Friday: hair cut, conversation

I donated my hair today.  My head feels so much lighter.  Besides the actual cutting, the stylist took off a bunch of hair in the middle...yeah, I'm not sure how to better explain that.  Anyway, she commented several times that I have a lot of hair.  This is normal, but it made me feel good since it seems like my hair has been falling out easily lately.  (The one time the stylist didn't say it I almost freaked out and wondered if I was loosing my hair.)

In the car today we had this conversation:
Isaac: I think maybe I figured out what I want to be.  When I grow up.
Amanda: oh yeah?  what?
Isaac: the person that takes the money.
Amanda: what do you mean?
Isaac: like at the restaurant or the grocery store...
Ben: oh, the cashier.  Do you realize that they don't actually get to keep the money?
Isaac: why not?
Amanda: they're just workers and have to give it to the company.
**stunned silence**

Thursday: sun

The drive from daycare to work was beautiful this morning.  There were dark clouds and dark shadows above me, but the sun had risen just a little bit and there were no clouds in front of it.  So it lit up a small band of trees and the dark clouds.

Wednesday: ham and squash

Here's the annual picture of ham and squash.  There was enough squash that we'll have it at least once more this season.  Today finally cooled off enough that it seemed appropriate.

Speaking of squash, I brought the leftovers out to the worms and the worms were all dead!  A week or two ago and they were thriving.  I'm not sure what happened...I'll check again in a week and see if there is any change, otherwise I will order some more and maybe split it into two groups so that I don't have to worry about them all dying.

In other news, Joshua still hasn't cleaned his room.  He's worked on it a very small amount here and there but is still just not really caring about the consequences.

Monday: the day

Joshua didn't clean his room yesterday, as you may remember, so certain restrictions went into place today.  1) Mom doesn't play with you (more-or-less) and 2) no screens.

It didn't phase Joshua at all.  He played well in the morning.  I got a ton of work done, including cleaning under the fridge.  It always amazes me what I find there.

He had his first dentist appointment.  He almost lost it right before getting into the chair, but pulled himself together.

No screen time after rest time didn't phase Joshua.  This is where I thought we'd have a tough time.  He cried a bit before rest time when I reminded him, but that was about it.  I kept reminding him to do his room and what the consequences would be, and he kept deciding not to do it.

Since he was on no screen during dinner, he ate in the kitchen with his tray while the rest of us watched our show.  He was done rather quickly but then just played with his race track.

Ben and I were commenting on how we don't really know how to motivate him.  Treats after eating all his food doesn't do it; he's excited if he likes all the food and eats it all to get a treat, but if he doesn't like the food then no treat is fine too.  Apparently screen time is so important when it is 'deserved', but if he doesn't deserve it then he'll find something else to do.  The only thing I've had any luck with lately is date balls...he managed to get both of his car seat straps on for a date ball.  (It's just chopped up dates and chopped up peanuts stuck together.)

I'm curious to see...will Joshua give in and clean his room?  We think we'll keep going with this until Saturday, which is the normal cleaning time.  If he doesn't clean on Saturday we might need to change consequences.

Sunday: meh

Today went.  Not really all that bad, but not really all that good either.  I've made some small blunders that will require telephone calls, and I should probably do it tomorrow but don't like making telephone calls.

Joshua was a pain.  I'm confused as to whether he wasn't feeling well or just didn't want to clean his room or was hungry.  Or all of the above.  He did a lot of snuggling in Sunday school with the teacher, which is rather unlike him.  But then his excuse for not cleaning his room is that he can't get up from the floor.  (As a reminder, the kids are not required to clean their rooms.  But there are consequences.)  He ended up snuggling and taking a nap instead of cleaning his room.

Isaac gave me some extra hugs though.  Ben went out to grab dinner.  I'm rather tired of making dinner.  It happens every night.

Saturday: playground and conversation

This morning we went to the playground with some friends.  It was wonderful.  The kids played together so well.  It was hot, but that gave the adults a reason to sit in the shade the the kids a reason to use the water fountain to get all wet.

