Today you are seven!

Simon Culkin-Kagle

Before we head off to a cabin in the woods to celebrate the day, let's walk back in time to recapture your seventh year.

Simon's first grade star-of-the-week poster

WE SURVIVED!

It started out simple enough. You attended a few one-week day camps with friends: Spy Camp, Aviation Camp, and Art Camp. You were nervous and resisted attending, but once you were there you absolutely loved every minute of them. For the 4th of July, Grammy visited Mountain View and watched the fireworks sail over the Shoreline Golf Course with friends and snacks. We lost Adlai for a bit and then Grammy disappeared after him but, heck, you had cookies and Calvin. I'm not even sure you noticed.

Bonding with Adlai

With Adlai on the couch

With Adlai in the backyard

In August, you flew with Daddy and Adlai to New York for a few days to visit Grandma Whee, the Feefadders, an enormous avocado, and a flaming pupu platter. You then drove through four states, ending in Cape Cod, where you fell asleep, woke up, and picked me up at the airport. We spent the remainder of the week eating fried seafood, getting sandy and wet, and listening carefully for the jingle of the ice cream truck. It was while having dinner with the Feefadders in Cape Cod that we learned your kindergarten teacher had been promoted to first grade right along with you! You were so relieved to have the same teacher. The stress of entering first grade completely melted away and we were able to enjoy the remainder of the summer in peace.

In Cape Cod

Cold in Cape Cod

With Adlai in Boston

Well, peace until you started school. The first month or so of school you were overwhelmed by the sheer length of the day. And then there was real math and real homework. And then it seemed all of your classmates were reading above your level (because they were). You hated the food we bought you through the hot lunch program and you were not a fan of working in groups with bossy girls who constantly told you "You're doing it wrong! You're doing it wrong!". You had a hard time adjusting to these additional stresses. You stopped eating. You lost a lot of weight. You were miserable. But you didn't give up.

Costa Rican ox cart project

New bike - a bit too big

Art on the front porch

You hung mathematical equations from your bedroom ceiling. You focused on your homework and, even though you found it difficult and frustrating and sometimes crumpled the assignments into balls and tossed them across the room, you always got the work done and you did it well. You practiced reading every night. You wrote your letters over and over and over and over again. You quizzed us on addition and subtraction, multiplication and division day and night. You lamented that college was so gosh darn far away. Couldn't you just leave these ridiculously immature first graders behind and concentrate on REAL SCIENCE?

Pincipal's award for "Caring"

Ethnic day - we borrowed an ethnicity

Dr. Simon Kagle

We took you to Disneyland in mid-November and you found the idea of lines, rides, and dark and loud shows overwhelming. The only part of the vacation you wanted anything to do with was the swimming pool at the hotel. And so we swam. And we swam. And we swam. After swimming we did more swimming. And then some T.V. watching. And then we bought junk food and ate it. You may remember this as a great vacation. Your dad and I, having purchased several days of enormously expensive tickets to the theme park attached to the hotel, found it deeply frustrating.

Choosing a pumpkin to carve

Ride on a steam train

With Cousin Sarah at Discovery Kingdom

Luckily, by Thanksgiving, we were able to find you some relief. Not coincidentally, you also started reading well enough that you caught up with the more advanced kids in your class. As we drove down the freeway you read the signs. One day you asked me: "What's a Hyatt?" and I knew reading had finally clicked.

Amusing school work

Reading and writing

Letter left for "the Tooth Fairy".

We stayed close to home for the winter holidays - scheduling playdates and visiting with California family. For mid-winter break, we flew to Seattle for your cousin Devon's wedding which allowed you to see all six of your cousins from both sides of your family in the very same day. We stayed in the Seattle area for most of that week enjoying the snow, an indoor water park, and an all Kagle-boy festival. It was the BEST. VACATION. EVER! For a week after we returned, you and Adlai were down in the dumps. Oh how you wish you could see those Kagle cousins more often.

