Sunday, June 15, 2008
Chalkboard
Recently, our friends Natsu and Paul moved to Japan. That kind of move definitely motivates one to downsize. Binbin was the happy recipient of a number of things including this chalkboard/whiteboard artist's easel. For this, we want to say a big thank to Aya. And, we hope that you all are settling into your new home. We miss you.
Camping
We've been out camping a couple of times this season. To Lake sebago on Memorial Day weekend. Here are a few snapshots from that weekend.
Getting ready for hot chocolate.
A view of our site.
Very proud of himself after squirting water into his mouth with his squirt gun (a gift from the lady working at the local candy store).
And then to Lake St. George for Fathers' Day weekend. Roasting hot dogs.
A view to the lake.
Getting ready for hot chocolate.
A view of our site.
Very proud of himself after squirting water into his mouth with his squirt gun (a gift from the lady working at the local candy store).
And then to Lake St. George for Fathers' Day weekend. Roasting hot dogs.
A view to the lake.
Fathers' Day
Happy Fathers' Day to Yeye, Ah-gong, and to Baba! Hugs and Kisses from Binbin.
Fathers' Day weekend coincided this year with De-nin & Jack's 10th wedding anniversary (and, less notably, Friday the 13th!). We celebrated by going camping up at Lake St. George. Friday afternoon, we headed up and set up our site. Binbin helped with the tent poles and throwing the mats into the tent. Before evening, we had a campfire going. Saturday morning, it took a little convincing, but Binbin put on his new Personal Floating Device, and we climbed into a canoe. Once he was situated on a seat (as opposed to being in the middle), he was happy enough to explore the lake shore, looking for lily pads, watch for the turtle, and spot other notable lake things. The paddling definitely had him tuckered out, and after driving over to John's for ice cream (Binbin had cherry sorbet), we all crashed in the tent until about 4 pm. Evening settled in, and we had another good fire going. Our neighbors came over to share a set of sparklers with Binbin. He was eager and curious, but when confronted with sparks at arm's length, caution took hold.
Sunday morning, Binbin announced, "I like camping. I like to camp." But as the rain started, we packed up the car for home. But before reaching home, we stopped in Hallowell to celebrate Fathers' Day with brunch. Jack ordered steak eggs benedict; Binbin refused his turkey & harvarti croissant and opted to spoon sugar into his mouth. It's fathers' day, so why not?
Fathers' Day weekend coincided this year with De-nin & Jack's 10th wedding anniversary (and, less notably, Friday the 13th!). We celebrated by going camping up at Lake St. George. Friday afternoon, we headed up and set up our site. Binbin helped with the tent poles and throwing the mats into the tent. Before evening, we had a campfire going. Saturday morning, it took a little convincing, but Binbin put on his new Personal Floating Device, and we climbed into a canoe. Once he was situated on a seat (as opposed to being in the middle), he was happy enough to explore the lake shore, looking for lily pads, watch for the turtle, and spot other notable lake things. The paddling definitely had him tuckered out, and after driving over to John's for ice cream (Binbin had cherry sorbet), we all crashed in the tent until about 4 pm. Evening settled in, and we had another good fire going. Our neighbors came over to share a set of sparklers with Binbin. He was eager and curious, but when confronted with sparks at arm's length, caution took hold.
Sunday morning, Binbin announced, "I like camping. I like to camp." But as the rain started, we packed up the car for home. But before reaching home, we stopped in Hallowell to celebrate Fathers' Day with brunch. Jack ordered steak eggs benedict; Binbin refused his turkey & harvarti croissant and opted to spoon sugar into his mouth. It's fathers' day, so why not?
Sunday, June 1, 2008
The Green Drum Kit
About two months ago, the green drum kit appeared in the display window of Marty's Music, just off Maine Street in Brunswick.
This wasn't just some drab green, ordinary, won't look twice kind of drum kit. No sir. These were magical, sparkly, lime green, light your world on fire drums. And, when Binbin laid eyes on those drums, well, his world was forever changed.
