Ezekiel Jude-ias Master PLAY Gladiator

Little Backaki-Maki will introduce you to the art of play.

It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them. -Leo Buscaglia

No More Zekie's Jumping on the Bed!

We wish we could have incorporated sound-a-vision with these pictures. Too funny!

The day the monkey is destined to die, all the trees get slippery. - African Proverb

For Fast Acting Relief - Try Slowing Down

Oh yeah! Cool cat chilling in the hood - literally!

"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop." - Ovid

"There is more to life than increasing it's speed." - Mohandas K. Gandhi

Dinosaur Montessori Camp

Marvelous Monday

Excited to leave the house for his first day of school camp on Monday.

This week it was 'Mega Beasts' - Dinosaurs.

Jason and I finally gave in after non-stop 'I want to go to skooa! I want to go to skooa!' On the island there are so many great little programs/camps running for children and since we're here for the summer, we thought, "Ok, what's it going to hurt?"



There's no rush for Zekie Peet to grow up but he just seems so 'wanting' to go to skooa.' He was a little disappointed when we dropped him off this morning and he found out he wasn't going to ride that big 'orange' thing called a school bus. School buses for those of you that don't know are Zeke's absolute FAVORITE. He has quite the collection of school buses.









Jason and I take him to Montessori School of Cayman (just like the real authentic Ma and Pa shops you find in Switzerland) and he walks in the doors a little nervous like but he goes to Miss Peggy his teacher, she greets him and asks him to sit down beside his little friend.



He takes a look at her and then around the room and says, 'Right.' (as if to say, umm yeah I'm going to size up the situation first). Then he makes way across the room and sits, half kneeling as if to communicate, 'Yeah, if I don't like this I'll be jet setting outta here quicker than you can say skooa bus!' (check out the picture above).



He stares intently at his teacher clearly a little nervous but he combats those fears in no time and takes it like a real little muchacho. Jason and I were peeking around the corner....just chuckling. Before we left they were singing a little welcome song........and we hear this little voice chirp, "Let's sing a better song.....let's sing Wheels on da Bus." We were in stitches!

With Papa on his first day!

With Momma and little baby sibling on his first day!

As Jason and I got back into the car we were silent. There was a definite sadness. We just dropped our little tyke off to school (whomever says they aren't ready at this age....within reason.....is kidding themselves).

It was clear that Zeke was his own little man. I just couldn't believe I was witness to what I was witness to today! And what was I going to do for 3 hours? Well, 3 hours later the house was spotless (one in a mill chance of that).

Jason and I both went to pick Zeke up and as we were leaving he said goodbye to all his friends and told them without prompting, 'We'll play tomorrow guys.' Then he walks out the doors one hand holding Jasons and the other holding mine........he says, "So.......(long pause) Did you miss me guys?"

"Did we ever miss you," we respond in unison.

He says, "Good, tomorrow I ride the skooa bus to skooa." Who wants to tell him that we live on an island and we all get rides whether by stroller or car to school?

Terrific Tuesday

Whimsical Wednesday

Zeke & his little buddy Jaspar (Jaz).

Titilating Thursday

Fabulous Friday

"Let children be children. A skilled five year old grows from a busy four year old, a curious three year old, a cuddled two year old, an adventurous one year old and a communicative baby."

Licking & Liking It

Zeke and I have been making cupcakes on/around the 25th of every month (Zeke was born December 25). We bake, make and decorate and then freeze them and eat them throughout the month for treats.

When we're just about finished the batch, Zeke forewarns, "Mommy, I need to lick the spinners soon."

Everytime we pass by the eggs in the grocery store, Zeke tells me, "Mommy, we need 3 eggs to make cupcakes. Buy some of those ones."

Making cupacakes has become a fun ritual in our house come the end of each month.

America is an enormous frosted cupcake in the middle of millinos of starving people. - Gloria Steinem

The Secret of Life is In Art and Its Appreciation

Zeke and I spent an afternoon at "All Fired Up" painting pottery.

He worked on his little 6x6 tile for over an hour and then when he got bored of that he painted the sponge cars and trucks while I finished painting an underwater home warming platter for my good friend Tara.

It was a great Mommy and Me time!

Our masterpieces:

This one is called "Orange is my favorite." Go figure!

This one is called, "Darlin' it's better down where it's wetter!"

Tara with her new creation!

"Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known. " -Oscar Wilde

Captain Zeke Sails Again

Barracuda down below!

Captain Zeke at the helm.

Two's Trouble - Zeke & Jaz

Ahoy matee!

This ship is ready to set sail.

I'm hungry. Where's my chow?

Nothing like a brew midway through the day.