Beatboxers

In the course of trying to describe for my esteemed blog readers the type of talent by which I find myself surrounded, I have, tonight, learned a new term. Beatboxing. Kwamai perhaps lead the way, but Felicity is currently the most prolific.

I have no footage of them yet, but check this out to get some small idea of what I mean. They don't do much of the "electronic" sound (thankfully!)

I have two questions racing each other for first to be asked: Where did my kids pick this up? and How has this odd childish pastime become a world-wide competitive craze?

Instruction Manuals

Note in the picture that Felicity's book has a big "3" on it. These are child development books, specific to 3- and 7-year-olds. (I actually got the 4-year-old one as well since Felicity always strikes me as being just somewhere between her age and Kwamai's.)

This scene occurred shortly after we had gotten these books home from the library. They each grabbed "their" book, presumably to read up on what they should be up to for their respective ages. I wish I had taken a movie instead of a picture, because it was such a hilarious moment. The chairs represent a school bus (Felicity's invention) and they were actually arguing over whether they were going to school or staying at home. Take a guess which child thought which! They each had their "instruction manual" and were off to learn everything they needed to know.

For the record, the books are not all that helpful, to them or to me!

Karate Monstor

Kwamai did his month of karate lessons. He has decided it wasn't really his cup of tea. I've known he isn't one easily adaptable to formal instruction, but even so I was a little surprised that he described the karate teacher as "bossy". I watched him closely during his first lesson, and he was clearly having a good time trying his hardest to show his skill. The teacher noticed, as well, mentioning something about "oh, you've done this before I can tell." But when Kwamai realized that he wasn't really free to chat with the other kids or form relationships during the lessons he no longer really got the point of why they were all together, if just to be "bossed around" by the man in the black belt, without making any tangible progress.

But, all's well that ends well. Here is Kwamai dressing up a box in his uniform (which came free with the first month's tuition, thankfully!)

He's decided he wants to pursue swimming again as he did last fall.

Tooth on the Loose

On Monday, Kwamai lost his very first tooth. He came in from playing and found his tooth much looser than it had been, and before long, out it came. It's the bottom left, the very first of his teeth to have come in (when he was a full year old).

I've read that maturity, learning-readiness, and tooth-losing all seem to occur together. This is proving very true for our Kwam.

The Harvest Begins

Last week we harvested our very first carrot. It is not a bad specimen, considering it grew in almost solid clay. We split it four ways and we all agreed it was one of the most delicious carrots any of us had ever tasted.

Kwamai's New Glasses

Here is Kwamai wearing his new focusing glasses. His optometrist (who specializes in developmental issues) discovered that while Kwamai has no vision problems (in the 20/20 sense) he has some significant focusing issues. It was a very interesting appointment as I watched the doctor test him in all sorts of different ways, and to see how much easier it was for him to do some thing with a trial pair of glasses on. So, now he has his own. He is excited about them in theory, but getting used to something new that feels funny on his face has not been the easiest thing.

It's Kwamai's birthday! Here's his movie

Just Call me "Mom"

Felicity does!

About a week ago, Felicity suddenly started calling me "Mom." I have always been Mama, and sometimes Mommy. But now I have suddenly become just "Mom."

Erol is "Pop" now, too, instead of Papa.

And yes, Kwamai is now sometimes "Kwam". Of course, the rest of us call him that too, so perhaps she was just working toward symmetry. She does like things to match.

Play Day

Kwamai and Felicity spent the better portion of the day today playing with the two neighbor girls. They were busy arranging the many, many Little Tykes toys we've had lurking under our back porch, in a gated off undercroft now known as "the ground hog home." (I'll let you guess why!) They arranged all the toys and furniture "just so" to create a combination beauty and pizza parlor. Then, after they arranged it all, they spent a couple of hours playing with it, followed by an obligatory water fight. I had invited the girls over for pizza (which I made just for the youngers, to eat outside, together -- do you hear clandestine planning for a "night in" for Erol & me?). After pizza and some more playing, Felicity settled back into the house and Kwamai remained off playing. He always mourns not having "enough time" to play with the girls. So, hopefully today gave him a necessary shot in the arm.

I should have pictures, but I don't. Maybe tomorrow.

Firefighters to the Rescue!

Kwamai and Felicity were deeply involved in a long game of firefighter last night. Here is Felicity the firefighter. (This picture persuaded me to trim her bangs in the bathtub last night!) She has rescued one of the cows from the burning barn, and is now chewing on him.


Here is Kwamai inside the firetruck.


Here is Felicity in the driver's seat of the truck, with Papa the firefighter in the side car. Note she is properly dressed in her fire boots and fire underwear.

Karate Dog Versus Super Duckie

It is all voluntary, and no superheros were injured in the making of this picture.

Felicity Plays Independently

... almost all day! No, you don't get it; she hardly ever does that. She's gotten the nickname "velcro girl"! I actually sought her out several times today and found her happily playing (dress up, dolls, little people, with Kwamai and his friend, in the sandbox).

I wonder, though, how much it has to do with Kwamai's friend having been over here since about 1:30. She adores Jonathan. Maybe his presence transports her somewhere beyond constantly being at my side!

Felicity's current fascination is with Bill Nye the Science Guy. We have his Water Cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection) video from the library right now, and Felicity has watched it about a dozen times. Kwamai likes it too. For that matter, I like them too! We will pick up another from the library shortly (although we have to special order them).

Kwamai picked up one of Felicity's books last night (a basic story book), and with help on only a few words, read the whole thing to her. His reading proficiency has shot up this year to be sure!

Mushrooms

Felicity has been very interested in the mushrooms which have been growing in abundance in our back yard. She's harvested three crops in the last few days.

Here is the first crop.

And here is today's crop, artfully arranged in a vase.

I wonder if they are edible?

Rejoicing at the Water Fountain