I'm not Jack, I'm Spiderman...

This is a regular utterance around our house lately. Jack is simply obsessed with being Spiderman. He is regularly caught red-handed, exiting the bathroom, hands freshly smothered in lotion, because lotion "helps Spiderman to stick to and climb the walls". Not so great for the walls though, eh?

He often walks up to strangers and pronouces, "I'm Spiderman!" He also accosts strangers walking by (or cars, dogs, etc.) with a dose of spiderweb flung their way with appropriate sound-effects from his tiny (yet powerful web shooting) Spiderman hands.

Most nights before bed, Spiderman plays "bad guys" with WonderWoman (mom—yes!) and Robin (dad–to his humiliation). Ironing Man (no that is not a typo) also makes regular appearances—Dad just has to change his alter-ego.

Mom would love it if he was obsessed with a slightly less violent crew, but I think Dad is pretty proud.

A rare appearance of the little known "Green Spiderman" according to Jack this morning. Not the Green Goblin as you might mistakenly guess. 

Flowers and rocks

I hear from Jack's dad that Jack is regularly picking out presents for me while I am at work. Now that the snow is melting, Jack is tromping through the "woods" looking for treasures (and occasionally tracking a family of turkeys). Tuesday he was looking for flowers for me, (a little early) and today he picked out a rock. It was waiting for me on the kitchen floor tonight. Knobby, dirty, and the most beautiful rock. -KL

¡el número cinco no existe!

Jack can recognize all of the letters in the alphabet and even write a few of them too! We are so proud. We had Harvard on the phone, when alas, when they asked us how his numbers were going, we had to admit, he refuses to acknowledge that the number 5 exists. Not cool for entry into Harvard.

This is how Jack counts: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10. 

He gets points for consistency and an unflappable confidence that we are wrong. Don't even try to reason with him--pointing out that he has five fingers, five toes, and that there are many other everyday items that require the number five, will only result in a complete meltdown of emotion.

Frankly, we are beginning to believe him. It is easier than arguing with a three-year-old who knows everything.

P.S. He also claims he can speak spanish. 

3

 Well, Jack turned three today. We ended the night by playing basketball with the new hoop we bought him. I think he had a good birthday. He has had pink eye for the last two days so that's been unfortunate. We've just been hanging out at home for obvious reasons. The difference between his birthday this year and last is that I think he actually kind of knows what's going on. I think he understood that it really was his birthday today and that he's now three years old. In fact he knows his birthday his February eighth. He's said it several times.
 
  

Independence

    Well, it's been awhile. Much has been going on or so it seems anyway. Jack will be three years old next month. He can now speak very well, dress himself (with coaching), knows basic colors, can recite the alphabet (okay..we have to sing with him), helps cook, paints, makes play doh sculptures, colors, draws, swims and loves T.V. and movies. Actually he insists on doing everything himself which is part of his new found independence.
   "Don't open it! I can do it."
   "It's a heavy door Jack. I'll help."
   "I don't need any help!"
   "Ok."
   "It's pwetty heavy."
   "I know. Use both hands." Five minutes later the door finally opens.
   "Dad?"
   "Yeah?"
   "What do pigs eat?"
    "Feed."
   "What's feed?"
   "You know, I'm exactly sure. Corn and other stuff. You should ask your Grandpa that question. He would know for sure."
   "Do Giraffes have mommies?"
    "Yes."
    "Why?"
    "Um...well...all people and animals have a mommy."
    "Why?"
    "That's just how it is."
    "Oh. Are we going to O's?"
    "Not today. On Friday we're going over there."
    "I want to go there now."
    "No. We'll go in a couple of days."
    "Can I have a snack?"
    "We just had lunch."
    "I want a snack!"
   "No, we just ate. You have to wait awhile."
   "Can we go swimming?"
    "Yes, why don't you put your boots on. I'll get your coat."
    "No, I'll get it."
    "Jack, it's hanging up in the closet. You can't reach it."
    "Lift me up."
    "No, just let Daddy do it. Now let's get it on."
    "I can do it."
    "Okay fine. Go ahead. Okay you're putting it on upside down. Do you want help?" (Nods head)
Alright, put your arm through here. Good, now put your other one through here. Great. There you go. Okay put on your boots now."
    "I don't want to wear boots. I want to wear Thomas the Train shoes. Okay, that's fine I guess. Put them on. Jack, I appreciate the effort, but they're on the wrong feet."
    "No, I want them on this way."
    "Alright, I guess we're not going very far. Let's go."
    "I want to get the door."
    "That's fine, let's get your hat and mittens on first."
    "I don't need them."
    "Jack, it's freezing out there. You need them on. Now, let's go." A half hour later, we leave the house.
   

