Being Boxed

Are you a race car?  "NO! I'm a race car rocket." Sekani met up with his friend at the parade who also happened to like homemade costumes. He drove an ice-cream truck.

Homemade Halloween Costume

I have fond memories of making my costumes and had to keep the tradition moving. As Halloween approached, I explained to my son that this is the day when you can dress up like anything in your imagination. At first he had one rule: it had to be scary. Hmmm. Then I asked him about his favorite things and he replied, "I could be a race car, rocket, big bad wolf, marble run." Hmmm. We settled on a race car rocket. We found some boxes and got out the paints.

Apple Tasting Festival

Over 40 apples were available for tasting, lined up alphabetically. We only made it to "M" before he had his fill. And yes, Sekani decided to wear his mask for the occasion. (An eye mask courtesy of JetBlue Airlines.) We later ate an apple chicken sausage with freshly pressed apple cider. Mmmm.

Don't Stop to Smell the Flowers

I'd like to mention that he took an unusually long nap on the car ride home + transfer into bed. Wow. Note to self: Spend more time sprinting amongst flower beds. 

Puddle Stomping and Chicken Chasing

Why does it feel so good, so right, to see my child running in an open soggy field chasing small animals? This may have been my most favorite day this season. Note to self: visit open fields more often.

A Real Pumpkin Patch

It was a misty October morning when some friends took us to get pumpkins. We jumped on the tractor bus and rode to this sprawling muddy field. And then it dawned on me; I had never been to a real pumpkin patch where you actually pulled the pumpkin off the vine, tendrils and all. I was used to perfectly spaced, dry stemmed pumpkins sitting in a hay field. This field was alive with baby frogs, slugs, and cord vines that kept tripping Sekani as he looked for his plump squash. "I want a white one."

Sekani on Education

BYE BYE SUMMER, HELLO AUTUMN

Goodbye shorts, sprinklers, and smoothie popsicles. We'll miss you.

CHILDROOTS, MY SCHOOL

This is the nature table in Sekani's classroom filled with pine cones, feathers, leaves, snails, mealworms, and hermit crabs. 

Kylie Kisses

Sekani smooches his cousin in front of IHOP in Novato, CA. 

"What's IHOP?" Sekani asks? 

The International House of Pancakes.

"House of PANCAKES? (ha ha ha). Nama and Papa's house is made of wood.

What do you get when...

...you cross a fork, blender base, and crazy straw? Invention.

"CAN YOU SEE ME?" he yells.

I try to capture the moments that speak to the carefree decisions a three year old can make at any given moment like this one on a hot day at the zoo. 

GOATS

Portland celebrated National Night Out by hosting concerts and local food vendors at various playgrounds around town. The park was packed with good cheer and I'll never forget one family gathered on their blanket; a mom, a dad, two kids, and two kids (yes, two goats). I had heard of having goats as pets to keep the grass low, but these goats were hanging out like old mellow dogs. The family told us they milk the goats, take them for walks, and allow them to roam in and out of their house. Why not? (Picture taken at the zoo, an entirely different event. This picture just made me think of the goats at National Night Out, except he doesn't look as happy).

Daddy, Mommy, Me, and My Jesus Bandaid

Compliments of Uncle Dayn and Auntie Becky. And you were right, it helped the healing.

WE'LL MISS YOU GREAT GRANDMA...

Great Grandma Soriano lived to be 99 years young. On June 4, 2008, she re-entered the spirit world. We explained to Sekani that like the prettiest flower you can imagine, Great Grandma grew from a seed, blossomed, died, and went back to the earth. We will miss her, but have captured precious moments on camera like this one to make us smile and remember her sweetness. 

The Study of Flight

"Hey Mom, watch this! Dad, did you see that?"

Our couch has proven to be the testing ground for Sekani's study in self flight. Thank you, couch, for giving Sekani unlimited joy and safe landings.

Thomas the Train Day at Hood River

A Knight on the Town

Thank you Auntie Becky and Uncle Dayn for bestowing my son as the Knight of Alberta Arts. The streets are now safe.

From 2 to 3

The endless "why" stage and newfound expression involving whining, crying, and "I don't want to," has helped us dig deeply into our patience reserves. Just when I thought we sailed through the "terrible twos," Sekani will now let us know at any time, place, or volume if something is bothering him. Last night, at bed time, he was upset because he wanted his bedspread "in clumps" rather than lying flat. "It's not clumpy enough and the clumps won't stay," he whimpered as his last attempt to stay up a few moments longer. I told him that his bedspread was one big clump party, and reminded him that it was more important to feel comfortable than worry about clumpage. He was ok with that response. Phew. 

A few weeks ago, Sekani started daycare five days a week while I went back to paid full-time work. I feel so lucky to have spent the first three years with him, but change has been a beautiful thing. Although he complains every other morning about going to school, we have fun listening to him share his experiences about his friends, teachers, and classroom pets--guinea pigs, hermit crabs, and mealworms. 

To All the Dads Out There...

HAVE A FUNKY-FRESH FATHER'S DAY!

Sekani Dynamite

...one of my favorite images of my son, Sekani Dynamite, or  Erkel in training. He will love me for this one when he gets older. Yes, he is dancing and when he stopped, he ran over to his glass of water and shared, "I get really thirsty when I dance so fast." 

RIDE ON

In between rains this Spring, Sekani and friend, Nila, took to the sidewalk on their bikes. We're not the only ones who love the old-school Big Wheel that Cousin Kellan gave to Sekani. When he cruises on the Alberta Street strip, people always smile in nostalgia and say, "Cool ride." 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY #3!

Sekani spent most of the day playing in the sandbox with his shoes off and throwing a few rounds of frisbee. Friends, Naomi and Siddha, look on longingly.

Birthday Party at the Park

And yes, that is sunshine. After weeks of overcast weather, the sun shines in for the big day at Wilshire Park.

Birthday Bliss

Sekani celebrated his 3rd birthday with friend, and possible cousin, Kalil Soriano at OMSI in the Science Playground. They were cracking up while putting balls over the air shoot.

Cousin Fun

It was party time with big Cousin Essau and baby Cousin Evelyn Rose.

Roll Bounce

Sekani with Daddy and Uncle Trey.

Roll Bounce

Sekani skates for the first time with Daddy and Auntie Aisha. On Saturday mornings at Oaks Amusement Park, it's skate time for kids under ten. The skate pros gave him a beginner's tip: march on your skates around the rink.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Cousin Essau visits to celebrate Uncle Mo's birthday.

Will Brake for Waffles

Sekani has found a new morning routine - wake up, go upstairs, open freezer door, take out waffle, move chair to counter, place waffle in toaster, push down button, and wait until "it pops up and startles" him. At first he liked butter and apple sauce on his waffle, then blueberries came along which have now been replaced by almond butter and agave. And the waffles must be cut into triangles with an occasional request for ovals. Bon appetit!

YES WE CAN!!!

YES WE CAN!!

YES WE CAN!

March 21, 2008. Sekani, Daddy, and myself along with friends Ayana and Amiri got up at 5:30AM, caught the train downtown to see Barack Obama, our next President, speak at the Memorial Coliseum. We were standing in line waiting for the doors to open.

Dr. Uncle Greg

I must admit how nice it has been to have a dentist in the family. Sekani got his first teeth cleaning with Uncle Greg. No cavities!

Cousin Kylie

Sekani got to spend some time with his cousins Kylie and Baby Brandt during our March visit to the Bay Area. He was in childhood bliss--riding tricycles, throwing balls, crushing chalk, and saying, "Come on Ky. Come on," as his younger cousin kept up with him.

MY SINGING GORILLA

Sekani holding the mic for Gorilla while playing guitar. He asks, "Why isn't he singing?"

Sekani Plants His First Tree

We decided our beautiful house needed a tree in the front, so we called upon a local organization, Friends of Trees. For a discounted price and a day of volunteering, our tree friends transported and planted Sekani's Cherrywood Tree. It has begun blooming. 

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

Sekani with buddy, Amiri, at the Portland Rose Garden after watching The Harlem Globetrotters. I'd like to report that he loved it, but Daddy had to take him for a walk outside the arena when we first got there. He was a bit overwhelmed; noisy, crowded, and the-guy-inside-a-giant-ball-that-rolled-around-mascot, was a monster that was to be avoided at all costs. Post game, he had a grand time playing "basketball team" with Amiri.

Office in the Sky

Sekani told me a story yesterday morning. It went a little something like this:

"There's an office in the sky," he announces.

Tell me about it.

"You go to it because they get hurt. When they fly, they get hurt on the ground. Sometimes they ride on the plane to get there."

Have you been there?

"I got hurt on the street and took a plane to get up there."

Who's up there?

"A turtle."

How does the turtle help people?

"Read a book."

About what?

"Angels. Then I feel better."

How did you get down?

"I took another plane, Mom."

Where did you land?

(He laughs.) "The plane landed. (Duh Mom.) At Siddha's house (a friend) and then I came here."

Space

"I need some space," Sekani says, as he senses me peering over his shoulder while he pulls the cotton off a gaggle of Q-tips.  I knew I'd hear these words at some point. As much as I love forcing my kisses and snuggles upon him whenever I want, this phrase was a sweet melody to my ears. Smiling, I had his school, ChildRoots, to thank. He attends two days a week. This is a photo of his magical classroom with loft and hanging parasols.

Word Play

I think Sekani has a new favorite word or at least one that he has been trying out a lot lately in relation to time. The word is "becoming." "Is it becoming night time?" "Is it becoming too night time?" "Is it becoming morning?"  "I'm becoming three." "It's becoming late."  And often when it is becoming bed time, he informs us with all intensity and raised eyebrows, "I'm busy right now. I'm really busy," as he runs in the opposite direction of the staircase.

Mornings

Two months shy of being a three year old, Sekani climbs out of his bed at 7am announcing, "I'm ready for some oatmeal." Bright eyed and bushy haired, he is busy moving his chair to climb up to see what's on the counter and what he can grab from the refrigerator. "I want some rice milk." And I watch cautiously as he gets his cup and pours. No spills this time. Phew. As we blow on the oatmeal, he takes a handful of cashews and raisins, and reassures me that he wants "too much."