He slept in for an hour and a half (Matthew had to wake him up) because of one or more of the following reasons:

1. He woke us up on SUNDAY, **A WEEKEND DAY**, at 6:00 am.

2. His nap on Sunday lasted only an hour (he usually sleeps for 3 to 4 hours) - probably because he was too hot. He was too hot because he pushed the "up" button on the thermostat so that the air conditioning didn't turn on all day until we wondered why we were all sweaty later in the evening.

3. He spent from 2 am to 4 am this morning keeping his parents awake.

Despite not giving his parents the rest they need to be cheerful or totally functional, Simon was a good kid this weekend. Saturday we spent some time in the hottest weather Hava and Simon have ever felt in their lives while we strolled or, rather, pushed our way through the "Taste of Lincoln Park" street festival. To understand Taste of Lincoln Park, imagine one of the Bay Area's Art and Wine Festivals but with three really great bands playing on different stages at the same time, no one over 40 in sight and three booze booths for every artist. There were actually women in small outfits paid to dance on the platforms of beer vendors. It was the place to see or be seen. Being not the kind of people who look or get looked at these days, we decided air conditioning at home and Bob the Builder on DVD were preferable to slowly losing all of our fluids through our sweat glands. Later, on Saturday and Sunday evenings, we listened to the music from our roof deck and tried not to be so old that we were annoyed that the loud music was playing and the partying was continuing well past our bedtimes.

Sunday we skipped the festival in search of air conditioned events. When Simon wouldn't nap, one of us had the bright idea of going to the Garfield Park Conservatory under the illusion that, since the place is temperature controlled in the winter, it would also be climate controlled in the summer. That person will remain nameless because he was very very wrong. Alas, it is still a great place to be reminded of Hawaii (without, of course, the water nearby to dive into) so the other, less visually sweaty one of us, was forgiving of the blunder. As we were leaving the Conservatory, there was a cute little boy also leaving who immediately clicked with Simon. Julian, 18 months, was with his Mom who, as it turns out, recognized our very own Matthew from their college days back in Beloit (the sound a pebble makes when it hits the water in a toilet bowl). Julian and Simon played like a two rowdy cats, tumbling over each other, chasing and pulling the other down and laughing. We got his Mom's email address and hope to be able to arrange to get them together in the future. Simon was very sad to see him leave.

We imagine that Simon clicked so well with Julian because Julian wasn't afraid of Simon's friendliness. The other day at the park Simon scared off a potential playmate with his outgoing style. Simon went up to the little boy (who looked a lot like Calvin) and said "Hi!" (enter toddler conversation here). The other boy said "that's my Daddy" and pointed to his Dad. Then he ran to his Dad through the playground while Simon gleefully gave chase. Simon went up to talk with the boy's parents but since their boy was being a little clingy after his Simonial experience, they decided he wasn't in the mood to play and took him home. Simon really needs preschool; trap the toddlers in a classroom and they can't escape!!!

Posted by kagledom at 08:11 AM | Permalink

One of the really great things about Chicago is that the people here REALLY appreciate warm weather. When we first moved here in January there were no people out, none - well, except the occasional crazy runner. But as soon as Spring sprang people were everywhere enjoying themselves in the sunshine, playing ball, strolling, and biking. There isn’t a week that goes by when there isn’t a street fair or a free concert or something else going on very close to home. Tonight, for example, we went to the “Playlot” down the street to hear a band. As it turns out, the lead singer of that band is our very own neighbor across the way. The only way the evening could have been better is if it wasn't 500 degrees outside with 99% humidity.

See Simon dance

The band

Really hot people watching the band

Simon trying to be one of the boys

Guess what we’re doing this weekend? STREET FESTIVAL!

Posted by kagledom at 09:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So we wonder what Simon is learning in school but don't want to hover over the teachers asking about every detail of his school life - revealing the fact that Simon has those types of parents. But tonight, as he was being put to sleep, Simon gave us a clue into his scholastics. As with most nights since his birth, Hava read Simon a couple of stories and then started up a song. Tonight's musical selection was "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" but one phrase in, Simon turned to look at Mama, and (so, we imagine, as not to damage her pride) gently said "Stop it, Mama" while covering her mouth with his little hand. Hava, not being entirely certain what to do started to sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" when Simon stopped her again in the same manner. Hava waited. Simon said "A one, two, three, four!" before he began "A B C D E F G...". After finishing the "ABCs" Simon again said "A one, two, three, four!" before singing "The Wheels on the Bus."

(We never count before we sing. Hava half expected him to say "A one, two, three, hit it!")

