Eggplant Parm & Spaghetti at @BucadiBeppo
Birthday Dinner at Buca Di Beppo at the Kitchen View Table
Games Addiction
For his birthday, NHL got many great presents: Books, board games, and even puzzles. His favorite gifts, though, were likely the Nintendo DS games. He received Tetris Party Deluxe, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga, and Lego Harry Potter: Years 1 – 4. As soon as he was able to, he ripped open the packages and began playing.
Since then, he’s been nearly inseparable from his DS. He’ll sit on the couch or on his bed for hours on end casting spells or swinging his lightsaber. He’s become lost in the world of video games.
Of course, his video game addiction began early on. I introduced him to online Flash-based games when he was very young. He took to them quickly and showed quite an aptitude for figuring out how they work. Later, he began playing Nintendo Wii with me. He was very proud (as was I) the first time he beat me in Wii Bowling.
When B won a Nintendo DS in a giveaway awhile back, we set out finding some games that we liked and that NHL might like. B’s DS was quickly coopted by NHL to play Carnival Games, Super Mario and other games. With his latest batch of games, I don’t think we’ll pry him away anytime soon.
NHL takes after me when it comes to video games. I have fond memories of staring at an Atari 2600 screen playing Star Raiders and other games. When we got our first Nintendo, I was in awe of the incredible graphics of the original Super Mario Brothers. When I wasn’t reading a book, I was on the computer jumping, dodging, firing and more. Nowadays, I don’t have much time for games, but I still enjoy playing them here and there.
At one point, I watched over NHL’s shoulder (and helped a bit) as he played Lego Harry Potter. It looked like fun. So I decided to give the game a go. After NHL was asleep, I started a new game. Luckily, it allows for 2 save games so NHL and I can play separate games.
I helped Harry collect presents in Privet Drive. I prepared him to go to Hogwarts. I learned some new spells and battled some enemies. I ventured into the Dark Forest. Before I knew it, it was almost 1am. After saving my game, I reluctantly put the DS away and headed to bed.
I found that the game, in many ways, is very easy. You have unlimited lives so “dying” just means “being sent back a short bit.” Puzzles aren’t very hard to figure out. Still, it’s a lot of fun. (Just what’s needed after a hard day’s work.) I think I enjoying shattering objects using the Reducto spell a bit too much. (Couch? Reducto! Table? Reducto! Pile of books? Reducto! Christmas Tree? Reducto!)
The next morning, NHL began his gaming. He instantly got upset when he saw that I had gotten further along in the game than he had. (His exact words were “Dad, I’m embarrassed that you got further in the game than me.”) I think he’s been furiously playing more to make sure that he takes the Lego Harry Potter lead. A little friendly competition between father and son never hurt. I think tonight I’ll take up my magic wand and cast a few more spells.
Happy 8th Birthday, NHL!
Today, NHL turns 8 years old. In some ways, it seems like only yesterday that B leapt off the couch, ran to the bathroom and announced to me (when I ran after her to see what the problem was) that her water broke. In other ways, it feels like NHL has been with us forever. How is it that he can both be growing up so quickly before my eyes and yet my life before he was born seems so far away it might as well have been an alternate-dimension TechyDad?
In any event, today we celebrate NHL turning 8. When he was a baby, he loved making everyone smile. I particularly noticed that he liked getting the attention of women in stores. He would look at them cutely, then look away and repeat his actions until he got their attention. My son wasn’t even a year old and he was already a flirt! (Is this a sign that I should be worried a few years down the road?)
When he was a toddler, he initially had trouble walking (due to low muscle tone and other issues), but made quick strides with therapy. He was a social kid and very inquisitive. He loved reading and computers. In fact, I noticed that he had quite the knack for technology. He would pick up how to work things, like the DVR remote, very quickly. We finally had to move the DVR remote to a place he couldn’t reach because the DVR filled up with shows he decided to record.
