Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late: 12/29/06
Sean's last Hanukkah gift was two books by Mo Willems: The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog and Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late. Parents will find this story of the pigeon who doesn't want to go to bed very funny. I think I've heard every excuse that the pigeon uses from Sean. As with the other pigeon books the narrator warns the reader about the pigeon and his need to go to bed. After he leaves, the pigeon speaks to the reader, trying to stay up as late as possible.

As Sean has his stuffed owls, the pigeon has a stuffed bunny whom he clutches throughout the book. That little detail of the favorite toy will ring true to young readers and their parents. I like these books because the lessons are presented with humor without being blatant or patronizing.

Gratitude #29: Koi
I am grateful for koi. They are such beautiful fish. Today Judy and Charlie took us to Huntington Gardens where our first stop was the Japanese garden to see the koi. Sean had been reluctant to go because it wasn't a "real park with slides and swings" but he was intrigued to see fish with spots like Caligula. They ended up being a huge hit and after seeing them Sean enjoyed the rest of the walk around the gardens.

The last time I saw so many koi was at the Maui Prince Hotel in 2000. It was Ian and my last (and only) adult vacation. The atrium behind the check in area had a meandering river filled with koi. I took a ton of photographs of all those koi but I can't remember where I've put the photographs. We were living in Daly City at the time and we've moved twice since then.

Anyway, Sean spent a good ten or fifteen minutes on the bridge watching the koi. The fish hoping he had bread or fish treats poked their snouts out of the water in case he would feed them. As they were so close and the light was just right I was able to get many wonderful photographs of the koi.

Steps: 10000