We were riding home in the car last week, I think on the way back from our traditional Monday after school ice cream, when Jamie, out of no where said. "Dad, it was kind of funny watching you struggle to put the cardinal on top of our Christmas tree." This nice observation then led to some thinking about presents under the tree. Jamie then began saying, as he likes to, that on Christmas he can get up whenever he wants. I said, that wasn't quite true but that he could get up at 6 (he would prefer 4:30 or 5). Connor, on the other hand, is like I was and figures the presents will still be there so why not stay in bed. This, in turn, frustrates Jamie because he has to wait for Connor.
So Jamie then said that when he was twenty (read: generic age signifying adulthood) he and Connor wouldn't be living together so this wouldn't be an issue anymore. I pointed out that they very well might live together, noting that his mommy and Aunt Carolyn had lived together when they were about that age. "Yeah!" Connor said. Jamie actually cleared liked this idea quite a bit, but said "Fine. But I won't wait for you to open presents!"
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
Well, we're getting ready for the big Costello road trip up north. A big part of this is the possibility of snow, so let's hope for some well-timed (ie not days when we're on the road) inclement weather. We went to New York last winter and the combination of snow and cousins was by far the biggest hit. When we flew into New York last year it was extremely cold and had just snowed quite a bit. As soon as we stepped outside of baggage claim at Newark, Jamie found a hill of rather unlovely snow and insisted on climbing it before anything else happened.
Once we got into the city we braved the extreme cold (really, it was very cold, not just to us soft Houstoners) and headed a few blocks north to Central Park. The wind was so intense that at one point as we waited to cross the street Connor burst into tears, I think in part because the feeling was so unfamiliar. As soon as we hit the park the boys just barreled into the snow, much of which was not, ahem, altogether pristine. Jamie was fearless in climbing snow and ice covered hills. Connor needed a bit of an escort but was excited too.
From there we set out overland to the Central Park Zoo, getting there just in time to see some penguins and the snow leopard. Sarah and Connor went ahead of Jamie and I because Jamie insisted on ascending every hill and snow bank there was to be found. Really he showed impressive fortitude against the sub-freezing temperatures. Eventually we made our way out of the park and the boys discovered the joys of NY hot dogs. It turned out not to be the end of our Central Park adventures, because we came back with a friend after visiting the Natural History Museum. They liked the dinosaurs well enough but it was basically a prelude to finding a hill to go sliding down on their bellies.
But all of this in turn was the prelude to their favorite thing of all which was having a snowball fight with their cousins in Armonk. They have literally not stopped talking about it since. So let's hope for snow!
Once we got into the city we braved the extreme cold (really, it was very cold, not just to us soft Houstoners) and headed a few blocks north to Central Park. The wind was so intense that at one point as we waited to cross the street Connor burst into tears, I think in part because the feeling was so unfamiliar. As soon as we hit the park the boys just barreled into the snow, much of which was not, ahem, altogether pristine. Jamie was fearless in climbing snow and ice covered hills. Connor needed a bit of an escort but was excited too.
From there we set out overland to the Central Park Zoo, getting there just in time to see some penguins and the snow leopard. Sarah and Connor went ahead of Jamie and I because Jamie insisted on ascending every hill and snow bank there was to be found. Really he showed impressive fortitude against the sub-freezing temperatures. Eventually we made our way out of the park and the boys discovered the joys of NY hot dogs. It turned out not to be the end of our Central Park adventures, because we came back with a friend after visiting the Natural History Museum. They liked the dinosaurs well enough but it was basically a prelude to finding a hill to go sliding down on their bellies.
But all of this in turn was the prelude to their favorite thing of all which was having a snowball fight with their cousins in Armonk. They have literally not stopped talking about it since. So let's hope for snow!
Holiday logic
The boys are, as a rule, not into getting rid of things. I don't suppose that makes them very unique, but Jamie is particularly tenacious about wanting to hold on to stuff, and Connor of course takes his cues from big brother. When asked to purge some old unused toys Jamie has learned to mobilize his big brown eyes and to look at us and say, quietly, "But this is very special to me." Hard to resist and he knows it.
Another bit of the psychology that may be in play here was recently revealed. There was a used book drive at school, so Sarah asked the boys if there were any books they wanted to donate. Jamie, predictably, said no. Sarah then explained that this was for kids who weren't so lucky and didn't have any books. Jamie replied, "I know. I don't want to be one of those kids!" Gotta admit there's a certain logic there.
Another bit of the psychology that may be in play here was recently revealed. There was a used book drive at school, so Sarah asked the boys if there were any books they wanted to donate. Jamie, predictably, said no. Sarah then explained that this was for kids who weren't so lucky and didn't have any books. Jamie replied, "I know. I don't want to be one of those kids!" Gotta admit there's a certain logic there.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The confusion goes on
I want to preface this post by saying that it is very clear that Connor is an exceptionally bright boy. He recently scored a kind of absurdly high number on one of those standardized tests. Not that these really mean anything of course, but it's just one indication which is consistent with things we've observed. His reading for instance is proceeding at leaps and bounds. He seems to jump ahead almost on an hourly basis these days.
But his Kryptonite, it would seem, remains animal identification. Now, James could identify animals at a distance before he could talk. I can remember him feverishly signing "dog" on one of our early morning walks when his age was still counted in months. I also remember him presciently signing bird after studying penguins swimming for a few minutes.
But Connor, well...A few weeks ago we were at Brazos Bend State Park and in the nature center they had a stuffed raccoon. Connor looked at it and said, "Awww, look, a fox!" Then last weekend we were at the baseball field and someone in the distance walked by with a black and white border collie. Connor excitedly said, "Look Daddy!!! A baby cow!" I really had to struggle to keep a straight face and answer his excitement while gently pointing out that it was a dog.
I have this fear that there is a secret test to become President in which you have to correctly identify 5 animals and Connor will be cooked. Maybe he'll just get a nice, difficult Cabinet post.
But his Kryptonite, it would seem, remains animal identification. Now, James could identify animals at a distance before he could talk. I can remember him feverishly signing "dog" on one of our early morning walks when his age was still counted in months. I also remember him presciently signing bird after studying penguins swimming for a few minutes.
But Connor, well...A few weeks ago we were at Brazos Bend State Park and in the nature center they had a stuffed raccoon. Connor looked at it and said, "Awww, look, a fox!" Then last weekend we were at the baseball field and someone in the distance walked by with a black and white border collie. Connor excitedly said, "Look Daddy!!! A baby cow!" I really had to struggle to keep a straight face and answer his excitement while gently pointing out that it was a dog.
I have this fear that there is a secret test to become President in which you have to correctly identify 5 animals and Connor will be cooked. Maybe he'll just get a nice, difficult Cabinet post.
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