Jamie has a wonderfully quirky way of looking at the world and finds interesting material everywhere. Yesterday after school I took the boys to Chik-Fil-A. Now, for some time CFA has been a bit of a dirty word for the boys because they understand it as the alternative to McDonald's that their annoying parents try to push on them. But lately, both of the boys have had to admit that they don't really like McDonald's very much and there hasn't been a Happy Meal theme that's excited them much in a while. Then suddenly last week Jamie said that he was desperate to have a Chik-Fil-A "hamburger,"by which he means chicken sandwich. Seems they sell them in the school store after school and on his way to magnet he smells them.
So we went and Jamie indeed scarfed down his "hamburger" enthusiastically. Connor also got one and did reasonably well after inspecting it closely for any signs of residue from the pickles that had so cruelly been placed on it.
As we're sitting there eating a toddler went by in a white tank-top. Jamie giggled and said, "That's a good idea. People should always put babies in those basketball shirts because they have chubby arms and it makes them look tough." What a good parent he will be someday.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Cheetah speed!
Connor's favorite show these days is called "Wild Kratts." It's an animal show, which features different kinds of animals every week with different skills. Connor takes it very seriously. He likes to have us listen to him sing along with the opening song. He's not very good at it, and basically just speaks along with it about a half-second behind, but he gets really into the line "Cheetah speed and lizard glide!" He repeats this a lot these days and it gets on Jamie's nerves inevitably. But he also really learns a lot about the animals and likes to bust out his knowledge, speaking of different "habitats" (this is sort of his new favorite word) and also adopting the persona. Thus, when he hops far he is a kangaroo and when he jumps high in the air he is a caracal. Just when you think he's really got it all down though, he begins talking about the red kangeroos of Africa. Sarah tried to correct him about this once. Once.
What is wrong with our children?
Well, the Costellos really had a banner week recently. First there was the Rock incident, about which most have probably heard. To recap, one day some time ago Connor informed us that he had a rock in his ear. He did seem concerned at all about it, and I'm embarrassed to say that because Connor has something of a reputation for, let's say creativity with respect to facts, we just didn't pay much attention. So 2 weeks ago he was feeling under the weather. He complained of headaches, and knowing that he has been prone to ear infections we took him to the doc who informed us that there was no infection, but something big in one of his ears. I wasn't even thinking about him mentioning the rock. So while the doc is poking around in there he jokingly asked Connor if he had been putting rocks in his ears. Connor suddenly got a very guilty look on his face and stammered, "uhhh....I...don't remember." The doctor's eyebrows raised and then I remembered. Once the doctor left the room, Connor told me "I don't put them in far." This was as close to a confession as he's come. He has still never admitted to putting this particular rock in his ear.
Efforts failed in getting it out and Connor was pretty distressed about them. So we took him to an ENT who after a pretty brief go of it when three of us tried to restrain Connor said he's have to be put under at the hospital. Connor wasn't concerned about this, mainly because I could promise him it wouldn't hurt. I told him it would be so easy that he might even take a nap while they did it and he grasped on to that.
So Sarah took him off to the hospital early Thursday morning, a lot more nervous than he was. After the inevitable wait they got him and started prepping everything. Sarah let him play Angry Birds, so he wasn't the slightest bit concerned with what was going on around him. They gave a little "cocktail" which made him loopy quickly and took him off. After 10 minutes he was in recovery, with his moose pillow pet, which was much admired by the nurses. They warned Sarah that he might come out of it pretty quickly. The nurse left for a minute with him asleep, and almost immediately up he was and ANGRY about the hospital gown. So Sarah dressed him and by the time the nurse came back he was up, dressed and ready to roll. A little drama ensued when it turned out woobie had been left in the room where the procedure had been done, but that recovered they left in good order and Connor was very much himself within an hour so.
We had a series of talks about not putting any more rocks in his ears. I thought I was getting through but when I asked him if he was going to do it again, he said, "No. But I might forget." However, because of the procedure he couldn't get any water on it, which meant he couldn't go in the pool when it opened this weekend. He handled this pretty well until the actual day of the pool. Sarah had to walk Jamie over because I was at Little League. As soon as he saw the pool, which was already in full chaos/fun mode he just started bawling and kept going for about 20 minutes. So I think the message about putting things in your ears has finally gotten through.
Lost in all of this was a detail from Jamie's school. Now Jamie seriously toes the line at school. Since starting there his weekly conduct report has been a boring series of "Excellents", week in week out. Thus, the "Satisfactory" for the week caught our attention. Then this explanation from his teacher: "Jamie ate an ant at recess. He said he's done it before. I gave him some water." Jamie was cagy on this and refused to explain or say much of anything, but he looked slightly pleased with himself. Seemingly he's done with that too.
