Speed boat trip
Swimming lesson
Michael's 1st Birthday Party
Trip to the Beach
Cooking lesson
BBQ at Rania's
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
The Beach
Wow, now that was fun. Charlie had a blast at the freezing cold water of Lake Michigan.
This afternoon we jumped in the van and parked over at Eileen's gym. Three blocks away was the oak street beach which was loaded with people doing summer beach stuff.
The weather was perfect and Charlie brought his pale and a few shovels and tools to play in the sand. I don't think he really understood what the "plage" was until he got there. It was a blast throwing mud into the water seemed to be the only thing to do for the longest time. He'd stand there with a shovel and simply shovel sand in the water over and over again.
I decided to break it up a bit and run around in the cold water a bit and he of course, followed suit. He had a blast. Now the bummer part was when he decided to reach down to throw some more sand but he didn't fully appreciate what a wave us. It slammed into him and knocked him over with a burst of cold water.
Scared him a bit but I think will all the swimming he does on Saturday morning getting a mouthful of water wasn't that big of deal. He'd run back to Mom who was safely away from the waves, tell her what happened then run back.
Despite being soaken wet we continued right up until it was time to go home for diner. Needless to say but this afternoon at the beach, in the strong sun, completely wiped Charlie out. He was exausted and by 7 o'clock was begging for bed time.
This afternoon we jumped in the van and parked over at Eileen's gym. Three blocks away was the oak street beach which was loaded with people doing summer beach stuff.
The weather was perfect and Charlie brought his pale and a few shovels and tools to play in the sand. I don't think he really understood what the "plage" was until he got there. It was a blast throwing mud into the water seemed to be the only thing to do for the longest time. He'd stand there with a shovel and simply shovel sand in the water over and over again.
I decided to break it up a bit and run around in the cold water a bit and he of course, followed suit. He had a blast. Now the bummer part was when he decided to reach down to throw some more sand but he didn't fully appreciate what a wave us. It slammed into him and knocked him over with a burst of cold water.
Scared him a bit but I think will all the swimming he does on Saturday morning getting a mouthful of water wasn't that big of deal. He'd run back to Mom who was safely away from the waves, tell her what happened then run back.
Despite being soaken wet we continued right up until it was time to go home for diner. Needless to say but this afternoon at the beach, in the strong sun, completely wiped Charlie out. He was exausted and by 7 o'clock was begging for bed time.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Speed Boat Ride
Got off work early Friday and on the way home I thought it was the perfect weather to get Charlie out on the water on a boat. I knew that the speed boats at Navy Pier run a short ride and very freaquently.
A cab ride away and we were at the boat getting a ticket. What I hadn't expected though, was competition for Charlie's interest. It turns out they have a thomas the train ride at the Pier and that was pretty much his only focus.
I had to break his concentration and keep him focused on the boat.
We sat around the middle with him on the side. Everything was perfect, ducks swiming around with ducklings, birds everywhere, weather perfect. He was tired but ready to go.
The ride was slow until we got into the open lake and he was very happy to be on the boat watching everything around. Once they hit the gas though he wasn't so sure. He put his head down because of the huge wall of water that came up on the side. It was loud and rough and he was just not too sure about this whole thing.
I managed to keep him entertained by singing songs and keeping his head down into my head and generally protected from the elements since he had a good jacket on with a hood and I put my jacket over his legs too to keep him ultra-protected.
I had been on the seadog ride before and I do remember how short it was so the loudness didn't last that long. Once we got to the south side the boat stopped again for a site seeing talk and Charlie peeped up again.
The next longer run to the North side of the Pier took longer but he was a bit more comfortable with it all. Again after a stop he got more and more comfortable on the boat and the last ride into the Pier was real short and the final slow part into the dock was exciting with all the other boats around and also knowing that the train was next.
All in all a good time but he was happy to get off the boat (after running up and down the length of it while everyone was off a few times).
Of course, the train was the best, he was focused, and loved every turn. He stayed on it until Eileen came and picked us up for dinner.
All that sunshine and fresh hair he was exhausted.
A cab ride away and we were at the boat getting a ticket. What I hadn't expected though, was competition for Charlie's interest. It turns out they have a thomas the train ride at the Pier and that was pretty much his only focus.
