Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Superfriends
I don't think I've posted about this before. Pierce and Anna have fallen in love with the old Superfriends cartoons (yup, the same ones we used to watch on Saturday mornings back in the 70s). They run daily on the Boomerang cable station. The funny thing is, as an adult, these episodes are a lot dumber than I remember. Talk about shooting holes in your nostalgia...
Anna has absolutely fallen in love with Wonder Woman and has decided that she no longer wants to be Wilber when she grows up ("Dad, you can't be a bird when you get big"), she wants to be Wonder Woman. Pierce typically does a blow-by-blow analysis of the episodes after they're over. As junk tv watching goes, this isn't too bad. Some of the episodes even have lessons/morals at the end, although its sometimes a stretch to see how these morals fit with the story.
This morning, early, Pierce was having a nightmare. I went in to get him settled down. He was upside down on the bed and completely cocooned in his comforter to the point I couldn't determine where his head was. I got him repositioned on the bed and back under the covers but he never really woke up (his eyes never opened). But he did tell me, "Dad, tonight I'm not having any fun sleeping"). Over breakfast this morning we talked about this event, and Pierce doesn't remember any of it. He did mention, however, that usually sleeping is VERY fun.
-Eric (Dad)
Anna has absolutely fallen in love with Wonder Woman and has decided that she no longer wants to be Wilber when she grows up ("Dad, you can't be a bird when you get big"), she wants to be Wonder Woman. Pierce typically does a blow-by-blow analysis of the episodes after they're over. As junk tv watching goes, this isn't too bad. Some of the episodes even have lessons/morals at the end, although its sometimes a stretch to see how these morals fit with the story.
This morning, early, Pierce was having a nightmare. I went in to get him settled down. He was upside down on the bed and completely cocooned in his comforter to the point I couldn't determine where his head was. I got him repositioned on the bed and back under the covers but he never really woke up (his eyes never opened). But he did tell me, "Dad, tonight I'm not having any fun sleeping"). Over breakfast this morning we talked about this event, and Pierce doesn't remember any of it. He did mention, however, that usually sleeping is VERY fun.
-Eric (Dad)
Monday, February 26, 2007
Weekend Activities
Nora's been pretty sick for the last few days, so I've been trying to come up with ideas for the family to do, without Nora, so she can rest and recover. I wonder what Nora's interpretation of events is....
Saturday I took Pierce and Anna to a local high school indoor pool (via Blue Valley Parks and Rec). Its the first time they've been in the water since the summer swim season ended. Both did amazingly well. Pierce jumped in and started swimming like he'd never missed a day. He spent a lot of time going of the diving board. Anna wasn't allowed to wear her water wings (they're not Red Cross approved) and had to wear a life vest. Needless to say, she was pretty upset. But after about 10 minutes she got used to it and turned into a little fish. The only change from this summer was that she did not want to jump into the pool. Her initial jump in, with the life jacket, was not what she was expecting (I think she went down further than with water wings) so that activity was "off the list".
Sunday evening was a neighborhood sponsored trip to Bump City. Bump City is a very nice gymnastics facility about 15 minutes from the house. They have mazes, trampolines, zip lines, rope swings, and lots of "stuff" to climb on. Because of the age difference, Anna and Pierce went at different times. Nora took Anna for an earlier session, with dinner at Dairy Queen afterwards, while Pierce and I hung back and watched part of "Galaxy Quest". Pierce and I had our Dairy Queen dinner before his session, with a return trip afterwards for ice cream (we ran out of time). Pierce and Anna have been participating in this annual event for several years. Its amazing to see what they're able to do this year relative to last year's visit.
-Eric (Dad)
Saturday I took Pierce and Anna to a local high school indoor pool (via Blue Valley Parks and Rec). Its the first time they've been in the water since the summer swim season ended. Both did amazingly well. Pierce jumped in and started swimming like he'd never missed a day. He spent a lot of time going of the diving board. Anna wasn't allowed to wear her water wings (they're not Red Cross approved) and had to wear a life vest. Needless to say, she was pretty upset. But after about 10 minutes she got used to it and turned into a little fish. The only change from this summer was that she did not want to jump into the pool. Her initial jump in, with the life jacket, was not what she was expecting (I think she went down further than with water wings) so that activity was "off the list".
Sunday evening was a neighborhood sponsored trip to Bump City. Bump City is a very nice gymnastics facility about 15 minutes from the house. They have mazes, trampolines, zip lines, rope swings, and lots of "stuff" to climb on. Because of the age difference, Anna and Pierce went at different times. Nora took Anna for an earlier session, with dinner at Dairy Queen afterwards, while Pierce and I hung back and watched part of "Galaxy Quest". Pierce and I had our Dairy Queen dinner before his session, with a return trip afterwards for ice cream (we ran out of time). Pierce and Anna have been participating in this annual event for several years. Its amazing to see what they're able to do this year relative to last year's visit.
-Eric (Dad)
Monday, February 19, 2007
Sledding and Pinewood Derbies
I’ve been out of town all week on business, so this weekend was concentrated family time.
We spent most of Saturday at Nora’s brother’s house. We got some snow on Friday and our kids and their kids went sledding in the backyard. Billy and I joined in too (Anna and Nora stayed warm inside). There was a lot of intentional crashing, smash up derby-style, with the sleds. My cheeks hurt from laughing.
