link.
brrr.
Jeff
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
on snowball etiquette and toddlers
Despite our abundance of snow during the time in Japan, we did not really get to show him the art/game of snowball tossing. Being from Texas, not only do I have no idea what I am talking about, I am also convinced I know nearly all there is to know: make snowball, throw ...
Over the weekend we got a bit of snow overnight. The temperatures traveled a bit above the freezing point and the sun would occasionally shine through. After some snow mushing, then snow biking, he and I decided to make a few snowballs in the back yard as that is where the remaining snow was still mostly frozen. He immediately knew what to do: attack me.
The battle began.
Now he may have won the first few strikes, as ... well ... he is very polite and asks, "snowball pease?" so as I made and stacked them he would begin his onslaught. I should also mention that he had a superior tactical advantage, being that he was above me on the deck and behind the slats/railing.
So I would retreat after providing a supply of ammo ... At times I would gently toss a volley, at times I would test my arm and have it explode on the wood slats near him - this was very desirable and much laughter could be heard. As the exchange continued he began to get eerily accurate. Obviously when I was providing more ammo he would get direct hits, as I retreated I was getting hit more consistently, to the point where when I stopped to return fire about eight feet from the deck, I was hit in the chest.
We had successfully made enough racket to have Mimi appear at the door (a sliding glass door leading onto the deck). Stone figured that he had a new target and thus he attacked the glass. As I went around to come inside to grab him and get him in a bath he took another great shot as Mimi opened the door a snowball made it through and glanced off of her and smashed into the kitchen! Success! He was very pleased.
Today after gym time, we remained outside. After some snow mushing and bike riding he realized the piles of snow from some of the shoveling made great snowballs .. and the second battle began.
This time we were on even ground, so after I made a few and retreated, he started getting the process of making his own. After a few exchanges and general good times, he asked for more supply. I provided, turned, stopped and turned to retur-n-fi ... fire ... hit directly in the face.
You might have had the opportunity to hear a child (or anyone in their life for that matter) laugh uncontrollably with good volume and seemingly unashamed to share their joy with the planet - this was one of those times.
I could not deny the addictive power of the laugh, so then we escalated to snowballs: 2.0. I would create something the size of his head and toss it against a tree, then something the size of my head and hit a tree: the reward being laughter that gets the dogs barking from inside their homes across the street.
He would try to pick up the snowcanonballs and attack me - I let one partially hit and knock me over then rolling over in the snow - goldmine of pure joy.
Snow riding images.
J
Over the weekend we got a bit of snow overnight. The temperatures traveled a bit above the freezing point and the sun would occasionally shine through. After some snow mushing, then snow biking, he and I decided to make a few snowballs in the back yard as that is where the remaining snow was still mostly frozen. He immediately knew what to do: attack me.
The battle began.
Now he may have won the first few strikes, as ... well ... he is very polite and asks, "snowball pease?" so as I made and stacked them he would begin his onslaught. I should also mention that he had a superior tactical advantage, being that he was above me on the deck and behind the slats/railing.
So I would retreat after providing a supply of ammo ... At times I would gently toss a volley, at times I would test my arm and have it explode on the wood slats near him - this was very desirable and much laughter could be heard. As the exchange continued he began to get eerily accurate. Obviously when I was providing more ammo he would get direct hits, as I retreated I was getting hit more consistently, to the point where when I stopped to return fire about eight feet from the deck, I was hit in the chest.
We had successfully made enough racket to have Mimi appear at the door (a sliding glass door leading onto the deck). Stone figured that he had a new target and thus he attacked the glass. As I went around to come inside to grab him and get him in a bath he took another great shot as Mimi opened the door a snowball made it through and glanced off of her and smashed into the kitchen! Success! He was very pleased.
Today after gym time, we remained outside. After some snow mushing and bike riding he realized the piles of snow from some of the shoveling made great snowballs .. and the second battle began.
This time we were on even ground, so after I made a few and retreated, he started getting the process of making his own. After a few exchanges and general good times, he asked for more supply. I provided, turned, stopped and turned to retur-n-fi ... fire ... hit directly in the face.
You might have had the opportunity to hear a child (or anyone in their life for that matter) laugh uncontrollably with good volume and seemingly unashamed to share their joy with the planet - this was one of those times.
I could not deny the addictive power of the laugh, so then we escalated to snowballs: 2.0. I would create something the size of his head and toss it against a tree, then something the size of my head and hit a tree: the reward being laughter that gets the dogs barking from inside their homes across the street.
He would try to pick up the snowcanonballs and attack me - I let one partially hit and knock me over then rolling over in the snow - goldmine of pure joy.
Snow riding images.
J
December is here
As we all know, life is but a reflection of TV, and to prove it: Stone will now quite consistently inform someone when someone else is cross (with him). This is a reference to the reality of Thomas the Train, located on the island of Sodor. Quite often a main character is cross with effectively all of the other characters for all sorts of misbehavior and shenanigans. We look forward to many new versions of reality from TV soon ...
These days, should you ask Stone not to do something, or not give him something he asks for and thinks he needs ... you'll we see a rather dramatic reaction and then be told on. Such fun seeing all that visual and audio data be absorbed, analyzed and emulated in "real life" ... On the positive side, we've seen a significant increase and interest in being read to, preferably the author Dr. Seuss.
He also continues to enjoy assembly, destruction and reassembly of train track. In an few images (link here) you'll see that there is a section of lumps of track between him (the window) and the blue bridges, all he needed was some assistance in constructing the bases of the support towers, the rest was his doing. The current plan for elf fest decoration/toy strategy is to have the head giant elf build an all TV room encompassing train track - which - he has nearly done all by himself as I type.
He continues to warm to her, and will get closer and closer with each pass. Even so bold as to play on next to me while she was resting on my lap. I'm sure I'll be looking back fondly on the day that only one of them was mobile. So far his favorite activities include tickling her feet and trying to share food/monkey with her. A few kisses on the head have taken place, yet he is not quite up for pushing her in the stroller yet.
All are doing well and I'll get a few more updates soon as we prepare for winter-fest holiday season time, or christmas, as some celebrate.
J
These days, should you ask Stone not to do something, or not give him something he asks for and thinks he needs ... you'll we see a rather dramatic reaction and then be told on. Such fun seeing all that visual and audio data be absorbed, analyzed and emulated in "real life" ... On the positive side, we've seen a significant increase and interest in being read to, preferably the author Dr. Seuss.
He also continues to enjoy assembly, destruction and reassembly of train track. In an few images (link here) you'll see that there is a section of lumps of track between him (the window) and the blue bridges, all he needed was some assistance in constructing the bases of the support towers, the rest was his doing. The current plan for elf fest decoration/toy strategy is to have the head giant elf build an all TV room encompassing train track - which - he has nearly done all by himself as I type.
He continues to warm to her, and will get closer and closer with each pass. Even so bold as to play on next to me while she was resting on my lap. I'm sure I'll be looking back fondly on the day that only one of them was mobile. So far his favorite activities include tickling her feet and trying to share food/monkey with her. A few kisses on the head have taken place, yet he is not quite up for pushing her in the stroller yet.
All are doing well and I'll get a few more updates soon as we prepare for winter-fest holiday season time, or christmas, as some celebrate.
J
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