Monday: gymnastics and a party

Gymnastics went rather well today.  Joshua just hit that sweet spot where he realized he's supposed to be doing whatever the teacher is doing...I saw it for the first time at story time on Friday.  He's delayed by about five seconds and can't do it all that well yet, but it is so cute and a step in the right direction.

Isaac had his first birthday party.  It was for someone from school at a nearby play area.  I had never realized this place existed before, but I expect we'll be back once in a while.  There was a large play structure, an area with toys, and a toddler area.  Isaac wore himself out, but was always smiling whenever I saw him.

Sunday: towers

Today ended up being rather busy, but it started off with the boys building towers with Ben.




In other news, Isaac cleaned his bedroom super fast today and it was awesome. For everyone.

Friday: outsmarted by our two-year-old

Circuits have been out the last few days. Isaac made one that he calls "the flashlight". It is two LEDs in parallel with a normal light and switch. When you turn the circuit on, the LEDs turn on. When you hold down the switch, the normal light also comes on.

Joshua was playing with it and, I think with only one jumper wire, managed to make it so that if you hold down the switch the normal light turns on and the LEDs turn off. I had tried to do this before, so I made a note of what he did and continued on my way.

Isaac thought it was cool, but then took it apart. He may have changed a few things, but not too much.

But then neither Ben nor I could recreate what Joshua did. I spent about five minutes working on it, Ben spent about 15. We were out-smarted, rather literally, by our two year old.

(Here is Joshua with his circuit. At one point it made an obnoxious sound, but then I disconnected one of the battery terminals and he just put the jumpers all over.)

Thursday: reasoning doesn't work

A: Joshua, can you please push those cords back under the stand?  They're not toys.
---
A: Joshua, don't touch that button [on the power strip]!  Push it back under the stand.
--- Joshua's little finger reaches for the button again.---
A: Joshua, no!  Push it under the stand!
---
---The little finger reaches out.---
A: ok, time out.
---We do time out.---
---We sit together by the cords.  I check to make sure they can easily be pushed back under the stand while Joshua throws a tantrum.---
A: ok Joshua, please push these under the stand.
J: no!
---
A: ok, please push them under the stand.
J: no!
A: ok, you have three choices.  You can push the cords under, throw a tantrum, or go to bed.
J: tantrum!
A: ok.
I: Joshua, you can push the cords in.  It's easy-peasy!
--Joshua slowly calms down, but still refuses to push the cords in.---
A: ok Joshua, do you want to push the cords in or go to bed?
J: bed.
A: ok.

After Joshua was in bed Isaac and I ate some cake.

Wednesday: raid love

I was raiding on WoW tonight and asked for someone to call their repair mount so that I could repair...and half the raid was suddenly mounted up.  I'm not really a great raider and don't talk much, so I was rather surprised at the large response.

Tuesday: voting

I voted today.  I brought the boys with me; they always love to get the stickers.  It was busy when I went at 8:20, but by the time I was ready to get into a voting spot one had just opened up.  So there was no wait.  I was number 172.

I'm also happy to report that God is in control.  No matter who is president.  

58 months

Isaac turned 58 months old several days back.

He has been extra wild and crazy this past month.

We've had several interesting what-if scenarios..."What if Clifford was as big as the universe?"  "What if rain was actually rocks on fire?"  The questions and commentary doesn't stop.

He now likes school...did I mention that last month?...because there are new toys.  He still loves to play.  He doesn't enjoy going to the gym but loves gymnastics.  He also likes bath time and can easily spend two hours in the bath now that we're doing it in the afternoon.

He and Joshua are still playing quite well together and really, it has made my life much easier.  I don't get asked to play as much, although that could also be a result of the other activities throughout the week.  He is also extremely caring of Joshua (although more often when we're out of the house and Joshua might need a little extra caring.)  The other day at the library story time was packed and he wound he way to the middle.  Then scarves were distributed, so he got one for Joshua too and wound his way back.  Joshua wanted to follow Isaac, so Isaac took him by the hand to make sure he got to the right place.  <3 p="">

He does not enjoy cleaning his room.  Some weeks it goes really quickly and some weeks he drags his heels.  The other chores he doesn't love, but tolerates much better.  We've also started doing PJs and teeth during chore time because Ben and I were getting frustrated trying to prod him to go faster.  Now he can take an unreasonable amount of time to put his pajamas on and it doesn't matter quite as much.

He does space out sometimes.  Tonight during putting on your pajama time he was undressed and then came out with his day pants back on.

Isaac seems to show love through food.  He's regularly giving/making treats to show us that he loves us or to help a hurt (such as a headache) go away.  The main problem is that he can't make his treats on his own...his current one is pretzels with nutella and mini m&ms.  (I liked the ones with raisins better.)