the videos are mostly for listening to. And T loves making dust
The rest of June has been lots of projects and some fun papa time. Here are some of the funny stuff they have been saying. We have been working like mad on house projects. The kids have been playing with toys and bikes and climbing trees. Just being kids. I think they really like that best. Once we finished all the projects, they didn't want to go anywhere. T told me the other day he really doesn't like going anywhere that makes him have to be away from Legos for a long time. I think there are lots of moms with boys that would appreciate that comment.
I have a friend who used to teach kindergarden give me a few ideas about what kind of activities and books help with reading. It is has been so fun being with them as they are grasping the concept of reading. They don't totally have it, but I can tell they get the idea of where they need to go with the letters and words next to be able to read. Very fun. They are having fun, too! They ask to practice more. We also have been doing some math and writing stuff. Just a tiny bit each day. But it has been very fun.
I have noticed that, as much as they enjoy picture books, it isn't as much of a mental challenge for them. I decided to try some chapter books. Most of them don't take, but one they loved. It is Owl in the Shower. Even though it is a young adult book, I think they like it because the basic story line follows an animal. They couldn't wait to read a chapter of it each night, especially W. E just likes to run around saying owl in the shower, owl in the shower. T likes to re tell how the owl got in the shower over and over.
In that book there was mention of one of the charactors having a boom box. I had totally forgotten about boom boxes. So I told them about how people used to walk around with boom boxes on their shoulders, especially if they were really cool and hip. And how Grandma in the Attic had a boom box and Uncle S liked her boom box. Or liked saying it. I can't remember which. T and W thought that was so funny. Maybe because I was having a hard time telling them without laughing. T and W turned on their toy pianos Grandma U got and ran around the house with them on their shoulders like they were boom boxes. E still says boom box and does a fake laugh every so often.
E continues to amaze and crack us up with the connections he makes and what he can verbalize and memorize. While J was working on the deck, he had borrowed a power sander. For some reason he had let go of it when he was trying to get it turned on. As a result, the sander flew off the deck. Not dangerous or any damage, but the kids thought it was soooooo funny. T and W started saying "Hahahaha! Runaway sander! Hahaha!" Now E randomly will say "runaway sander!", smile and then do a fake laugh if we don't laugh at him right away. What a ham, that kid.
E is not a fan of stir fry for dinner. But it is hot, so mommy is a huge fan of stir fry dinner. This results in E only eating rice with fish sauce on top. Which makes for a very hungry E the next morning. One of these really hungry mornings, E had climbed up in his chair and started calling " T! W! Come to the table! Time to eat breakfast!" just like I do when I call them.
There is a CD that they listen to at bedtime called Woodland Harp. T and E call it the rainforest CD. E told me on night that "I like the rainforest, mom". I had put on some other music, but he wanted the other CD
We had some friends over for lunch. They have a kid 3 months younger than E. He fell off his chair and was crying loudly. E told us "He needs his blanket, mom". It was so cute to me that E wanted to comfort him and knew just the thing.
W is practicing to be a good mommy. She loves to teach E stuff. The other day she taught E his colors on the ring stack. He pretty much knows his colors. Crazy.
Even though E has his language skills that crack us up, T has lots of funny sayings and connections, too. The other day we were at TJ Max and I was just looking at a few home things. T found an owl he really liked and he said, "Mom. I need to whisper in your ear" He whispered "Can we buy this to help sell the house?" Good one, but no. He also reminds W that broken things or messes are a problem because it doesn't help "sell the house"
We were in the grocery store and they wanted to get pudding and vanilla wafers for the dessert for FHE. I told them I needed to learn to make pudding so it doesn't taste fake and out of the box. T asked if I knew how to make pudding. I told him no I didn't, but I would have to learn how. So he said "Oh. You need to take pudding lessons, then, Mom?". Yep. I need pudding lessons. Just like he needs swim lessons.
T can also remember great details of conversations. I took him to get his ears checked. He was having a hard time hearing after his bike handlebars hit him behind his ears. He repeated verbatim for Papa what the doctor told me. He told Papa in detail all the stuff the doctor had told him about his ears and hearing. It was cute.
J went to Vegas for a conference. While he was there he found he could go on a helicopter ride over the Hoover Dam. When he got back, he was telling us at the dinner table about his trip. As soon as he said he went on a helicopter ride, T was immediately paying attention and said "Hmm?! You went on a helicopter ride? What did you like about it?" All adult like and all ears.
