Mochi Ice cream and Math

One of Sven's favorite desserts is Mochi ice cream. Yesterday we went to a new Asian Grocery store and bought a box. Tonight when I opened up the box, I discovered that it contained 5 packages. So, I told Sven there were 5 packages and he could have one of them. Then I gave him a package of 2 mochi balls. As he was eating, he said "there are 5 packages of mochi ice cream - that's more than one for each person in this family." So I decided to try some math. I asked him "how many mochi balls in each package?" and Sven replied "two". Then I asked "if there are 5 packages of mochi ice cream, how many mochi balls are there altogether?", and Sven immediately answered "ten!" Erik and I were floored. Last time I tried multiplication with Sven, he was very resistant. Maybe they're doing word problems at school.

Cherry Trees 2007

Every year we visit the Cherry Trees on the University of Washington quad. This year we took Sven and his bike. As usual, the trees were spectacular. Sven seemed to enjoy his bike adventures and even learned to dismount off of a falling bike gracefully.

Family Hug

Mornings are hard for Sven - especially, when I leave for work before he is fully awake. But one ritual we have, that seems to make it easier for him, is family hug. It is something that Sven started - the three of us stand at the doorway, and wrap our arms around each other in a big hug.

Erik and I never did family hugs growing up, so I was wondering if other families did it. Apparently some kids demand family hugs on a regular basis. Perhaps its innate. Maybe kids like the feeling of the family bonding together.

Whatever it is, its a great way to start the day.

First Law

Sven "created" a new law today. He told me that fish can be eaten by meat eaters and vegetarians. That is a law.

He has been asking lots of questions about eating fish and being a vegetarian at the same time. We don't have good answers for him, as Erik eats fish, so I let him eat fish. And Sven "LOVES" fish.

He has also been asking questions about what is "Fair".

Ah, if only the Child Raising handbook had answers for all of these questions!

Good Observation

Today Sven received an invitation to a Birthday party. The party will take place at the Pacific Science center, so it has a picture of an astronaut and dinosaur in the invitation. Sven looked at the invitation and said "There weren't any Astronauts when Dinosaurs lived."