Tigo class nature hunt/walk

Tigo class today was special. We went on a nature walk through San Pablo city in search of plants, flowers, shells, etc. for a nature project.

We walked across the bridge to the Alvarado Adobe Historic building. which I never knew about (and I used to work at the hospital about a block away!)

We came upon this fountain...

... and then this grand one. Before I realized it, Kai was soaked! He was happily playing with the water! (and drinking it too despite my warnings.)

Turns out he was the only boy in this class. And he took advantage of it too, chasing after the girl with the mini-skirt around the plaza. Thank goodness she was a fast runner, I'm not sure what Kai would have done to her?

So back at Tigo class, Kai gets out of hand with the paintbrush and glue. Not only does he get it all over me- but on himself just as well, which I believe he purposely did it so that he could wash his hands in the sink, over and over again...

Ta-Dah! His completed nature work of art along with a new hairstyle (again, from playing with the water at the sinks).

Home again. I took this picture just in case my phone camera did not work out as well.

Angel when I'm there- devil when I turn my back.

Tuesday July 9, 2007

Finally, a day for rest- and what do I do? I get up 6 am (4am California time) to take Kai for a morning stroll. It's been so hot and humid in Homewood that the best time to walk was before the sun gets high, despite the several old shade trees in the neighborhood. Plus I was desperate for coffee!

We walked to my favorite coffee store "Caribou" and I grab a seat near the toy area. I knew I was exhausted when the coffee did not prevent me from nodding off, as it was the screams that Kai made that awoke me. Kai wanted...not the toys, not the food I packed, nor the poppyseed cake- but my coffee! (who would have guessed?)

So out the door again to continue our walk. When we returned, off to the waterpark we went with the whole family. In no time, I got soaked with the kids.

Kai and Cohen play well with each other, but Kai has made frequent his love bites on Cohen. I am not sure why he has started to bite his cousins Adira and Cohen on this trip (Cohen mainly) but I have seen evidence of wet mouth marks on Cohen's head, shirt sleeve, and shirt front and back. Of course, it never happens when I'm there looking their way- but I do hear a loud cry and Kai is running from the crime scene.

Nana has witnessed Kai wielding a hammer and hitting Cohen on the head with it (and Cohen stands there and just takes it). Adira has witnessed Kai using a wrench on his head also. (Don't worry, they are plastic toy things!) But nevertheless, he does it out of my sight. At first it was funny, but now it concerns me.

My brother Fredi said Kai knows when he is doing something wrong, as he will make eye contact and then do the bad deed. (i.e. feed his food to the dog, open cabinets when told not to, handle sunglasses, throw hard objects ranging from coins to shoes, clambor on tables, tear paper, and the list goes on....)

Cohen always tries to hug Kai. Kai usually pushes him away.

Kai has gotten another "time-out". This time it was more dramatic on Kai's part- crying and screaming, running from the corner, and when returned to his place (either physically by me or by my direction) he would pound the walls with both his little fists! My mother tells me this is a single child sydrome and then asks when am I having another? (I'm not in the mood right now. haha )

And to make it more difficult for me- Kai was quite clingy this whole trip, he would not let anyone pick him up or hug him without them knowing he did not approve. That included Nana, which my mother was a bit saddened about.

Kai would rather hug the family dog Pepper.