The Giving Tree

So Guinness loved this book. And Gemma didn't get past past the apples going to the city before she was a puddle. She can be so sensitive :)

This book is as equally moving, if not more so, than "Love you Forever", so read with a box of tissue.

ice cream?

So this week I was waiting at Gemma's school with a friend whose daughter also goes to Gemma's school. It was a field trip day, so the classroom was closed and we were waiting on the main floor lobby for the buses to roll up. Guinness announces, "I'm going outside." And he does. I wait about 30 seconds, and then go after him. Look left; can't see him. Look right; can't see him. Oh great, right, he's lost in Taipei city, he's trying to walk home or to the park or into traffic. My friend looks right, I look left... and remember the 7-11 right there. Sure enough, I get to the door of the 7-11, and see Guinness head first in the freezer, the clerk holding him by the coat to keep from diving in completely. Guinness is mad, because he doesn't like to be grabbed and held away from his prize. He wanted an ice cream cone, you see. What a kid.

Also this week, he hid from me during a praise and worship session I was doing with the kids. The teachers found him in a storage room, where he had manipulated a key and locked himself in on purpose.

I know exactly what my Mother in Law will comment: "Chris was just like this :)"

Encourager

Guinness loves to give a compliment to things that amaze him: "Good kick, mommy!" "I like that story!" "Wow!"

But he also likes to get a compliment. Like when he thinks he did a great kick, he'll say, "Now tell me, 'Good Job, Guinness!'"

Ninja Break

Ever Since the Kim Possible episode with the ninja monkeys, everything is ninja in this house. Guinness even wants a ninja break in between stories. We usually do three stories at bedtime, and lately we've been doing this 1 minute break in between. This week its ninja, last week it was soccer ball goalie, last last week it was jumping. I just want him to read and so if we have to have a crazy physical energy burst to make that happen, thats cool. And he loves it so much; its so fun to have mommy's undivided attention and to be silly together.

Great new book we've read? "Wolf's Coming!" Its really great, super suspenseful for the kids who like a little scare, and then a cute ending...

Scooter

Gemma got a two wheeled scooter given to her, so that means her old one trike style one is all Guinness'. Never mind that it is a pink fairy scooter, he is a racing machine. We've gone on some walks with them, even, which is so fun because he is way faster scooter-ing than walking. Although way more dangerous, as he swerves around and zips ahead but he's doing good at waiting at corners and intersections, and staying close to the edge of the road if we have to go where there is no sidewalk.

He's been having muscle aches at night; a side effect of exercise, I suppose, and growing muscles. I try to give him tylenol and as I attempted to pour it down his throat he said,'No, not there! Put it here!' and rubbed his leg. Sorry, bud, this medicine has to work from the inside out.

Question mark?

We invited a friend to bike with us to the Botanical Gardens on Thursday (the first non-rainy day all week). She biked to our place to meet us, and I guess Guinness didn't see her bike because as I was loading the kids up on their seats on my bike, and letting them know that Erin would be coming with us, Guinness asked, "Is there enough room for her???" meaning, enough room for her also on my bike. Ha ha, no Guinness. Good call. Carrying two chunky children on my bike is getting hard enough, no where to squeeze in an extra adult as well.

Guinness had a great week this week, playing cars with his rescue station and riding Gemma's pink fairy scooter around the house. I love that he doesn't care about boy/girl markings on toys. The fairy scooter, princess car, pink suitcase, purple and pink bike.... he doesn't let that stuff get in the way of enjoying a good toy.

Guinness' Mischief

This is Guinness helping with dishes.

I left them at the sink for a minute. I come back, his foot is in the water. I go to get the camera, and when I get back his whole body is in the water. This is an example of why we 'knucklehead' almost as much as we use 'Guinness'.