With Cousin Bradley

About to go sledding

Conversation with Adlai

It was also late in the year when you started to develop deeper friendships. You, Steven, Andreas, and David started a sleuthing business of some sort. For a while there you brought home "clues" from school -- what the untrained eye might call bags of garbage you found on the playground -- and "maps" that you had drawn with your buddies. We've had a lot of playdates this year but not with these new school friends. As it turns out, your dad and I have, so far, only befriended the parents of the girls in your class. Historically, you have had an equally good time with boys and girls but, lately, the girls have been acting more, well, "girly". At one recent playdate a female friend wanted to play "house" and at another playdate there was ribbon dancing. You are completely confounded by this behavior. It sets you off your guard. Why would anyone in their right mind gently twirl or pretend to do housework when they could just as easily ram themselves into a tower of pillows, play kick the ball over the roof, or smash grapefruit against the windows? I worry that the days of our playdates with girls from school are numbered.

Fun with friends

Enjoying tea

Waiting for lessons with Adlai

Luckily there is still movie night! We've continued the tradition of having friends over for pizza and a movie every Saturday all year. We all look forward to movie nights. Your dad and I get the company of adult friends and you get the pleasure of relaxing with buddies. Your favorite movie this year was G-force. It appeals to the slapstick animal-loving inventor in you.

Movie night

Saturday morning in a fort and pajamas

With Hana and Lily

Your personal learning goal for the year was to "Get better in science" so we spent as much time as we could in the spring taking you to museums, reading to you about physics, working on science experiments and enjoying NPR Science Fridays. Grammy bought you a subscription to Popular Science which you mull over in your room all by yourself. You haven't picked a favorite science subject yet - you are fascinated by them all. You especially liked a physics book and a book about inventing and you LOVE weather. It's been an odd weather year - stormy in June - and your analysis of cloud formations and potential weather patterns has come in handy. If a tornado would just stop by, life would be perfect.

Conservatory of Flowers, SF

Fire from playdoh

Loss of the first upper tooth

It was also late in this year that your physical coordination finally started to kick in. You are strong and quick and less apt to trip over your own feet. You are a good ball player. You love to make up your own games or play two-square, four-square, and soccer. Your favorite solo activity is still zooming through the house pretending that you are... well... I don't really know, but I know you appear to be in charge and the hero and there is a lot of physical fighting, running, jumping, and flying.

Getting bigger, fitting the bike better

In the park with Adlai

Running in Mountain View

Yoga with Hana

This year you gained fifteen pounds, two sizes in shoes, two sizes in clothes, eleven levels in reading, and an equally amazing level jump in writing. You won an award for being caring, discovered Beyblades, attended your first Giants game, and went out alone on a date to ice cream with your favorite school principal. You gave up your car seat, learned to lap swim alone across a pool, conquered your fears of riding a bike and the sound of electric clippers, spoke in front of your school at two assemblies, tried ice skating and laser tag, wrote your first book report, and expertly recited your lines as "Card Number Four" on stage in Alice in Wonderland. You learned to build and control Lego robots, made brownies over a campfire, fed and loved our cats, and tried hard to be a patient and loving friend, brother, and son.

Weighing yourself

Card Number Four

On ice skates

Out with Ms. Hersey

I couldn't be more proud. Now, Mr. Seven-Year-Old, let's go camping. I've packed some candles to put on your s'mores.

First day of school cake

Love,

Mama (Daddy, Adlai, Hanalei, and Princess Lily)

More?
Simon turns six
Simon turns five
Simon turns four
Simon turns three
Simon turns two
Simon turns one
Simon is born

Even more?
Adlai turns three
Adlai turns two
Adlai turns one
Adlai is born

Today you are six.

Unlike turning four or five, you've really been looking forward to turning six. A few months ago, when we spotted your six year molars pushing through, you were absolutely delighted that your body was ahead of your actual age. I know this because you shouted, "My body thinks I'm already SIX!" This desire to mature and become a little more independent from us has been a long time coming. Your desire to wash, dress, and prepare food and feed yourself has been battling it out with your desire to be our baby all year long. Earlier in the year, you expressed your anxiety about getting married or going to college. Once we assured you you could live at home, you finally relaxed. Also, Daddy told you about the endless supplies of sugary cereals in college cafeterias; now you're ready to sign up.

 

 

Your summer last year was filled with preschool in the mornings and play at home in the afternoons. On weekends we took you to the beach or to museums, theme parks, trains, boats, and other local attractions. In the evenings, we worked to convince you (and ourselves) that kindergarten was going to be GREAT! You were angry about starting a new school, you desperately missed the Feefadders, and you became convinced that eating wasn't necessary. You stopped paying attention to your teachers and occasionally refused to do what they asked. And this is why you started the school year without any ability to read or write. As one of the youngest in your class, we worried you would be left behind.

