Ryan's Family Circus Trip Through Lawton Park

Ryan scooters down a path....
.....up the path.....then down a path...whoa, that was too fast....have....to....bail out!
Push the scooter over to the playground....
.....drop scooter and helmet.....and run up the slide!
Scoot through the play set over to the climbing ropes....bounce, bounce, bounce.....
.....keep talking to oneself....and hop, hop, hop.....
......through the second play structure to jump off....ooofffff.........
.....Mom, I'm thirsty!

Questions and More Questions

Kids are really good at stalling when they don't want to do something. They are also very inquisitive. Here's what happened this evening at bedtime:

Ryan: What color are germs? [he's lying in bed]

Me: I guess it might depend on the type of germ. You might see different colors with a microscope.

Ryan: What's a swine flu?

Me: It's a type of flu that came from pigs.

Ethan: What's a swine? [leaning near the edge of his loft bed]

Me: It's another name for pigs. Okay, it's time for bed now.

Ryan: No, no, no. I have another question.

Me: Okay.

Ryan: Are nails harder than wood?

Me: Yes, nails are harder. That's why you can hammer nails into a piece of wood.

Ethan: So why do nails bend, but boards don't?

Me: That's a good one. Now it is time for bed. [later Dorothy told me that Ethan and Cal were hammering nails into boards the other day over at Cal's house]

The Voters

Tomorrow's the big day. Then there is what kids have to say about what tomorrow means.

Me: Who's McCain? How about Obama?

Ethan: Yeah, they're those voters.

Me: What do you mean?

Ethan: You know, those people that you vote for.

Me: So are you saying they need us?

Ethan: Yeah, the voters need us to win.

Ryan (in the background): Yahoo! Go Obama! (over and over)

Not Really a Deepak Chopra Fan, But...

I saw the following list on a recent blog attributed to Chopra about ways to slow down aging:

1. Change your perception of time. Don't be in a hurry.
2. Get restful sleep.
3. Eat fresh, nutritious food.
4. Take at least two multivitamins with minerals every day.
5. Practice a mind body technique such as yoga or tai chi.
6. Exercise regularly.
7. Don't put toxins in your life, including toxic food, toxic
emotions, toxic relationships, and avoid toxic environments or toxic relationships.
8. Have a flexible attitude to minor hassles.
9. Look at so-called problems as opportunities.
10. Nurture loving relationships.
11. Always have an attitude of curiosity, learning, and wonder and spend time with children.

These seem to be sensible points to follow whether you are striving to live longer or just living life to its fullest. Here is what a six-year old might say about the above list:

1. Are we there yet?
2. Do we have to go to sleep already?
3. Yea! Chicken nuggets and fries again!
4. Can I have another vitamin (gummi-vitamins, emphasizing the "gummi" part)?
5. Look at how high I can jump on your bed!
6. You can't get me! Na-na-na-na!
7. Is it okay to eat this? (crawling up from under the dining table)
8. I guess reading just one story tonight is okay.
9. You mean if we walk home now, we can watch some tv?
10. But I wanted to feed Mimi (our goldfish)! I never get to feed her.
11. Can I have a play date with Ben today?