I had to break his concentration and keep him focused on the boat.
We sat around the middle with him on the side. Everything was perfect, ducks swiming around with ducklings, birds everywhere, weather perfect. He was tired but ready to go.
The ride was slow until we got into the open lake and he was very happy to be on the boat watching everything around. Once they hit the gas though he wasn't so sure. He put his head down because of the huge wall of water that came up on the side. It was loud and rough and he was just not too sure about this whole thing.
I managed to keep him entertained by singing songs and keeping his head down into my head and generally protected from the elements since he had a good jacket on with a hood and I put my jacket over his legs too to keep him ultra-protected.
I had been on the seadog ride before and I do remember how short it was so the loudness didn't last that long. Once we got to the south side the boat stopped again for a site seeing talk and Charlie peeped up again.
The next longer run to the North side of the Pier took longer but he was a bit more comfortable with it all. Again after a stop he got more and more comfortable on the boat and the last ride into the Pier was real short and the final slow part into the dock was exciting with all the other boats around and also knowing that the train was next.
All in all a good time but he was happy to get off the boat (after running up and down the length of it while everyone was off a few times).
Of course, the train was the best, he was focused, and loved every turn. He stayed on it until Eileen came and picked us up for dinner.
All that sunshine and fresh hair he was exhausted.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Full sentences
It's real funny listening to Charlie explain his day. He's pretty much doing full sentences now and though he can't relay a whole story we do get what he's saying.
It's real funny since the words just flow from his mouth and they are starting to flow together now.
Eileen and Charlie went to Toronto for the long weekend and when he returned I really noticed the difference. He's changing day by day now as well and he's almost mastered the computer mouse as well.
We find interesting topics like "hakuna mata french" and "sumo" on youtube.com and he watches them. The way youtube displays results it shows little previews of other video clips and he now understands to mouse over them and click the button. He doesn't always get which button to click but he's done it a few times and it's a matter of time before he completely gets it.
His new favorite game is to put a pail hanging up on the lamp in the front yard and try and play basket ball with it. He doesn't ever get it in but that doesn't dampen his spirits at all. It's go go go for him.
He's also good at soccer ball and this is kinda funny since what he does is instead of kicking around the ball he does a sort of dance while the ball is in front of him. He's trying to copy how I kick the ball from foot to foot on my own and he's trying to get the footwork down pat.
He loves the sports that's for sure and he has a golf set as well that he plays like hockey pretty much.
Sleep time: Today he was so tired he crashed immediately. Typically he goes to the gated door and says he wants the gate open for a minute or two but tonight it was a real big crash. I think he's catching up from the weekend on his sleep.
Eileen says that at bubbles he tackles his friends and puts them in head locks which I think is a direct result of how I play with him. He's also bigger than the other kids so Eileen's gotta really pay attention...
It's real funny since the words just flow from his mouth and they are starting to flow together now.
Eileen and Charlie went to Toronto for the long weekend and when he returned I really noticed the difference. He's changing day by day now as well and he's almost mastered the computer mouse as well.
We find interesting topics like "hakuna mata french" and "sumo" on youtube.com and he watches them. The way youtube displays results it shows little previews of other video clips and he now understands to mouse over them and click the button. He doesn't always get which button to click but he's done it a few times and it's a matter of time before he completely gets it.
His new favorite game is to put a pail hanging up on the lamp in the front yard and try and play basket ball with it. He doesn't ever get it in but that doesn't dampen his spirits at all. It's go go go for him.
He's also good at soccer ball and this is kinda funny since what he does is instead of kicking around the ball he does a sort of dance while the ball is in front of him. He's trying to copy how I kick the ball from foot to foot on my own and he's trying to get the footwork down pat.
He loves the sports that's for sure and he has a golf set as well that he plays like hockey pretty much.
Sleep time: Today he was so tired he crashed immediately. Typically he goes to the gated door and says he wants the gate open for a minute or two but tonight it was a real big crash. I think he's catching up from the weekend on his sleep.
Eileen says that at bubbles he tackles his friends and puts them in head locks which I think is a direct result of how I play with him. He's also bigger than the other kids so Eileen's gotta really pay attention...
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