Kid Update

Baby Gray: is now officially Toddler Gray!  Our little Fuzzy Bear!

He had his first birthday yesterday and he's toddling all over the place (with occasional pauses to sit down and regain his balance.)  We had his party last night and like most one-year-olds, he seemed very confused by it.

Tell me those beautiful eyes aren't gray!!!

CUTIE PIE!!!

But he giggled all through his birthday song serenade, then enjoyed devouring his teddy bear ear--after he got over the foreign taste.  (Doug claims this is the last sugar he'll eat until next year.  Hmm...we'll see.)

Gabey:  Still loves to say "Peacock", call people "Peacock Head" and wants a peacock cake for his fourth birthday (coming right up).  After Max's recent piano recital, we went to the mall food court for lunch and ate at "Peacock" just for him.

He misses his girlfriend/wife (there was a ceremony) Madeleine a lot.  

He's stopped asking about preschool (they don't have the staff to restart it) 

He plays with his buddy Isaac every day.

Sammy:  If we are Facebook friends, maybe you've noticed Sammy's new haircut.

Sam wanted Gray to experience playing in the snow.  Gray lasted about 90 seconds.

No?  Here's the story:  Sammy has been wanting a Mohawk for awhile now.  A long while.  Doug's response?  "Over my dead body."

But then I was reading "Kids Are Worth It" by Barbara Colorosa and it said:

"[I]f you let your children make most of their own decisions (decisions that are not life-threatening, morally threatening, or unhealthy) before they reach puberty, they rarely take the quantum leap into serious rebellion in the teen years, because it's hard to rebel against one's own decision."  

She then describes letting her 11-year-old son have the barber shave one side of his head and put two stripes in it.

 So I took Sam to get his haircut and told him he could get whatever he wanted.  He was THRILLED.  Of course he requested a mohawk and was jumping for joy when he came home. It gave him quite the shot of attitude.  (Clearly!  As you see by these pictures taken right after arriving home.)

 For example, notice the pants.  He put on jeans voluntarily.  After TWO YEARS of boycotting jeans because they aren't "cosy"-- he put them on.  He told me today (he's wearing them again) that "Well...I think that...they look 'cool'."
Do you know how many pairs of knit pants and sweats I've purchased for this little punk?  A LOT!!!

Also, he got out the black (pirate) vest from the dress up bag.  Evidently that looks "cool" too.
(He wanted to wear this outfit to church.  NEGATIVE!)

I told Doug:  "I think it looks kind of "punk rock"!
Doug:  "Is that good?"
Me:  "Um...I don't know..."

Maxwell:  Max had his first real-life piano recital on Saturday.  It was a BIG DEAL!  We had to drive to Hachinohe and he got to perform on a Bechstein grand piano.  

Great posture Max!

He played a pretty hard song (above his current skill level) called "Italian Jazz" and he did a great job.  When he made a mistake, he stayed calm and kept going. 

His awesome teacher:  Masayuki Kajiura

We are very proud of him even though he claims that practicing is the worst torture ever.  

(And now you're wondering why I don't let him make the decision to quit?! Well, because the example in the book was about hairstyles not music lessons, so just back off, will ya?!?!)


TTFN!