Jamie Chew's Web Log: Vol. 3 No. 22

2010-01-05 23:22 (Kristen) Liam was back at Hakobune, in his usual joyful way, and Jamie was back at school with more time to spare, although he complained bitterly about walking and not being pulled on the sled as it had snowed lightly the night before. I picked Liam up after Hakobune and took him to Dr. Da Costa's office for his filling appointment, and we met John and Jamie there, who were ready for theirs. Apparently Jamie brushed his teeth for Dr. Da Costa before I got there, and he pronounced his time spent and technique good. Jamie had to have two needles for his filling on a back molar, and he was very very good given how anxious these things make him. He fussed over his numb mouth for a few hours, and disliked being unable to eat or drink, but these were minor points given how good he was in the chair. Liam too managed to be very good as he got some preventative work done on a back molar. We headed home, played some games, and did homework. Jamie was very tired by then, so he was not his usual easygoing self about it, but we got it all done. The boys were clearly exhausted by the end of the day, and were easy to put to bed.

2010-01-06 23:30 (Kristen) The plan was to go up to the Japanese Cultural Centre this evening with Jamie and Liam in tow in order to establish with the sensei teaching judo there if Jamie can register. There was some confusion over whether or not he had to go two times a week, and as the second class was on Saturday mornings, that wasn't going to work (if so). First, Jamie went to school and Liam went to skating, and then the boys visited for a little bit over at Charlie, Tom, and Jack's house. We raced home, with much complaining by both boys over how I was making them walk, then got ready for judo. John drove us up, and we arrived an hour and a half early, so I fed them dinner from their bento boxes while John went on to Scrabble. I spoke with Russ-sensei about half an hour before class started, and he gave Jamie the all clear to start judo once a week. I told Jamie, and started to explain to him how he should behave in class, complete with bowing etiquette (the boy has a lovely bow), and so on. He was getting very nervous, and was peppering me with questions about what to do where and wehn, when a father with two orange belts in the class got one of his sons (Barret) to help Jamie out by taking him into class, showing him where to bow, and where to sit. Liam and I got to watch the class through a large window with benches and chairs in front of it. Jamie was very serious, and quite nervous, for the first little while, but the sensei made sure he did the right things at the right time, and he and the other first-timers spent the bulk of the class with him to learn the proper warmup exercises. I was a little worried at first, as I couldn't tell if Jamie looked tired, frustrated, or about to cry, but he really tried his best and tried hard, even when he clearly was operating outside his comfort zone for strength and novelty. When he came out, he was very proud of himself for lasting through a 90 minute class, and felt the strength of his accomplishment. "I love rolling!" he cried, and was very proud in particular that he did the backwards breakfall exercises, which I know would be difficult for him because he hates falling. I was very proud of him as well, and spent the money on a gi for him as it seems clear that he enjoyed the experience and is looking forward to going back. Liam kept talking about how long it was going to be until he was six, and he would be able to do judo too. I think that it's going to be a loooong two and a half years for him until he can. John picked us up at 9:20, and the boys were in bed at 10:15. A little late, I think, but we'll work on getting him into bed faster. A shower after class at the JCCC might help speed things up, as there is no way he can go to bed after judo class without one!

2010-01-07 23:27 (Kristen) I was wondering if Jamie would be sore today after his judo workout, but there didn't seem to be any. Just some residual fatigue, perhaps, but he seemed to cope well enough. Liam had fun at Hakobune, and went grocery shopping with me and John afterwards. He was talking into it with the promise of being able to pick out some food items for himself: he chose some sushi, and some cheese (we talked him out of the extra aged cheddar and into some mild cheddar--responsible parents we). I picked Jamie up at school, and we came back in the cold wind (Jamie hates the wind when it's cold, and so do I) to play video games, do homework, and have dinner. It was a quiet night, with a game of Wii Music to entertain us. It was very cute watching the boys try to play the instruments, and the "video" we made was hilarious in its badness. They enjoyed themselves, though. Then it was time for bed, and they went to sleep more or less willingly.

2010-01-08 23:34 (Kristen) It was the usual mad struggle to get out the door today, complicated by snow pants and other cold weather gear. Everyone eventually got to their destinations, which was the point, I suppose. Liam went with me to our doctor's office after Hakobune to get his eye looked at, as he's given himself another eye infection. Warm copresses and vigilant cleaning seem to be clearing it up without antibiotics, so we'll continue in that vein unless it gets much worse. I picked Jamie up at school; he was trying valiantly to arrange a playdate with Charlie, who was in a bad mood and having no playdate at all in the end. Jamie was all right with coming home, as we were to say goodbye to Ponyo today. When Andrea came over to get Ponyo, however, she and her boyfriend offered the fish to Jamie and Liam, knowing that they'd enjoyed having the fish around (and they have many). Jamie and Liam were both delighted, and I have to say that I've enjoyed having a fish around the house. Who knew? As Ponyo is currently living in a vase, I think that we'll have to buy him a decent fishbowl to live in: one that isn't so tippy. That will be fun. John and I dropped the boys at Browning so that John and I could see a movie together, which was lovely. They didn't miss us at all, but appreciated us when we came home. Bedtime was a little later than I would have liked, as Jamie has an unusually busy day tomorrow, but the boys did fall asleep almost instantly.