(When we arrived Isaac said that he had forgotten about this playground but it was actually his favorite.  He went on to tell more details, but I'll admit that I stopped listening.)

***************
Ben: Mom just helped you fix your train.  What do you do?
Joshua: Tickle her?
Ben: No, what do you say?
Joshua: Don't hit!
Ben: What would be better?
Joshua: Thank you.

Friday: forgetful

I forgot to post several times this week.  I wasn't too busy or really even preoccupied with anything; I just forgot.  It's been a rather normal week.

Several weeks ago Isaac decided his time could best be spent wrapping up marbles, dice, and rocks with washi tape for me.  I've had the collection for a while and decided it was finally time to unwrap it.  It isn't really much fun.

A while ago I started cutting up toast to order.  Well, I guess I only do rainbows and people.  Joshua's favorite is a person.

Joshua chose his shirt today because it had a rocket and a moon lander on it.  He was excited to show Ben when he got home, but played at the water table and got it all wet.  The solution was a midday call to Ben, who barely understood what Joshua was trying to get across.  Joshua had been excited to have a moon lander on his shirt like Ben has in his Lego rocket.

Speaking of the water table, it was hot today!  I think my blood thickened in the three weeks that we had cooler weather, because it seriously feels like the hottest it's been all summer.  Joshua and I didn't take a bike ride today because of it.  (Normally we've been taking a little one MWF.)  Isaac has A/C at school, luckily, but many schools in the area don't.  Some in GR even canceled school today due to heat.

Monday/Tuesday: conversations

Yesterday...
Amanda: Joshua, do you feel ok?
Joshua: my problem is Dad.
A: that Dad isn't here?
J: yeah.


Today...
A: Joshua, what did you do at school today?
J: I dunno.  I took a drink.
A: Oh really.  Of what?
J: Water.



Isaac: Joshua, do you want to hear about the types of stuff in a house?
Joshua: yeah!
Isaac: well, a house has all three.  Houses with chimneys have smoke, and smoke is a gas.  Solids are the walls.  And houses have liquids like water, milk, chocolate milk, tasty water, and the water that Flurry drinks.

Sunday: clapping, rock show, mixel

Today was the start of the new school year programming at church, which meant that Isaac changed rooms.  I mentioned this to both boys separately, and they were both quite sad about it.  Isaac got over it quickly, but Joshua wanted to come to music with me.  We made a deal that he could come, but then had to go upstairs without a fuss.  It worked.

He enjoyed his clapping.  Even though no one else was clapping.

We went to the annual rock show this afternoon.  There was no a/c and it was hot.  But we saw some cool rocks and the kids got to play some games to win some rocks and buy a few rocks.  It was a good time.

At the library two weeks ago I grabbed a Lego book about Mixels.  Mixels are just little creatures that Lego was selling as small kits.  We got two in our room when we went to Legoland.  Anyway, Velectro was Joshua's favorite, and he told us so many times.  I finally made an approximation of Velectro using the pieces that we have.

For reference:

Friday: Isaac

I asked Isaac to put the silverware away.  He decided that the best way to open the silverware drawer was with his feet.

Isaac: Mom, I figured it out.  I'm going to make a tail.  Then I'm going to float away and you can grab the tail and pull and I'll grab the tail and pull and then I won't float away.
Amanda: Oh.

I'm also feeling a little bit better about whether or not Isaac is socializing at school.  He now as a best friend who has often been described as, "my new best friend that isn't in my class but I saw once in the bathroom but usually at recess."  It seems like it would be easier to learn his name, but that's apparently just me.  He is also sitting at the same table with a friend.  And then today he didn't play with his new best friend that isn't in his class but he saw once in the bathroom but usually at recess but instead played with someone else.

Thursday: Moodle

I remembered what I wanted to say a few weeks ago.  It's about Moodle.  That's the classroom management system we use.  It got upgraded over the summer.

There were some annoying things about it previously.  At the beginning of the school year, there were several very annoying things about it.  It seems as though one or two have been fixed, except for the main one.

There is too much clicking.

