Nelson Mandela

Of course they are too young to know anything about Nelson Mandela, so I can only hope that they encounter new Nelson Mandelas who strive for peace and justice in their time.  It's hard to not look sad in front of the boys right now.

Halloween and Xander's Panda Party

Halloween has just passed and James couldn't have been more excited.  We were able to put him in his monkey costume from last year without Sarah having to improvise suspenders for him so his monkey pants wouldn't fall down.  Awkward.  Thomas wore James's lion costume from when he was 1.  They were both pretty cute.

Happy Halloween

We took James out for trick or treating for a little while.  It was probably the greatest thing he's ever done.  He was pointing out each and every house that had lights on or decorations out.  After maybe 30 minutes of going a couple blocks up and back down our street his little bucket was nearly full.  Sarah and I have been reaping the benefits for the last few days and James has announced that he really likes candy.  We don't do candy much in our house.  This realization on his part was bound to happen at some time.  He is getting a piece or two each day now, and it always comes with a smile.

I am also proud of the pumpkins this year.  I am by no means a master pumpkin carver.  Anything much more complex than triangle eyes and noses is asking a bit much for me.  We asked James to draw a face for a pumpkin design and I did my best to recreate it.  I decided to try to capture Thomas's brother-adoring face in a smaller pumpkin too.  I think I did alright.

The blueprint

The Result

Pumpkin brothers

We had a pretty good time and I think we'll have a lot of fun for Halloween in the future.

On a different note, we recently got another pretty good book from the Library.  I've probably mentioned before that books in rhyme often get old or annoying pretty quickly.  As much as James likes the Llama Llama books, there is a limit to how frequently I can read them.  Now and then we come across a book in rhyme that is written so well that I truly enjoy.  Xander's Panda Party by Linda Sue Park is a book that I could probably read every day with a smile on my face.  The rhyming is clever and isn't a slave to meter, something that tends to drive me nuts (sorry Anna Dewdney).  There is a meter to the rhyming, but it is broken apart periodically to give you a breath and a break.

Xander is a happy panda looking to plan a party, but the problem is that he's the only panda at the zoo.  He makes his plans and invitations for his party, but has to continue revising them when he realizes that categories and classifications don't necessarily fit preconceptions or are meaningless to begin with.

You get the sense from these three pages the feeling.  I have to include one more, though 'cause I just love the rhyming here (not something you'll hear me say often).  It is also a nice example of the really nice illustrations in the book.

Instead of scanning and posting each and every page of the book, I had to pick and choose.  Though I didn't scan it, one of my favorite illustrations is of Xander standing with a somewhat overwhelmed look on his face, arms down at his sides, surrounded by a flock of penguins in a similar position.

We probably check out six to ten books each trip we make to the library every week or three and some are certainly better than others, but it is only perhaps once every few months that we find a book that I like so much that I would consider going out and buying it.  Xander's Panda Party is one of those books.

Now that Summer is Over

Considering the frequency of posts since we got back from our vacation, due in large part to my starting to substitute teach again, I suppose I should recap the summer a bit before the snow flies.  Overall, I would call the summer a success.  By early August last summer, I was starting to go nuts and my patience was wearing thin.  By early August this summer, I was still going strong.  It wasn't until the last week to week and a half before I was beginning to long for the start of the school year.  In part, I think the loss of sanity was delayed because we were getting out of the house more regularly and we had more of a regular daily and weekly schedule.  Reflecting on last summer, I can't help but wonder if the Olympics had something to do with it too.  I am an Olympic nut.  So I think we didn't get out as much because the summer Olympics were on (following the Tour de France), and that was just too much house time.  Whatever the reason, I think things went better this summer with two boys at home than last summer with just one.

It may also have something to do with James getting bigger.  Though he couldn't carry in heavy bags of groceries, he was a help.  He would get wipes for Thomas, hold the door for us, and was just bigger and more self-reliant in general.  It's kind of funny.  I've really noticed in the last couple months that James is really turning into a "big boy".  We talk about big kids and little kids pretty regularly.  I should probably add a third category, babies.

Of course, depending on the situation, James could be a big boy or a little boy.  But the instances where he is a little boy are becoming less common.  Of course, his vocabulary and his general demeanor is developing, but what really struck me recently is the way he moves.  He moves around like a big boy, now.

He doesn't move like this any more

This is the James of this summer.  Running and jumping, more often on his feet than wobbling about.  He's getting big.

The way he runs, climbs, etc are completely different from last summer.  It was nice being able to trust his abilities and just let him run free at different playgrounds.

