Really?

So I just had lunch with Jamie. We sat outside and a couple of his friends joined us and it was a very random funny conversation in which we talked about playing basketball with bb's, cheerleaders (pros and cons), and blowing buildings up (all pros).

Before his friends joined us, Jamie informed me that he and a girl from his class had been chosen to represent the class at the awards ceremony tomorrow. I asked what that meant and he said they would read "some pledge or something." Then I asked why it was him and he said his teacher had chosen them because they were "civilized" (he made the airquotes). If only she knew...

Sweet big brother

So Connor got sick this weekend. It was strange, we were at baseball (that part is very not strange) and Jamie had an early game, Connor a later one), when in seemingly a moment he got a fever and felt terrible. So he came home and slept for an hour and had some Tylenol and felt well enough to go to the pool for a bit. But it was clear he wasn't himself and by the time we came home it was clear he was still not well. So we decided to cozy up the couch and watch a movie for a bit. Jamie, without any prompting asked Connor if he wanted his pillow and blanket and went to get them and set everything up for the bunny to get comfy.

Turns out it was strep throat, so while antibiotics have him feeling much better already, he had to stay at home today per school rules. Ideal really, get to stay home but feel healthy. This was cruel for Jamie who had to deal with the usual case of the Mondays while watching a chipper Connor stay home. But he didn't hold it against him. When Sarah picked him up the first thing he asked was how Connor was. Then she asked him how his day was and he said "Lonely. I missed Connor. When I went to lunch I thought 'Ooo, I can see Connor. But then I realized he wasn't there."

Not saying he does it all the time, but he can be a sweet brother.

The pattern holds

Jamie did it again. For the past 2 years we've been wanting to get Jamie riding a bike and just gotten nowhere with it. Wouldn't really try. Lately, however, a few things have changed. For one, ee has been very into his scooter. Sarah was just reflecting on how different he seems from the timid toddler we knew him as. He goes zipping around on the scooter fearlessly going down slopes (that's all we have in Houston, no hills) and practicing tricks. So he's been more comfy on wheels and this has led to a desire for a skateboard. We said not until you can ride a bike, so that was extra motivation. We also have some friends whose 4-year-old can ride a bike so that was some motivation.

So, being Jamie, he just up and rode a bike one day. I think it was Sunday. Up until then he could pedal a couple of times and then put his feet down. Then that day he told me to come out and see how far he could go and I watched him pedal down the driveway as if it was no problem. I don't think he even realized it, until I told him could now ride a bike.

He's a bunny and he knows it

Connor has taken to a kind of graffiti art lately. He finds bits of paper and secretly writes short words or phrases. Every so often I come across a piece of paper in my office at work with "I do not understand!!!" scrawled across it, in his unmistakable hand. Here was his attack on the shopping list:

Don't tell!!

So Connor has this group of 5 and 6 yos he hangs around with at Westbury Little League. One of the reasons we like it there is that they can be off the chain in a relatively safe, consequence-free environment with lots of adults around who know them. From their perspective, the best thing is that they are building a giant water retention/parkscape right behind the fields so there are dirt piles everywhere. Joy! One of the favorites they've named "Mt. Husker" for Jamie's team, the Cornhuskers.

So as soon as we get to WLL, if Connor isn't involved in baseball activities, he finds his buddies and off they go. We call them the Pesky Cat Gang, taking the term from one of our favorite books, Mr. Pusskins. Pesky Cat Gang gets Mr. Pusskins to go places he isn't meant to go, and do things he isn't meant to do.

At one point during one of Jamie's games, Sarah overhears Connor telling the PCG, "Let's play animal habitats!" There is discussion about which habitat, but Connor successfully pushes them towards one of his favorites, the Indonesian rain forest. When they agreed he gave a classic Connor double fist pump and "YES!!!" Off they ran to play. A few minutes later, Connor came back alone. In a stage whisper he excitedly told Sarah that he was being the caracal in the habitat game. "Even though there are no caracals in the Indonesian rain forest!!!!!!!" Then, seriously, "Don't tell Mom!" She assured him she wouldn't but he felt the need to reiterate: "Really, Mom!. Do. Not. Tell!!!" And then off he rain. Sarah, I am happy to report, has said nothing still.

Connor world

We've been talking for a while about Connor world and he himself seems to have embraced it, as well as his "Bunny" nickname. The other day we were walking to a friend's house and more or less out of nowhere he said, "Dad, let me tell you how all the bunnies came to earth from Connor-world. They got in my bunny-shaped space ship with me and flew to earth. Then when we got out, as soon as I turned around they were gone. That's how the bunnies scattered everywhere."

Live like Connor

Basically, I recommend it. It's a way of going through the world living in the present and getting the most out of every situation. Connor was sick this week. Not too bad but a fever and a stiff neck, basically the "Connor virus" we call it. Now, Jamie for whatever reason isn't much into the Zoo these days, but Connor animal lover that he is, most certainly is, so with a day to spend together Tuesday I figured I'd take him. By the time we got there the parking lot was completely full of buses so we had to park in a garage in the Medical Center. Not much opportunity for fun there you're thinking.

We get out of the car, and walk to the elevator and the fun begins.
Connor: "Oooh!! Can I press the down button?"
We get in the elevator.
Connor: "Can I press the number too??!!" Normally in elevators, you see the boys have to share the button pushing so one pushes up/down the other pushes the number, so this was bonus time.
We get out of the elevator and see an escalator.
Connor: "Yay!! Escalator! Dad can we ride it?" I say yes. Connor, with fist pump "YEAH!!"
We ride the escalator up and down a few times. Eventually we get off the escalator and he sees a revolving door.
Connor: "Ooooh, I LOVE these!" He proceeds to attempt to go through the wrong way. So we go around the revolving door a few times amidst much giggling. Then we get outside and we see a...
"RAMP!!!" Connor runs up and down the ramp. So basically just getting out of the building was full of joy. We should all live like Connor.