Officially spring

Our first full day of spring in Maine brings a snowstorm, naturally. Mother Nature had me completely fooled, though. Last Friday afternoon saw the mercury climb to 70 degrees, so after picking Binbin up from school, we stopped at Food City to pick up some popsicles. Binbin picked out a box of Bomb Pops and one of rainbow push-ups. He had one of each immediately! Later, when Amy came over to play, he ate two more. The Bomb Pops were a definitely hit. Amy and he would take bite before setting the pops down in the bowls so that they could run through the house frantically waving their arms and shouting, "I surrender! I surrender!" Surrender to what, you ask. Surrender to the Bomb Pops.

Binbin has been honing his chess skills, and can now with just a little coaching from Baba, completely cream me. He also has all the chess lingo down, from en passant to bad bishop. He also showed me how to stack a pawn on top of a rook in order to make a second queen.

He now reads with proficiency, and can write pretty well, too. Last week, I wanted him to work on some abacus puzzles, but he got frustrated. I was disappointed in him, and told him so. He scampered off with a sheet of paper and a pen. Five minutes later, he handed me an illustrated letter:

"Dere Mom I do not want to do it can I save it for latre Pleese mom. love Sebastien"

The picture was what I call Binbin's ur-composition. It shows a two-story house with a staircase connecting the first floor to the second. He and I are sitting at the table, while Jack is in the garage.

A few minutes later, he delivered a second letter:

"Dere mom I love you mom you are the best mom in the hol intiyre wrold."

The picture shows Binbin and me holding hands. Assorted hearts with and without arrows through them provide visual accents.

I love this kid, even when we're both cranky and ornery.