Black, White and Grey

You know how I used to have lists and lists of great things that Gigi said?  Well, things are changing and although her imagination is blooming at the Emerson Waldorf School and she can play for hours in a pretend world, in other ways her understanding of the world is maturing and we're losing some of her quotables.  I even tried to do an interview with her a few months ago, and although her interviews used to be full of completely far fetched but confident statements and opinions about the present and the future, modern-day Gigi is seeing the grey areas of life instead of just blacks and whites.  When I asked her what she was going to be when she grows up she said something like, "I don't know yet" and when I asked her what color was her favorite she responded with something vague like, "I can't decide because they are all so pretty".

But every once in a while I am still running over to get my trusty pad of paper and pen to jot down word for word what spills out of her mouth.

Sometimes it's sweet....

"Why can't we just be close together like that so I can reach out my hand and comfort him?" said Gigi when her and Orion's beds were temporarily pushed together for vacuuming purposes.

And sometimes so classic 4-year old....

"The game's not FAIR if I can't win!" while losing a Memory game to a friend.

Futbol Soccer

This fall we signed Gigi up to play with Rainbow Soccer, one of our local leagues.  It was perfect - the four and five year olds only meet once a week, from 5 to 6pm on a Friday, and each week we brought a picnic dinner and enjoyed eating outside together on the field.  It has been such a nice connection time for our family.

Gigi has not demonstrated the same physical prowess and interest in balls as Orion has, but we were confident that she would warm up to the idea.  At soccer practice numero uno, things were not very promising - every ten minutes Gigi was over asking about eating a snack, and during the practice scrimmage at the end of the hour, she preferred to sit near the goal and chat with her new friends than to actually play.  But over the fall season she learned so much, thanks to the world's best volunteer dad coach - Eamonn Fitzgerald, who is originally from Ireland.  We really lucked out with him, because he was so energetic and well-prepared for the kids each week.  

And what comes next?  Well, I gave Gigi the choice of playing again next Spring, or taking a break and starting again next Fall, and she opted for Spring, which surprised me, since she's been kind of ambivalent about the whole thing.  And it sounds like Coach Eamonn will be signing up again to Coach the kids, so we may very well be doing this routine again much sooner than I thought.  Gooooo Rocket Dragons!

Birthday Boy!

Today Orion turned two years old and although it was not a flashy day, these days mark a moment in a parent's life when we get to think about how fast time is flying and how much we love our children, and how much they add to us as growing humans.  Marcos had a work dinner tonight, so we will do a family celebration on Saturday, but luckily Marcos delayed his departure for work this morning and had a big oatmeal breakfast with us.  We've really scored in the breakfast department - the kids think that oatmeal with apples and raisins, cinnamon and a little bit of brown sugar is the absolute best recipe in the history of mankind.

We gave Orion one big gift this morning (a big box of duplo legos) and he received a few cards.  Here he is, reading through his love notes.

After dropping Gigi off at school, we headed over to the lower school to drop off some crafts for the Holiday Faire, and when I turned my back Orion grabbed a slice of banana cake from the coffee table where parents congregate and chat each morning after drop-off.  They loved it, and insisted that I take pictures of him enjoying his first slice of birthday cake for the day!  So here they are.  

We love Orion so much!  He has a huge silly bone like Gigi does, he is starting to be more empathetic, and we think he is pretty clever.  He loves to talk, and sing, and play with balls and things that go.  He is strong, and active, and loves a good stick or rock.  And most of all, he makes us so happy!  Thank you sweet boy for being part of our family.  Here's to many, many more years of togetherness with you!