As NHL got older and began attending school, his thirst for knowledge grew. He would pick up on facts where ever he could find them. I began seeing more and more of myself in him for better and for worse. At times, it would seem like he couldn’t stop talking, but I could sympathize. I did the same thing when I was younger. He likely has a million thoughts piling in his brain and no place for them to go. We’ll need to get him a better outlet for this than random babbling.
Unfortunately, NHL had a rough 2nd grade. He complained of not having friends and his teacher didn’t quite seem to know how best to work with him. Sadly, a bullying incident forced us to pull NHL from school.
It wound up being a blessing in disguise, however, because NHL thrived in his new school. He made friends and began wanting to learn again. When school ended, he actually burst into tears thinking that Summer vacation meant he had to stop learning. Now those are tears that every parent loves to see! (So long as the child stops crying, like NHL did, when reassured that they can keep learning, of course.)
He had a blast during summer vacation going to the water park, crafting events, library time, and even just plain playing in the park. He also mimicked young-me by becoming hooked on video games. (Of course, my addiction was the Atari 2600, not the Nintendo DS.)
The upcoming year will be an interesting one. How will NHL react to the third grade? For me, third grade was a wonderful time. My teacher realized that I should be in an advanced reading class. This led to honors classes which led to AP and college level courses. Will NHL’s third grade be as good for him? I don’t know, but I can’t wait to see what comes next.
A Day At The Park With Cousins
The day before NHL’s birthday, we decided to spend some time with Nana, Papa, Uncle I and Cousins S & B. First, though, we needed to return some Netflix DVDs. So NHL and JSL walked with me to the mailbox. Along the way, we spotted some mushrooms growing in someone’s yard. Given the boys’ recent obsession with certain little blue characters, I joked that Smurfs might be living in there. Luckily, I didn’t see anything come out of the mushrooms as I took photos of them.
With the Netflix DVDs mailed, we piled into the car and went to meet B’s family. We were meeting them at a local park that hosts a farmer’s market every Saturday. The boys were a bit annoyed at having to walk through the market since the playground was so close. Still, we made the best of it and looked at all of the interesting vendors. Sadly, I didn’t take many photos since I was trying to keep and eye on the little ones while looking at the wares for sale. At one stand, though, there was a sunflower for sale that a bee had landed on. I took out my camera and showed JSL and S just how I take bee macro photos.
We returned to the cars to get a quick drink and then off we went to play. We had taken our Aerobie Sprint Flying Ring, Z-Curve Bow, and Zing-Shot Launcher so we broke those out. The kids loved tossing the Aerobie or shooting the bow and arrow across the grass. (The slingshot had a few misfires so I put it away lest it frustrate the younger kids.)
Uncle I had two really good bow-and-arrow shots. In one, he hit JSL (by accident) from about 50 feet away. We all laughed about the good shot while JSL proclaimed that he wasn’t hurt because the arrow’s made of soft foam. The second shot was later on and rocketed a good 150 feet. It was quite amazing to behold.
At one point, we stopped by a veteran’s memorial in the park. I’ve been to this park many times and, for some reason, I hadn’t visited this before. It’s quite impressive (even if the lack of wind kept the flags from unfurling properly).
NHL used the benches at the memorial to show his love for his cousin.
Then, it was on to the park’s pond where we got to see ducks and fishes.
At some point, Uncle I took NHL away. You see, there’s one thing NHL loves more than anything about this park: the hedge maze. He was dying to show it to Uncle I. After a few more minutes admiring the ducks and fish, JSL wanted to show Cousin S the maze also so I walked them over.
Once at the maze, we all went crazy running through it. JSL even got brave enough to allow himself to be separated from me a few times.
Park play is hungry work, so we all went out to lunch. Well, we all went to go out to dinner. Unfortunately, B fell asleep in the car. (He had skipped an earlier nap so we were expecting this.) Nana and Papa took him back to their house for some much needed rest while the rest of us ate in the Cheesecake Factory.
Finally, it was time to go back to Nana and Papa’s house to play and (later on) eat dinner with more family.
