Made some new friends

We had brunch on Sunday with Angela and Steven and their 2 children Zachary and Olivia. A couple of folks at the Antioch School thought it would be a good idea for different families to host get-togethers in their homes so more of us could meet each other. I signed up, always ready to meet new people and excited by most of the people I had already met. Angela and Steven live in an old farmhouse in Yellow Springs. Angela said it had addtions in most of the corners, the result being they had several "studies" but they really brought in alot of light. Indian was the fare for the day. We were responsible for the fruit. We had a great time. Angela teaches Russian Literature at OSU and Steven is a historian at OSU. Angela has traveled to Russia several times. How awesome. I couldn't ask questions fast enough. The food was excellent. Cindy (Galen's mom) made nan (very good) and also left us Jory her daughter to play with (mostly for Olivia to play with) as Galen was sick and the rest of the family was staying home. It was a refreshing couple of hours. "We had a great time" sounds trite, but we really did!

The Cat

So Percy has been with us for about a month. My allergies still aren't acting up (yeah). The kids are still learning how to manage him. He gets irritable and by the end of the day he is shot. The tail twitches and he dashes around the house like a maniac. He is overall a sweet animal, though Greg keeps suggesting I just bring home a badger next time. So here are some pictures of him. Enjoy.

Thunder Nationals

Yes, I am one of those people. I don't get to do it nearly often enough but if you give me an opportunity, I am all there. I am, of course referring to monster trucks and tractor pulls. I have been to 2 now (I was also once invited to Kilkare--I really need to go back). Today I got to share my excitement with Ryan. Thunder Nationals came to the Nutter Center. Initially Ryan didn't want to go, he saw a commercial and he thought it was too loud. At Greg's suggestion, I found some clips online and Ryan was hooked. We saw Gravedigger, though my favorite was Monster Mutt, when you see the picture you'll see why. Ryan took earphones, got a progam and flag. We got a Gravedigger toy at Target where they were 3.50 instead of the $15 at the show. He is now building an obstacle course and ramps for his gravedigger out of his wooden blocks. It was a good time. We left at intermission, an hour's worth was his limit. The monster trucks did wheelies, raced and generally really crunched the cars. Ryan said they "made quite a mess" It was a show for certain and I could only imagine what these folks do when they aren't traveling around. So, Ryan really liked it, I really like it and there is supposed to be a big monster jam show--last year it was in Las Vegas! I wonder if they have there every year? :)

Ice Skating

Today Ryan and I went to a birthday party for 2 of his kindergarten friends, Zenya and Iliana. It was held at the Kettering rec and involved about 2 hours of ice skating after cake and presents. Ryan has never been on ice skates. I haven't been on skates in about 17 years. Folks are surprised when I tell them that, as if living in Ohio should mean that we embrace all things cold. We don't ski--not enough snow here, and I don't usually ice skate--it's cold and hard when you fall down. Winters mean basketball and indoor swim lessons. It also usually means gaining a few extra pounds that need to be shed when it warms up again.
Ryan was looking forward to it and initially didn't want me far from him. But he found his bearings and was soon telling me I could go on without him, which was good because moving at a snails pace was killing my feet in the rental skates. He would fall and would get himself upright most times. If I was nearby he would want my help. If I was at the other end of the rink he did fine on his own. He would fall from time to time and I asked him to stop,. It's not unusual for him to fall down alot at home as a part of playing and I was afraid he would cause an accident. He insisted he wasn't "play falling" and was mad at me for suggesting it. Liz Grififn was near her son Carter, he was holding onto the side and I offerred a pointer. Liz said everyone learned their own way and I realized I needed to shut up. She was absolutely right. Ryan is certainly young but he is confident in his knowledge of his own skills that I didn't need to hover. I would ask him from time to time if he wanted me close or if I could go. Most of the time it was go. A few laps later a fall brought tears to his eyes. He was in a good cry by the time I got to him. I rubbed his butt and the cries eventually slowed down. Then he turned and started to skate. He related after a few strides that the tip of the skate blade had poked his butt when he fell. (ouch!) My getting up was more problematic but I got up without much of a show (God I'm getting older!). For a bit after that he wanted me close (my poor feet) and he started asking about the lines on the floor and the nets above the walls. I tried to explain hockey. Now I need to show him a game. What an amazing brain he has. I suppose all kids do! But how easy it is , for me a least, to overlook this child's power of observation, his ability to ask and puzzle over things and most of all, his confidence. It's so much easier just to barge in and direct-a skill I am rewarded for at work and as an adult dealing with logistic gymnastics every day. How nice it was to have some time with him away from the house and away from his sister--she inevitably has my attention most of the time. He is assertive, he is a person and he can skate!

He goes to the board

Yesterday Ryan passed Level I in swim and will start Level II next Tuesday. The culmination of the efforts of the seems to be jumping of the diving board by themselves. The majority of his class will go off the board if one of the instructors lifts them into the water. Ryan is in the majority. I hold my breath each time he goes to the end of the board and watch him ponder how far the water is, how deep he'll go and the age old question, will he hold his breath long enough to re-surface. It takes no small amount of willpower not to go to him and coach him in, but I remember this is his experience and he'll be the richer for it if he does it himself. He's gaining skill, he moves his arms and is starting to kick. It's a testament to his bravery and his trust in his instructors that he gets in the water at all. He knows he'll sink like a stone. For now he at least goes up on the board, looks down and ponders.