Say you're grading a homework assignment.  You put in a grade.  You then have two options.  You can click the "go to next student" to which it gives you a warning that you didn't save the grade and that it will do it for you and after you click ok it tells you the grade was saved.  (3 clicks)  Your other option is to click the save grade button, click ok when it tells you the grade is saved, and then click to go to the next student. (3 clicks)

Three clicks per student!  It used to be one.  "Save and continue to next student."  I definitely don't need a click that tells me it was saved.  Not only do I just assume that it happened, I can see that the score I put in goes from 1 to 1.00.

There are still a few other annoying things, but I can work around them.  (Such as not being able to grade in the order work was turned in.  I have found several plagiarism cases because they turned their work in at the same time.)

To be fair though, the highlight-what-day-we're-on is much more visible.  Actually, the preview works pretty well too and saves me one click on some assignments.

Wednesday: Joshua

Joshua and I were riding my bike to the library....

J: Mom!! Look!!!!!
A: It's a cement truck!!  How exciting.
J: Yeah, it's where we get our food.
A: What?  We don't get our food from a cement truck.
J: So where do we get our food?

J: Mom!! Look!!
A: A double dump truck!  Neat!

A: Ok, we're coming up to the railroad crossing soon.  Is it safe?
*The lights suddenly turn on and the dinging starts*
A: Oh, I guess not.
*No train appears and the lights turn off*
A: I guess it was just a test
*As we cross, we see a train changing cars or something*

Later
J: Dad!  We saw a train test.
J: A train test today
J: Dad! Did you see the train test?

The boys also wanted to run in the sprinklers tonight.

Tuesday: going to bed

I should go to bed in the "going to bed on time" campaign that I'm doing with myself.  Ben then proceeded to call it the "get in bed on time" campaign, which seems much more appropriate.

In other news, I tricked a computer twice yesterday into thinking I was a random coin toss.  Two out of two.  I was excited.  (https://nrich.maths.org/6078 - but you might need to use Internet Explorer).

In other other news, Isaac's best part of the day was playing with his new best friend.  The other child is probably not in Isaac's class and may be in a young fives program.  I'm fine with that.  As long as there is someone that he is playing with.

Monday: Isaac

Isaac got school lunch for the first time today.  He liked it.  Growing up I got to have it once a week...for the time being, it seems like a good way to do it for him too.  Maybe I'll change my mind after the 100th lunch though.

Next he wants home lunch with a water bottle, so that he can put his token in the last pail.  (Normally he gets just milk.)  Then he remembered that he really likes milk, which is why he usually get it.  I guess we'll save it for an extra special treat.

I also ordered a scholastic book for him.  Those are going strong, just like when I was a kid.  Joshua gets them too, but I usually just look and see if there is a robot book since those are not as common as one might think.  Anyway, I found a book for Isaac.  I figured that if we don't have to pay daycare expenses the least we can do is get him a book once a month.

He found a beautiful leave today.  He wanted a picture of it.  I usually use such occasions to get a picture of him.  He also made a new type of chalk running line...a funnel.  The line stops near the top of the driveway and near the bottom there's a catcher.  Why didn't I think of that?!?!  It would be so much easier to draw.  Maybe I'll need to do a trampoline.

Sunday: last night

A while ago I read a good book series, Bobiverse.  Since I enjoyed it quite a bit, I looked at a few other Goodreads lists that it was on, seeing if there was anything else that the online library had.  There was, Leviathan Wakes.

A few days ago Ben suggested a TV show to watch, The Expanse.  I watched two episodes and was finding it a bit dark...distopian, as Ben put it.  I said I'd watch one more episode, but I probably won't.  It just didn't catch my fancy and I'm listening to a good audiobook, so it'll probably be permanently shelved for me.

Last night the book was finally available, so I checked it out and eagerly started reading it.  It seemed a little familiar.  I kept reading.  It seemed really familiar.  I kept reading.  When I was 2% of the way through the book I called it out...it was the book the TV show was based on.  I had read about half of the first episode and there were too many similarities...er, plots points that were exactly the same... for it to be a coincidence.

It was weird to have the same story line brought to me in two different ways over the course of the weekend.