Posted by kagledom at 08:36 PM | Permalink

Posted by kagledom at 07:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This morning Simon was playing with his peacock feather. He stopped to think for a second before asking "where da peacot go?"

While we were eating breakfast around the table this morning, Simon gathered up a toy and his cup of milk and started to climb out of his chair, "Gonna be back in a few minutes!" We convinced him to stay.

Posted by kagledom at 07:24 AM | Permalink

For a while now Hava has been trying to take at least one photo each week which captures the essence of Simon. Capturing essence using a camera is pretty difficult - especially without having ever read a manual. In any case, Hava thought it might be fun to see all the pictures in a group. As it turns out, she thinks it is even better than Two Years on the Boppy. Do you have a favorite Simon photo from the collection?

Posted by kagledom at 07:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

This was the weekend that Simon's brain woke up. That's not fair. We're fairly certain that Simon's brain is fully functional but THIS weekend his brain connected with his voice box to let us know what he was thinking and feeling besides things we already knew (the Simonial Trinity: hungry, tired, bored). This was the weekend we walked into a store and wondered why Simon kept repeating "peacock feather!" until it dawned on us that there was indeed a peacock feather for sale at the florist five feet away. Once we realized that Simon actually did mean what he was saying, we were even more perplexed. How does he know about peacock feathers? He has the book "Tails" but we haven't read it more than once in MONTHS besides, are cartoon drawings of peacocks and a real peacock feather really that much alike? We really wish we could remember every interesting thing Simon said this weekend but we were on the move much of the time and, since Simon has been having trouble sleeping, we're all a bit on the completely overwhelmingly exhausted side.

Instead of a trip to hot coffee this morning we made hot tea. Simon, always hoping to participate in adult fun, was given a little bit of Decaf Earl Grey. He was very dainty and careful and after each sip said "ahhhh" - all we needed were some cucumber sandwiches to make it a real party (maybe next time).

Posted by kagledom at 07:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

There isn't much to say about the Simonial Underunit these days. He is always hungry. He is always tired. He is almost always frustrated. His second set of molars are no where to be found but he chews and drools like an infant. He has been very good at letting Matthew leave him at school. He has been very good about going to bed in his room on time and sleeping through loud bursts of thunder and cracks of lightening. He has had a resurgence of interest in using the toilet since we purchased a bag of M&Ms and offered one for number one and two for number two. The M&Ms are even teaching him new colors. How useful.

Posted by kagledom at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Last weekend we took Simon to Toys R Us to purchase a few toys using the gift cards he received for his birthday. Simon is really interested in the sirens he hears going by the house. Being that we are in the city and relatively near a high rise home for the elderly and a children's hospital, we hear sirens quite often. Usually, Simon stops what he is doing to listen and then asks to "see it?" We explain that the siren can't be seen, it's on a different block. Our front windows look out on the courtyard of the complex and our back windows look over an alley and the backs of other buildings. Even if we rushed to the windows at the first sound of alarm, there would be no opportunity for emergency vehicle viewing. So we decided the perfect gift for Simon would be a fire truck or an ambulance - something with lights and a siren. You would think the task would be easy (and here is where you should feel free to recommend small toys that match that description) but as we meandered through the store it became clear that the perfect emergency vehicle was nowhere to be found. Don't kids love trucks with lights and sounds? Maybe fire trucks are not in season. In any case, we finally discovered this truck. It looked pretty cool on the outside of the box so we brought it home. We put it together and then searched the empty box to find the fireman who works the moving parts. No fireman. "Action figure sold separately" can be found inside the manual inside the box in very fine print.

Simon woke up from his nap to find the fire truck in the middle of the living room. At first he was really excited, then he was perplexed, then he was frustrated, and then he was angry. He tried putting his foot in the fireman's compartment to see what would happen before giving up. What is fun about pushing a truck around? "See? You can move the ladder!" said Hava. "Push da button!" cried Simon. (In the world of Simon every toy has a button.)

Matthew saved the day by walking out in the intense heat to the store (next door) to purchase batteries (not included). Lights flashed, sirens roared, and the toy was given a temporary reprieve.

Posted by kagledom at 02:56 PM | Permalink

It's been very hot this weekend and the humidity is oppressive. Tonight we finally ventured out of the house for a short walk. A block from our home, on the way back, we ran into an ice cream man. We bought an ice cream cone for Matthew only it ended up with Simon.

Matthew explains about cones and ice cream and hot weather and drippage.

Simon, enjoying his first ice cream cone.

Posted by kagledom at 07:37 PM | Permalink

Simon will not be able to visit the pot club that intended to open its doors next door to the SF Kagles.

