head's name is Bobby?"
"No my head's name is The Head."

Joe: "Look at you, you're the spitting image of your mother!"
Zeeke (giving him the stink eye): "Do you even know my mother?"
Joe: "And you've got your father's personality!"

"How are you kids doing down there, Zeeke?"
"We're playing Try To Get Everything!"

Week Two Hundred and Eighty-Five

Zeeke had a good week at school, yes, five whole days!  If you're keeping score, which we totally are, that means he's now officially had more good ones (15) than bad (12).  He's also starting to shake off some of his shyness and connect with his new classmates, recognizing them, using their names, saying hi and goodbye, responding when they talk to him.  

Zeeke's new thing to do when he wakes up super early is to turn on his radio and listen to National Public Radio. We think he likes it because their call letters are the same as the TV station where he watches PBS Kids shows. They've been having a pledge drive this week, so over dinner one night he was filling us in on how that's going. "This morning there was a college challenge!"

Wednesday, Zeeke earned some ipad time by raking leaves, which he thought was great fun.

Saturday, Zeeke painted his wooden sculptures at art class and then we came home and carved a jack o'lantern.  Zeeke chose the face, Steve worked the knife.

Sunday, after failing to make it in to the over-crowded Boo At The Zoo, we grabbed some pizza and went to the Halloween Family Fun Day at The Woodlands, a beautiful 18th century cemetery in West Philly.  There was a scavenger hunt, arts & crafts, spooky history, medical oddities, and folks making electronic music.  Zeeke enjoyed his first cemetery experience and is already talking about when he can go back.

Conversations with Zeeke:

"Daddy, did you know that with my humming I can shatter glass and knock down trees?"
"Wow, is that something you would actually want to do?"
"Well, yeah, if I was being attacked."
"If you were being attacked by a tree?"
"Yes, if a tree tried to get me."
"Has that ever happened?"
"Well, it hasn't happened, but once at The Big Slide a tree tried to get me."