Monday: blah

Today was not one of our awesome days.

It started out fine...a little extra driving for an errand and then swimming lessons.  The day was cold (an expected high of 63 or so), but the pool heater was turned on and no one was shivering.  Isaac said he liked these better than the ones last year, although he missed the free time from last year.  Both boys had lessons, each a half hour long.  I like the half hour lesson.  Just when I'm ready to be done it is almost time for the lesson to be done too.

We made a quick Meijer run and got home.  The carpet cleaner was coming!

Joshua did not enjoy the carpet cleaner.  It was noisy.  Isaac asked a lot of questions though.  But our play space was limited and it was cold outside and Joshua was clingy and I was tired.  Argh.  We finally made it through, and the boys had their screen time and I had my nap.  It didn't help as much as normal though.

We had an hour before we had to leave for dinner.  I had two ripe bananas, so we decided to make banana bread.  However, I had no eggs.  Last grocery shopping trip I had two egg containers.  Well, one container had three eggs and one container had one egg and we used them all up.  (Luckily, there was a small grocers next to the restaurant, but it was still one more thing.)  While Isaac had been pretty good throughout the day, he often asked something and I'd give him an answer he didn't like.  So he'd ask again.  And again a bit later.  Most days I might not have noticed it, but today it drove me up the wall.

The boys did make a fort tonight and played, but they didn't seem to be having as much fun as last night.  I gave them a 10 minute warning earlier (although still way after their normal bedtime) and they said they were ready for bed then.

Sunday: carpets

Tomorrow the carpet cleaner is coming.  This means that a lot of furniture has been moved.

The basement is once again an ideal place for running.
Isaac was sleeping on his bed in the living room, and Joshua wanted to do the same.

As Ben was coming downstairs he heard Isaac tells Joshua, "we can talk!"  We went up a few times to make sure that everyone was still happy (i.e., no one was trying to go to sleep), but we heard tons of giggles and laughter.  At one point they had opened Isaac's special drawer and were playing with all the toys in it.  Usually there is a "no toys in bed" policy, but it turns out I just didn't care today.  They were having fun with each other and that is something I want to encourage, even if it is breaking the rules and way past bedtime.  At 10pm, two hours after bedtime, I did tell them it was time to go to sleep; I need them to be functional in the morning.

However, there was talk of a blanket over the beds for tomorrow night.  I think that sounds like a lot of fun and will probably let them do it. :)

Saturday: Herrickfest

The other day someone asked me what I did in the summer.  I mentioned a few things, including that the library has a ton of stuff to do.  I realized how true that is this week: Wednesday was storytime, Thursday was Bubbleman, Friday was Sensory Time at a different library, and today was a party put on by the library.  A bunch of the local associations come with fun (and free!) things for kids to do.

It was a bit cool...by the end of the second hour Joshua was very cold and ready to go home, although I expect the Popsicle didn't help any.  It was a ton of fun though; we'll have to go again next year.

It started with a tractor ride.  It was relatively long, and the tractor went in some tight circles.  Isaac wanted a green barrel.

We got looked at some rocks.  We took apart (and put together, somewhat) a keyboard.  Joshua slowly but surely plugged away at the number keys.  (Joshua also mentioned tonight that we shouldn't take apart our play keyboards.)

We did a photobooth and the pictures came out ok.  Then some fishing.

Then I gave in and let them have their treat.  I should have waited until we were a bit more ready to go, as it was the beginning of the end.  Oh well.  The boys were really looking forward to the treat.

This evening I finally got a picture of them in their puppy pajamas.  The pajamas are new and are a hit!

Friday: lunch sounds

Today was the last lunch in the fort; it stayed up longer than I really wanted it to, but it provided so much entertainment.

Here are the sounds from lunch today.  The video is nothing...it's really just for the audio.   It was like this the whole time.

Thursday: Biking, bubbles, and banners

We rode our bikes around the lake today.  It was a short ride, as they go, but I changed Isaac's training wheels from a little wobbly to very wobbly.  At first I was 'afraid' that he wouldn't really feel the difference, but about 1/3 of the way around he had a good balance.  It was probably only a second or two, but enough that we both realized it.  I was glad because now he at least knows what is good balancing.  (It turns out training wheels are loud.  It is a great thing, because then you know if you're balancing.  I never realized that about them before.)

We went to a bubble program through the library.  We saw a square bubble. (Link.  See bubble wonders library life interview, 1:19).  At story time yesterday it was mentioned that someone would get to be in a bubble, and Isaac mentioned several times that he wanted to be in a bubble.  He sat near the front but was not chosen.  I told him at the end if he was patient he could ask the presenter when most of the people had left, although the presenter might say no.  Well, Isaac was able to get in a bubble.


Joshua did it too.

It was a noisy afternoon and evening.  The boys played together a lot, but that also meant there was a bit more bickering than normal this afternoon.  They were also loud.  It got on my nerves, but I think that was more my problem than theirs.  They were playing some chase game in the evening that they were loving and they were happy and entertained, but I was also very glad to put them to bed.

Here are the banners.  They're really streamers, but the alliteration in the title was nice.  Isaac wanted to do this last summer and I finally got around to it.  Joshua said that they tickled.

Wednesday: fort

Isaac made a fort today, right around lunch time.  I was too big to get in it and I didn't push the point as I wasn't really sure I wanted to get in it.  I told the boys that if they made a spot where they could eat they could have lunch in there too.

By the end of the day it had a gazillion toys and a light.  But they were happily entertained for a large chunk of the day.

Monday: birthday party

Today was Isaac's half birthday party.  He's 5 1/2.  It's a bit early, but next week we're rather busy.

He took decorating his lemonade cake very seriously.  There were a gazillion sprinkles on it.

We decorated.

And people came!  The menu was spicy hot dogs (and other sausage and bratwurst), pineapple, crunchy beans, and chips.

I had the table set up outside for dinner, but a half hour before hand the temperature felt like it was dropping and the rain chance was rather high and it was windy.  I think moving inside was a good plan, but it was a bit warm.

He also got several presents he was very excited about.