Reading class

Last weekend (the 14-15th) I headed down to LA to accompany Todd to his first day of the summer reading class he's enrolled in. The class turned out to be full of 4-and-5-year-olds who were still just learning the alphabet and the sounds they make. After reviewing the class goals (to be able to read/write ABCs as well as learn beginning phonics sounds), I told the teacher that Todd was already familiar with all that material. She seemed hesitant to recommend moving him to the next level, however, and the following week's class (which Oma took him to, this past weekend) proved right. At least there's a silver lining: because Todd already knows all the material, he's picking up confidence and learning to raise his hand and participate in class when he knows the answer. That's something useful for when he starts school.

Aside from that, the little man and I had such fun hanging out. He was happy to see Mommy and Mommy was very happy to see him :-) Because the class took place at CSUN on Saturday morning, we trooped off to the Northridge mall afterward to do some shopping, eat lunch together at the food court, and play in the playground.

At home, we enjoyed a nice nap together. When Todd awoke, he waited for me to wake up before climbing out of bed. And that's when he noticed my pink toenails. He did a double take when he first glanced at them, and then moved in for closer scrutiny.

"Why are your toenails painted?" he queried. Then he declared his judgment: "It doesn't look nice!"

Little Toddy, fashion critic :-P

Meantime, he's still immensely enjoying taking pictures. Whereas before he only used Daddy's phone camera to take snapshots, this time he got hold of Opa's digital camera and fired off a few shots-- and they aren't half bad! Time to get our budding little photographer one of those toy digital cameras for Christmas :-)

p.s. During the week of the 9th, when Oma told Todd that Mommy was coming by, he screamed indignantly, thinking that I was coming to pick him back up and take him to SB. He demanded that Oma call Mommy, which she did. When I answered the phone, I was immediately greeted with an adamant insistence: "Mommy, don't come pick me up!" I quickly reassured him that I was only coming to visit and accompany him to class. That seemed to assuage him.

Sunday night, however, as I got ready to leave, Todd looked forlornly at me and said quietly "I want to go, too!" After many hugs and kisses, and after Opa managed to distact him with his newest toys, he quickly forgot about his longing to go with Mommy, and instead stood in the front yard waving and yelling "Bye bye!!" as I pulled out of the drive. Ah, how quickly kids forget!