Friday: fruits

Today we went blueberry picking with Aunt C.  The weather was perfect!!  Warm but not too warm, with scattered clouds.  Not too windy, although there were a few gusts to make you appreciate that most of the time the blueberries stayed in your hand as you picked them.  We ended up with one bucket full.  The boys picked some, ran some, and ate some...they really just wanted to go to the playground.  Since it wasn't too hot this time, we stayed at the playground for quite a while.

After coming home, I picked our first raspberry crop.  When I looked a day or two ago there were only one or two worth picking, so I left them as I was hoping for three.  This time there were a bunch!

Isaac also played with wet socks again.  Not quite as long this time, but it was still...odd.

We finally got a little rain today, although I think everyone was hoping for a bit more.  Hopefully tomorrow.  Isaac also got all weepy on us when we told him that he didn't have to eat his four dinosaur chicken nuggets, but that he then wouldn't get a treat.  (He had originally only asked for two or three, and so didn't feel as though he should have to eat the last ones to get his treat.)  Afterwards I tried to tell him that many kids need to eat everything on their plate and that they have to sit there until they eat it...so our rule wasn't as harsh as he was making it out to be.  I'm not sure it worked.

Thursday: skip-bo, helicopters, and pool

Yesterday and today Isaac has wanted to play SkipBo while Joshua has wanted to build a Lego helicopter.  It turns out that I can do both of them at the same time relatively well.  When it's Isaac's turn to play I find pieces for Joshua, who can put them on pretty much by himself.  Then I play my turn in SkipBo.  Sure, it isn't focused time for either boy, but it has worked.

We went to a pool with family today.  At least, we did until they closed the pool due to contamination.  So we went to get ice cream instead, which I had been thinking sounded great even before it was mentioned. :D

Wednesday: activities

We started out the day with gymnastics.  On the way out Joshua told me, "I love gymnastics 100%!"  He stumbled a bit over the 100% part, but got it.  I was rather amused to hear that phrasing come out of his mouth.

A bit later we went to help at Kids' Food Basket.  Isaac has wanted to go for a while, but it doesn't work so well with him at school.  There was a different leader there today, which felt a bit awkward for me since Joshua was there and not technically allowed.  The previous leader said it was fine, but...  Anyway, they ended up with more helpers than they needed, and so we got reassigned to a different job and it was perfect.  We opened up boxes of stuff (applesauce, granola bars) and put them in milk crates for use when packing lunches.  It took us a lot longer than I could have done it myself, but that isn't really the point.

Later in the afternoon we went to the library for an animal program.  Joshua fell asleep immediately...I'm not sure he even got through the introductory remarks.  I keep wondering if it's the last time he'll fall asleep on my lap, and he keeps doing it again.  The snuggles are nice.  Isaac got to hold a snake and stood by a barn owl.

Tuesday: playground

We met some friends at the playground this morning.  It was wonderful.  Four of the five boys ran as a group doing...I'm not really sure.  Joshua said something about catapults at one point.  But the cool thing is that they did it together.  (Oh, the fifth one is rather young so it wasn't a big deal.  He's probably about 1.5 years younger than Joshua, which is about the spread for the others too.)

Monday: playdate

This morning was a bit rough.  Isaac was in a mood and refused to go to the library.  I told him 'too bad, you have to go.  Please get dressed.'  He said he wouldn't get dressed.  I told him that was fine, but that there would be consequences...like he would have to take a nap during rest time.  (He really did seem so tired and I think it's been a busy week for him.)  Anyway, he got dressed.  He continued to be sullen until Joshua fell on the pavement and big brother mode kicked in. :D  That snapped him out of it.

He also had a playdate with one of his friends from school.  They played 'CodeMasters' for an hour and a half, running all over the place, getting cards, leveling up, and slaying dragons with rainbow swords.

Weekend: vacations

This weekend, Isaac and Joshua went up north with Larry and Cheryl.

They had a grand time playing with the magnet blocks, in the splash pad, and eating ice cream.

Oh, and plenty of screen time. :D

Ben and I went to a B&B in South Haven.  After mentioning (twice!) that we needed to remember and get some pictures at the B&B, we forgot.  We only got some at the end of the pier.

We had a wonderful time though, eating, reading, playing games, and just being together.

Wednesday/Thursday: briefly

VBS: It went well, especially today (Thursday).  The kids and I are getting to know each other a bit better, and that has helped.

It's fun seeing Isaac here and there.

The four year old classes got a sneak reveal of Bolt Voltage, and it totally calmed Joshua down.  It went from all he could talk about to, "oh, it's just Tyler with an orange shirt."  (He wears an orange shirt in another part of the morning.)  While sad that it needed to be done early, it was probably a good choice.

Yesterday we went to the GR public museum.  We did it with a friend whom I haven't seen in a while.  It was maybe not the best place to talk because the boys needed a lot of help with stuff, but it was still lovely to see them.