Tulip Festival

Well, it's not the Netherlands, but it's what we have here...the Woodburn Tulip Festival!

And of course, it wouldn't be a festival without all sorts of extra hoopla and attractions. So, aside from the beautiful tulips, there was the rescued reptile tent:

 the gigantic wooden shoes:

the bumpy slide:

And what festival would be complete without a bouncy castle?

More about the beach trip

Our beach trip was a whole week ago, so if I'm going to write about it, I'd better do it now, before it becomes a distant memory. It was fabulous and relaxing and sunny and glorious! We visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium. In addition to seeing all the animals, we got to partake in some earth day activities.

Later, on the beach, both kids got a good dunking in that cold, cold water. And Alexander had an adventure running way way down the beach, trying to keep a kite in the air. Unfortunately, we forgot to take pictures throughout most of this, so you'll have to exercise your imaginations.

The next day, we headed to a wooden boat show then spent a good long time on a sheltered beach, where there were barely any waves and the kids could walk out and out before the water reached their waists. Annabel was deliriously excited about the sand and water, and Alexander immediately went off and made friends with a boy who was building a sand structure.

It is so nice that Annabel is old enough to really appreciate these outings and that Alexander is so good at making friends. I got a sunburn that is still with me. Michiel had a nap.

Crab Feed

We took a trip to the beach this weekend. It was absolutely fabulous! Sunburns all around! But more about that later.

When we were still planning the trip with our good friends, the Traegers, I told Alexander that they were planning on going to a crab feed one night but that we probably wouldn't go. He got all pouty and asked, "Why not?"

"Because Papa's not a big fan of crab, I'm not wild about it either, and I don't think you kids will like it."

"I like crabs! I do!"

"Really? When have you had crab?"

Alexander then put on his saddest face and started crying.

"Why do you want to go so badly?" I asked.

He wailed, "Because I want to feed the crabs!"

Disaster Strikes Small Town

Alexander Carel Nankman: gossip-monger or concerned citizen? You decide.

Last Wednesday morning we had some excitement in downtown Silverton. Firetrucks and other rescue vehicles (Alexander counted at least five) crowded into the intersection of Oak and Water streets. We could see their flashing lights as I was dropping Alexander off at school. For once, we were early. But did Alexander go in and begin his school day as all the other children did?

No, he did not.

He had to find out what was going on. As each new parent arrived with a tidbit of information, we discovered that the popcorn machine in the Palace Theatre had caught fire and burned up the lobby. Did Alexander go into the school then?

No, he did not.

He patrolled the sidewalk to make sure that every student entering the school knew what had happened to the Palace. Finally, once everyone else was in school and there was nothing more he could do, he relinquished his post and joined his classmates, no doubt to speculate on the details of the accident and the number of flashing lights on the rescue vehicles.

The Power of Zero

Alexander used to say this thing when he was mad, and it really annoyed Michiel and me. Well, probably me more than Michiel. So, here's the scenario:

I would ask Alexander a question (usually trying to get him to do something) like, "Do you want to get dressed first or brush your teeth first?"

He would fix me with an angry stare and say, "Nothing."

Of course, the defiance was one thing, but the completely nonsensical response to my question was what really gets my dander up.

"Hey, Alexander, do you want to go to the park today?"

"Nothing."

I knew he meant no, but it doesn't make grammatical sense!!!!

Lately, though, he's put a new spin on the "nothing tactic." I think it came about a few months ago when he really started getting into numbers and using his abacus and all that, when some larger mathematical concepts started clicking into place.

Instead of saying, "Nothing," he started saying, "Zero," with all the venom he could muster.

Somehow, him upping the ante in such a geeky way bumped our little confrontation into the realm of the ridiculous. Now I find myself delighted by it.

Sometimes, when he asks me a question, I give him a sly smile and reply, "Infinity."

Bookworms

Alexander and I have a lovely routine for rainy days. When Annabel takes a nap, we curl up on the couch together and I read to him. Sometimes for an hour or two. We've gone through three of the Ramona books, a couple of Judy Blume books, the Mouse and the Motorcycle, and now we're on the Borrowers.

But the loveliest part of it (for me) is that while I read, Alexander will sit behind me and brush or play with my hair. Sometimes he'll scratch my back but mostly he sticks with my hair. I love it! It's so relaxing that I come dangerously close to needing a nap.

And it looks like Annabel is shaping up to be a bookworm as well. It's practically the first thing out of her mouth when she wakes up from a nap or when someone she knows enters the house:

"Want to read a book to me?"

Often she'll have a stack of books all ready to plop in the unsuspecting lap. Beware when you enter our house!

Alexander Writes

I meant to post this story last month but never got around to it. So here it is now:

Alexander's writing has really taken off. Last month I received this picture while he was at school, with the message: "Alexander has been writing for 1 1/2 hours so far and still working."

When I picked him up, I discovered that he spent 2 hours writing. Two hours sitting on the floor with chalk in hand writing letters, words, and sentences. He bubbled over with what he'd been working on.

I have never known him to concentrate for so long on one thing, not even legos. His teacher was bowled over as well. This is how Alexander does things. He goes along taking small steps, and then one day--BAM--he's writing sentences, or riding a bike, or pooping in the toilet. When he's ready, there's an explosion. Of learning.

And the favorite sentence that he made up?

"Rat sat on a chr."