Sunday: church

I went to church with the boys today.  Isaac's Sunday school class has finished for the summer so he has to sit with me.  Joshua just wanted to sit with me and not go to his class.  It made for a rather distracting church service for me.  The boys were good and quiet, but with both of them there was still quite a bit of help that was needed.  I think next week I'll make Joshua go to his classroom after singing.  I don't mind him coming with me for that part, but I really do think he'd have a better time with kids his own age.

Isaac: 75, 76, and 77 months

75 months:

Isaac did an excellent job in school this year.  We got back some of his testing results and he did very well.  As mentioned before, his math skills exploded.  His reading has gotten really good too...in the chapter books we read he can sometimes get a full sentence or two (as long as I pick out ones that don't have words that are too long.)  He moved to a Scholastic Reading level of G, which easily sets him up for 1st grade.  He also seemed to interact well with the other kids...I heard names of assorted people that he played with at recess.  He also said hi to his classmates in the hall and his classmates said hi to him.

Attitude: still so silly.  I've had to ask him to tone it down a bit lately because it has been too much for me.  They also had behavior charts in school and his never moved off green.  (Which is a bit too bad; one or two yellows would have probably been good for him.)  Anyway, he wants to use it at home too...he will get some yellows from me.  Not very often, but there has been more push back on some items when he wants his way.

76 months:

Loving: Isaac is incredibly loving and often makes things that says, "Isaac loves Mom" or "Isaac loves Dad."  He told his teacher many times.  He gets Joshua in often...he runs through the family list.

Future: he currently wants to be an E.R doctor, but I've also heard police man or fire fighter as close seconds.

On being a puppy: while he still is a puppy, it rarely shows up anymore.  While a bit sad, it's probably appropriate. 

77 months:

Surprises: Issac loves surprises and never wants to know what we're doing until we get there.  This is usually helpful because I can change plans at the drop of a hat.  It isn't so helpful if I tell him something that he doesn't understand the reason for (like not having dessert because we're having surprise ice cream.)  And while not a surprise, he loves new experiences and new things.

Athletics: while Isaac isn't the most athletic person ever, he has been working on several skills.  Ice skating is getting better and he decided it would be the sport he continued through the summer.  Biking without training wheels is getting really close...he got a half-rotation at the store today.  The next two weeks are swimming lessons.  (And I hope that it isn't too many new things to learn all at once.)

Laughter: Isaac still laughs so easily.  He's starting to understand more jokes, but slap stick humor brings out the laughs too.  He and Joshua will laugh a ton together, and it is wonderful to hear.

Friday: Isaac's last day of school

He left the morning as a Kindergartner

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(And the first day of school, for comparison.)

At 9:30 it was graduation time.  Ben caught them lined up and ready to come in.

The teachers said some nice things and then the kids went through the alphabet.  There were three kids to a letter and they said the letter and what it stood for.  Isaac's N was super clear.

He got his diploma.  It had a nice picture on it with an "I want to be an E.R. doctor" [when I grow up].  There were also pictures of the kids on the back wall...both of Isaac's pictures turned out very well.

Time for some pictures!

And just like that, we have a 1st grader! 

Afterwards we went back to the bike shop.  The person that really knows what she is doing said Isaac was ready to try pedals!  He tried a few loops, but the loop in the store isn't all that big and he couldn't get going fast enough, have enough time to get his feet on the pedals, and not run into the bikes in the middle all at the same time.  I think we'll try a few more times and if it isn't quite working perhaps we'll just get the bike and try it at home with a bit more room.

Thursday: Joshua's last day of school.

Today was Joshua's last day of school!

This was Joshua's first day of school...apparently I forgot to take a picture at home so it isn't a great comparison.

To celebrate the last day of school, we went through the car wash!!  Joshua always asks to do this, so it was a bit of a treat.

We also got some ice cream with Dad.  It was mainly to celebrate his birthday, but had the side effect of celebrating school being out too.