  

Yogi-master or criminal mastermind?!

TODAY Jack shared a clearly articulated memory from his day with me -- unprompted and out of the blue, which was kind of unusual. It came at bedtime when I was reading him books. He said:

"(insert cousin name here)* went to jail."

I said: "He went to jail? What did he do?"

"He took away my bike. He got a time out."

Me:  "Did he tell you he was sorry?"

Jack: "Yes. He was naughty to Jack. He took my bike. He got a time-out."

Not sure where he learned about jail. Smart that he related it to time-out. Toddlers do have genius, criminal minds when it comes right down to it.

I decided to write about this little conversation with him because I was so surprised when he randomly and calmly brought up this event (*names have been changed to protect the innocent. After all, I wasn't with him when the recalled event happened, and Jack has been known to let his imagination run wild). I found it interesting that this memory just happened to make him look like the good guy being picked on by the (ahem, younger) bully cousin. Then I remembered what I learned in my yoga class yesterday: our brains relish (and for adults, often get stuck in) re-running memories that feed our ego and remind us of just how superior we are in our manners, brains, etc. etc. to others. Obviously, the ego starts its feeding early--and toddlers are famous for their ego-centric selves.

As a side note, Jack is WAY better at yoga than I am. I came home from my class, only to find him doing a yogi-worthy down dog. Cats and toddlers--can't beat them at the yoga.

Back to toddlers who should spend some time in jail... The SAME day as aforesaid yoga class, I was rushing to get ready to go, only to find that while I had made a quick stop in the bathroom, Jack had used his lightning-fast criminal mind to locate the gigantic re-fill bottle of bathroom hand soap in the hall closet and was as busy as Jackson Pollack in an orange jumpsuit laying down his design on the floor when I emerged. Genius artist? OR criminal master-mind. You decide, once you have a toddler living with you.

By the way, in recalling this memory of him and sharing it with you, I don't feel superior to the toddler mind. Instead, I feel extremely ill-equipped to keep up with that curious, incredible brain! Oh well, at least he is keeping our synapses snapping...and sometimes our patience too!

Down dog! Good dog...

Summer Recap

Jack is tougher than Lake Superior

     Well, summer is coming to a close and we just wanted to recap a little. It was a busy summer to say the least. June found Jack spending a lot of time hanging out with Grandpa and Grandpa L. while Josh performed in "Old Man Brunner Country". In July, we spent some time in Duluth as well as vacationing on Cass Lake. in August, Josh performed in "The Tragedy of Icarus" at The Bryant Lake Bowl as part of The Minnesota Fringe Festival as well as several gigs with his bluegrass band, "The Blue Drifters." Because of the busy schedule, Jack got to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa O. We also spent a few days up north in Park Rapids on Fish Hook lake.
     In September, we visited The Sate Fair. Jack experienced his first bus ride when we rode the shuttle to the State Fair entrance. Jack didn't go on any rides, but we did see plenty of animals which he enjoyed immensely. We also went and saw "Trampled by Turtles" at a free stage but were unable to stay long because it was past Jack's bedtime.
     Jack continues to ask a lot of questions, many of which he already knows the answers to. He knows quite a few colors and is and is familiar with certain numbers and letters. Most recently, he started pooping and peeing in the toilet! We are very proud of him and look forward to more milestones.

Duluth!

On Fish hook Lake

Cass Lake

Delicious diner in Grand Marais

keeping Jack out of Lake Superior