Monday: clean under things

Today's activity was to clean under things.  (Not underthings, as Ben first heard it.  I do those bi-weekly.)

We started with the fridge.

Here's what we found.  Apparently we should do this twice a year instead of once a year.

Then we did the oven.  (I had an ant problem from there, as can be seen by the five traps.  The nice thing about under the oven is that it is safe, so I threw a bunch down there.

Lastly we did the master bedroom.  We moved/elevated all the furniture so the rumba could get to it and let it run.

In other stories, Isaac decided to try frozen and cooked green beans today.  (Instead of just frozen peas.)  I heard this story three times, so thought you would enjoy it too.


Ben was doing his exercises tonight and throwing a ball over the couch for Joshua to retrieve.  Ben thought it would be funny to hide, so while Joshua was behind the couch he went on the couch.  Joshua came around, finally found Ben, and reprimanded: "Exercise!"

Weekend: cottage

This past weekend we went up to Dad and Pat's cottage and had a wonderful (and relaxing) time.  Well, at least Ben and I relaxed.  I think the kids played hard.

We caught (and released) chipmunks.

Joshua got cookies from Grandpa while holding EE

Isaac got wheelbarrow rides from Grandpa.

Both boys enjoyed walking on the boat.

Isaac found the special rocks and cleaned them up

while Joshua threw the newly laid sand in the water.

Isaac helped Joshua clean off his hands...several times

...and then went on a paddleboat ride.

The swing was a big hit for both of them.  Joshua just liked to swing and Isaac liked to swing and twist.

More snacks!

A ride around the lake.

A boat ride.

Isaac even got to steer.

We went through some pretty lily pads.

And swung some more!

When we got home, and Isaac had cleaned his room, I found them like this watching TV.

Thursday: copying

Joshua copies Isaac all the time.  Things he says, things he likes, etc.  Some are unexpected but I guess not odd, such as robots, since we have them in the house.  Some things are more unexpected, such as liking the same green monkey that Isaac loved for a while (and calling it EE too, although maybe someone mentioned that was the name.)  The other unexpected thing is getting squirt with pretend water squirters all the time.  Anything can be a water squirter.

However, Isaac copies Joshua too.  He sees something that Joshua is doing and wants to do it.  Sometimes Joshua makes a funny noise and then Isaac copies it.  Today it was putting the suction cups on the the table.

This is Joshua's creation.

And this is Isaac's.

Wednesday: pool

This morning, after some bear hunts, we went to the pool with Betsy and her kids.  (Joshua kept calling Leah 'Ethan', so apparently I need to start saying Ethan and Leah more often.)  We had a lovely time.  Joshua enjoyed the pool, something I wasn't sure was going to happen, and we stayed for quite a while.

This evening Ben was on the couch with Isaac and Joshua was in his chair nearby when Isaac leaned over and said, "Would you like a ride?"  No response.  So Isaac nicely asked again, "Would you like a ride?  Yes or No?"  (That sounds like something I say...)  Joshua said yes, and Isaac proceeded to push him around the area twice.

Tuesday: bike saga continued

We started this morning by watering the flowers promptly; it was supposed to be a hot day and I didn't want to be out when it was actually hot.  The bike seat worked well.  Joshua enjoyed it and I didn't find it too uncomfortable to have him there.  The hardest part was probably that Isaac stopped so many times.  (It also felt like he went rather slowly for some of it, but that might be a matter of perspective.)  But we made it.

We got home and Joshua decided he wanted a snack.  I said he could have some of his left over yogurt, but that was not acceptable.  So we went out, because I was not going to be stuck in a house with a screaming child.  We went to the bank and opened savings accounts for the boys.  They both got piggy banks and pencils, and were rather excited about both.

This afternoon, right before we were about to leave, Joshua wanted his pencil sharpened like Isaac's.  We did that, and then I said they could draw on a box.  That quickly changed to punching holes in the box.  But they were happy and playing together and while I hoped that they didn't punch each other's hands I let them be.

We had family pictures this evening.  It was hot.  The boys did quite well.  Not super awesome, but not terrible either.  However, I was not the person Joshua wanted to be with.  Ben was the best, followed by Allison.

Monday: freezer meal, bike, rain

I was looking at the schedule for the day and not really sure what we were going to do.  So I had Isaac draw something out of the jar: make freezer meals.  It was perfect!  I had actually been thinking that we should make curry again soon, but this made it happen.

I have two boys that both like to help.  It's a bit of challenge keeping both of them occupied, but we managed.  Joshua did things like take potatoes out of the bag (and then put them back in after he took out all the potatoes), put the chopped potatoes in the bowl, and then put the assorted frozen food scraps in the blender to feed to the worms.  He really enjoyed the blender.  Isaac is getting much more independent, and was able to put carrots in the blender, get the spices, put the spices in the pot, stir the pot, put veggies and water in the pot, get the flour in the pan, and mix it with the curry.  I can often give him an instruction or two and then he can do it all, freeing up my hands to do other parts.

This activity also provided several play times while waiting for it to cook.  Here's Isaac, Mom, Mr. Mean, and People.  (People is a single person.  He goes with Grill. (Girl)).  Isaac wrote Isaac and Mom.

Then we went out in the garage to put on the new bike seat for Joshua.  It went pretty well, although my tires were so flat I needed to get out the air compressor...the bike pump caused a few moments of tension.  I've only ridden it in a short circle, but it wasn't in the way too much.  Tomorrow's the big test.

It was raining while I was putting the seat on, and the boys enjoyed it.

Sunday: unexpected

Many unexpected things happened today.

Joshua went poop and pee on the toilet.

Isaac and Joshua were dropped off at Ben's parents' house for a few hours and we got this super cute picture.

We got home close to 9pm, and hour after bedtime.  Isaac was dragging and went right to bed.  Joshua, on the other hand, and singing and talking and having a grand old time.  He kept saying, "Where's Dad?" on the drive home.  When Ben stopped responding he just started singing and making funny noises.

Oh, that reminds me.  Apparently at church Isaac went on a pretend bear hunt during Sunday School.  So on the way home from church he kept growling.  Then Joshua would say, "Bear!"  When we got home Joshua said, "Quiet!  Bear!"  and "Listen!"  Isaac would provide periodic growls to keep the game going.  It lasted much longer than I expected and was so cute.