The Verge of Verbal

As the title says the Bean is just about there for talking and by talking I mean in a way that other people than her primary caregivers can understand. She has been using modified sign language for awhile now with us and at the SDSU Children's Center. She has help, more, done, please, different, movie, eat, milk, sleep, and diaper change. All of which has been incredible helpful when dealing with a spirited young lass such as she. She has now created a modified language for herself and us which includes such phrases as:

"No K K no!" (No cat no)

"Ease!" (please)

"Tae" (Tre)

"Na na" (Nani)

"Da Da" (daddy)

"My uck!" (my duck)

"Ganks!" (thanks)

"Yo!" (yogurt)

"Bah!" (box as in juice box)

"No no no!" (no translation required)

I suspect by next month's post she will be talking in a more conventional manner with us. She is still a passionate little toddler convinced of her own notions and ideas. Daily are the struggles of her versus the objects around her as she attempts to strong arm doors, chairs, cats, people, and vacuums. She has been teething and getting the last few teeth she is missing and as is her way she is doing them in batches - no half steps for our little Bean.

Nani turned 5 and it was glorious! By glorious I mean loud and distinctly geared for the 3-6 age group. We all gathered at Chuck E. Cheese's (I included the link for those readers without small children somewhere in their lives so they behold the wonder that is) and let the giant rat or possibly mouse entertain us. The kids went to a land of light, sound, and sugar that will be long remembered. The parents were sweetly numb by the party's end - having been subdued by the same said light, sound, and sugar. Nani was radiant - that really is the only word for it. She was given a crown and her Auntie Meggie made her a custom order cake with beyblades on top of it. Click to learn more. :) I have uploaded the pictures to Flickr so feel free to take a look. I know will be receiving requests for more parties there in the future. You have been warned.

Tre, we learned this week, is one of the top 2 readers in his class and is proficient in all areas. While we are overjoyed at his progress we know it had little to do with his teacher at this point and we squarely lay the laurel wreaths at his feet, Sylvan Learning Center, and his speech therapist at Birney Elementary. He also received an award for his academic achievements in an assembly. He is on track for 1st grade and during his month off for Spring Break he'll be heading back to Sylvan (when told he danced around and cheered) to focus on his writing and a little more work on his reading skills - more of a refresher with that. He helped raise money for a librarian and an art program at his school (things are grim here for schools and their budgets) by participating in a jog-a-thon. He raised over 100.00 dollars in the event so thanks to family that sponsored him. The Kindergarden classes raised the most money and his classroom was the room that raised the most. Birney did hit the goal and beat it so next year there will be a Librarian and art at his school.

The dads are chugging along. We have a night out planned for this Friday to see Quidam, the newest offering from the Cirque du Soleil. We have enjoyed every tour that we have gotten the chance to see and are excited to see yet another. The mothers Caloh will be joining us along with my dad Don and his partner Michael. We will be having dinner at Kous Kous before the show. Then the following weekend all the dads are packing up the car and heading to Santa Cruz for a long weekend (thanks to the girls plus Monica for taking the kids so we can get away for our yearly dad vacation) of relaxing and catching up with friends. We will make the rounds to the Tea House and Mobo to name a few.

That's all for this month and I hope to report some significant progress on the remodel of the Zoo (1 bathroom for 4 adults and 2 kids is getting a little pinched) when next I post. As always we welcome visitors year round and much love to all!