Happy Thanksgiving!

Progress

For the past month, Susanna has been wearing her eye patch almost constantly. Its very unpleasant, I know, but she's really stepped up to the challenge this time. I admit there have been a few bribes, but we have to do what we have to do.

Today we went to the eye doctor to see how things were going. Susanna improved by about 3 lines on the chart! The vision in her left eye is still not perfect even with the glasses, but this is great news. Its been nearly 3 years since we started this journey and this is the best news we've heard yet.

We are continuing with the constant patching until the new year, when we go back for another check. Even a little more improvement would be wonderful!

Dinsosaur!

Last Friday, Ben and I went to the local science museum to see their temporary dinosaur exhibit. The museum was small but had some interesting things. It also has a large outdoor area with trails, and that is where we saw the dinosaurs.

Of course Ben was not afraid, and he and his buddy were quick to assure his friend's baby brother that the dinosaurs couldn't get him, because their feet can't move. The dinosaurs do roar, however, and we definitely heard a few boyish shrieks.

Overall it was a good time, and a lovely November day in Texas to be outside.

Competition

Here I go again...

(I might have mentioned that sports is taking over my life.)

Tonight's activity for the kids and I was going to the local gym to see Ben's friend D play basketball. Ben is quite interested in being on the team himself, and his friend would love for him to join. The thing that has been holding me off is that some of the games are at other gym locations, in other cities, not so convenient for us to get to on a Friday evening.

(Also, we'd have to actually join the gym, but we're seriously considering that anyway.)

So we went to see this game - two teams of 3- and 4-year-olds. There was definitely a big mix of ages - some of the kids were half Ben's size. And a mix of genders as well, which is nice when they're little.

The team has practices on Tuesdays and games on Fridays. The game was interesting, about what you'd expect with a bunch of [very] little kids. Lots of holding the ball and running (not dribbling) and just grabbing the ball from other players. One kid would get the ball and then run all over the court with it before going back towards the net. A few tackles. And plenty of tears.

Really I can't understand the point of having kids compete like this at this age. Wouldn't it be better just to meet once a week and learn some skills, like how to dribble and shoot? What is the point of competition, never mind parents driving somewhat long distances for their 3- or 4-year-old to play a basketball game? Is this going to better their chance of making the high school team and getting a scholarship?

We will probably end up letting Ben join. Susanna is playing in the city league which is for first graders and older, so this is one of the few chances a 4-year-old has to play. But if we don't make it to the far-away games I won't feel too bad.

Welcome to Texas.

Friday the 13th

Today is Friday the 13th. Really that doesn't mean much to me, but it always makes the day seem a bit more interesting.

Friday is Ben's day off preschool, and I am enjoying our days together more and more, knowing that in about 9 months he will start Kindergarten. That means no more Friday playdates, outings, and fun lunches together or with friends. Kindergarten is all day here, so there will be no transition period for us.

Today we have lots planned. First a kids concert at the high school, a guy called Mark Burrows. I don't know anything about his act, but its for kids and Ben likes going to shows. Then we are meeting friends for lunch and a trip to the local science museum. There is a big dinosaur exhibit which sounds very promising.

Last night was our last soccer practice, but we still have three more games in the next 8 days. Hopefully we'll win one of them, just for the sake of morale!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Susanna the brave

A few weeks ago, Susanna went to a birthday party at a small farm that also has some exotic animals to show the kids. The party involved feeding farm animals, then hearing about and touching various creatures, like a hairless rat and different reptiles.

They also brought out this snake and gave anyone willing a chance to hold it. It took Susanna a while, but she eventually tried.

I believe this is a ball python, and we were all assured that he couldn't hurt anyone. Unlike some of the snakes you might find running free in this state...

Ben is funny

Ben's been coming up with some great lines lately.

I was sitting at the computer recently and he came in and wanted to sit on my lap. I asked him to wait while I finished typing, and he said he couldn't wait because, "I'm cold and I need something warm and you are warm." Who could say no to that?

Today I was helping him in and/or out of a costume and he said to me, "I'm tricky." I asked why he was tricky and he replied, "because I'm hard to figure out." I can't necessarily disagree with that.

In the car one day he and Susanna were bickering in the back as usual, and Ben started calling her "sweetheart". I think she must have forgotten that "sweetheart" is a nice thing to call someone, because she got very upset about it.

He used to call me his "cutie" and I loved it!

Mid-week thoughts

I'm just back from taking my parents to the airport. Their one-week visit went by quickly.

Ben has had three tee ball games since Saturday, and has his last game this Saturday. All the kids are having a great time and seem to be improving. The season was short but we're hoping to get the team back together (along with Coach Brad) in the spring.

The soccer season, on the other hand, is still rolling along. Slowly. The season ends on the 21st and there are still six games to play, three of which are make-ups. Susanna says she is understanding better how to play the game. She got a chance to be goalie in her last game and she did very well - she only let one ball through, and it was already too late for Team Pink anyway.

Susanna is already signed up for a first-grade basketball team. I think that starts in January, but detailed information is hard to get. Hopefully that season will go better and they won't cancel games at the sight of one snowflake (which is all we're likely to get anyway.)

Both kids are doing great with ice skating. They've had three lessons so far (one of which Ben missed) and we've gone three other times. Lots of improvement. Ben still falls quite a bit, but he keeps smiling, and he's getting very good at getting back on his feet. Another rink is opening less than two miles from our house, so now we'll have two ice rinks within 3 miles.

I just realized that all I have to write about is sports...

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Halloween fun

Halloween was a great day. After our fun activities and a nap (for the kids and Brad), we had an early dinner and then got into costume.

We set out to trick or treat around 6 o'clock. In Pennsylvania, you can only trick or treat during a certain two-hour window (6 to 8) on a certain day (usually not the 31st of October.) In Texas, there are no such rules. You can trick or treat on Halloween every year at whatever time you like. So we decided to start at 6 along with a few friends, but for quite a while it felt like we were the only ones.

The kids started out racing from house to house but couldn't keep up that pace for too long. There were lots of breaks to rest and play and look at candy (and for adults to refill their cups.)

The fun was nearly over by 8 and completely over by 9. But between the relatively late night and the time change, we're all a bit out of sorts today.

The kids in costume: Susanna is "vampire dog" and Ben is "Bat Vader"

My parents, who are in town visiting for a week, ready to pass out candy
Five-minute jack o' lantern #1
Five-minute jack o' lantern #2
The candy, most of which was left for the Halloween Fairy, who took it away and left a box of Lego.