Good to be three

Three years old! We can hardly believe it! Little wee babe is gone, small self-possessed person now stands before our eyes, demanding that, if it's his birthday, then there should be...presents. Read on...

We had a birthday party at Miss Donna's this afternoon. Sitting as Binbin's table is Izaak.



Anjali and Ryan here at the other table.



Baba lit three candles on Binbin's rice krispie treat. He had already gobbled up the strawberry garnish.



He was a little nervous about blowing out his candles...but after seeing his go out, he ran over to the other table to help blow out the single candle on everyone's else's treat. Sitting at the far side of the table is Alexis, rounding out Miss Donna's quintet of toddlers.



After having their treats, everyone got to try their hand at a new activity, lacing a cardboard shape. Then, party favors were passed out. Binbin was *not* pleased with a mere party favor of colored modeling clay. Birthdays, he rightly believed, must have presents! His disappointment was apparent to all, as he sought refuge in Baba's arms. We hastily wrapped up our role in the party (no un intended), and headed home, where presents lay waiting.



Stay tuned for "Birthday, Part II."

favorites

video: Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas
breakfast: pawprint shaped pancakes, with green and pink holiday sugar
dinner: hot dogs and french fries
phrase: no, it's too sticky
activity: climbing into mama and baba's bed in the wee hours of the morning
music: Chinese children's songs and Woody Guthrie's songs to grow on

big bird

"Big bird" refers to the whopper of a turkey Keena raised for us for our Thanksgiving supper. At 31 pounds, it weighed slightly more than Binbin! While the thought of eating turkey sandwiches for the next month had its charms, we were happy to have Keena and Zach cook the bird and come help us eat it Thursday afternoon. We also invited the Horches--Fred, Hadley, Cordelia, Everett and Ian--and the Baumgarte/Topp family--Thomas, Karen, Julia, and Benjamin. It was wonderful to share the cooking duties and possibly even more wonderful to have the kids eat and entertain themselves while the not-kids had about an hour of nearly uninterrupted conversation.

Since I haven't posted in ages, we've got a glut of photographs from this month. Beginning with a snapshot from a short hike at Bradbury Mountain. Though we never did make it to the top for a snack, we did run around in the woods for awhile.



We spent several afternoons raking leaves. Since Binbin started watching Blue's Clues as Miss Donna's house, he's been asking for things in the form of a pawprint, including raked leaf piles. We've got an enormous sugar maple in the backyard, so there were plenty of leaves to mound into multiple piles...the better to jump in!



One morning, Binbin found sparklers in the cabinet. So we took one out to light up on the deck.




You probably didn't know that pancakes can also be made in the form of a pawprint. Yup, they're tastier that way, too. And the colored sugar doesn't hurt. Yum!




Here, at last, is the picture proof you've been waiting for. That's Zack with the knife. Keena stands at a safe distance behind.



Pictures of grown-ups aren't all that interesting, so here' just a snapshot of the three boys together on one bench: Benjamin, Everett, and Binbin.



Thanksgiving day was filled with excitement for Binbin: Baba and Mama did not have to work, the Macy's parade included big balloons and marching bands, lots of older kids came to play at our house!

But even the days after Thanksgiving were fun: Baba and Mama still did not have to work and Binbin could wear pajamas almost all morning. We took out lots of playdough colors one morning, and Binbin arranged them on his chair. Pretty!

holidaze

Ever since the switch back to standard time, we've been living much of our family life in the dark. Maine is so far east that it really should be in the Atlantic timezone, one hour ahead of Boston and New York. So, the sun rises around 6 and sets close to 4:30. Binbin doesn't get nearly as much outdoor playtime, and sometimes he just isn't ready for bed.

Add to that the fact that the baseboard heater with its unpredictable snaps and crackles frightens the daylights out of him...and you've got a recipe for nightly visits from Binbin, blankey, blankey, and monkey. Though we're bleary-eyed in the morning, it's hard to be upset when Binbin whispers, "Hi, Baba!" or leans close to give eskimo kisses with his nose.

More indoor time means also more time in front of the TV, and Binbin has rediscovered Pingu (claymation penguin shorts), and added more Thomas videos and Blue's Clues to his telly intake. Fortunately, he will still choose working with screwdrivers and baking scones over more passive activities.

Earlier this week, while driving home behind Anjali's mommy's car, Binbin decided that he would like to invite Anjali over to play. Voila! our first successful, self-determined playdate. The two of them played with trains and shopping cart, pompoms and pipecleaners, ate a morning snack of bananas and rice chex, and had a grand time together. Parents were delighted and squeezed in some grown-up conversation.

Growing up clue: When Miss Donna figured out to serve folded slices of ham between crackers as "sandwiches" to Binbin, he replied: "That's a good idea, Miss Donna. Thank you!"

Still little clue: A pre-potty training experiment this morning required the use of 5 pairs of underwear and pants. This child prefers the convenience and comfort of diapers.