Apple Eater

This afternoon Milo and I baked a French apple cake using some of the apples we picked yesterday. In a shocker of all shockers, Milo actually ate apple and enjoyed it!

Those of you who know Milo know that he does not like fruit, with the exception of prunes (which he does not even like in whole form, they have to be pureed). But in the spirit of trying new things, Milo's been a lot more adventurous with his food lately and tried a bit of apple while we were baking. He ate the sliver of apple I gave him and then proceeded to eat a couple more slices. I averted my eyes and looked away as Justin smiled, smirked, and then had to leave the room to let out a cheer. I also let Milo try a piece of apple sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and he was downright gleeful. He said he'd eat apple if I included it in his lunch! I'll take it.

Now only if Calder would eat apples too. Tonight he barely ate the sugar-laden apples in his slice of cake. Zola, on the other hand, was eating grated apple by the fistful this evening. Ah. My little girl rocks!

Star Wars

Today was a big day for Calder in the Weinberg household. Daddy and Milo decided that Calder should get to watch "Star Wars" (Episode 4) for the first time (Yeah, perhaps he should know who Darth Vader is since he's going to be him for Halloween). So Calder and Milo sat glued to the television for a while this morning, Calder gripping a stuffed animal, constantly sliding lower into the sofa, and periodically asking clarifying questions. At the end of the movie Calder told me he did not like the movie because it was too scary. I followed by asking Milo if "Finding Nemo" was still his favorite movie and he replied, "Oh no. Star Wars is my favorite." And Calder said, "Me too." Ha ha! And Calder confirmed this by playing with Daddy's X-wing fighter, Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 action figures, for about a half hour straight. (Yes, my husband has an X-wing fighter.)

Apple Picking

Yesterday afternoon, after the boys' soccer games, we went apple picking with our friends Lauren and Jim and their two boys Jack and Alex. Like last year, we went to the Windy Hill Orchard, our tongues anticipating their apple cider slushies and homemade donuts. Sadly, there were no donuts this year! Regardless, the boys had fun with their friends, running and wrestling throughout the orchard, arguing over who got to carry the big bucket of apples, playing hide-and-go-seek among the apple trees, rolling in hay, chasing the poor chickens, and, yes, even picking apples too. Zola enjoyed the ride in her sling and sucking down some apple cider slushie. Yum!

Soccer

The recreational league soccer season started yesterday here in Columbia, with all 3,000+ children, and so Milo and Calder played their first soccer games. This was their first foray into organized sports and they both "played" well.

Calder's game was first. His age group, the Under 4s, has a half hour of practice and then a half hour game. Calder shyly dribbled and kicked the ball during practice. During the actual game time, however, Calder gained a new nickname in our household: the immovable object. Literally, he stood his ground and did not move, except to wander off the soccer field a couple of times. He had no contact with the soccer ball. At the end of the game when both teams were shaking hands and running through a tunnel formed by silly parents, I found Calder wandering around two soccer fields away. I guess this organized sports thing is tricky. It may take a while for him to understand the concept of a game and his participation.

Milo, on the other hand, did not seem daunted by the hordes of children and their parents. He was very excited about the prospect of a game, as demonstrated by his incessant dancing and jumping around the field. These antics, however, did not cease during the actual game. The coach had Milo play two out of the four quarters and probably half of the time he was out on the field, Milo was pirouetting and leaping all over the place. Heck, if there were butterflies out there he probably would've been chasing them too. That is not to say that Milo didn't get into the game. He did chase after the ball and even made contact with the ball. His level of engagement and interest, however, faded over time. Perhaps because his coach was only playing him half the time or perhaps because of the really cool (and giant) helicopter another kid was playing with on the sidelines. Anyhoo.

Whose athletic genes did they get anyway? I guess we'll just have to wait and see . . . . Justin!!!

(Whoa. There go both teams and the ball.)

At least the boys look super cute in their (gigantic) soccer uniforms.

Fantasy Land

Earlier today Calder asked, as we merged onto the highway, whether we were going to the water park. Ah, the beloved water park. Apparently, my reminding him that the water park is closed for the season until next May prompted the following conversation I overheard.

Calder: We're going to bash it open. We're going to get on our tricycles and drive there and smash, crash it open.*

Milo: Yeah!

Calder: Wooohooo! I'm going to take my tools and hammer and bash the gate open.

Milo: Yeah and then we'll go swimming. Mommy? Is there still water in the pools?

Me: No. They empty it out for the season.

Calder and Milo (in unison, their hopes and dreams crushed): Oh.

* I think we may have read John Scieszka's "Smash! Crash!" one too many times.

Who Knew?

Recently I've gotten wind of my boys behaving well. Really, who knew they had it in them?

One of Calder's teachers told me today that Calder is the BEST, yes, not one of the better, but the BEST behaved and well-mannered child in the class. Oh "yes ma'am," "no sir," "please," "thank you," "you're welcome," and "excuse me," are all being used properly and repeatedly. Whoa. For example, today in the playground some children were playing ball a little close to a teacher. Calder apparently walked over, said "Excuse me, please stop throwing the ball, you are going to hit my teacher." When the others said, "What? Which teacher?", etc., Calder repeated, "Excuse me, please stop throwing the ball, you are going to hit my teacher Ms. Doris." Well then, I am impressed, and perhaps a little shocked.

Milo too has thrown us a curve ball. Twice now I've learned that he's been the "role model" for the day, which means he's demonstrated that he follows the rules of the class without being asked, and so he gets to wear a yellow heart pinned to his shirt for a day. The first time he was granted this honor his teacher, Ms. Smith, told me at the end of the day when I picked Milo up from school. The second (I guess) time I only found out because they forgot to take the yellow heart off his shirt at dismissal. Perhaps this good behavior has happened more than twice. I wouldn't know.

Eight Months Old

It's hard to believe that Zola is two-thirds of the way to being a one-year-old!

At eight months old Zola loves to feed herself, especially bread (she's a fan of challah and Heather's ciabatta) and Cheerios, but also some peas and tiny pieces of carrot, banana, and tofu. Zola's started to love her dogs, who always keep her company when she's eating and dropping food all over the place. Zola's also a girl on the move. Every day she practices crawling, pushing up onto all fours and rocking around. She certainly has the hang of crawling backwards and can roll herself anywhere she wants to be. Crawling forward is probably only a short while away. Zola's still as sweet and good-natured as can be. Her big brothers continue to dote on her and share their toys with her (albeit not with each other necessarily)!

Wizard Of Cars?

Tonight for our Friday movie night with the boys we watched the first half of "The Wizard of Oz," which happens to be one of my all-time favorite movies. Afterwards, as we were getting the boys ready for bed, Milo had this conversation with Justin:

Milo: What would happen if we combined "Cars" with "The Wizard of Oz"?

Me (silently): What?!@?#*?!!

Justin (with a smirk on his face): That would be an interesting mash-up of a movie.

Milo: Yeah, you could have Lightning McQueen wear the ruby slippers.

Ah . . . The mind of a boy who likes cars and musicals.

Crawling?

Yesterday Zola met up with her friend Blythe, who at 8.5 months old, is exactly one month older than Zola. Blythe can crawl and Zola found her friend's freedom of movement fascinating. Zola stared as Blythe pushed up on her knees and then to her feet, traversing the ground in full exploration on her hands and feet. So today Zola gave it a try herself. No joke.

Just one try so far, but I'm sure this little monkey will be all over the place in no time. She sure was proud of herself.

Anyone up for taking bets as to whether she'll do the same crazy crab-like crawl that her elder brothers did? I have a feeling she's not going to wait to be ten months old (like her brothers) to get crawling.