Thomas certainly grew a lot too.  We are closing in on his 6 month check-up.  Considering that he was only two months old at the end of the school year and was nearly five months when we left for Washington, it probably shouldn't come as any surprise that he has grown as much as he did.  Compare.

Thomas from late June

Thomas in early September (first day of school and day care)

You can see how much bigger he is in his car seat.  This also doesn't show how much more he moves around and how interactive he's become.  Gone are the days when I could put him in the middle of a blanket on the grass and I wouldn't have to worry about fistfuls of grass being stuffed into his mouth.  He's not exactly crawling now, but he is lifting himself onto his hands and knees briefly and scooting forward slowly toward desired toys.

I guess in reflecting upon the summer, I would have to call it a success.  There are some things that we didn't do that I would have liked to do (some more focused activities for James - arting, creating, and other -ings), and some places we didn't go (hiking and exploring).  But we kept ourselves pretty busy and happy for the most part.  The experience gives me confidence that if I am going to be staying home again next summer that we'll probably do just fine.

Overdue

Because I am overdue in writing anything here, here are a few pictures from our trip to Washington earlier this month.  Coming in the not too distant future are some thoughts about arts and crafts, perhaps a more detailed Washington post, Thomas getting bigger and doing more things, a summer reflection... we'll see.  But for now, these few pictures will have to do.  I have a cold that is kicking my butt today, so no deep thoughts, just a few pictures followed by me falling asleep while watching Star Trek or something like that.

Throwing rocks with mom at Gig Harbor

Visiting with the great grandparents

Ferries are fun

Mom and the boys at Deception Pass

Lopez Island, how can we live on you?

Hi ferry boat!

Off to Washington!

BPD is going to take a little hiatus while we all head out to Washington state to see some family and attend the wedding of a good friend.  It'll be a big adventure flying with two little boys.  James is pretty excited about it, and I think that he'll probably do alright.  We can read books with him, and we'll probably get a pile of Thomas the Tank Engine DVDs  that he can watch during the flight.  As far as Thomas goes... we'll see, I guess.  In the end, it's only a few hours.

I've looked into my crystal ball, and James will probably spend most of his time throwing rocks into the water.

Splash!

Thomas told me that he is looking forward to seeing lots of wild life.

He's an equal opportunity drooler.

Once we return, James will go back to his pre-school and Thomas will start day care.  Me?  It'll be the end of summer and school will be starting.  I'll be substitute teaching for now and will continue my job search.

Como Zoo

A few days ago I took the boys to Como Zoo.  Como Zoo has been a St. Paul institution for more than a hundred years, and is (along with the rest of Como Park) probably the city's most popular family destination.  Rightly so, too.  The park is probably the largest in the city, has a large new municipal pool, lake, golf course, carousel, amusement park, zoo, conservatory, sports fields, music pavilion, and more.  It is a pretty wonderful city park and one of the treasures of the city.

When I was in elementary school, I certainly didn't see it that way though.  We lived only a couple miles away in married student housing just of the St. Paul campus of the U of M.  Not having much extra money laying around, we made Como Park and the zoo a regular destination since (nearly) everything there was free.  I distinctly remember being really bored with the park.  There are only so many times ten year old kid will be entertained seeing the palm trees in the conservatory or the gorillas at the zoo.  Fortunately, for all involved, I am no longer ten and I also enjoy every visit to the park.  Just don't try to go there for a picnic on the first nice weekend of the spring.  I speak from experience.

James is at the age that the Zoo is a pretty wonderful place.  It's not a large zoo by any measure, but it is just about right for walking around with a James and a Thomas.  One thing that is nice about the Zoo is that they are expanding and improving.

On the right is the Marjorie McNeeely Conservatory.  It is 98 years old, and a paradise on cold winter days.  Inside is warm, humid, and green.  On the left is the new visitor center and tropical encounters building.  It is part zoo, part conservatory and is always our first destination.

Big fish, and big (ugly) turtles are fun to see.  After the fish and turtles is a rather large anaconda that James thinks is great.  Sarah would disagree.  Probably the most famous animal in the tropical encounters exhibit is the sloth.  It is usually just a hairy lump sleeping in the crook of a "tree", but this day he was moving around and actually moving around fast enough that a couple of my pictures were blurry.

There are some things about this zoo that hasn't changed in decades.  The flamingo/duck pond is exactly the same as it was when I visited with my family more than twenty years ago.  After we leave the visitor center, though, this is the first stop.  James is pretty interested in all of the birds... to be honest, James is interested in any animal.  They could put in an area full of squirrels and cats, and he would be thrilled.

Then off to the primate building.