Efforts failed in getting it out and Connor was pretty distressed about them. So we took him to an ENT who after a pretty brief go of it when three of us tried to restrain Connor said he's have to be put under at the hospital. Connor wasn't concerned about this, mainly because I could promise him it wouldn't hurt. I told him it would be so easy that he might even take a nap while they did it and he grasped on to that.
So Sarah took him off to the hospital early Thursday morning, a lot more nervous than he was. After the inevitable wait they got him and started prepping everything. Sarah let him play Angry Birds, so he wasn't the slightest bit concerned with what was going on around him. They gave a little "cocktail" which made him loopy quickly and took him off. After 10 minutes he was in recovery, with his moose pillow pet, which was much admired by the nurses. They warned Sarah that he might come out of it pretty quickly. The nurse left for a minute with him asleep, and almost immediately up he was and ANGRY about the hospital gown. So Sarah dressed him and by the time the nurse came back he was up, dressed and ready to roll. A little drama ensued when it turned out woobie had been left in the room where the procedure had been done, but that recovered they left in good order and Connor was very much himself within an hour so.
We had a series of talks about not putting any more rocks in his ears. I thought I was getting through but when I asked him if he was going to do it again, he said, "No. But I might forget." However, because of the procedure he couldn't get any water on it, which meant he couldn't go in the pool when it opened this weekend. He handled this pretty well until the actual day of the pool. Sarah had to walk Jamie over because I was at Little League. As soon as he saw the pool, which was already in full chaos/fun mode he just started bawling and kept going for about 20 minutes. So I think the message about putting things in your ears has finally gotten through.
Lost in all of this was a detail from Jamie's school. Now Jamie seriously toes the line at school. Since starting there his weekly conduct report has been a boring series of "Excellents", week in week out. Thus, the "Satisfactory" for the week caught our attention. Then this explanation from his teacher: "Jamie ate an ant at recess. He said he's done it before. I gave him some water." Jamie was cagy on this and refused to explain or say much of anything, but he looked slightly pleased with himself. Seemingly he's done with that too.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
A little window to the soul
One of Jamie's homework packages came home graded and had a number of question which I think together produce real insight into our little guy. Here's a sample taken directly from the page, unedited (they may seem random but all related to topics about which they'd been learning):
Q: What is your favorite way to travel- car, train, bus or plane?
A: Plane. Because you travel fast and you eat sweats.
Q: Which do you like better: leafy trees or pine trees?
A: Pine trees. Because you throw the pines at your brother.
Q: Where would you most like to live - city, suburb or country?
A: City. Because there is a lot to do.
Q: Would you have liked being a child in an early American colony?
A: No. Because there is nothing to do.
Q: If you had chosen the colors for the first American flag, would you have used red, white and blue?
A: No. Because I want a flag to have a lot more colors.
Q: What is your favorite way to travel- car, train, bus or plane?
A: Plane. Because you travel fast and you eat sweats.
Q: Which do you like better: leafy trees or pine trees?
A: Pine trees. Because you throw the pines at your brother.
Q: Where would you most like to live - city, suburb or country?
A: City. Because there is a lot to do.
Q: Would you have liked being a child in an early American colony?
A: No. Because there is nothing to do.
Q: If you had chosen the colors for the first American flag, would you have used red, white and blue?
A: No. Because I want a flag to have a lot more colors.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Memories...
Jamie has an astonishing memory, both for its detail and its randomness. This was on display last night. He had been tucked away in bed for a good 20 minutes or so, when, as is his wont, he called out that he needed to tell me something. These calls can be interesting. Sometimes it's nice because he gets a little affectionate or sappy. Other times it's just the complete random things he's thinking about from Legos to baseball to math, probably in that order.
This time there was a little of everything. He said, "Daddy, I remember when I was 4 or 5 and I watched Superman: The Movie. I was really sad when Superman's parents died." I started to get sympathetic thinking that he was upset. But he quickly continued, "I remember I was also playing with a Slinky and picking my toenails." This pleased him. He told me I should tell Mommy that as well and dismissed me with a hug. You just never know what you'll get.
