Wednesday: Joshua's special thing

We looked for my dad again today before we picked Isaac up from camp.  He was gone, so we continued on our way.  (I'll admit, it would have been nice to see him, but I think Joshua really likes to push the buttons on the elevator without his brother.)  We stopped by the VanKley musuem to look at the fish.  There was someone inside, so we got to go in.

Amanda: Look at me.
Joshua: all the fish are looking at you!

Do you see all three Nemos?

Here they are again.

We looked at the other animals too but didn't spend much time as it was about time to get Isaac.

Isaac: today we got to use chemicals.  Real chemicals!
Amanda: really?  Did you use them or the teachers?
Isaac: I did!
Amanda: what did you use?
Isaac: lemon juice, milk, dish soap.  We put a piece of paper in them
Amanda: oh, did you test the pH?
Isaac: what's pH?
Hmm...hopefully they just used different terminology and it wasn't that Isaac completely missed what was going on. :D

Tuesday: afternoon

Isaac has a chemistry science camp at Hope most afternoons this week; that's his special afternoon activity.

Joshua's special afternoon treat has been going say hi to Dad after dropping off Isaac.  We found Dad yesterday, but not today.  So we tried again after picking up Isaac.  We managed to find him and both boys got a treat and got to push assorted buttons for the accelerator.

Monday: the day

This morning we had a pest inspector come to look in the attic; a few night ago I heard an animal.  The boys were interested in what she was doing, and she said she was going to see if there were any animals in the attic.  Joshua said, "Monkeys?" with a hopeful lilt.  "No," she replied, "although that would make my job more interesting."  "Elephants?" Joshua tried next.  "I think those would probably have fallen through the ceiling," she responded.

It turns out we have some bats.  Not many.  Good since bats aren't too bad for anything, but they're rather expensive to get rid of.

We played outside for a bit after that.  Joshua wanted to bounce some balls.  Isaac made an elaborate sidewalk chalk obstacle course.

There were lots of lasers, arrows and bombs to jump over.  Then there was a section where I had to answer jokes correctly.  Things like, "how did the chicken cross the road?"  (It flew.  I got it wrong.)  "How did the chicken get in a jam jar?" (It got jammed.  I got it wrong on a technicality.)  "How did the chicken get on top of the house?"  (It jumped.  I received partial credit for saying it flew.)  I eventually only responded with "it flew" and so the questions changed so that I gave the right answer.  Then I had to do the chicken dance before I reached the end.

What else...Isaac has a science camp this week.  He seemed to enjoy the first of four days.  (Although he was sad not to get quiet time and ipad time today.)

Sunday: Legos 2

Here's the quarry Ben made for the digger a while back.  We've moved most of the sets to a different area, but wanted to get a video of it even if the digger wasn't there.  (Ben and I have been taking pieces from it for the various sets we're putting together.  So far we've managed to get it back together, but there will be a day it doesn't work.)

Here are Isaac's machines.  When you only have a few together they work well; when we tried to put them all together it was just a little much.  Maybe we'll make them again when he's older and can fiddle with them a bit more.  (The video isn't great.)

Ben finished the Saturn 5 rocket.  It was supposed to be a gift for him, but we have two boys that like to do Legos too.  However, it worked out really well...there was a lot of repetition, so Ben did two parts and Isaac would do two parts of the same thing.  Ben found it very interesting to put together.

(We've cleaned up recently, but you can see some bins in the background.  We finally gave in and sorted all the Legos by color.)

Joshua has enjoyed helping me, although we haven't spent as much time working on ours.

And one more of Joshua helping Ben.

Saturday: Legos

We continued the Lego sets that we started yesterday; Ben with the Saturn 5 and me with a corner cafe.  Or, as Joshua reminded me many times, my Mother's Day Legos.  Joshua likes to help me and Isaac is helping Ben, so it works well.

Isaac also finally finished some Lego machines, like Rube Goldberg reactions, that he's been plugging away at for a year.  Next we'll need to bring them upstairs and have them all go in a row.  And then maybe take them apart. :)

Friday: pizza

Amanda: Pizza's here!
Joshua: I'll get it.
Amanda: uh, ok.
Amanda starts to walk around to the front door.
Joshua opens and closes the door.
Joshua: I've got the pizza!
Amanda looks at the flat box Joshua is holding, slightly bewildered.
Amanda realizes Joshua just picked up a box that was by the front door...it does look like a pizza box when it is laid down.

Iowa finish

Here are some of the last pictures from our trip.  We didn't take a lot, and I realized we didn't get one of all the adults together.  Oh well.

Brian gave Isaac a bike ride.  Isaac loved it, although said he got a little scared on the turns.  He said it was better when he closed his eyes.

Saturday we went to a street fair and the boys got a ton of loot, including a balloon animal.  This is Joshua with his three bears.

Isaac made several machines out of a new type of block.

We found a place on the river to play Sunday night.  The kids had a great time.

Brian read a few books/devotions to the kids.

We also went to the aquatic center Monday before we left.  Isaac went down a large water slide...I was rather surprised at this since he usually doesn't go down any water slides.  I tried to catch him, but they let two people go at once and the other child was in the middle.  I got to him quickly though.  The look on his face as he was going down was sheer terror, and he was shaking when I got him.  I just told him how brave he was...I really thought he'd go back down the steps.  Anyway, we went to the lazy river next and he seemed to thoroughly enjoy that.