year of the Jack-L

2009 was a lucky and adventurous year! Lucky parents were fortunate to have a healthy and spirited boy all year long, only a few bad luck ear-infections and a minor bout of pneumonia slowed us down.

The parents found themselves challenged as the Jack-L's skills multiplied in strength many, many times over. The year was marked with many risky new ventures including walking, climbing, and even running. New doors were opened including doors to the Tupperware, and cupboards to the cookies (and locks promptly installed). Obstacles were mere trifles--couches were mountains to be scaled and chairs were pawns to be rearranged, leaving parents in the dust, wondering if it was in fact the year of the monkey.

Good fortune smiled upon the Jack-L. Even as the economy tanked, real estate for toys boomed and rooms were filled to capacity with playthings that beep, sing and heckle if ignored for too long. And the books! Books were king and letters came together to form magical things called words. Words which were sponged up and then gushed out in exclamations of "puppy!, coffee!, dude!, Daddy, Mommy, Jack," and "You're so funny", to name a few.

The year 2010 promises to be as fortuitous as the past one. There are more words to learn, a toilet to master, and challenges ahead that the parents cannot even begin to imagine. Contrary to popular belief, the year of the terrible twos is predicted to be full of giggles and brimming with love. Let the wild rumpus begin!

Larson Family Band Plays Living Room

     The Larson Family Band played their living room on last Monday despite low security and poor attendance. It was the first gig they had played in months. Originally scheduled to play The Cedar Cultural Center, The Larsons realized they'd have to move their concert to their living room when they realized they didn't have a sitter for their 22 month old, Jack.
     "It was kind of a bummer." said Karen who sings and plays Mandolin. "What were we thinking?" sighed Josh the group's guitarist and vocalist. The show started at approximately 7:00 and ended forty five minutes later. The duo knew they were in trouble when Jack stole their picks and attacked their instruments. "I can't believe security didn't stop him." complained Josh, who played the entire set sans pick. "I mean just because nobody was there doesn't mean they shouldn't have done their job."
     Security declined to be interviewed for this article.
     As for The Larsons, they will continue to soldier on in spite of toddler interference. "There's definitely opportunity out there.  We just have to keep everything away from him. One idea is to play all our gigs standing up rather than sitting down...comfortably. So he can't reach our instruments." Karen added "We've tried sooo hard to teach him play several different instruments so he can be in the band, but he just refuses to take it seriously. When he first threw his harmonica across the room, I thought it was very cool. Very punk rock. But now...I'm not so sure.
     What The Larson Family does know for sure is that Jack is a good dancer. "He really gets into it sometimes. He's learned a lot about dancing from watching the first fifteen minutes of the movie "Happy Feet." Says Mom.
   "We just have to be patient."Says Dad. "I'm sure he'll be playing lead guitar by next year."                  
     Boy, ain't that the truth.
 
 

Jack's top ten reads of 2009

As the end of the year is quickly approaching, I have noticed that everyone from the New York Times to Amazon.com is posting their top 10 books of 2009. It is now time for Jack, an avid reader who consumes at least 10 books a day, to give his 2 cents on his favorite books of 2009. Here is the list, as dictated by Jack:

1. Are You My Mother? (see past posts for more about this one)
2. Jazz Baby (fallen from #1 during 2008)
3. Where's the Dragon? (best when read by dad with his authentic grandfather voice)
3. The Little Engine That Could (I think I can...read this book for the 40th time time)
4. Ping-Ping Panda (beautiful pop-ups...to destroy that is)
5. What's in Paco's Pocket? (well, do you know what he keeps in there?)
6. Harry the Dirty Dog (pronunciation: "doity dog")
7. Skippy Jon Jones: Color Crazy (everyone's favorite trouble making Chihuahua)
8. Knuffle Bunny (all bunnies are now called Knuffie!)
9. Dumpy LaRue (the pig who knew what he wanted to do)
10. Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks from A to Z (shaped like an apple what's not to love?)

Jack asks that you take a moment now to post your recommendations for his 2010 reading  list--his dad needs all the help he can get for the next trip to the biblioteca (as Skippy Jon Jones would say).

Too Cold. Stayed in House

Well, the winter months could be hard when it's too cold to go outside. Today was one of those days. Hopefully it will warm up soon so we can go play in the snow.
Jack has been spending a lot of time with his cousin Oden and Aunt Sarah while I perform in "Hershel and the Hannukah Goblins" during the day for The Minnesota Jewish Theatre. Unfortunately Jack will not be seeing the show because it is recomended for ages three and up. I think this is for the best. It's only an hour show, but I don't think his attention span would last. I also think he would probably just shout "Daddy" the entire time I was on stage.
Christmas shopping has been quit an adventure! Last night we went to "Half Price Books." I basically just chased him through the aisles as he said hi to every single customer. Yeah, one of us shops and the other one chases Jack. That's the arrangement.

Intro-extro-vert

It seems that the labels "introvert" and "extrovert" are two that people are eager place upon your kid. When Jack is acting shy, I tend to feel the need to apologize for his antisocial behavior, saying, "He just needs some time to warm up." On the other hand, when he is acting extroverted, I also feel the need to apologize for his unrestrained howl of "Cookie!" during a church service (after finishing off the one we swiped from coffee hour in hopes of getting through an extra 5 minutes of the service in peace).

So far, Jack has exhibited a wide range of introversion and extroversion, and as an introvert myself, I find myself particularly fascinated by his range. You be the judge...

The introvert: Party at Cousin Oden's house for Uncle Michael's graduation celebration last Saturday. Now this is a home Jack frequents almost every day--he is familiar with the landscape and the people. To our surprise, he clams up and buries his face in his mother's legs for at least two hours. A single glance in his direction by friend or stranger sends him spiraling into the safety of Mom's thighs. At about 9:30 or so, he manages to drop the act--maybe he was getting punchy because it was so late, or maybe it was the two sippy cups of sparkling apple juice I gave him--anyway, he manages to put on a last minute show for the crowd by emptying out the beer cooler with cousin Oden and freely mingles while sucking down copious quantities of ice cubes.

The extrovert: Friday night (tonight) our family heads to Benny's Grill in Hastings for a Blue Drifters gig. I expect Mr. Shy Guy to appear at any moment. Instead, Jack owns the place. He flashes his smile, bribing the barista to give him a free cookie, runs the length of the place at least 40 times--a few of which find him in the kitchen--all while shouting "Hi!" to everyone he sees. Granted, the place only had a total of 11 people at its peak, but who would have guessed he would be whooping it up with strangers in this strange place after last weekend? (and by now you may be wondering what kind of parents would allow such behavior in a public establishment).

Anyway, the jury is out, and we love him no matter what -vert he is.

He said no no no

"Jack, let's put your pajamas on."

"NO."

"I picked out some books, do you want to read books?"

"NO."

"Are you ready for the crib?" "Aren't you tired?"

"NO."

Disconcerting answers from a boy who never used to answer our questions. Hmm...maybe silence really is golden.