Mika got knocked out by a stomach flu. It started last night with violent vomiting after a birthday party – which we mistook as a case of “she ate too many cupcakes/jellybeans/gummybears”. High fever kicked in a couple hours later and after a rough night she spent the whole day resting on the couch. She wasn’t even interested in her favorite TV cartoons (!) We managed to keep her fever just under 104°F (40°C), thanks to cold wraps, some medicine, and Pedialyte freezer pops.
Tobin’s true empathy has yet to be developed … he was just making sure he gets a tasting of the freezer pops as well.
On our second run outside today we went to a local street fair. There wasn’t enough time to join the kids in the jumping castle (or do anything else), because Mika really, really wanted to get her face painted. She was the last kid admitted to the line before closing and we waited for nearly half an hour … but she got her wish: to be a purple kitty with sparkles! Tobin wasn’t as enthusiastic: he had a hard time adjusting to his feline sister.
Out of the blue, Mika started asking me if she could have a wristwatch. Turns out, one of the older girls in her class has one (…) I told her that she needs to learn how to read a clock first. Only if she could read the clock, she may get a wristwatch of her own (psst: we actually have a tiny wristwatch waiting for her, but she doesn’t know and we didn’t want to give it to her until her 4th birthday or later).
Step 1: learn how to read and write numbers 1-12 (she can read all and write all except #5)
Step 2: helping to build a training clock with numbers and two hands (done!)
Step 3: lots of practice
If she learns how to tell time, i will keep my word as well. So far, she’s put a lot of energy and enthusiasm into the project. To be continued…
Today Tobin tried to use his “indoor voice” when arguing with Bruno over his Cheerio cup. Good thing he is a messy eater and both guys got fistfuls of the cereal after all.
Later he tagged along to Mika’s play date with Olivia, entertaining himself by tailgating our hosts’ cat.
Not quite upside down (as beautifully captured here), but Mika has become a swing addict nonetheless. She still needs a little help to get the really big ones going, but could easily spend her whole afternoon up in the air.
Mika decided to keep Gaang company until he got picked up in the afternoon – a perfect opportunity for Tobin to pretend he is going to school as well. They wouldn’t let him near the hot-off-the-laminator job chart figures though.
Mika and Luna were catching up today after a long summer break. The two worked the swings at LICH playground in their matching fish dresses, then turned into snack lions. Rrrrrrrroarrr!
Thank you Tomoko for making the trip out to the waterfront one last time before Kai’s sister’s arrival! Mika and Kai had a blast, as always. Special treat was our lunch at Eton … dumplings and shaved ice. Yu-hummm!
First play date with Bruno since we’re back home. The boys gained a whole new perspective standing side by side, until the hunger pangs struck them. Bruno attempted to munch on Tobin’s foot, but was given some wooden rings to chew on instead.
Tobin met Mika’s friends Elsie and Violet for lunch today in the city. Unfortunately, the big girls’ school schedules don’t permit for weekday play dates anymore, so the little brother has to hold up our connection.
Mika’s first day of school started with a family breakfast in the Choo Choo Train garden. Although she had been looking forward to seeing all her friends, it took her a few minutes (and a muffin) to fully warm up again. By the time we said good-bye though, she was almost too busy playing to care about us.
Update: all kids got a German-style ‘Schultüte’ at the end of the day (!) It turns out that Ela, the founder (and head teacher) of the school, envied the German kids in her native Poland on her own first day of school. She didn’t see Mika’s Schultüte of last year, which we had discreetly kept at home.
How could this happen? We’re just back from (autumn-like) Germany and it’s already … Labor Day! Officially the last day of Summer in the U.S., even if the astronomical season extends until September 21. The weather couldn’t be more beautiful though: gone are humidity and excessive heat and we enjoyed a wonderfully balmy BBQ evening with Jean, Brian, and Tyler.
Tomorrow morning Mika is going to return to her school as a ‘senior’, ready to mentor the new kids…