Graduation from preschool

Boat tour under the Golden Gate

The Mystery Spot, Santa Cruz

On your first day of school, Daddy and Adlai took you to Burger King for lunch, I came home from work, realized that you had spilled ketchup all over your shirt and were wearing your shorts on backwards, helped you quickly change and, together, we walked into your new classroom to drop you off. Three and a half tense hours later, we picked up a very happy boy. You love school. You love your teacher. You love your principal. You love everything about learning. What a relief!

It is hard to believe how far you have come. You can write your own stories in complete sentences. You can read books to us. You draw yourself as something other than a stick with dots for eyes and a line for a mouth. Daddy has moved you past addition and subtraction and gone right to algebra. When we were in Ohio last month, you delighted at your cousin Sarah's quizzing you about science. She asked you about atoms, matter, the solar system, and weather and you answered each question with authority. Those thirty minutes with Sarah probably increased your confidence in yourself one hundred fold.

Silly in the backyard

Rocket launching at NASA

Experiments at the Tech Museum

You absolutely love science: chemistry, astronomy, biology, electrical, or atmospheric. Given the opportunity to watch a cartoon or a video lecture on the solar system or how something works, you will always choose the educational option. Last fall, on our trip to Disneyland, you insisted we throw coins into the wishing well at Toon Town and you took a moment, closed your eyes and wished with all your heart to become "a famous scientist." And then you wished it a second time and a third in case the well didn't quite hear you.

Wishing into the fountain

Chemistry for Christmas

Experiments with cloning

This year has been a big year for travel. In August we spent some time with Grandma Whee in New York celebrating her birthday followed by our annual trip to Cape Cod. In November, we treated you to a surprise weekend in Disneyland. We picked you up from school and drove for two hours before you finally asked where we were going. We flew to Houston in January to visit your Oma and Aunt Jackie, Oahu in February to celebrate Spring break with your Kagle cousins and the Feefadders, and Ohio in May to bury Grandpa Ewing.

Grandma Whee's birthday

Relaxing in Cape Cod

Where are we going?

Happy in Disneyland

Three generations outside Houston

Three generations in Mountain View

Kagle Cousins in Hawaii

Kagle Cousins in Hawaii

I can't thank you enough for being such a wonderful travel companion. I feel like I can take you anywhere and you'll be my little ambassador. Whereever we go, strangers are impressed with your incredible kindness and good behavior. While in Ohio, you enthusiastically volunteered to bury your Grandpa Ewing. After filling the hole with dirt, you went back to the van and cried because you were sad that he was gone. (Even though I'm pretty sure you don't remember meeting him.)

You can't wait until Adlai is old enough to play with "like a five year old" but that hasn't stopped you from engaging him with play at any level possible. You are patient and understanding and rarely get upset when Adlai destroys your creations or runs off with your toys. You've mostly figured out what sets Adlai off into a tantrum and you always attempt to make him feel better. If he cries because he doesn't have the same thing you have, you offer to share whatever the object is just to make him happy. The two of you particularly enjoy running around the house or yard or coming up with new dance moves. You love when Adlai copies your words and moves. It makes you laugh which makes him laugh which makes you laugh even harder.

Hiller Aviation Museum

You asked: "Adlai, do you want to hold my thumb?" Adlai said: "Thank you!"

You are a champion of goodness and happiness and nothing makes you more upset than seeing one of your friends in trouble. You were given the Principal's award this year for Citizenship in part because you were so nice to a new boy in your class on his first few days. We've also heard from another family that you skipped recess to sit next to their boy when he was forced to skip recess as a punishment. You are shocked when people are mean to each other or lie to their parents or do "something bad" on purpose. You won't watch shows or read books in which characters get into trouble. When Adlai requests that I read a Curious George books you run from the room, hands over your ears.

You listen with rapt attention when your Dad talks about science, video games, and his life experiences. You're pretty sure that I know nothing important, but you love me anyway. I'm good for snuggling and am probably more likely to give you what you want.

Winner of the cake walk AND the "grassiest" cake!

Earth Day park cleanup with your class.

Although in this past year you've conquered your fears of being suffocated by helmets, life vests, goggles, and deep water, you're now afraid of having anything in your mouth with the wrong texture. You have learned to spit the food out into a napkin but, seriously, the amount of food you need to spit out makes this an obnoxious habit that you need to overcome.

Your kindergarten class

You are a social creature and without social interaction, particularly new social interactions, you are easily bored. In January, we started a weekly movie night to help rectify this problem. We invite one or two of your friends families and you kids play, eat, and watch a movie while we adults take time to catch up and relax. We also try to break up the mundane by celebrating: Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's, St. Pat's, Passover, Easter, birthdays, loose and lost teeth, and school events, we hit them all. We prepare. We enjoy. It gives us something to do. Last fall we even celebrated the birthday of Balcony, your stuffed kitten.

Halloween (You're Ben 10)

Hanukkah

Christmas

New Years Eve

Valentine's Day

Passover (reading the four questions)

Balcony's birthday

You've been playing soccer since Winter, which you actually enjoy, and you still take swim lessons once a week. You can freestyle yourself across a pool and swim to the bottom of the shallow end like a catfish searching for a meal. I love to watch you swim. The teachers say you will be promoted to the next class - swimming alone in the deep end - as soon as you realize that you ARE, IN FACT, SWIMMING. Confidence, my boy, we need to work on that.

Since you have been old enough to express yourself, the one object you've wanted most has been a cat. When you were two you collected stuffed cats and carried them whereever you went, when you were three you pretended to be a cat, when you were four you drew Daddy a card asking for a cat. Just over a week ago, and after a painfully long wait, we brought two cats into the family. You play with them, you talk with them, you love them and your laughter at watching them, well, it's contagious...

They make you deliriously happy. You make us deliriously happy. I guess it all works out.

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Mama (and Daddy and Adlai too)

Simon started kindergarten on Wednesday! And after months of trepidation and worries and downright fear, we are all relieved and delighted to report that he LOVES it.

Simon is in afternoon kindergarten four days a week and in morning kindergarten on Fridays (because Fridays are special spirit days for the school during which the entire student body gathers for special assemblies, field trips, etc.) I came home before lunch on Wednesday so we could all participate in his send off. He and Matthew picked out a cake for after school and Simon was treated to a lunch from Burger King. Here is our evening celebration...

Here is Simon graduating from Preschool last week

And here is Simon in his Kindergarten classroom this week

If he looks a little worried, it's because he was. No more! (Thank goodness.)

Today you are FIVE.

Happy Birthday.

Mama (and Daddy and Adlai too)

But parents of kids at school frequently tell us how their daughters talk about you incessantly. We have an enormous collection of your art projects (art is your favorite subject) AND we have a large collection of art that has been bestowed upon you by your girlfriends. Girlfriends, at three! On some days you are going to marry both Tessa and Lisa and then you run into an attractive twelve year old somewhere and you find yourself drawn to her. That is until you see Elissa, our horticulturalist. Elissa is the end all and be all of women. She has tools, she is super strong, she isn't afraid of walking stoically through sprinklers, and she is so very very knowledgeable about plants and dirt. It makes me proud to watch you woo her at every opportunity. I hope, twenty to thirty years from now, you find an Elissa of your own. I'm pretty sure this Elissa isn't interested.

Happy Birthday!

Mama (and Daddy)

Simon Turns Three
Simon Turns Two
Simon Turns One
Simon's Birth Day

After two nights in Houston, one night in Orlando, and two nights on the ship, Simon realized that sleeping in new locations is not that bad. In fact, sleeping between Mama and Daddy is pretty darn comfortable. So after two stories and lights out he closed his eyes and passed out like a normal human being -- HOOOOOOOORAAAAAYYYYY!

After the ship kindly forced us to depart, we took the Magical Express Bus back to Orlando and checked into the beautiful Africa-inspired Animal Kingdom Lodge. A long nap later, we had a lovely meal (Simon had award winning mac and cheese - seriously) and the three of us spent an hour or so in the pool.

The next morning we prepared ourselves for the first of two days at the Magic Kingdom (aka Disney Land Orlando). We started everything off right with a character breakfast; Simon met Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger. Next we caught the welcome show on the Castle steps followed by a "beat the heat" moment in Mickey's Philharmagic (a 3-D movie). One of our fondest memories of the trip will always be seeing Simon duck and grab at the items he thought were coming at him.

Next we got in the "10 minute" (actual time: 25 minute) line for Dumbo. Simon wanted to go "up up up!" and refused to even let the car adjust to lower than the highest setting. When the ride was over, 3 minutes later, he broke into tears that lasted for quite some time. Hava felt like crying as well. While waiting in line we were in direct sunlight in 90 degree heat, 90% humidity, and the ride was only THREE MINUTES!!! We learned a valuable lesson - only ride rides that are fastpass-able (there aren't that many for 3 year olds) or have visibly short lines. Lesson learned, we eventually made it to Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear Spin, the train, the tram, the Tiki Room, Winnie the Pooh, the Amazon Boat Tour, and several others. We also spent a good amount of time both days in Toon Town (home to Mickey and Minnie Mouse).

Simon loved the rides (as expected). He would have loved to have been flown through the air and/or spun all day long. Each day we rode the bus back to the hotel at nap time to restore Simon to his non-cranky splendor. Post nap, we made the trip back to the park for dinner and some more fun. The first evening we decided to keep Simon up for the 9 pm electrical parade and the 10 pm fireworks over the Princess Castle. Simon was exhausted but it was worth it - he has been talking about the fireworks ever since (initially he was a little concerned about the well being of the Princesses inside the castle). After the second long hot day, about the time Simon was starting to melt, we took him to buy a Disney memento. Hava wanted him to have a Mickey shirt. Simon, the boy who hates anything on his head or neck, fell madly in love with Minnie Mouse ears. It is impossible to describe just how happy he was wearing those ears. You'll have to look at the photos.

On Sunday morning we packed up and took yet another Magical Express Bus to the Orlando airport. We arrived in New England in time for a late lunch and drove on to the Cape with Grandmother, Feefadder, and Grandma Whee. Simon had missed the Feefadders since their departure from San Francisco in early May, so he was very happy to be in their presence. Once on the Cape, we started the relaxing portion of the vacation right with an immediate trip to the bay where Grandmother and Feefadder played in the water with an over tired but clearly thrilled to be alive Simon. And after swimming and dinner the boy was treated to his fifth third birthday celebration.

The rest of the week was filled with trips to the ocean, the bay, and a pond, a lot of bonding time for Simon and his Grandparents, ball games, bubbles, kite flying, ice cream cones, watching potters spin pots, walks, fried seafood, and some really good sleep. It was everything we have come to expect from our yearly Cape excursions (including some much needed parent/child separation time).

By late in the week Simon was starting to show some signs of wear and it was clear he needed to be back home with his little friends. He ran into another 3-year-old at the airport and was overjoyed to have a buddy to talk with. He was overheard asking her: "Do you remember Tokyo?" Our JetBlue flight direct into San Jose was over 6 hours long and landed at 8 pm Pacific (11 pm to us). Simon was perfect and awake the entire flight (although half way through he said "I'm all done with the airplane, Mama.") Our friend, Lennie, picked us up from the airport. Simon fell asleep in her car and stayed asleep as we moved him into our car, waited in our driveway for Matthew to unload the car and uncover the beds, and as we transferred him into bed. He woke up the next morning in our new house. We had no idea what his reaction would be to being in yet another new place but we would never have predicted how happy he has been since seeing his room, the new bathrooms, the kitchen, and everything in between. He is in love with the place and can't stop talking to imaginary Mickey and Minnie and Donald Duck and Laa Laa and Tinky Winky about the different features. He slept in his room alone last night, slept in this morning, and woke up uncharacteristically cheerful.

The place looks beautiful. There are still some things yet to be ordered and installed but it is completely livable. At the last minute we had to leave the entire design of the tile in both bathrooms up to the contractors and it looks much better than our original plan. We were expecting far less. Yesterday it seemed like we should invite someone over to see our cool new house and then we realized we should probably find the boxes with clothes and food and toilet paper before having guests...

Photos from the Cape will be uploaded to Flickr as soon as an Internet connection is established in the Kagle abode.

Despite sleep deprivation, Simon was terrific at the airport. He was that special kind of terrific that makes old ladies stop and take notice. And he was beyond thrilled to be on an airplane. He requested a "blue" plane and, luckily, Southwest didn't disappoint. He sat in the front row for the first leg of the trip and became the number one fan of the flight attendants once we landed in Los Angeles as he clapped and cheered and yelled "DO IT AGAIN!"

The leg from LA to Houston an hour later was just as nice but, by the end, Simon was beginning to show signs of wear. He passed out moments after we hit the ground but slept only until we reached baggage claim.

So by the time we reached Houston we were down three days of naps and he was missing a few hours of sleep each night for two nights.

He was very excited to see Aunt Jackie, Uncle Tom, Oma, Cousin Rachel, and Cody (the dog). His joy at being with them overshadowed the sleep deprived funk, which otherwise would have taken our dear little boy by storm. He played piano, he chased the dog, he watched the rain, he went to the park, he had a second third birthday celebration, but mostly he stayed in air conditioned locations spending time with his family. He napped for an hour one day and had VERY little sleep at night (we spent two hours each night trying to get him to pass out).

By the time we left Houston, Simon had napped for about 2.5 hours over four days (normally he naps 2.5 hours each day) and he was out about 12-14 hours of nighttime sleep.

Our trip from Houston to Orlando was less thrilling. Simon was so tired at the airport (with only his boring parents to entertain him) that he finally collapsed emotionally and mentally, which manifested itself in loss of physical control. He couldn't sit up; he couldn't stand up; he couldn't walk; he couldn't be still. We took turns trying to hold him while he swatted us, kicked, head-butted and laughed. The plane was delayed 45 minutes due to a downpour and thunderstorms. Simon didn't sleep on the flight.

We arrived in Orlando and Disney took over everything by getting us on a bus to our hotel and taking care of picking up our bags at baggage claim. We checked in, got Simon some food, and waited for our luggage to arrive. We landed at 6:30 pm. Our bags didn't arrive in our room until 11:30 pm. We were so thankful for their arrival; we could finally put Simon to sleep. We opened the luggage to get out the pajamas and toothbrushes to find a very soggy mess. Apparently our two largest bags were on the top of the luggage cart which sat out in the Houston downpour for 45 minutes.

We got Simon to sleep around midnight. He was down another nap and only slept for six hours.

There was some time to play in the pools and fountains of the resort between breakfast and our the departure of our hour long bus trip to the Disney Wonder ship. Simon ran and jumped and splashed and had a marvelous time. He was even cheerful on the bus. It wasn't until we reached the cruise ship that things began to fall apart. Simon missed another nap. He was hot. He was tired. He was bored. He switched from interested and content to demonically possessed depending on the sway of the ship, the wind, and the number of large fish swimming in a two mile radius. And then? AND THEN?? And then there was a three hour dinner.

In summary, the rest of the cruise pretty much went the way of the first night. We had our friends Brian, Rhonda, and their daughter Leah to act as entertainment during meals but Simon was really too far gone by the time we arrived for any intervention (no matter how amusing) to help. Not that the WONDERFUL Disney staff didn't try. They came up with balloon animals, magic tricks, crayons, games, dances, a birthday cake and song... He finally cracked a smile and gave them a much deserved laugh on the very last day.

Simon did have a lot of fun. He saw his first movie (Meet the Robinsons) in the full size movie theater on board. The two days he did nap we let him stay up late to see two Broadway-esque Disney shows that had him literally standing in the isles, clapping, and dancing and calling out "SING EVERYBODY!" He fell head over heels in love with Mickey and then Minnie. He met the Princesses and was so shy once he got near them he couldn't even look in their direction (even though he was thrilled later for having even come close). We spent a great day at the Disney Island, Castaway Cay, playing in the warm water, the sand, and riding bikes together. He swam in the Mickey Pool onboard and even went down the big water slide alone, he played with Leah who is JUST SO COOL and, even though she is seven, had no qualms about entertaining a younger man (or persuading him to nap or trying to get him to use the toilet).

Would we do it over? Definitely. If we knew then what we know now would we wait until Simon was potty trained so he could play in the super cool kid area with the other kids his age without us while we napped/participated in other activities/went offshore? YOUBETCHA! And we might have even waited until he was old enough to care that we were on a ship sailing the high seas.

Seriously, everything about the Disney cruise was great. The ship was beautiful, being on the water was incredible, and the service was above and beyond. We will do it again. We have a tentative date for 2011 or 2012.

Be sure to check out the photos on Flickr.

We had a great time exploring Chicago. So many things to do! Such beauty in every building! Free entertainment every weekend day in the park right across the street! The Museum of Science and Industry! Millennium Park! Daddy and I have fond memories. We're sad that yours probably won't last but, one day, we'll take you there and show you everything you liked best.