When we came in for hot chocolate and pizza Pierce found a couple of pinewood derby cars to play with: one was Billy’s old car, and one was his cousin’s from a few years ago. Pierce was fascinated and spent a good portion of the afternoon playing with them. Billy had an extra derby kit that he gave to us, and Pierce, Anna and I spent a couple of hours on Sunday building it.
We found some designs on the internet and Pierce picked the one he liked the best. I got to fulfill a childhood fantasy by building it (I don’t quite trust Pierce with real tools), and Pierce and I attached the wheels together. Pierce decorated it with all the stickers he could find (we may paint it later). Anna has requested a derby car of her own –that might be a project for next weekend.
-Eric (Dad)
We spent most of Saturday at Nora’s brother’s house. We got some snow on Friday and our kids and their kids went sledding in the backyard. Billy and I joined in too (Anna and Nora stayed warm inside). There was a lot of intentional crashing, smash up derby-style, with the sleds. My cheeks hurt from laughing.
When we came in for hot chocolate and pizza Pierce found a couple of pinewood derby cars to play with: one was Billy’s old car, and one was his cousin’s from a few years ago. Pierce was fascinated and spent a good portion of the afternoon playing with them. Billy had an extra derby kit that he gave to us, and Pierce, Anna and I spent a couple of hours on Sunday building it.
We found some designs on the internet and Pierce picked the one he liked the best. I got to fulfill a childhood fantasy by building it (I don’t quite trust Pierce with real tools), and Pierce and I attached the wheels together. Pierce decorated it with all the stickers he could find (we may paint it later). Anna has requested a derby car of her own –that might be a project for next weekend.
-Eric (Dad)
Monday, February 12, 2007
Gymnastics
Several weeks ago I asked Pierce and Anna if they’d be interested in going to “open floor” time at the local gymnastics place. They were both enthusiastic about the idea, but for any number of incidental reasons, we had not yet gone. This Saturday I got them out there.
They had a blast. Pierce and Anna definitely have differing approaches to the place. They both like the rope-swing, but Anna has no desire to swing of the rope into the pit of foam. Neither kid was interested in climbing up on the “block” to get a bigger, higher swing. Pierce was very keen on some of the inflatable mazes and slides, Anna much less so (though she gave it a try). And Pierce wasn’t much into trampolines, one of Anna’s favorites. The two of them lasted about an hour. Anna tired of it first, but her timing was good. We finished up with a trip to Dairy Queen for lunch and a treat.
Later that same afternoon, Nora and I took Pierce and Anna to a schoolmate’s birthday party. It was held at a local community center in good-sized, party room. After cake and a piñata, the kids were taken across to the hall to the, you guessed it, gymnastics room. What are the odds? We had some very tuckered out kids by the end of the day.
Because I’m traveling this week, Nora and I got a sitter for Pierce and Anna that same night then we headed off for dinner and movie. Dinner was very good. The movie, Pursuit of Happyness (yes, I know it’s misspelled) was also good, but not one that I’d recommend. It was like running a marathon; grueling and tiring with the best part being the ending.
-Eric (Dad)
They had a blast. Pierce and Anna definitely have differing approaches to the place. They both like the rope-swing, but Anna has no desire to swing of the rope into the pit of foam. Neither kid was interested in climbing up on the “block” to get a bigger, higher swing. Pierce was very keen on some of the inflatable mazes and slides, Anna much less so (though she gave it a try). And Pierce wasn’t much into trampolines, one of Anna’s favorites. The two of them lasted about an hour. Anna tired of it first, but her timing was good. We finished up with a trip to Dairy Queen for lunch and a treat.
Later that same afternoon, Nora and I took Pierce and Anna to a schoolmate’s birthday party. It was held at a local community center in good-sized, party room. After cake and a piñata, the kids were taken across to the hall to the, you guessed it, gymnastics room. What are the odds? We had some very tuckered out kids by the end of the day.
Because I’m traveling this week, Nora and I got a sitter for Pierce and Anna that same night then we headed off for dinner and movie. Dinner was very good. The movie, Pursuit of Happyness (yes, I know it’s misspelled) was also good, but not one that I’d recommend. It was like running a marathon; grueling and tiring with the best part being the ending.
-Eric (Dad)
Monday, February 05, 2007
Short Post
We watched the Superbowl as a family on Sunday. Pierce seemed to be pretty interested. He and Nora were rooting for the Bears, so there was a lot of cheering and booing as the evening went on. Ultimately he had to go to bed before the game was over, but he didn't seem to care. Did anyone notice that the most offensive ads during this family friendly, prime time event were the promotions for the CBS lineup?
Pierce has another loose tooth. It severely affected his pizza-eating enjoyment. He compensated by having four helpings of applesauce and 3 helpings of crackers with cheese.
Anna, for the moment, no longer wants to be Wilbur the Albatross when she grows up. She wants to be Wonder Woman. I'm delighted with the change of heart (Pierce has ceased trying to explain to her that she can't be a bird when she grows up). Nora bought Anna a Wonder Woman comic book on Friday and she's been carrying it around all weekend.
-Eric (Dad)
Pierce has another loose tooth. It severely affected his pizza-eating enjoyment. He compensated by having four helpings of applesauce and 3 helpings of crackers with cheese.
Anna, for the moment, no longer wants to be Wilbur the Albatross when she grows up. She wants to be Wonder Woman. I'm delighted with the change of heart (Pierce has ceased trying to explain to her that she can't be a bird when she grows up). Nora bought Anna a Wonder Woman comic book on Friday and she's been carrying it around all weekend.
-Eric (Dad)
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