Wednesday: gymnastics, babies, ice skating

Joshua had a gymnastics class today.  He did quite well, although he was afraid that he'd have to do the monkey bars by himself.  It might be a very small class, which would be nice.

When we got back home, we saw a mother turkey and her poults.  (I had to look up that word.)  Then we were driving to have lunch with Cheryl and saw a mother duck and her ducklings.  Both of them had quite a flock of babies.

During ice skating tonight I challenged Isaac to take big steps.  He did, and his form looked so much better!  There was some gliding and I think I saw the foot turn a bit to push some too.  He's getting it!  Joshua didn't seem to have as much visible improvement, but I'll also admit my expectations for him are quite a bit lower.  He is slowly skating forward and trying to skate backwards and doing things with the group though.

Joshua: 44, 45, and 46 months

45 months

Joshua had gotten a red balloon monkey at Isaac's school and was excited because it matched the other red monkey (stuffed animal) that he had gotten from his teacher.

Letters: In the past few months Joshua has started putting sounds with letters quite well.  He only recognizes a handful of letters still, but it is improving.  (To me this is weird because it's the opposite way that Isaac did it, but I'm happy to do whatever works.)  He's also been rhyming up a storm.

46 months:

This month red monkey left the scene.  We have seen dragon come out a bit more than previously.  Otter made an appearance for a week or so.  Grey Bear is still the best loved animal though.  Grey Bear is always wearing his pajamas, which Joshua has been telling me several times per day.  It's hilarious that Grey Bear always gets to wear his pajamas.

Joshua still pretends to be a puppy a lot (see the above picture). 

Playing: Joshua plays with Duplos at his Duplo table a ton.  He often makes things for his animals...a house for Blue Bear, a castle for Grey Bear, etc.  There have been a few other really cute ones that I have now forgotten.  He plays with Legos quite a bit too, although we haven't put together any sets in a while.  He loves to play with Isaac.  He loves to jump on Isaac's bed.  (Side note: we kept the crib mattress around and Joshua uses it for sleepovers.  It also doubles as a trampoline, but it easier to store.)

Pajamas: Joshua wears slippers to bed if he doesn't have footy pajamas.  We lost one of his slippers recently.  It's been hot out, so he has on a t-shirt and shorts along with a raccoon slipper and an alligator slipper.

46 months:

Joshua got a hair cut this past month!  It's one of the best I've done.  I also got a ton of poses from him quite quickly for once, although not a ton of the smile ones turned out.

Eating: Joshua still eats well at breakfast and lunch.  He does not always like what I'm making for dinner and then just doesn't eat.  Sometimes he doesn't eat anything for dinner.  He always has great concern for his snack in the afternoon.

Napping: Joshua has been napping just a bit more lately.  He naps at school and will often fall asleep when we go to pick up Isaac at school.  He sometimes understands when he is tired and will put himself to bed.

School: Although Joshua doesn't complain about school and seems to enjoy it after the fact, he would much rather have a 'home day.'  I get asked multiple times per day if it is a home day.  (Oddly, he often asks this around dinner time, by which point he would be home no matter what.  I usually tell him what tomorrow will be.)  There is only one day of school left and he's rather excited.

Attitude: Joshua is usually quite sweet.  The other day at ice skating he tried to help the other little girl.  He often understands when Isaac wants a toy and while Joshua doesn't give him the toy immediately, he will often give the toy to Isaac within a few minutes.  That's not to say we haven't had any battles...there is still some throwing of things once in a while.  He does understand the rules that we set forth though (especially concerning eating dinner & treats and cleaning his room & screen time) and adheres to them well.  When he doesn't get screen time because he didn't clean his room he tries to walk around with his eyes closed or a hand over his eyes so he doesn't accidentally watch.  It's super cute.

Monday: sandals

I got some new sandals today.  It turns out they are exactly the same as the ones I am replacing.  I thought they looked rather familiar, but they were comfy and about half the price of the other ones I was considering.  The ones I had lasted several years, so while it's a rather boring purchase I will be happy with them.

A few pictures of Joshua from our day: