David Weekly, V3 - 24

David had his birthday party at Dinosaur World on Saturday, and it was hot! He wasn't afraid of the dinosaurs the same way he was last year, except that he was still afraid of the T. Rex. Along one of the paths, Jesse found a blue salamander, and the kids all got to see it, and touch it before it ran off into the woods. There was a giant puzzle near the entrance that he got to take apart and put back together. It was at least as big as he is! He had a lot of fun! Because of how hot it was, David was actually asking me for a bath when he got home. He said to me, quite loudly, "This party is awesome!" I think he liked his Dinosaur World trip. :-) His cake was a dinosaur cake that we got at Publix, and he loved it! It had little dinosaur figurines on it, and a volcano and a little lake/pool on the other end. In the center was chocolate pudding, and the cake itself was chocolate. We had his party in a "cave", which is a picnic area inside a tunnel made to look like a cave, and it had some picnic tables in there... David thought that was awesome, too. It was dark and "echo-y", which the kids loved. David invited about as many adults as kids. The kids were Jacob (a boy David met through Jesse, because she babysits David and Jacob), Sebastian, Shawn, Avery, and Jared. But he wanted Jesse to be there, and Mimi, and Rachel, and Cinnamon. I asked him about inviting anyone from his school, and he didn't think of anyone he'd like to have along.

Of course, David got some presents. Here's what he got: A leapster, with a Nemo game to go with it, a Cars "ninja knockout" track set, a book called "Dinosaur Days", Transformers Blendy-Pens, lots of beach stuff (a pail and shovel, and bag for carrying stuff, a frisbee, some water balls to throw around, and a couple of other things), a sticker book about dinosaurs, a read-in-the-dark story book (with flashlight), a 3D dinosaur puzzle, some nice clothes, some puzzles, and some "science stuff" - a Sponge Bob bag, with a butterfly net, binoculars, a flashlight, and a bug collection case.

David had a great week for his birthday week. He got a special hat on his actual birthday at his school, and he wore it proudly. He also said something interesting: he's a big boy now, so doesn't need his buddy anymore. Well, maybe he needs it at night for sleeping, he said, and for in the car...but not for school. I told Ms. Tiffany about that, and she was happy, because it apparently causes problems at the school. He had second thoughts by the next day, wanting to bring the buddy to school, but I reminded him to stay strong, and that he's a big boy now, and doesn't need it as school. I told him that it must be a good thing because he got check marks all week for his behavior, so we went to McDonald's for his special treat on Friday. The issue with the buddy was an on-going discussion all week long, both before and after school.

We went to Chuck E Cheese's on Tuesday, his actual birthday. He'd been building up the idea that I would have the day off, and he'd not have to go to school...but I wasn't able to get the day off, and after I explained this to him, he was ok. He loved playing in the tubes that are ceiling level, and go over about a quarter of the restaurant. Another child was celebrating his birthday with a party there, and the rat (mouse?) comes out and "sings" and pays special attention to the birthday child and such. Now, a side note here. We had just gotten our pizza, and were sitting down to take a bit when the show got started. I got up to see what it was, but David figured it out before I did, and he actually brought my plate with my pizza on it to me to take to another table that was closer. It wasn't his plate, it was mine! He soooo much wanted to see the thing. I let him sit and watch, and I moved our stuff to the table, so he could stay. Interestingly, he expressed no envy or jealousy of this other child's celebration.

July first, a Thursday, David wakes up and says "It's July, daddy!" He's really keeping up with the days of the week, and the dates that go with them. He's also really liking to count. He can count to 100 mostly by himself. He seems to miss the number 7 sometimes, and skips it, going from 6 to 8, in each group of 10, and I have to remind him of each 10 ('fifty' 'sixty' 'seventy' and so on), as well. He got to 112 and was very happy with himself, and in addition, a big number is now 135!

For the 4th of July, it was a rainy, wet weekend, although the weather cooperated by being overcast, keeping the temperature down, and only raining when we were not outside. So on July 3, the City of Temple Terrace held Independence Day celebrations on July 3. We went to the parade in the morning, and in the evening went to the golf course to watch fireworks. While waiting for the parade and fireworks, we took a ball to play with. David hates taking turns - the kind where other people get turns, too. He has a very low frustration threshold, and also hates to lose, even when we're not playing in any kind of competitive way. So Saturday night we were waiting for fireworks, and we made friends with another single dad and his two girls (one was 8 and the other 12) at the golf course, and we were kicking a ball around, except that other people got turns, too. David was very unhappy at this turn of events, and I had to sit him down on the chair to calm down a couple of times, since it would just make him cry. And then he would cry a few minutes, very loudly. At some point he got up and went to play in one of the sand traps, and met another little girl, closer to his age, and when I went to check on him, he introduces me to Sophie. ("This is Sophie!") They were having a grand ol' time playing in the dirt, and throwing rocks (no one was around to get hit by the rocks)...I made sure that David had on some glow sticks/glow necklace so I wouldn't lose him in the dark. Besides, he thought it was great. David also ended up in the grass, so he's suddenly having itchy issues. He takes his Xyzal in the morning, and the Hydroxizine at night, but it's not enough to counter-act the grass. I just make sure to wash him well at night...and we had a very late night on July 3. But he loved loved loved the fireworks.

Sunday, July 4, we went to church in the morning. It was a combined service, and was originally intended to be outside, but as it was pouring down rain, outside didn't happen. David did very well in sitting down while most of it was going on, and didn't really protest much at about having sit still. Eventually, we ate lunch at the chuch, and then went outside to play on the water slide. It worked out because of the rain, which had slacked off to a sprinkle, and it was still overcast. Of course, he got more grass on him, and lots of mud. He had so much fun! When it was time to go, he went very willingly. He was tired! We got home, I gave him a bath, and then set him up on the couch to watch some TV, and ... zzzzzzzzzzz He fell right asleep. We then went to Mimi's for more July 4 celebrating. He loved the cheap, grocery store fireworks, that mainly throw sparks.

I've also been talking with him about keeping in touch while he's up at the Missouri. He doesn't know what to think about it, really. Neither do I. I figure once a week should be good...

Monday, we went to his grandparents' house up in Leesburg, so he could make the trip up to the Missouri. When we got there, he immediately went up to grandpa (aka Matt), and got a big hug. He was very good, and was definitely showing off, too. He was growly and feisty wanting to wrestle around and such. I showed them the dance recital, and the pictures I've sent up with him, and David got in the way, in that he would stand directly in front of my computer so no one else could see. It was actually pretty funny.

So that's a week and a half worth of things. David did pretty well in saying goodbye when it was time for me to go, and didn't cry too much. He has a good grandpa, because grandpa was very comforting to David, just holding him. I told David he needs to go see his mom, and that it's ok to miss me, but also not to worry about me missing him. It's good for him to see her. He called me before bed time to say good night. As I write this, he is on his way to the Missouri. And I'll be taking a 5 or 6 week break from writing this little weekly letter. Have a good summer.