Purple Flower Mountain is back! With the unseasonably warm weather, Zeeke and many of his schoolmates can be found each day after school, running up and down the long strip of grass next to the local Catholic high school. Zeeke is far more confident this year, bravely chasing his friends to the far end of the fenced-in area without imploring Steve to go with him. When they're not running, they're rolling, hiding and seeking, looking for dinosaur footprints, showing off tricks, putting out fires and exploring fallen tree limbs. It's been great for tiring him out, which has helped greatly with the day lights saving transition.
Our new bedtime ritual of demonstrating sleeping through the night with his purple monkey, The Kid, has gotten a little out of control lately. We now need to provide voices and personalities for all of his stuffed animals. And they all need their own treats for sleeping through the night. Sometimes, he'll be talking to the animals when we're not paying attention and he gets mad at them for not answering his questions. "Bunny! Bunny, why aren't you talking?"
When he's the one being called to answer questions, Zeeke's new standard reply is, "You tell me!" We may have to start chucking him under the chin for that too.
Saturday, Steve & Zeeke went to the playground in the morning with Nick & Zoe. There was a lot of swinging and slide climbing. That evening, we went to Tara's birthday party at a hibachi restaurant on the river. Zeeke was terrified of the fire and skeptical of the food, but loved dancing to the live music and playing with his pals Jack & William.
Conversations with Zeeke:
"Daddy, do you want to see the monster I'm drawing when I'm done?"
"I can't wait!"
"No, Daddy! You don't... not... can't wait!"