Sarah and Adam: The Next Generation

Gus's letter

Gus dictated the following letter to Grandma and Grandpa, as he's very excited about visiting them next week:

This came from Gus. I’m coming to New Haven for my birthday. I love you. I want to make the car cake. I want to make a pink car cake. Grandma I would LIKE to play with that car carrier. I like tofu and bean-and-cheese quesadillas and pizza. Maybe we could go to a waterpark with you?

I want to tell you about the movie Cars. We got to watch the whole thing and emBarrass chick hicks since he lost. (please note, capital B is upon request)

I love Emerson, and she is my friend, and if you like her she could be your friend. Why I like Emerson: Because I got to have a play date with her. I work with her and have lunch with her at school.

Please write back, Grandma and Grandpa.

Gus loves Emerson.

Gus loves Grandma and Grandpa.

 

Jasper sings "Real Gone" phonetically

Jasper has been listening to the Sheryl Crow song "Real Gone" that opens the movie "Cars." He hasn't quite got the lyrics down, but that doesn't stop him from singing it phonetically. (The subtitles are the actual lyrics.)

Videorama

We finally caught up with at least some of the videos from the past few months. Here's a compilation of some funny moments from the fall and winter. Also, don't miss Justin doing short-track speedskating with the boys and How to play tic-tac-toe as explained by a misinformed four-year old.

 

Gus imagines

Jasper has been making up stories since he was barely a year and a half. Gus is just getting the hang of it now, and has become much more imaginative in the last month. Here's a great example, while playing with cars at the Children's Museum. (Turn your volume up some.)

Kids' letter to Jody

Sarah prompted the kids to dictate a letter to Jody, their former nanny:

Question 1: What would you like to say to Jody?

 

Jasper says (while stuffing mac and cheese in mouth): That umm, the cars are celebrating Christmas. They are going get lots of regular cars over, and invite some of their friends the regular cars over. The regular cars will invite them with some Hanukah things. The Hanukah things will be some new friends.

 

Gus: I want to tell Joday that we’re going, umm, that, umm, that, tell Joday that, umm, mom will tell a story about when we’re going to, Flo was talking to Lightning.

 

Question: What was the most fun thing to do with Jody?

 

Jasper says: To blow in the tubes at our Seattle house.

 

Gus: Go to Kidsquest and put the scarves in the holes, and play with balls. They flew up and up and over and came out in that other place.

 

Jasper then began to tell an elaborate story about Lightning McQueen’s visit to Kidsquest. Sigh. We’re still stuck on the same topic.

 

Jasper's advice

Jasper's begun offering advice as a way of getting attention when we're otherwise busy. In the past 24 hours he has knocked on Adam's door three times and given the following advice:

At bedtime:

--Don't forget to brush the backs of your teeth, Dad.

While Adam's working:

--Um, I just wanted to make sure you're working the right way. Work the right way, OK?
--Make sure the arrow goes the right way, Dad. The arrow on the computer.

Wacky kids today

We're in the basement and Gus is sitting quietly with his counting book and counting to himself. Jasper is running around playing some game that involves screaming loudly and smashing two plastic vehicles into each other.

Then Jasper asks me if I can help him with his "TV problem," the problem being that he can't figure out which button on the remote to push to turn it on.

This is all preceded by lots of gagging and claims of being video-sick by both children. I told Jasper he didn't have to be sick since we weren't going to watch any videos today. He asked, "If I'm still sick when we go to Washington DC then can I watch a video on the airplane?"

Swim Class stories

Jasper has started a new swim class where he goes in with an instructor and without parents. In this interview he discusses his exploits.

New videos

It's hard to overstate how much the kids have changed in the last few months. We've been so busy getting our house ready to sell and moving into our summer sublet that we haven't taken many videos, but we've finally gotten around to taking and posting some.

Interviewing Gus, 20 months

A video we just found of Gus from December, when he was 20 months. While he talked really well for a 1-year old, it's amazing to see how much he's developed in just the last five months.



Also, a handy link to Marc & Jo's awesome video they made for Gus's first birthday. And the one they made for Jasper's.