Right after your second birthday you started preschool at Lakeshore Prep in downtown Chicago. It was a very cute urban school with a lot of fun activities. The first few weeks you found it difficult to be without Daddy for the few hours at a time and it was really hard on Daddy to leave you. You loved your first teacher (she was very cute) and you excelled at music and art. When fall came around you were given new instructors who were, frankly, a little frazzled by your enthusiasm for everything. In circle time, while the other "good" children sat in a circle to sing, you danced around the room or in the center of the circle. You refused to stand in line and thought it HYSTERICAL to zoom off down a hall leaving one teacher to watch the rest of the class while the other tried to catch you. You became frustrated by your classmates (none of whom you particularly liked) and started to push them out of your way. You worried the teachers. The teachers worried us. By the late fall you tolerated school only because it had a man who sang songs in Spanish and played the guitar. But, wow, how fast you picked up numbers and letters when the guitar guy sang!

So by fall Mama's work was stressful, Daddy's work was stressful, and your school life was stressful. It snowed in the middle of September. When Mama came home from work we would ask you if you wanted to go out and you'd say "No, it's too dark." You and Mama don't tolerate extreme cold very well - especially if there isn't even any snow.

When a brief window of opportunity opened Mama asked Daddy if we could leave. PLEASE COULD WE LEAVE? Daddy reluctantly agreed to end our new and exciting life in the big city and to pick up our old and comfortable life in the most expensive suburbs in the world.

You flew back to California with Mama in December and it was the first plane trip where you were really excited to be on a PLANE! Ever since that trip you have talked about planes and taking off and wanting to go to the airport. Daddy arrived four days later in the car and you were angry at him for leaving you for such a long time. He was so excited to see you but you didn't want to be near him or let him hold you. You didn't, that is, until he went back out to the car to get something and you had a sudden and intense emotional breakdown. After that experience, Daddy stayed no more than a room away for a few months.

Since we arrived back in Mountain View your time has been spent playing outside and/or with your old buddies. It's really heartwarming to watch you connect with people again on a regular basis. You have lots of friends and you love nothing more than playing with them; you talk about them all the time - especially "Tokyo" and Patrick.

The best thing about the past six months is how you've started to tell us things we don't already know. You tell us about your day, what you like and don't like, what is scary, and all about your favorite things. Speaking of favorite things, your interests haven't actually changed much over the past three years. You like to run and jump and be rambunctious. You love being in water and have taken to showering in the morning and bathing in the evening - just to get in some extra splashing. We didn't swim much in Chicago but now that we are here we take you swimming every Saturday. Recently you want nothing more than to jump off the side of the pool and into Mama's arms over and over for the entire half hour. You also love anything to do with music. You sing a favorite song for a few weeks (enough to wear it out) before moving on to the next. You like stories too but you prefer them to be new - that or have a silly rhyme.

Besides being with friends, playing in water, and music, you love anything mechanical or electrical. You are really interested in how things work, particularly vacuum cleaners, hairdryers, blenders, electric tools, fans, and the back of the toilet. Almost every morning after you wake up you walk into our bathroom and ask for the back of the toilet to be removed so you can see the "bubbles." Daddy says this is normal boy behavior.

We think you know your numbers, letters, and colors but you usually won't humor us with an answer when we ask. You were very contrary most of the past year. The more we wanted you to do something (like use the toilet, go to bed, brush your teeth, try a new food) the more you resisted. Daddy has used this to his advantage. He screams "No kisses! No! No! No kisses!" just before you attack him with kisses all over his face. In the past two months you have relented and shown us just how nice it can be to have a little boy that has tastes and opinions of his own but also understands it is possible to like the same things as his parents.

You've become a little shy of strangers as of late and less willing to run into traffic (which was a big problem only six months ago). You've finally become aware that getting hurt is a real possibly so, where six months ago you would climb the furniture raise your hands up in the air and yell "I'M CLIMBING!", now you at least hold on while you flip over the side. We no longer have to watch you every second of every day while you challenge our baby proofing. We can even leave you alone with small objects and know that you won't swallow them and choke. You've never choked. You've never been electrocuted. You've never swallowed poison. What a relief.

When you don't know we're listening we hear you cautioning your friends to be careful. All that imploring you not to kill yourself over the past three years is getting through.

Happy Birthday Simon.

With Love,

Mama and Daddy