Camp

We decided to sign Linus up for a summer camp program so he could have some fun and get more socialization. This was when we didn't think he'd be going to preschool in the fall. He attended on Monday for the first time. The camp is just two hours, two days a week in July. He had no qualms about it and was looking forward to it. I got him a lunch box and we talked about to whom he'd go for help if he needed it. He answered with confidence, "The teacher!"

It was no big deal to him, but to me it was a significant milestone. The first thing the kids do is eat lunch, so I got him started on his lunch, gave him a hug and a kiss, and left. One would think he'd been doing this separation thing for months. It was so strange that he wasn't with me or Matthew, but was with complete strangers. When I picked him up the kids were running around the gym chasing after rubber balls and he was giggling. His cheeks were rosy and he was sweaty when I finally got to give him a hug. He didn't want to leave.

He was, indeed, ready for this. Mama? Not so much.

When we were almost home he realized he'd forgotten his fruit on a skewer. They'd made them during camp. When we got back there to pick it up, one of the teachers said they'd tossed it out because flies were on it. He was a bit bothered by this, until she offered him a skewer to take home to make another one. I was meeting a handy man back at our house, so I wasn't paying Linus enough attention. When I was distracted with him downstairs, Linus got a banana and a sharp knife and started making his "fruit on a skewer." When I saw him working on this at the table I said I was happy to see that he was using the knife carefully, but that he needed to remember he wasn't to use a sharp knife without a grown up. He said, "Yes, but see? This is how you make it. You cut the banana. You leave the grapes round. You put them on the skewer. Then you dip them in vanilla yogurt and eat them. See?" He was so proud of himself to be able to teach me something new.

Father's Day

Linus narrated what was writing in Matthew's Father's Day card: "I don't love you because you don't pick things up around the house." I was cracking up on the inside because Linus knows Matthew's messiness bothers me. I told him, "You're supposed to write something nice in his card to let him know you love him."

We took a picnic to the jazz concert in the park and Linus gave him the gift he'd selected. Linus chose dinosaur cookie cutters for him and told me he'd teach Matthew how to make dinosaur cookies.

(They are toasting with Oreos.)

Block Captain

Our next door neighbor travels a lot for his job and asked if I'd be interested in taking over as block captain for our neighborhood association. I agreed, although I did tell him I wasn't willing to attend the monthly meetings because I've heard that people attend to complain about parking and I have no interest in that. He and the association president said that the primary job of a block captain is to distribute newsletters and other print communications from the association, which is the perfect volunteer activity to do with Linus.

The first communique was to alert everyone about a meeting the city was holding in regards to changing the zoning for our neighborhood to allow larger buildings. (The president of the association is against this. While I wouldn't be thrilled for an apartment building to go in next to our house, I have read that increased density in cities is better for the environment.)

I had a hard time getting Linus to sit still for me to apply sunscreen. He was ready to run out the door with the flyers. I put them in one of my bags and slung it across his chest. He thought it was great fun putting the flyers at each house. He said he was being the letter carrier. At one house our neighbors came out to say hi and when Ed asked what was on the flyer, Linus said, "It has lots of words on it." Ed played along and said, "That's great, because we don't have enough papers with words on them in our house." It really didn't take long to finish our block and Linus wanted to keep going. Instead, we went home and I gave him a popsicle. I told him that Obama would be proud of him because he was asking all Americans to donate time to their communities this summer.

We had a fun week that zoomed right by us. We had Erin and baby Grace over for lunch and Linus was great about sharing some of his toys and books with her. He also scolded her for putting her feet on the table while Erin was holding her. We explained that he was right about feet not going on the table, but that she is a baby and doesn't understand that yet. I have to admit that I love how many things are still black and white for kids at this age.

First Soccer Game

We signed Linus up for a soccer league through the Y. We missed the first day while we were in Wisconsin, so yesterday was our first time. The coach didn't show up, but parents stepped up and got the kids kicking the ball into the goal. The kids get a half-hour practice and half-hour game. I spent much of the time laughing at the chaos. One girl on the team didn't want to play and kept crying. Her mom finally got her out onto the field and she ran around with her stuffed Tigger. One boy's parents kept cajoling him to put on his jersey, but he ended up playing without it. Barrett is on Linus' team. We requested that so that Paige and I would know there was at least one other parent who wasn't going to be insanely competitive about their kid's playing.

Linus did a good job of doing what he was told and he obviously had a blast running around the field because he had a big smile on his face much of the time. Later in the day he told me, "When soccer ended, I wasn't sad. I was annoyed." He wanted to keep playing.

