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.