The first day, he saw them while we were driving home from Miss Donna's daycare. "Mama, LOOK! Green drums!" Binbin's little voice just about quivered with excitement. "Yes, I see." I said, agreeably, curbing my normal motherly enthusiasm. While we have consistently sought out play drums, and bongos, and percussive music-makers, as well as opportunities to expose Binbin to all variety of drumming traditions, I was not altogether ready for, let's call it, the big time: professional drums. After all, he's only three, he's barely three feet tall, and... he's not even potty trained. Sure, he can carry a beat, but do we leap from cardboard and plastic to ash and stainless steel? Binbin, innocent of such pesky adult apprehension, followed up with the obvious question: "Mama, how can we buy the green drums? ...is that a good idea?"
How should a parent respond? I told him, I know you really like the drums, but I'm sorry, we can't buy it. True, but inadequate, and of course, he cried and cried all the way home.
The crying ended after the first week, though he made the same request and received the same response daily. Sometimes twice daily.
With Binbin's persistence, though, my answer began changing. Yes, Mama and Baba will buy that for you, but we don't have enough money just yet.
So, how do you explain to a 3-year-old the somewhat abstract, but inescapable fact of working life? He seemed to accept that you couldn't buy money in the store in order to buy the green drums. Still, he persisted.
"Mama, how can we have enough money now?"
Not yet, I replied. Maybe by the time of your birthday or Christmas, there will be enough.
"Oooohhh." says Binbin. "Christman. And I can have lotsa lotsa presents. And Santa Claus."
After two months of this careful, daily banter of desire and delay, Binbin won the battle of attrition. Honestly, it wasn't so much the persistence, though that was impressive. It really was the fact that he truly has an enormous passion for drumming.
So, on May 30, when Binbin turned precisly three and a half years old, we brought him to Marty's Music. And, a delighted little boy brought home the green drum kit of his dreams.
That seemed to satisfy for a couple of weeks. Then, the ever inquisitive and intelligent cherub asked: Mama, how can we go to the store, and buy some money?
As an addendum, Jack did some research and, as it turns out, there are some pretty impressive 3-4 year old drummers out there. (and lots of adults making youTube videos of those kids)
This wasn't just some drab green, ordinary, won't look twice kind of drum kit. No sir. These were magical, sparkly, lime green, light your world on fire drums. And, when Binbin laid eyes on those drums, well, his world was forever changed.
The first day, he saw them while we were driving home from Miss Donna's daycare. "Mama, LOOK! Green drums!" Binbin's little voice just about quivered with excitement. "Yes, I see." I said, agreeably, curbing my normal motherly enthusiasm. While we have consistently sought out play drums, and bongos, and percussive music-makers, as well as opportunities to expose Binbin to all variety of drumming traditions, I was not altogether ready for, let's call it, the big time: professional drums. After all, he's only three, he's barely three feet tall, and... he's not even potty trained. Sure, he can carry a beat, but do we leap from cardboard and plastic to ash and stainless steel? Binbin, innocent of such pesky adult apprehension, followed up with the obvious question: "Mama, how can we buy the green drums? ...is that a good idea?"
How should a parent respond? I told him, I know you really like the drums, but I'm sorry, we can't buy it. True, but inadequate, and of course, he cried and cried all the way home.
The crying ended after the first week, though he made the same request and received the same response daily. Sometimes twice daily.
With Binbin's persistence, though, my answer began changing. Yes, Mama and Baba will buy that for you, but we don't have enough money just yet.
So, how do you explain to a 3-year-old the somewhat abstract, but inescapable fact of working life? He seemed to accept that you couldn't buy money in the store in order to buy the green drums. Still, he persisted.
"Mama, how can we have enough money now?"
Not yet, I replied. Maybe by the time of your birthday or Christmas, there will be enough.
"Oooohhh." says Binbin. "Christman. And I can have lotsa lotsa presents. And Santa Claus."
After two months of this careful, daily banter of desire and delay, Binbin won the battle of attrition. Honestly, it wasn't so much the persistence, though that was impressive. It really was the fact that he truly has an enormous passion for drumming.
So, on May 30, when Binbin turned precisly three and a half years old, we brought him to Marty's Music. And, a delighted little boy brought home the green drum kit of his dreams.
That seemed to satisfy for a couple of weeks. Then, the ever inquisitive and intelligent cherub asked: Mama, how can we go to the store, and buy some money?
As an addendum, Jack did some research and, as it turns out, there are some pretty impressive 3-4 year old drummers out there. (and lots of adults making youTube videos of those kids)
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