JJ and basketball

Duke made it to the Final 4 today!

JJ watched a little of the game and got bored. He wanted to play instead of watching it. Went to "W" to buy a basketball w/JJ. Man, it was cheap. $4 rubber ball made in Vietnam. Good enough for us.
Went to Richard Rioux park. Nice and new basketball court. Big guys playing half court and so we joined some kids on the other side. JJ tried but was really too small to get the ball close to the hoop. He seemed to enjoy himself nevertheless.

Good for him to get used to other players and be more alert around the court.
Threw him a ball which hit him in the face. Cried a little. No big deal. Good to have get used to this. He was ok and boucned right back.

He enjoyed watching big guys play. He enjoyed having others around on the court. When the other kids left. he wanted to go too. He said " It's no fun if there are no other kids". Also, he kept asked for a hoop for kids so we'll have to get one for him.

Great assessment - 95% percentile

Had our annual parent teacher meeting yesterday with Ms Tina @ Sunshine Preschool. Topic - JJ's development assessment. Mummy is back in Japan visiting her 90 yr old grandma who is on the brink ...
Great report on JJ who has mastered all but one area - speech. His enunciation needs work but the rest looks great. According to Tina who has a long history of teaching this age group and has a frame of reference tied to Legacy Academy (a priviate school with high academic standards serving K thru 6), JJ is probably in the 95% percentile academically - way above average.

Wow, daddy almost cried! So very proud of JJ. What an amazing kid!
May be magnet school is a distinct possibility...

I am just a kid!

Daddy was trying to convince JJ to practise Taekwondo when JJ did not feel like doing so. Daddy said that getting to black belts would hard work and daily practice. JJ looked into daddy's eyes and in a sincere and serious tone said "But, I am just a KID!"

4yr old JJ at the bar

Met up with old friends for brunch at Hummus Bar and Grill in Tarzana last Sunday. Nice Israeli place famous for it's hummus and laffa bread. 4 adults and 1 JJ.
Upon arrival, JJ was seated on the outside near the aisle close to a bar.
It was a Israeli Halloween so the bartenders, waitors and waitresses were dressed up in costume. JJ was fascinated by the bartender and the action at the bar.
Before we knew it, he had relocated himself at the bar where there was nobody else but himself and the bartender, Arvi.

It was an interesting sight - his tiny stature (with his back facing us) alone at this big long bar hanging out with this bartender who was an extremely nice fellow and kept JJ entertained. Mum tried to tip him afterwards for "looking after" JJ and he refused. JJ had a great time, we got to have some adult time and the bartender was quite amused himself.

Is this a sign of things to come?