Haircuts--Jack's and Nana's

The astronaut no longer has hair in his eyes! Jack sat very still while Marian cut his hair, but he didn't like getting hair in his mouth. He got to clean up with Marian's new Swivel Sweeper! Then we read a book about walking draglines to Marian.

This week Jack has been "cutting" my hair. First he said he was going to cut it as short as Daddy's hair. I said Papa wouldn't like it that short, so he said he would cut it as short as Papa's hair. "If you don't like, come back to me and I'll make it longer." He also put golden in my hair instead of silver.

Tonight, Jack was very excited about going to Daddy's house. When Greg called, Jack yelled, "Put him on the speaker phone." Later, he was playing with his little rockets: "Last countdown until Daddy is in the window."

We were reunited with Emma and Jenny this week in a touching scene at the library. Jack couldn't wait of course, so he gave Emma her Christmas present right there in the midst of the crowd of kids waiting for storytime. Emma wasn't the only kid who loved the excavator. Jack and Emma were very excited to see each other again after over a month. What a great friendship.

Quiet Day in Pajamas

Tuesday, Jack hadn't gotten a good night's sleep so he wanted to stay home and in his pajamas. We had a quiet day building in the living room. Just before I took this photo, Jack announced that the workingman needs his hard hat and goggles to demolish a building. The crane hauls blocks away. Those small blocks double as jacks at Smallbills Garage when Mike McCanick repairs the garbage truck.

Wednesday before 9:00 Jack was eager to go to the playground. I held him off by putting him in his highchair with the playdough. Stacy and I were puzzled when he announced he was "blurring Nana." Then we realized what he meant--he was shaking his head sideways with his hair flying. No doubt I was a blur.

We spent four hours at the park, digging in the sand, attending the little class in the Rec Center, and walking through the park. Alison arranged for Jack and the other kids to plant seeds in two cups, which they will water over the next weeks to watch the seedlings grow. Jack enjoyed putting the dirt in his cups and adding fistsful of seeds. Walking through the park, we were impressed by the number of tree limbs down everywhere. The Nerky House had a big pine branch right in the middle! The branch was too big for me to lift, so we'll have to wait for the park staff to clear it. Jack and I raked some small branches off the path. We walked to the park and home again, for a long morning with lots of exercise.

After lunch, Jack heard a wonderful sound and let out a long screem--the chipper! What a rush to get his socks and boots and coat on. There were four or five utility trucks, one a covered truck hauling the chipper. The first job was on Chilton Street and we settled down on the sidewalk to watch. Bye-bye Christmas tree, grind up those Eucalyptus branches. We moved around to the front of the school and sat on the wall while the crew took care of two big piles of branches. It was loud and finally Jack was ready to go back home.

This week Jack is very proud that he has pooped in the big toilet every day! It is a wonderful achievement. He is growing up.

Jack the Astronaut

Grandma Neva really scored with the astronaut suit. Jack wears it every day and discusses its many pockets and zippers and badges. We got I Want to Be an Astronaut from the library and read it again and again. Another book about space shows the orange suit as well as a space toilet and equipment.

Wednesday was a happy day for Nana and Jack, reunited after illness and vacation. We went to the library and to Hill Park. Thursday was a little more difficult because Jack got very tired at Billygoats and missed his mother in the afternoon. Stacy came home and comforted him and after she returned to work, Jack was fine. Now he knows Mommy is always just a call away. Good job, Stacy!