James monkey.

James and Thomas are indifferent to the gorilla butt only a few feet away.  

The area outside the window there is part of the new gorilla enclosure and credit should really be given to Como for improving their facilities for their animals.  The gorilla area only just opened, and the zoo opened their new polar bear exhibit a couple years ago.  Both of these places are much nicer than their earlier facilities.  In general I am conflicted about zoos.  Animal captivity isn't something I'm particularly fond of, but I will hope that exposure to animals will lead to education and appreciation for the natural world around us.  The next couple pictures will show some of the changes that the zoo has gone through.

I remember seeing animals in these cages when we visited Como Zoo back in the early '80s when we still lived in Fargo.  

Part of the new gorilla enclosure

A small portion of the much larger and more appealing polar bear enclosure.

Any time we go to Como Zoo, James wants to go to the Sparky Show, or as he called it, "Sparky the Show".  Sparky 7.0 (or some such) is the latest in a long line of sea lions to do little performances at Como.  Like zoos in general, I am not so sure just how I feel about performing animals.  It isn't something that is going to stop happening just because I disapprove and at the same time, it is a way to educate and the kids go nuts for it.  On a sunny day you have to show up at least 30 minutes early (for a ten minute show) in order to get a spot in the shade.

So we tend to have our picnic sitting in the shade before the show.

 During the show, James dances along with Sparky to Abba.  Maybe some day I'll be as good of a dancer as he is.

Some day Thomas will have a clue that something is going on.

After the show, we walk around to see some of the other animals.  Thomas taunts the giraffes.

Generally about two hours is enough for us here.  It's not a bad way to spend a morning before coming home for quiet time.  We'll probably be making regular trips here for years to come.

Minneapolis Institute of Arts

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is a treasure for the Twin Cities.  It is free every day and though it isn't as large as the art museum in Chicago nor New York, it is a pretty good size and has some famous pieces and collections.  I have enjoyed going for a visit since I was in elementary school in St. Paul.  I don't get over there as frequently as I did pre-family when I lived in south Minneapolis, but we still go several times each year to wander the galleries.

We're in the middle of a stretch of pretty steamy days here in the Cities, and as much as I want to get out, I don't really want to be outside.  So after dropping Sarah off at work this morning, the boys and I went off to the museum (didn't feel like going to Choo Choo Bob's today).  The museum opens at 10 am, so we had a little bit of time to kill once we arrived, which was good enough anyway since Thomas needed a change and a bottle.  So we went to a big park across the street from the museum.  The question then is how to occupy James.

Frisbee fetch!  We do this in the back yard sometimes.  I throw the frisbee, he runs to it, throws it once (so as not to hit Thomas sitting next to me), and then runs it back to me.  He's happy to do this for an extended period of time.  Besides, I have to get him ready to start playing ultimate.

Once it was time to head into the museum, I decided to have some fun with pictures.  James thought we were going to the "sculpture museum", so James is doing his best human representation of different sculptures we saw along the way.  Forgive the poor quality of the pictures.  I didn't have the camera along today.

James is doing his best Geo. Washington here.  Thomas is ummm... the cherry tree.

RAR!  Just like the lions outside the old entrance.

James as Michael in "The Fighter Spirit" by Ernst Barlach

As we went in, we needed a bathroom break.  According to James, the one on the right is for daddy, the one on the left is for James and the one in the middle is for mommy.

James is a 14th century Japanese temple guardian.

Thomas wanted to get into the at and  prepared to eat the Very Hungry Caterpiller, by Eric Carle.

Bodhisattva James... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  This is the Bodhisattva Kuan-yin from 12th century China.

Classical James.  Study him.  Admire him.  He is the ideal.  This is The Doryphoros (Greek?) from the 4th century BCE.

"Dad, I wanna be the big puppy."  Ok, James.  Be the big puppy.  Wish I could tell you about the sculpture, but I didn't see the little information sign before James insisted we go find an elevator.  They are the best thing in the world, you know.

James has too many clothes on here for this Matisse ("Large Seated Nude" c. 1923-1925), but I suppose the museum would frown on naked little boys running around and laughing.

James is a "Panther Devouring a Rabbit (Very Hungry Caterpiller)" by Antoine-Louis Barye.

After walking around the museum for 30 minutes or so, James was ready to go down the really old elevator with the thing you close ('cause once again, elevators are the best things in the world).  We read a book and played in the little family room before coming home.  I may not be the most knowledgeable person when it comes to fine art, but I do enjoy spending time among it and I hope in time James and Thomas will grow to appreciate it as much as I do.  Exposure is a start.