skiing!

Well, 3 years in to my efforts to make Preston into a skier, and we still haven't made much progress. He doesn't definitively hate it, but he's also not particularly fond of it. He did reluctantly agree to lessons at a local ski hill this season; unfortunately they rely solely on natural snowfall in order to operate, and this year has not been a good year for snow accumulation. So here we are, at the end of February, and he's gotten in only 2 lessons. We've also been to Toggenburg twice, but we still haven't advanced from the bunny hill. There was that time I tried taking him up the full mountain, only to find he wasn't ready, then almost got us both seriously injured trying to get him back down the hill. We won't go into those details. Or talk about how that probably set us back 5 years.
Here's Pman at the Camillus Ski Hill:

This was the day it got up into the high 50's during lessons (and quickly destroyed the nice accumulation of snow). One of the instructors was skiing in shorts. 

I don't think it's him screaming...

The obligatory post-skiing stop at Dunkin Donuts. Pretty sure this serves as the main motivation for attending skiing lessons. Incidentally, P decided halfway in that he's not a fan of powdered donuts. Guess who won out on that deal? Not the first time he's picked a donut that he didn't like. You don't see me complaining.

New friends

A few weeks ago, I got a lovely little note from the mother of one of Preston's classmates, who had coincidentally discovered that we live only a few blocks from each other. I then rejoiced that we now have a playmate within walking distance! We've already been to their house once, and last week, when it was unseasonably warm, we met for a walk and looped around the duck pond. I did not bring my phone, but luckily Evanny's mom did, and she even put together this little collage on the Facebook:

Just another Sunday

Good intentions

Children's birthday parties are not like they used to be. Nowadays, you have your choice of a multitude of facilities that cater to little kids birthday parties, and it's a bit of a step-up from the McDonald's bday parties of days gone by. Although the cost and general extravagance seems a little overbearing at times, there are several good things that have evolved from this. First and foremost being, the disappearance of gift-opening time. Usually, the party revolves around whatever activity the children are doing, and at the end there is just time enough for food, cake, and goodbyes. As a result, the receiving and opening of gifts no longer takes center stage. In fact, it takes such a backseat, that when I suggested to Preston that he forego receiving any bday gifts at his party, he basically shrugged his shoulders and nonchalantly said, "Sure." Of course, when I mentioned it again later in the party planning process, he paused about it a bit longer, and started to question the validity of such a suggestion, but was still very easily amenable to foregoing gifts from friends when I offered the option of being allowed to pick one gift for himself that I would pay for. (At the time, there was one toy in particular he had his sights set on, so it made him an easy target.) So, in the interest of cultivating a little generosity, I suggested that he consider soliciting small donations from his friends, in lieu of gifts, to donate to a good cause. He was agreeable, so I gave him some options of local organizations I thought would be of interest. He chose to go with the SPCA, after I explained that they take care of homeless animals, and it's where our dog, Bailey came from. We included a copy of their wish-list in Preston's invitations as well, so his friends would have the option of bringing a small item to donate, if they were so inclined. The final result:

Plus about 100 bucks in cash which he gladly handed over when we went to visit the SPCA a few weekends ago. I was hopeful the front desk person would be a bit more inquisitive of how/why a 6-yr old would be handing over a stack of money, but alas, she was not. But I guess maybe it's a better lesson when there is not excessive praising involved. So, that was that, and Preston got to experience the act of giving, and a lesson in modesty as well. 

I'd like to say it really made an impact on him. But, if his recent demonstration of absolute unwillingness to pass along an old board game for pre-schoolers to one of his younger friends is any indication, it did not. Still have a bit of work to do in the benevolence department.  

 

Pman does Gaga

If Preston learned one thing from being exposed to several hours of uncensored prime time television on Superbowl Sunday, it's that he likes Lady Gaga. Well, at least her music. Here he is singing (unaware that he's being filmed):

Preston the performer

Just recently, Preston became very fond of having himself videotaped, and putting on a show for the camera. If he gets in the mood, he will ask me to tape him repeatedly, and then he'll want to watch the mini-episodes of himself. Which is really what I should try to record, because he cracks himself up. He apparently thinks he is HILARIOUS. He will split a gut watching clips like the one below. 

And yes, he is in half a death-trooper costume having just returned from taking the dog for a walk. Doesn't everyone dress up in Star Wars costumes to walk their dog?

Whose child is this?

Behold; Preston's mid-year evaluation (the summary anyway). I could have included the full 2 pages of commentary regarding Preston's outstanding social, academic, and cognitive development, but alas, it was almost too much praise for even his mother to digest. After 1.5 years of similar evaluations, I am convinced his school refrains entirely from providing negative feedback, which I find to be highly suspect.