Kellan latest

Around 7:30 or 8, I'll say to Kellan, "time for bed," or "let's go to your bed." Immediately he'll start looking around for Jan and Jolon to give them goodnight kisses and when they stop saying the word, "kiss," which makes Kellan turn around and toddle back over to them to kiss them again (he could do it for hours I think), I'll say to him again, "let's get in your bed." He'll lead me to the bedroom, close the door behind me himself and start trying to climb into the bed, which he can do, it just takes him a few tries. Cutest thing the other night was when he bent down and turned on the sleep machine, then shut the door, then climbed into bed. I'm still not sure if he was just having fun pushing the button or if he really understood that it's part of the routine.

One of my favorite things about him right now is how he calls Jolon, "Jo Jo."We went to the pool today and he kept pointing at Jolon and seemed to be proudly saying his name.

He loves to give out people's shoes to them....usually just before we head out somewhere, but it could be anytime.

He bows his head when we say "arigatou" (thank you).

When he wants something to drink, he says, "tea." I guess he refers to all drinks as tea. When he sees any kind of a bottle, he usually says, "tea."

He's been going to sleep really easily lately. I'll take him in and nurse him in bed for a few minutes. If he doesn't go right to sleep after I've nursed him for awhile, which he usually doesn't, he'll cry for a few minutes and then settle himself down while I lay there in bed with him. I stay until he goes to sleep which is usually 5 to 15 or 20 minutes. I can handle that and it seems to be a good, easy routine for both of us right now. Quite often he'll wake up again an hour or two later, I'll go back in and nurse him to sleep easily within a few minutes. Then we'll go to bed and he'll wake up a few more times to nurse, but I'm still not sure exactly how often.

False Alarm

Sirens from 6 fire trucks and several police cars on the street below our bedroom woke me and Jan up at 4:30 Saturday morning. Luckily it was a false alarm and LUCKILY the boys slept through all the commotion.

Oni (Japanese traditional goblin)

At Nakayoshi (school), the teachers play games and read stories about traditional Japanese characters rather than Mickey Mouse or Anpanman (the Mickey Mouse of Japan). Onis are goblins/devils with big teeth and long claws. A long time ago people believed in scaring away evil spirits (especially around rice planting season), and the embodiment of the evil spirit is the oni. Anyway, just like kids back home like to pretend to be ghosts or monsters, kids here (especially boys) like to pretend to be onis. Scaring us by putting a sheet over his head or making funny faces is one of Jolon's favorite games at the moment.

On Tuesday evening we went in to talk to Ibuki Sensei about Jolon. She'd mentioned the week before that he sometimes looked a little stressed or sad at school. I'd written in the notebook that he'd been acting up some at home and asked how he was at school. What she had to say was basically all good. There are certain times when he gets bored/frustrated like when long books are read and also when they sing songs, as he only knows the words to the short ones. Jolon loves school and never complains or says he doesn't want to go, so we know that whatever stress he has, it's not overwhelming. Our only real worry is that he'll start to think that he's not good academically and give up too easily. But she said that quite often they'll find him listening intently to their explanations, and sometimes he'll answer questions directed to the class. Recently they went on a field trip and the teachers reiterated the rules throughout the day. During the final assembly, Jolon, was the first to yell out what they were.

Ibuki offered to make a recording of the songs and give us a copy of the words, so we can listen at home with Jolon and learn them together. One day last week Kachiku Sensei was explaining something during assembly. Jan was there to pick up Jolon, he watched Jolon listening very carefully and straining to see the poster that Kachiku was writing on as she spoke. We asked Ibuki if Jolon could sit closer to the front, which might help him concentrate better and also see the board, book, etc. better because he probably depends on the pictures more than anyone else. She agreed that would be good, but said he always chooses to sit in the back...with some of good friends who are also prone to play rather than listen. She said the kids are free to sit where they want so maybe we could encourage him to choose to sit up front. We talked about it with him and the next day Jan saw him right up front! Not sure that will last but interesting that he remembered and did it. Ibuki went on to say lots of nice things about Jolon...he's kind and good at "rhythm," and his friends love him, even though he can be a bit rough with them sometimes. She met with us for more than 45 minutes, starting at 5:45, after what I'm sure was a very long day for her. We love both of his teachers so much.

Day out with Kellan

We kept Kellan home yesterday and spent the morning going for a walk and then out to, Royal Host, a family restaurant for lunch. We were both teaching in the afternoon but at different times, so we passed him back and forth between classes. He loved the pizza.

Kellan June

Jolon June