Surfer Kid

You have been loving going to the beach this summer. If you had your choice, we would go every day. You are also very determined to learn how to surf. For a 3-year-old, you are doing pretty well!

Earmuffs

It can be pretty loud in our house when the gardeners mow the lawn. This was your solution:

Adrenaline Junkie

You had a great time in Seattle visiting Alex and Caleb. You were so brave! We went boating and you loved riding on the float being pulled as fast as the boat could go. You also learned how to dive off of a diving board, and you had so much fun playing with your older cousins.

School Photos

We just got your school photos back, and I can't believe how big you look! It's hard to believe you are old enough for school pictures.

Fun with Wig Caps

We used to use a wig cap to hold your dreads in place. Now that we don't need them any more, you found a new thing to play with.

Yoga Kids

Little Man

A few days ago, I picked you up from preschool with the music blaring, seizing the opportunity to listen to my own CD's before "DJ Jafta" got in the car. When you were all buckled in, you informed me, "I don't like the White Stripes. We need some worship music in here".

You can waste time and get distracted while getting dressed. Sometimes I set the timer to give you an incentive to hurry. Yesterday, you were dressed and ready for playgroup and I was still drying my hair. You walked in with the timer and let me know you had set it for me, and that when it went off I needed to be ready for playgroup.

Pirate Treasure

Pirates are all the rage at your preschool. You and your friends pretend to be pirates all day long. Today we went to a friend's birthday party, and you got to dig up your very own pirate treasure. ARRRRRR~

Remote Control

You got a remote control car for Christmas, and we finally took it out of the box, after three months of pleading. Your dad predicted that this toy would be trouble, and he was right. It is the only thing you want to play with. Specifically, you enjoy having Shrek and Batman run over an elephant. Over and over, Shrek and Batman run over that poor elephant. I was concerned that this indicated some sort of aggressive tendency, but your father assures me that this is typical boy behavior.

Undiscriminating Palate

Yesterday we went to Soup Plantation. You got some chocolate ice cream that melted, and then stirred pasta and chicken into it. And then you ate it. Happily. While I watched and tried not to gag.

Today, you dipped peanut butter crackers into sundried-tomato hummus, and proclaimed it was good.

Happy Birthday Brooke

Jafta sings happy birthday to his Aunt Brooke, and has a little asthma challenge with the candle while India tries to help.

Best Friend

You have a best friend. His name is Ryder. As I write this, I think about when you will be old enough to read this blog that I've written for you. I hope that when you do, you and Ryder are still friends.

Ryder is the son of some of our closest friends. I remember finding out that you and he would be the same age, and being so excited. You are one month apart and you have been around each other since you were babies. But it is so fun to see that you are now choosing to be close friends. You like each other so much. You ask to go to his house every day. (Last week, you even got in trouble for walking to his house without permission). You love having him over, and always want him to stay and eat with us. You guys hug when you see each other. I hope that you will be friends for a long time.

The Dreadlock Dilemma

You have been asking me lately to cut your dreadlocks off. You don't have any friends with dreadlocks, and you are beginning to notice that it makes you difference. You don't want to be different.

You have had your dreadlocks for so long. They are so cute on you. I would be very sad to cut them off. But you are insisting . . .

Boys

Today, four other boys from the neighborhood came over. You guys were too funny together. First you formed a band. But you ended up breaking up because you were all fighting over who would be the drummer. Typical.

Then you all decided to dismantle India's swingset. When I asked you to stop, you guys came into the house and got all your toy tools, and then each of you pretending to be building the swingset. You guys were sawing, hammering, and building all over the swingset, like a real construction crew. You were very serious.

Big Boy Bike

You have some serious gross-motor skills for your age. Yesterday you rode your bike for THREE MILES. Many of your friends are just learning to ride a bike, but you've been a pro for quite some time. You outgrew the small bike you started to learn on, so we got you a bigger bike. You love it. You ask to ride it all the time. We often walk the bike path to the beach and I have to run to keep up with you.