Posted by kagledom at 08:55 AM | Permalink

What you would have heard Simon saying if you were here today:

"Oh no!"
"Daddy, Look!"
"I don't know!"

For reasons we can not quite comprehend, Simon repeated these phrases together all... day... long.

In bad news, Simon got into trouble in school yesterday for hitting and spitting on one or more children. Simon, who hasn't slept well since we returned from vacation (and, in fact, was not sleeping as long as usual while on vacation), tends not to be polite and gentle when he is tired. Compound overtired with gum pain and you have a recipe for disaster. Still overtired and spitting this evening, we put him in the time out chair again and again and again. He cried "Mommy, no spitting!!!" to be released.

On the positive side, Simon went to bed just before 8 pm tonight without any fuss; it looks like he is on his way to his pre-vacation habits. We wonder how long it will be before we can return from a trip without any negative consequenses.

Posted by kagledom at 09:45 PM | Permalink

Just in case you're reading the news this morning about the accident on the L in the Loop last night, please know that all is well in Kagledom. We take the red line or the purple line to work and the red line home (and very rarely the brown). The accident occurred on the blue line which we have never used. Also, Hava came home early yesterday to take some calls from home since she lost her work phone on the way to the Cape.

New things for Simon:

• He is having trouble letting Daddy leave him at school.


• He is having trouble going to sleep in his crib at night.


• Last night Simon finally fell asleep in his room at 11 pm (his bedtime is 8 pm).


• He is getting his second set of molars and is not enjoying the experience.


• When he bumped his head on a wall last night he, very seriously, claimed he "broke" it.


• Whenever we pick him up to take him somewhere he doesn't want to go (like, recently, the bathtub) or hold his arms or legs to change or dress him he yells "Ow!" as if we have hurt him.


• He has decided that Mama should be called "Mommy" or "Daddy" but definitely not "Mama."


• He was very excited to pick herbs on the deck and put them on the pizza we made for dinner.


• He cried for Winslow last night and asked to hold him (a request we denied though we did bring Winslow to him).


• According to his teachers, he has a best friend (a little boy in his class), he eats "A LOT" and they can't get him to sit still while they eat around the table.

Posted by kagledom at 10:05 AM | Permalink

We three Kagles returned home last night without much fuss. Traffic off the Cape was light and Simon slept through all but twenty minutes of the flight. We had a light late meal and attempted to go off to sleep but were reminded of the danger of vacation co-sleeping when Simon was adamant that he share our bed. In the middle of the night, Simon dove head first to the floor in his sleep which is why he will be spending tonight in his crib. (He is fine and went right back to sleep after mere seconds of crying.)

We had a wonderful time at the Cape. Simon enjoyed the sand and the water and the "Feefadders" (Grandparents Kagle). He thought baby Andrew was adorable and wanted to gently pat and kiss him and rock him and carry him in his car seat. At six-and-a-half, Bradley is SO COOL and Jeffrey, at almost four, was fun to chase - even when that wasn't what he had in mind.

We had a lot of fun but it is good to be home and being home actually feels like being home for the first time in seven months. Now we will spend the next year clearing our arteries of delicious fried seafood and ice cream in anticipation of Cape Cod 2007, The Chicago Kagles Return...

First time "swimming" without somone holding him.

Posted by kagledom at 11:15 AM | Permalink

All the Kagle boys enjoy Caillou.

Posted by kagledom at 06:16 PM | Permalink

Jeff, Brad, Matthew, and Simon

Posted by kagledom at 03:31 PM | Permalink

Simon saw his first fireworks last night in Provincetown. If he were keeping a list of the best things in life, watching fireworks would be near the top.

The following interaction took place over and over...
Simon: "Wassat?"
Our response: "Fireworks."
Simon (exuberantly): "YES IT IS!"

He laughed and hooted and wowed.

And here is a random cute shot

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Posted by kagledom at 07:14 AM | Permalink

Simon decided that it would be a really good idea not to sleep for more than a few hours the night before our trip (something he hasn't done in so long we can't remember) and then it took us an incredibly long time to get here (apparently we are not the only people spending the first week of July at the Cape) but, twenty four hours later, we are finally enjoying our vacation; water, sand, ice cream and HOT COFFEE (microwaved vanilla milk made out of almonds is apparently just as good as soy with chocolate). "Grandfadder" (Grandmother) and "Fadders" (Grandfather) are lots of fun. They even have mac and cheese and corn on the cob on the Cape; maybe we will stay.

Posted by kagledom at 06:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)