Saturday: relaxing day

The boys were gone most of the day, so Ben and I spent most of the day relaxing.  (Not all of it though.  Some work got done.)  We slept in, played computer games, and I quilted and napped.

When the boys got home Joshua was inconsolable for about five minutes because he wanted to stay at Grandma's house.  So apparently they had a good time. :)  We got a bunch of cute pictures throughout the day.  (And Joshua is smiling in all of them...I can never get him to smile that much for pictures.)

Friday: up late

Dad and Pat took the boys to the cottage with them for the night.  So I'm staying up as late as I want to, because I can sleep in tomorrow.

Thursday: twins!

Joshua didn't want his picture taken.

Notice Joshua's tongue; it's sticking out like a puppy's.

Wednsday: day 2

I dropped Isaac off at school again today.  This time I made him lead the way...he has to walk "the long way" so that I have an easier time getting home.  I even made him ask the adult when he couldn't remember where to stand.  He got in place and then said, with a great big smile, "Bye-bye!"

"Bye-bye" I replied.  "I love you!"
"I love you so much!  Bye-bye!"

It was a much better start than yesterday, although yesterday wasn't bad by any means.

Joshua and I went home and made date balls.  He figured out how to work the food processor.  I looked at the clock...8:30.  I've been a bit nervous about this first day with just Joshua and me as I am the only person to play with.  It turned out fine.  He played Legos and made me a surprise (a bridge).  I was able to get some school work done during that time, so by the time rest time was done I was finally feeling on top of everything.  There have been several extra meetings this week and it cut into my grading time.

Anyway, back to the day.  We biked to the library.  Isaac probably could have done this ride, but there is one busy street that doesn't have a great crossing on it.  Since I have to carefully hold my bike, I can't help Isaac if he needs it.  Joshua loves biking.  We read several books at the library and I realized that he really only recognizes a few letters.  I don't know if this is normal.  I looked back at Isaac's monthly milestones and the best I could get is that when Isaac was six months older than Joshua he had been able to recognize all the letters for a while.  That seems like a reasonable goal though.

Pick-up was still annoying.  I was sitting in a line for quite a while and then gave up.  Apparently the line was for the older kids and the parents of the younger kids just park, get out, and walk up.  This is completely ridiculous in my mind, but since I now know the actual expectations I can do it and get out in a reasonable amount of time.

Isaac's day went well.  I got some fun details out of him, but there still seem to be some large gaps.  He ate most of his lunch at least this time.  I also realized that I need to carefully ask my questions.  Whereas with an adult you would say, "Did you talk to anyone today?" if they were in a room full of strangers, with a kid I should say, "Did you play with anyone today?".  The latter gave me a better response.  It doesn't seem like he'll be a social butterfly, but at the same time it's only the second day.

Tuesday: first day of kindergarten

Today was Isaac's first day of kindergarten!

Joshua really wanted to be in the pictures too.  Even though it doesn't look that way.

We got there on time, but with no extra time.  I'm going to try and get us out the door five minutes earlier so that I don't have to keep saying hurry up.  We waited for about a minute before the doors opened.

I went inside after the class and Isaac looked overwhelmed.  He found his hook and hung his stuff up, but there were a lot of kids in a small space.  However, I think I would have felt that way too...but it still wasn't the best way to leave.  The first item of the day was a coloring page and I thought 'oh great.  A bit overwhelmed and then he has to do a coloring page.  He doesn't like to color.  This is a great start.'

Here's what we got out of him.  There were three recesses...medium, long, and medium/short.  He only remembered his sunglasses for the first one.  One of them had a game and he got out right away and it made him sad, but now he knows the rules.  They did two coloring pages.  He only ate about three grapes and one crunchy bean for lunch because he got distracted listening to someone talk. He talked to his teacher.  He did talk with one other person.  They read two books and a small book.  One rule was if the teacher goes clap, clap, clapclapclap the students repeat it.  Or if the adult says "one, two" the students say, "eyes on you!"  He was not sent to the principals office.  He did not get his name on the warning list.  He had chocolate milk for lunch.  He felt like it was a long day.  He seemed to like it though.