T continues to love to cook with me. It is something that I really enjoy doing with him. He is so enthusiastic.
T also is very very good at changing E's diapers. T gets mad at me if I do it and he doesn't. He also likes to push E in the stroller and feed him food. He is a very good big brother at these times and shows a lot of compassion.
T has been using his tools with the projects around the house and uses them well and seriously.
W continues to amaze me in her drawings. It amazes me how she can draw multiple styles. I can tell she has a memory of something in her head and is reproducing it. But often it is from a book we read months ago, or wherever she got the idea. She drew a pretty good pony the other day. Geez!
It is actually very hot for here. The rhodys are looking wilted and all the lawns dried out a month ago. They usually don't dry out until the end of July. Must be hot where you are if it is hot here. I actually considered watering my lawn for the first time ever since living here. I tried it once for a day and remembered that I hate watering lawn by sprinkler and it is super super expensive to do so, on top of that. But! That night I tried watering the lawn was so much fun for T and W. First of all, they really weren't sure about how the sprinkler. It was a complete novelty to them. I thought that was so funny because I never considered sprinklers being a novelty, since I grew up in Cali. But they were amazed by it. And they loved running through it! It was so fun to them! Not E. Just T and W. I was surprised by that too because I never liked running through sprinklers much when I was old enough to remember. Too much itchy skin and splashes on the face. Yuck. But they had fun while E watched.
In the middle of doing house projects we all got the flu. It lasted about 24 hours straight, each person taking a day and about 5 days of weakness and getting the stomach used to food again each. Longest 10 days ever for me. But here are some funny things.
E was the first to get it. The culprit who brought it home. He went through all of his bedding really fast. We were down to one clean fuzzy in the house. It was mine. Blue with lots of flowers on it. When I gave it to E to snuggle with, he rejected it. He said "No! It has flowers!" Good grief.
E was having a really hard time. One time after he threw up, I was holding him and saying poor little guy! while rubbing his back. He started repeating me and saying "Poor little guy" in a super sad voice. He was feeling his pain all right.
W was the next, about 2 hours later. First time I had two kids going at the same time. If I was with one, the other started. Then I would help that one and the other would be at it again. Thank heavens W is old enough to understand she needs to get to the toilet. She made it all but once! Amazing! But T didn't have a play buddy and was feeling just fine. But he didn't want to get sick. As soon as W was feeling yucky, she would head to the bathroom. T started giving detailed instructions of what to do if she was feeling bad. She knew, but didn't have the energy to yell back at him like she normally does when T tells her something she knows. T was just trying to take care of her. He even said "Poor W" just like I did, with lots of compassion.
Now that projects are gone (well, mostly I just feel project out) and everyone is healthy again, life is simple! Hah! That should change soon.......
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| E can brush his teeth himself! |
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| W snuggling..... a plastic toy pony |
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| W looking cute |
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| E enjoying a FHE treat. Chocolate frosting and graham cracker |
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| W with "smoke" It is what T calls it when her hair spreads out |
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| E being cute |
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| The owl family. T, W and E, but in stuffed animal form |
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| Something that T does for hours and hours |
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| All the different locks on a gate on a hike we went on. The boys really checked this out |
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| T being a kitty and E walking with Papa |
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| Listening to Papa telling the story |
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| Observing nature together up close |
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| The boys hiking |
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| E ready to pick strawberries |
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| The boys picking strawberries. E stayed right by his Papa's side |
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| T found a perfect one. They were very helpful this year picking berries. We got a ton |
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| W intently gathering her strawberries |
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| E loves trains too. Good! Now. if only he could touch them. They are closely monitored by big kids |
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| When the lilies bloomed |
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| E on his bday. He was pointed to a huge boat and saying yacht |
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| W made bracelets for everyone out of pipe cleaners. |
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| beach play |
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| a tow truck with a serious lift |
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| E reading Wacky Wednesday |
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| The start of house projects |
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| He climbed up in this "nest" himself. Then took in the playground |
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| watering plants |
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| Cute and clean |
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| taking care of the plants |
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| W made a ring for E instead of a bracelet. E is trying it on |
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| I took them on a walk a very hot day. They got so hot they sat down in the middle of the road |
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| T made his own loose tooth, blood covered roots and all |
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| Two of E's biggest fans |
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| the neighborhood gang |
