The hot new trick at Purple Flower Mountain is climbing the fences. Zeeke has no trouble getting right to the top but is completely dependent on Steve for getting him down. He's similarly dependent on Karen, making her rub his back while he's falling asleep and even feed him sometimes, neither of which he insists on with Steve. He's clearly aware enough of his growing independence that he's picking and choosing when to be dependent and upon whom.
Karen went out of town for a girls weekend, so the boys were on their own. Zeeke did great with her absence, not expressing any sadness or anger, just curiosity. Part of that is that he really prefers having only one of us around at a time. Certainly his behavior is better in one-on-one situations.
Saturday morning, Steve & Zeeke went to the Academy of Natural Science for their Animal Superheroes event. Zeeke had a blast making his own cape and revisiting each of the displays he enjoyed on his last trip. In the afternoon, they met up with Tim & Lettie at the playground.
Sunday morning, they got dougnuts for breakfast and then joined Tim, Tanya & Lettie for a fun-filled morning at the Please Touch Museum. Zeeke split his time there evenly between desperately following Lettie around and focusing on his own pursuits. He really enjoyed the drafting table where he made a cool rendering of a motorcycle. He melted down when it time to leave, then fell asleep eating a sandwich on the drive home. A nap at the house never materialized so they headed back to the playground and then dinner at Birra with the returning Karen & her friend Patsy.
Conversations with Zeeke:
Random quotes from the weekend without Karen:
"Daddy, make me a cocktail! Mmmmmm... that's a good cocktail."
"Hi, Mommy! Daddy and I are eating donuts all day long!"
"That's ok, Daddy, you don't have to send me to college."
"Oh! You discovered me kissing my hand!"
"Daddy, I need coffee!"