But Not the Dinosaurs

One of the books Joe has been keen on lately is Ox-Cart Man, which came to us from Joe's Great Aunt Susie for his birthday, and concerns the seasonal activities of a farmer (the Ox-Cart Man) who packs up his ox cart with various wares his family has spent the year making or harvesting, sells them, and comes home toting a new kettle, and the like, as well as wintergreen peppermint candies. Tonight's rendition of Ox-Cart Man led to a Joe-prompted discussion about what animals we could pet. Animals we could pet: sheep (sheeps, making a rare re-appearance in Joe's speech), cows, goats, roosters, ducks (after agreeing that ducks would not eat us), elephants (maybe--very big feet, could stomp us). Animals we could not pet: lions, tigers, owls (way up high; usually out at night, "nocturnal," also eat bunnies and mice*), snakes, rhinoceroses, and--dinosaurs. Julie asked why and Joe said they were endangered. We clarified the distinction between endangered and extinct and seized the moment to relay that dinosaurs and birds are closely related. He sort of just took that in.

Then, Julie remembered that we are gearing up to hit the Great Minnesota Get Together** where there will be lots of animals on the Animals We Can Pet List. Julie relayed this to Joe, who immediately began rattling off all the animals we would pet at the fair. Then, he looked at her solemnly and said, "But not the dinosaurs."

*There may some among you, Dear Readers, who are thinking, "A bit much?" Perhaps. But we would tell you, in our defense, that when Joe first identified the Ox-Cart Man's ox as a cow, Julie told him ox have the curved horns, rather than that an ox is a castrated bull (or male cow for those of you not well-versed in your farm animals and in particular, those of the bovine persuasion). Technically Joe was correct--the Ox-Cart Man's ox was a cow, and even though Joe's didn't know that, perhaps we should have left well enough alone? But the book's not called Cow-Cart Man.

**That's the State Fair for the uninitiated.

There's No Crying in Baseball

Tonight, we played a little T-ball in the backyard with Joe before bath time. Julie walked out right as Joe really got a piece of one. (Julie thinks you can say this--i.e. "got a piece of one." In the same way that Julie would like to fling nautical terms off with an ease bespeaking a lifetime spent on and near boats and water, she would also like to be able to yak about sports like she knows what she's yakking about.) Neaky and Pink Elephant were in the stands (on the walkway in front of the grill) so Julie joined them and yelled things like "Line drive down the center field line!" and "Pop fly!" about a beat after Ted. She also sang "We want a pitcher not a belly itcher!" only because she'd not been yet introduced to "We want a batter not a broken ladder!" which would have been more appropriate since as you will recall, this was T-ball we were playing. Joe had a number of solid line drives. Ted hit a home run (home runs were defined as hitting the ball into the "milch," as Joe still says, under the apple tree). Naturally, Our Hero did not want to go take his bath. He started to cry, but this gave us the perfect moment to impart one of baseballs most important lessons. say it with us, Fans: "There's no crying in baseball."

Potty Book

It's Friday, Fans, and if you are in the "Twos" or Pre-School Rooms at KinderCare, that means it's Show 'N' Share Day. Today, Joe took his "potty book." This is the electronic book that some of you may recall we gave him to look at when we began potty training in earnest, to encourage him to remain on the potty for more than three seconds. Joe likes to punch all the buttons no matter what the book is squawking. Thus, one hears things like:

"Who will win the race? The rab. . ."
"Can you touch the let. . ."
"Can you touch the letter P?"
"Can you t. . ."

"Can. . ."

"Can. . ."
"Can. . ."
"Who will win the race?"

Though there is an on/off button, it seems like it only turns on, and it is rather loud.

So it was that once Joe had clued into the fact that you have to sit on or stand at the potty long enough for something to happen, and let it happen, this book was hidden by Julie.

And so it was that this morning, when Joe asked Ted for his "potty book," Ted was momentarily stumped as to where the potty book might be (by not by what Joe meant by "potty book;" that he knew straight away). Luckily, Joe came to Ted's rescue and informed him it was way up high on top of the TV [cabinet], "next to the stamps." You know, Readers, of Stamp 'N' Beep fame.*

Apparently, we need a new hiding place. Like one in which things are actually hidden.

*http://joeandclara.blogspot.com/2011/01/sick-day-part-3-or-stamp-n-beep.html.

In the Big Girl Room | After Week 1

Week one Birdie's transition to the Big Girl Toddler Room is in the bag. Yesterday, the report of her daily doings said, " Clara had a good day. She played well in the toddler room and is making new friends. She was very content with teachers as they read many books." She reportedly walks to the toddler room with her friend John, from her Infant Room, who is also transitioning, holding hands. They walk right in and if the toddlers are at snack, Clara walks right over the the table and pulls out a chair. If the toddlers are at group time, she walks right over and puts herself in the circle. She's quite comfortable in what will be here new school nest by the end of next week. Julie has noticed two other things: Clara now helps when we wash her hands by rubbing her hands together; and, now, when we walk in for drop-off, or out at pick-up, Clara will move to hug the wall and trail her hand along it which is what they teach the older kids to do to keep the hallway more clear. Such a Big Bird. . .

Mini Me

Joe: "Why do you where those?"

Ted: "So I can see better."

Joe: "So you can see better?"

Ted: "Yes."

Joe (with big grin): "Can I wear them?!"

Ted: "You can try them. It will look fuzzy."

Joe (as pictured): "Whoa....it made it big!"