Car line pick up was a bit weird.  I had plenty of time to get there, which I was a bit worried about.  All the parents got out of their cars though.  I thought it was supposed to be a "stay in the car" thing.  It didn't help that there wasn't anyone directing traffic...for the first day it would have been nice.  I waited in a line for a little bit and then just decided to get out and go get Isaac.

Monday: truck parade and labor day

We went to see the truck parade again today.  We didn't plan to meet up with Betsy and her family, but they showed up at the normal place too!

It was great fun, as always.

The boys played Legos (alone) in the basement very well for about an hour this afternoon.  I thought I might have to intervine when Joshua started complaining that Isaac took all the chairs, but it resolved itself.  There were also a few times that I looked over at Ben and said, "what in the world are they talking about??"  But they were happy and content, so that's all that matters.

We went to Larry and Cheryl's for dinner.  They both ate well and then played in the basement for a while.  They haven't gotten to play down there for a while and it was the highlight of Isaac's day.

And now lunches are packed, last minute instructions have been given, and the kindergartner is asleep.  I'm nervous for tomorrow, but I can't tell if I'm nervous for Isaac or because I have a full day and will need to keep moving to get to my first meeting on time. :D  I'm also very excited for him - I think he'll do well.  And in a week or two it'll feel normal.

Sunday: Legos

Joshua got some small Lego sets for his birthday.  During rest time, he used the instructions and made the windmill.  All on his own!  I was so proud of him.

He then worked on the castle.  He got a little bit of help with that, but I think it is because people were around to ask.  He still did most of it on his own.

Isaac - 68 months

Isaac turned 68 months a few days ago.

Lately he's really been into making things.  Whether with Legos or paper or whatever; the medium doesn't really matter.  He still does lots of Legos and spends several hours a day with them.

He is feeling "medium" about going to kindergarten.  He's excited to learn, but not so excited about how much time will be spent at school.  (That's pretty much how I'm feeling about it too.)  He has been asking several questions, some of them completely off the wall, so I know he's thinking about it a bit.

He is still super silly.  Most of the time it makes everyone laugh, sometimes it's a bit over the top.  Joshua almost always laughs with him though.  They're still doing quite a bit together -  running around and bouncing and hitting each other with pillows.

Isaac is now able to bring the trash containers into the garage by himself.  He loves doing it, and it is a task I don't mind giving up.

Isaac has gotten much better at remembering the short Bible stories we read at night time.  It used to be like pulling teeth to get him to remember any details, but now he can give most of the story with very good details.

He is also enjoying the picture chapter books that we've been getting from the library.  He has a GoodReads account should you be interested in knowing what we're reading and what he thinks about them.

Isaac is quite helpful and usually listens well to instructions.  He is trustworthy.  I know that if I set a timer for screen time he will be done with screen time when it goes off, even if I'm not there.

Isaac loves his treats (of the candy variety) but understands that treats aren't good for you.  Sometimes he decides not to have his or will save it for later.

Isaac is a wonderful kid.

Friday: last day

Today was our last "no-Dad" day before school starts.  I let Isaac choose the activity and he wanted to go to a new playground.  So we went to the natural playground that I've been wanting to check out for a while.

It was pretty cool.  There were two ramps (shown above) that were a hit.  I think Joshua was just big enough to start enjoying it...there were a ton of things to climb on and he was a bit on the small side.  With a few lifts he was able to do most of it though.

Isaac liked the stump above because when he stood on it he was taller than I was.

Joshua like the heights too.

Isaac climbed into the tree, but wasn't super thrilled.

Then we found the teepee and sent quite a while here.  They found more sticks to add to it, although Isaac's plan was to close the original door and Joshua found the small sticks and threw them towards the teepee...maybe to make a wall?  I'm not really sure what he was doing, but that's fine.

Afterwards we went to the donut shop.  And that ended the celebration of the end of summer; the rest of the afternoon was pretty normal.  I'm a bit sad...the summer was good and I could have used a few more weeks.  However, Tuesday, when Isaac starts school, is shaping up to be quite busy so I might not have too much time to be melancholy.