This time there was a little of everything. He said, "Daddy, I remember when I was 4 or 5 and I watched Superman: The Movie. I was really sad when Superman's parents died." I started to get sympathetic thinking that he was upset. But he quickly continued, "I remember I was also playing with a Slinky and picking my toenails." This pleased him. He told me I should tell Mommy that as well and dismissed me with a hug. You just never know what you'll get.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Resistance is futile
We had an epic day yesterday. First Connor had a game at 10AM. It's sort of a mixed bag with him at this point. On the one hand, there is no question he is improving. He's got a great, firm stance at the plate whereas last year he was really all over the place, standing on the plate, facing the wrong direction, etc. He has also made the conceptual leap that takes many of them a long time, namely that one has the bat with the purpose of hitting the ball, which is approaching. As often, but not always, with this conceptual shift, comes the physical ability to actually do it and sure enough on Saturday Connor was three for three on hitting coach pitches and actually hit them pretty hard. In the field he can be really good at pitcher. This is because a) you're in the middle of the action there and a lot of balls come to you and b) because there is no dirt mound. Dirt is the biggest obstacle at this age by far. Virtually no child is able to resist its siren call for something as abstract as the (often remote) possibility that a ball might come in their direction. So when he wasn't at pitcher he lost focus pretty badly, whining about being hot, hungry, thirsty, etc. At some point as I tried to get him to stand ready and watch the batter, he brushed me aside and said "Daddy? How does your heart pumping make you be alive?"
Jamie played at 12 and the Aggies got their first victory of the year 10-3. It wasn't the best we can play, but for the first time we sort of put everything together and played a pretty complete game. And little James continues to be a real contributor. He was 2 for 3 at the plate, both hard hit balls and both contributing to the two rallies in which we scored most of our runs. The second one was great because it was late in the game and although we'd been in control the whole time we were still up just 5-2. The first two batters in the inning struck out. As he was on deck he said to me "Dad, after I score can I go to the restroom?" Sure, I said, though this seemed a little optimistic. But there he was at first and thus began a two-out rally that got us to 10-2 and pushed the game out of reach. He also made a couple of plays at pitcher in the last inning as we snuffed out any possible comebacks.
So then Sarah and I had to go volunteer at the concession stand. The boys were actually very helpful there, getting drinks and candies for people. I had to close up the facilities afterwards, and then we came home and working in the yard and then made dinner. By the time we got them sorted and in bed it was 9 and we were all exhausted. Connor was asleep in seconds. Jamie, however, who does have a tendency to resist at precisely the points when things should be simple, seemed literally to be fighting sleep, coming up with one reason or another to call to us into the room. After he asked me to change the temperature, I went in there and asked for one last hug (sleepy boys hugs are great). He said no, because he was too tired to even sit up, but rolled towards me and said I could pat his head. I did and I think he succumbed before I even left the room.
Jamie played at 12 and the Aggies got their first victory of the year 10-3. It wasn't the best we can play, but for the first time we sort of put everything together and played a pretty complete game. And little James continues to be a real contributor. He was 2 for 3 at the plate, both hard hit balls and both contributing to the two rallies in which we scored most of our runs. The second one was great because it was late in the game and although we'd been in control the whole time we were still up just 5-2. The first two batters in the inning struck out. As he was on deck he said to me "Dad, after I score can I go to the restroom?" Sure, I said, though this seemed a little optimistic. But there he was at first and thus began a two-out rally that got us to 10-2 and pushed the game out of reach. He also made a couple of plays at pitcher in the last inning as we snuffed out any possible comebacks.
So then Sarah and I had to go volunteer at the concession stand. The boys were actually very helpful there, getting drinks and candies for people. I had to close up the facilities afterwards, and then we came home and working in the yard and then made dinner. By the time we got them sorted and in bed it was 9 and we were all exhausted. Connor was asleep in seconds. Jamie, however, who does have a tendency to resist at precisely the points when things should be simple, seemed literally to be fighting sleep, coming up with one reason or another to call to us into the room. After he asked me to change the temperature, I went in there and asked for one last hug (sleepy boys hugs are great). He said no, because he was too tired to even sit up, but rolled towards me and said I could pat his head. I did and I think he succumbed before I even left the room.
Catch phrases
We had a great trip to Florida and I'll update some of the fun in a bit. But a couple of small notes to come from it. One of the things that will stick out in my mind is that Connor started making this sort of disco sound when he was excited or impressed by something. It's sort of a hands-raised "ooo-ooo-oooooooo". Must have heard it a hundred times over the week.
Jamie continues to be a wordsmith, but in this case he proved that he's got some Italian in him. At some point, impressed by something, he said "Holy Cannoli!" I'm pretty sure he's never heard the term cannoli, let alone the phrase "Leave the gun take the cannoli," though you can be sure as he comes to be Godfather watching age he will.
Jamie continues to be a wordsmith, but in this case he proved that he's got some Italian in him. At some point, impressed by something, he said "Holy Cannoli!" I'm pretty sure he's never heard the term cannoli, let alone the phrase "Leave the gun take the cannoli," though you can be sure as he comes to be Godfather watching age he will.
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