Monday: with Joshua

It's Joshua's 5 1/2 birthday tomorrow and he is so excited.  I hope it doesn't disappoint.

We got some cookie packs for his class.  It was a large shopping trip today.

We got a little cake for us at home tomorrow.  He wanted to bring it in from the car, so we dug through the grocery bags in order to find it so he could bring that single item in the house.  Once I got the cold stuff put away, making the cake was the highest priority.

Sunday: stuffed animals

Why do you need so many stuffed animals in your house?  So you can use them for obstacle courses.  Today they made an obstacle course down the stairs, in our bed (i.e., a huge pile), and around the living room.

After dinner some video games were played.  Joshua had a lot to say about what he thought was happening and what should be done.  And he always sits on Ben's lap when the games are being played.  It's as though it's a requirement...one that Ben doesn't complain about at all.

Saturday: play

Isaac and Joshua were playing some game with Rhino hero.  Suddenly Joshua was in 'prison' and said that he was hungry.  What does Isaac feed him?  Gruel.  Where did that word come from?  I guess it must be a fairy tale thing, but I was so surprised to hear it coming out of his mouth.

We went to a thing at the library called 'edible science.'  There was an egg thing (video) and we made our own butter.  The butter thing was really quite cool...it took a lot of shaking but it was interesting how it suddenly changed phases.

Friday: sled walk

Aunt C joined Joshua and I for a sled walk.  I had been thinking it might be an option for today, but then Joshua independently came up with the idea for a walk too.  It wasn't raining and Aunt C was available at the last minute to join us, so off we went!

One reason I wanted to go was to make sure to get a picture on the bridge in the winter.  I now have summer-ish, fall-ish (the leaves in the area turned color so late and then it was just cold and rainy), and winter.

The snow was great for pulling a sled...it also makes Joshua happier through the whole time.  The snow was good for packing, so a few snow balls were thrown.  A lot of snowballs and ice chunks were thrown into water.

The weather was cool but not cold and there was no wind.  It was an excellent activity for today.

In other news, Tornado has found a new perch.

I've also given Isaac and Joshua a life goal: learn how to spit toothpaste effectively.  I'm not sure what they really do, but half of it dribbles down their chin.  I don't really know how to teach this life skill to them or if it is something that I really even want to do.  I'm hoping they just figure it out.

Thursday: warmer

I bought a drink warmer for by my computer.  It works rather well.

Wednesday: pretty good

It was a pretty good day today. I didn't get a ton done, but I helped Ben with some stuff.

The first thing Joshua said when I picked him up from school was that he was going to make a rain cloud and a normal cloud.  After snack, that is exactly what he did.

..I then got attacked by said clouds, assorted monsters, and several other things.  Have I mentioned I'm sick of getting attacked yet?

Isaac went sledding tonight with Cadets.  It's the first time he's been on a big hill, mainly because I'm too lazy to actually go to a good hill.  The hill right next to the house has been exciting enough...at least until today.  It was a pretty good day for it.  There was no wind, and there had been a bunch of people so the snow was packed and slippery.  (And bumpy, I heard from a few people.)  Anyway, he had a good first big hill experience.

Tuesday: yesterday

So it turns out I took several pictures yesterday that I forgot about...

...sledding...

...and digging up snow chunks.

Joshua followed some instructions to make the penguin below for Ben, and then made a polar bear for me, a cat for Isaac, and a white puppy for himself.  The polar bear and puppy almost look the same, but his has a tail.  It cheered me up a bit last night because he had put it on my nightstand.

The boys had icicles for lunch.

Today was rather normal.  Teaching went fine.  Home went fine.  I don't think anyone said anything funny. Or mean.  I got attacked by Legos several times.  You know, the normal.