Cuter than bunnies

easter
Originally uploaded by littlekidd.

Here's a relatively old picture, but it just came to me from our good friends the Lancasters, who hosted a great Easter brunch. The kids hunted for eggs in the pouring rain. Very Portland.

During dinner tonight Zack spotted something that surprised him. "My goodness flakes!" was the expression he used.

Big Pink Slide

Big Pink Slide
Originally uploaded by littlekidd.

We made our first trip to Oaks Park today. It's a tiny amusement park in SE Portland on the banks of the Willamette River. The kiddie rides can't be beat.

Even though it was the first sunny Saturday in weeks there were NO lines at this place. Unheard of where I come from. In New Jersey, people stand in line to get a turn standing in line. We'll surely bring Zack back here when Grandma Jean and Pop Pop come to visit next month.

Motorcycle Ride

Motorcycle Ride
Originally uploaded by littlekidd.

Watch out Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel, Watch Out
Originally uploaded by littlekidd.

Zack insisted on the blue shades the entire day. We got a lot of "too cool to smile" smirks for the camera.

Go, Speed Racers!

Go, Speed Racers!
Originally uploaded by littlekidd.

Zack and Sam living La Vida Loca!

Log-Abiding Citizens

Zack has inherited a two-wheeler with training wheels. It's just his size, and it looks like a mini mountain bike. Originally, the bike was Jacob's next door. He passed it on to his little brother, Liam, who grew out of it and gave it to Paige, down the street. It's been gathering dust in Paige's garage for a year or so, but now we have given it new life.

Zack's head had grown beyond the bounds of last summer's bike helmet, so we needed a new one. The afternoon we got the bike I let him ride it with the old tight helmet, but he complained it was uncomfortable. Paige's mom Sarah and I explained to Zack that kids HAVE to wear helmets when they ride bikes. It's THE LAW. (It is! In Oregon, kids under 18 must wear helmets!)
Zack and I also talked about why it's important to wear a helmet. He's knows where his brain is, and that he must avoid "bonking his brain" whenever possible.

So, the next day when I gave Zack his new bike helmet, he said, "Oh great, thanks! If I didn't wear this, and I rode my bike, a policeman might stop me and say 'You're breaking the log!'"

Zack Cousteau

Zack Cousteau
Originally uploaded by littlekidd.

Have I mentioned that Zack is fascinated by SCUBA diving? He has yet to put his head in the water in pool or bathtub. However, the other day we found him in the basement with his construction safety goggles on, and the connector end of a computer joystick in his mouth. He was holding the joystic handle, "driving" his submarine as he dove into the deep water.

Zack also knows he needs to eat his breakfast, lunch and dinner so he can grow big and strong. Besides SCUBA, Zack insists he wants to grow up to play the double bass.

Easter was fun. Zack has managed to self-regulate on candy. He'll eat one or two jelly beans and then insist he doesn't want more because, "If you eat too much candy you might turn into a blueberry girl!" Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, I salute you!

Zack's absorption of language and the context in which words are used continues to amaze us all. Yesterday during a walk in Forest Park, Zack spotted a snail in his shell. His response was, "Wow! I'm so impressed! That's incredible!"

Today Zack and I were fooling around with Legos. He suggested we build something "unusual."

The other challenge is Zack's made-up words and phrases, that, while descriptively accurate, are not necessarily part of the common vernacular. For example: An "out-of-the-grill cheese on wiggly bread" is just a cold cheese sandwich. ("Out-of-the grill" is self-explanatory. "Wiggly bread" refers to the state of untoasted bread. Hold a slice in each hand. Shake well. They wiggle!

Another classic was a request for a Cliff Bar in a "Nazi" wrapper. Yes, that's what I thought I heard. Fairly convinced that the Montessori preschool had not been teaching the kids about the Third Reich, I realized this had to be a phoneticism. It was only a small leap from there to clarity. Zack wanted a "not see" wrapper -- aka a wrapper you can't see through.

I love parenting! Nobody told me there would be word puzzles too! What fun!