Trains and Tractors, Oh My!

This past Sunday Papa John and Nonnie took Joseph, Youssou and I to see tractors, ride trains, and visit with farm animals.  Joseph saw horses, bunnies, birds, goats, sheep, snakes, cats, and a dragon lizard!  Thanks to the chilly temperatures, we had the farm to ourselves.  As evidenced in the pictures above, we had a blast! Thanks Papa John and Nonnie!

October 2009

Joseph dressed up as a Fire Fighter for Halloween. Nama found the outfit for him and Papa John made the ax.

This is Joseph's first time trick-or-treating.  He was elated to discover that people would give him candy!

Joe participated in the village Halloween parade. Good thing Baba was there to carry him.

At the parade, Joseph got to see a real fire truck up close.  Unfortunately, it scared him, as did the mob of people.

Ah- much better.  Not so many people, and a warm apple cider for Joe's tummy.

To celebrate Columbus Day, Joe and I met up with Jenny and Jack at the Shedd Aquarium.  Apparently, half of Chicago had the same idea- so the line outside was quite long.  Here is Joe waiting while I stand in line.

Once inside the aquarium, Joseph loved the fish.  Here he is in the Amazon Rising exhibit.  Ten years ago when I worked at the Aquarium I did research for this exhibit, some of which was used in the displays.  How cool to see some of that now!

Jack and Joe contemplate a star fish

Joe and Jack measure up to the penguins

Joseph wants to join the sea otters.  He's looking for a way to get inside the tank.

Joseph got a new bunny- Peter Rabbit.  Now his favorite blue bunny has a friend.

Getting Ready for Halloween

Joseph walked around the whole evening with this bucket on his head.  He thought it was funny, and kept running to the mirror in the hall to look at his reflection.  What a ham!

Last weekend we went to an Apple Orchard

The apple trees were the perfect height for Joseph-

who did a great job selecting apples for our bag

Joseph and Nama watching the tractor go by

Mama and Joe on a tractor ride!

Quentessential Fall Picture- Joe on a Haystack

A really high haystack- Joe felt like a king!

Joe pauses to wave to me while running through a hay maze

Joe bursting through the end of the scary, dark corn tunnel

Is it a lolipop or a microphone?

Clearly, a microphone...

Joseph was fascinated by this bee hive. 

Mandinka Princess Judy would be proud!

Here Joseph poses with "Joseph"- an art project from his preschool

Joseph seems very excited for Halloween this year.  Everywhere we see Halloween decorations Joseph shouts out:  "Look!  It's Halloween!"  He seems to understand that he can pick a costume this year.  He is taking this decision very seriously.  One evening this week I walked in the family room to find Joseph curled up on the couch, intently studying the kids costums in the Pottery Barn Kids catalogue with a furrowed brow.  Everyday he changes his mind about what to be.  So far, he has decided upon: a fireman, a fire truck, a shark, a banana, a puppy dog, and Lightening McQueen the Race Car.  I hope to avoid popular cartoon characters this year- so I am not voting for Lightening McQueen.  Nama has found Joseph some fireman boots and a jacket- so that may be the winner...

Here is another funny thing about Halloween.  When you ask Joseph what comes after Halloween- he says "CHRISTMAS!"  And the most exciting part about Christmas for Joseph is not presents, but rather "Baby Choo Choo".  Baby Choo Choo, as Joe calls it, is an ornament for the Christmas tree.  It's a small box that, when opened, reveals a tiny train going around and around on a track to the turn of Silent Night.  Joseph absolutely loves Baby Choo Choo and cannot wait until we pull out the Christmas decorations.  He has been asking about Baby Choo Choo since July.

One more October story:

Last week Joseph went on a field trip with his preschool.  While ridding on the bus, Joseph's teacher pointed out a large truck passing by the bus.  It was the kind of truck that carries cars stacked up on it's trailer.  When Ms. Tiffany said "Look at the truck Joseph" he replied to her by saying; "That is not a truck Ms. Tiffany.  That's a transporter!"  She thought it was so funny that she told us the story.  What a kid!  He's only 2 and he's already correcting his teacher.

Summer Wrap-Up

It’s the last weekend in September and the air outside finally has that fall crispness to it. We moved our air conditioner back into storage yesterday. The pools are all closed. Our tomato plants (which finally did produce tomatoes) are withering. And perhaps most telling of all- Joseph has his first cold of the fall season. He has almost lost his voice- so it might even be something more sinister than just a cold. We’re keeping out eye on it…

Joseph and I spent a bit too much time this summer swimming, hiking, visiting farmer’s markets and the zoo. I did not spend enough time working on my thesis. As a result, I have amended my timeline and no longer plan on graduating this December. I will take my time writing the thesis and graduate in June 2010 instead. Although I am eager to graduate, I am very happy with this new plan. I am enjoying my thesis work much more now that I that I do not feel so rushed. For those of you who don’t know, my thesis is titled:  An Economic, Social and Environmental Impact Assessment of Rural Solar Electrification Programs in the Kaolack Region of Senegal.

Joseph began preschool the first week of September. His new school is wonderful- we could not be more happy with it! It is a non-profit organization founded in the 1920’s to help women go back to work after having children. The teachers are wonderful, and unlike Joseph’s previous day care, there is practically no teacher turnover. In addition to his regular teachers, there is a Spanish teacher that comes in twice a week. Joseph is already running around our home pointing out things that are azul, rojo and verde. One of the children’s librarians from the public library comes every week for story time with the kids. The school had its own library where Joseph can check out educational toys and books. Overall, it’s a great school and we can tell that Joseph will really flourish there.

In other big news- Joseph is now POTTY TRAINED! It’s been a lot of work- but it is so nice not to change diapers any more. We had been trying for 3-4 months to potty train Joseph before he switched schools, but the teachers at his old school did not encourage him to use the toilet there, even though we had asked them to do so. At his new school the teachers have really been our partners in potty training- and what a difference it has made! Joe still wears a diaper to bed, but even when the diaper is on he asks to use to potty if he is awake.

In addition to Joseph doing really well in school, we recently learned that our nephew Pape in Senegal has passed all of his exams to get into high school. This is a huge achievement! The school system in Senegal is modeled after France’s school system, which requires children to pass two entrance exams prior to starting high school. The kids in rural Senegal have to pass the same exams as the kids in Paris. As you can imagine, the resources and quality of education in the two countries are vastly different, which makes it really difficult for the Senegalese children to get into high school. For the past five years Youssou and I have been sending Pape and his younger sister Aissatou to a private boarding school in Senegal, knowing that they would get a better education there. Seeing Pape pass his high school entrance exams really makes us so proud!

Below are a few pictures from the month of September. Enjoy!

Joe is checking out his new underwear in the mirror-

It's Lightening McQueen!

Joe is a big boy now!

Papa John and Joe at the zoo

~Le Artist~

Joe is excited about his new gym shoes

Can you believe he wears a shoe size 11- that's too big for a 2 year old!

This is Joe's cousin Pape- who will be starting high school in Senegal in October.  Congrats Pape!