2010-01-09 20:44 (John) As we were driving to Browning from the second birthday party today, Jamie burst out uncontrollably singing the "Best Day Ever!" song, whose lyrics go "Best Day Ever! Best Day Ever!" and then repeat. The recipe for a BDE consist of waking your parents up in the middle of the night with a nightmare, so that they'll be quiet and subdued the rest of the day, then leaving after a half day of Japanese school to drive up to an indoor playground birthday party (Harry-kun from Nisshu Gakuin) in Barrie with your dad, getting him to entertain you making up stories, arrive early, spot "Big Al's Fish Aquarium" next door, spend fifteen minutes frantically watching the clock while running around picking up things for Ponyo, then spend two hours at the playground alternately inhaling calories and burning them off, running around with a pack of kids and getting your dad to throw you on a mat to practise your newfound Judo breakfall skills, then hitting a Starbucks to buy a cinnamon roll to keep you going on the ride to the second birthday party (Jack B. from Jackman) at Funnelz, where you eat another couple of slices of pizza, a huge bowl of fruit, pretzels, chips, anything else within reach, while you bounce in the bouncy castle, go down the big orange slide, shoot balls at other kids, and just run as though you'll suffocate like a shark if you stop moving, then pile back into the car and drive to Browning for dinner, and video games, and more fun. I hope he sleeps okay tonight. I know I will.

(Kristen) Liam had a much more sedate day, I think, that Jamie did! We went to the St. Lawrence Market in the morning to pick up a few items but, really, to get Liam away from the Wii, which has Eaten His Brain. Well, to be more specific, Super Mario Bros. has eaten his brain but thoroughly. Mother Does Not Like. After we finished up at the market, we went on the streetcar to Queen West to buy some knitting needles for me (I lost one...how strange...but true), and to visit Bakka-Phoenix Books. Liam was perfectly happy to sit and play with his DS there while I looked around, and he attracted the attention of some of the older customers, who were amazed at his deft DS skills. One person commented that he'd seen a video on CNN of a two-year-old using an iPHone, and I commented that he was indeed using one when he was 2, but there was no accompanying video. We headed home around 3, when we were both tired, and he played Wii until it was time to go to Browning for dinner, as we'd been invited kindly by Michelle while we were at Bakka. It gave him a chance to play Soulcalibre 4 (Round 4! Fight!) which seems to me to be even worse than Super Mario Bros. Liam was amused by the "armour" of one female Soulcalibre character (I use "armour" loosely) as the spikes on it would have made hugging her very difficult. Tom and I reflected that Liam, at least, would find the idea of spikes on the "nurse nurse" to be amusing, ha ha, but this is Not my favourite game by any means, and would be just as happy to see it Go Away Too.

2010-01-10 23:05 (Kristen) I don't really know what time we got up this morning. In fact, we didn't really get going today until well after 11; Liam wore his pajamas into the afternoon, to be sure. We are a household of lazy slugs. Once enough of the day had passed I put away the Christmas tree, and the boys played games with their dad. Our friends Peter, Leslie, and Simon came by, and Liam actually stopped playing video games at times to play with us, then went back to his games. We passed a pleasant afternoon, however, and Liam and Jamie enjoyed playing Pictureka! with everyone. Dinner was late, but the boys were hungry enough to eat lots, and the evening was spent playing more video games. Tomorrow, the machine is getting turned off because Jamie will be back at school, Liam may have a soccer game, and we'll be out a lot. This would be a Good Thing, I think.

2010-01-11 22:30 (Kristen) Liam spent less time playing video games today, but not by much. Baby steps, baby steps with our little addict. We did read some books and play with Lego, which he liked. John and I had hoped that he'd have soccer today, but he's still third on the waiting list, which means it's unlikely he'll be having his class this term. I am investigating the idea of gymnastics, but we'll have to see what availability is like. In the meantime, we had lunch at Browning, and dinner too. Jamie had his first singing lesson this afternoon, with his teacher Andrea (who gave us Ponyo) showing him some singing patterns and teaching him "Hakuna Matata." He liked the song but didn't remember it from the movie The Lion King. He kept dissecting the lyrics, which I think Andrea found quite funny, trying to find exactly what 'hakuna matata' means in actual conversation. He learned some theory too (this is a whole note, this is a half note, this is a quarter note), and has quite a pleasant voice (if I do say so myself). His teacher is excited because she now has a *boy* singing student: all her other voice students are girls, apparently. He expressed a desire to learn to sing "O Canada," since it's one of his favourite songs. That and "Soak Up the Sun," which Liam has convinced (bludgeoned?) him to like as well. Liam is one stubborn little boy. He had wanted Tom to play Soulcalibre 4 with him, which neither Tom nor I are particularly thrilled that he likes to play, and Tom said that he wasn't fond of it. Had he tried it? No, says Tom. "Then you have to try it first," cajoles my three-year-old son. Hmm. Both boys continue to radiate unusually high levels of cute, and to be clever as all get out. Jamie was enjoying playing chess with Tom tonight, and particularly enjoyed when Tom allowed him to win. Tom says that Jamie has an excellent grasp of the idea that you need to protect your pieces, and managed to surprise him with a checkmate from an unexpected place (although the checkmate was expected, as Tom was leading Jamie to it). Jamie has been playing a little computer chess, and we're suggesting that he might like the chess club at school. Jamie's immediate response was "I need to practice first." John could have a new chess partner.

* For the benefit of Scrabble players, words that are not in the Scrabble dictionary are marked with an asterisk.

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