Each week a parent brings snacks for the kids and Linus was excited about the Gatorade. Gatorade for preschoolers?! It is made of water, high fructose corn syrup, and salt. Ack!

We went to the Greek Festival and ate delicious food prepared by volunteers through the Greek Orthodox Church. We enjoyed watching the traditional folk dancing and Linus and I danced together on the stage. Linus insisted he wanted to go down the 27-foot slide. I was against it, but Matthew went up with him and the attendant caught Linus at the bottom. Then he wanted to do it again and he made it without Matthew. Although he liked it, I regretted it afterward. The look of terror on his face as he first came down set off all of biological responses as a mom and it was too stressful for me.

Right at bedtime Linus was disturbed about some things that happened at soccer and we talked about it. One boy got in Linus' face and growled at him. We saw him do the same thing to a little girl at the playground after the game. He insulted Linus by telling him in a mean voice that he was two. Linus told him he was three, but the boy insisted he was two. Linus was very upset about this and couldn't understand why the boy did this. Before I could ask him how it made him feel, he said, "When the boy did that I felt mad." So now we are in a new phase of socialization and need to teach him how to deal with difficult people. At least he is able to use his words to express how he feels.

(Notice in the first picture how his tongue is out. He is with Barrett in the middle picture.)

Wisconsin Trip

We took Linus to Wisconsin for his longest trip to date. We flew out of Denver at a reasonable hour, which meant we all started the trip well rested. He dealt quite well with the all of the forms of transportation, sleeping in different places every day or so, and seeing a whole lot of people (many of whom he didn't remember). We stayed at Sara's and Billy's our first night so we could meet Evan as soon as possible. Evan is a cutie and developing well under his parents' care. Although I reveled in those warm, fuzzy maternal feelings when he was in my arms, I did share him with Matthew and Linus. Linus was just right with him: gentle and loving. He sang the ABC' song for him and gave him kisses. When we departed their house the next morning, Linus cried because he wanted to stay with Evan.

Our first stop in Green Bay was to see our friends Linda, Alex, and the girls. Johanna and Linus have the same personalities they did when they were one; they're just bigger and verbal now. It felt good to hang out with all of them, nibble on good food, watch the kids play, and get to know little Frida a bit. It was also a joy to dine with our former neighbors and catch up with them. Sue showed Linus the various pets she is looking after.

While in Madison we stayed with Stephanie, Brian, and Brandon. Linus soaked up everything Brandon said or did. The cutest thing was how the two were sleeping when Matthew and I returned from American Players Theatre one night. Next to Brandon's head on the pillow was Linus' penguin, and next to that was Linus' head. His body lay at an angle.

We got to visit the Circle M Farm, the CSA that both Stephanie and Lyz joined this year. We got to see the lambs, calves, piglets, horses, ducks, and chickens. Linus has wanted to ride a horse for a long time now and he finally got his chance.

Since we've been back I've been homesick for Wisconsin, Linus has been tired every day, and Matthew has suffered from a sore back from hauling luggage and the car seat.

Regular Life Stuff

Planting loriope

Taking a snack break

In his new sandbox

(I'm having a hard time coming up with interesting titles for these posts.)

Linus has become an amazing helper in the yard this year. He helps me with both the fun stuff, like planting, and the less fun stuff, like weeding and raking. He astonished me one recent afternoon. He was playing in the sandbox he and Matthew built together and I was pruning yet another overgrown climbing plant on the fence nearby. I had the back gate open because I was also pruning on the alley side of our fence. He suddenly comes over and tells me he's going to pull the weeds in the alley and that he'll be careful of cars. I walk out there with him and he has tackled the weeding of a mound of dirt along our back fence. I had mentioned it as something we'd tackle some day and he had the initiative to start it on his own. Astonishing! We think we want to level out the ground and plant something there. I think that is a sign that we both are addicted to planting and are running out of places to grow things.

Yesterday Linus and I had this conversation:
L: I don't want Matthew to go to work.
Me: I know, honey, but it is a work day.
L: What day is it?
Me: Tuesday.
L: I don't want it to be Tuesday.
Me: What day do you want it to be?
L: Valentine's Day. Or Christmas or Mother's Day. Then I can give you presents.

At lunch time yesterday I suggested we make scrambled eggs for lunch. When I told him I'd teach him how to make them he said with such joy, "Thank you! I never knew that before!" We ended up making an omelette with peas and cheese, which were his choices. It tasted great.

We were playing with his tree house/doll house today and he told me, "I love Matthew. When he does things I don't like, I don't love him. When he does things I like, I love him." He said the same thing about me too. I told him, "I love you even when you do things I don't like."