fun runner

On May 1, Binbin ran his first fun run. Sponsored by Coastal Youth Orchestra, the fun run was a full mile. Here's our budding runner headed to the finish with speed and determination written on his face.



Yes, that's me in bright pink, running back-up, just in case of emergency. After all, thought I, this is the first time that Binbin has ever run so far! No emergencies, fortunately. For running, Binbin received:

a coastal youth orchestra t-shirt
a coupon for free Ben and Jerry's cone
two juices
a cereal bar
a plush toy, a little grey kitty, which he has named Scurry
a boost of pride and confidence

iPad iPhotos

Not long before my birthday, way back in March, apple computer announced opening day sales for the iPad. We all zipped down to the mall after school, and got in line. Lots of conversations with our neighboring apple enthusiasts and an hour and a half later, I received the gizmo for my birthday.

Since then, Binbin (more than anyone else, naturally) has effortlessly embraced the technology and joyfully experimented with its photographic possibilities. First, the straightforward, old technology. Portrait of Binbin on St. Patrick's Day...



Now, the fun stuff. Kaleidoscopic Binbin...



This, and many others like it were taken one afternoon with Baba. Since the iPad has two cameras, you can choose your expressions and capture them accurately. Monkey see, monkey do, monkey snaps a picture.

More light

Days are longer, trees are deepening their green, and flowers are blooming. There are times, though, when I still find myself wearing two layers of fleece, and the thick fur Laplander hat around the house to stay warm. Binbin, though, is transitioning to T-shirts and sandals. And, after he picked out a new wind-breaker (medium blue, no patterns thank you), he has let go of his puffy jacket.

Yesterday was "opening day," for the Lisbon Junior Athletic League, which runs T-ball and softball in our area. Although we had hoped to place Binbin on the same team as Chase and Aidan, he is as happy as a clam being on the Slovaks team. Coaches Kevin and Ben provide good direction (little Owen is apt to bat and run to the pitcher's mound), and Kevin's wife Amanda makes sure that the team huddles up and cheers before and after games. Also, I should add that, in terms of fashion, the Slovak colors, black and white, are among Binbin's favorite, and Jack liked the crest motif on their T-shirts.

On the baseball front, we attending our first Seadogs game of the season. Though they lost to New Britain, Binbin and his buddy Cam and his sister Sarah were rewarded for their 9-innings' of patience with an invitation to run the bases. They and about 500 other kids ran their hearts out, from left field down the third baseline, then around the bases and back out to their phone-camera bearing parents. Although the clouds rolled in around the 7th inning, there was no rain. From left field, we beheld perfectly thick green grass and very happy kids.

Last Monday, kindergarten wasn't in session, but Binbin went to chess club after school. He came home, with an enormous grin on his face, reporting that he beat a fifth-grader! He used the classic four-move checkmate on the unsuspecting upperclassman. Apart from that, he won some and he lost some, and he'll be back for more.

He's got a new set of wheels, bicycle wheels with trainers, for the season. Binbin has always been wary of speed, and he is slowly building up confidence. Fortunately, the kitty-korner store has slushies, which are a good incentive for getting out there again when the sun returns.

One more month of school. I can hardly believe how quickly the time has passed. Where did it go?