Out of the Mouths of Babes, and Tossed From Their Arms...

All three of my children are creative, but the difference in their creativity is baffling.

Jesse, a master of information and lists, has begun to compose music.

Keren, an artist at heart, has written songs and designs clothes from scarves.

And, while I could write a blog entry on each of them, then there is Gavi.  

Gavi is my engineer.  He is a comedian.  He is also an artist.  He builds multi-colored sky scrapers cities of Lego.  He once became a piece of "dough chicken," and he also designed the mural on his wall, painted by my mother.  It is a rolling hill, with tree and animals.  A rainbow spreads over the scene.  His favorite color is rainbow.  I cannot find his floor for the myriad of pens, pencils, markers, nuts, bolts, screws, rubber bands, and detritus spread about.  He makes the most amazing figures out of pipe cleaners, and was working to challenge China's terracotta warriors in number and detail.  He is also the one most likely to ask for a hug and a kiss, and I am greeted by this request most days.  He is my enigma, although Sean calls him the stealth child.  He will be rough and tumble with Sean one moment, then come to kiss me gently on the cheek and receive a hug in the next.

Gavi likes a puzzle and a challenge.  My brother refitted an electric experiment box he had as a child for Gavi.  Gavi managed to start a fire.  This year, Russell bought him an electric paper airplane launcher.  Russel, also an engineer, understands Gavi.

There is also an art when it comes to thinking through one of his challenges.  Yesterday was Shabbat.  We do not use electricity on Shabbat.  Lights are on timers.  The oven is on or off.  Gavi wanted to ride his bicycle.  It was inside the garage.  The side door does not work.  The only way in and out is through the electric garage door.  Gavi conspired to get it open without pushing the button himself.  He tried placing the opener where Nora would jump.  It took a long time before she jumped to the spot, and then she was too light to have an effect.  Not to be hampered, Gavi took Gandlaf and the opener into the backyard.  He tried maneuvering Gandalf into walking across the opener.  It did not work.  Finally, in frustration, Gavi threw the opener across the yard.  Thinking it was a game, Gandalf chased the opener; pouncing.  As he pounced and played, he stepped on the correct button, and voila!  Bike ride!

Of course there was the problem of leaving the garage open.  "Should I try to get him to step on it again?"  "No, Gavi, just leave it."