Thursday, May 7, 2015

Thursday: vacation day 2

Today was my second vacation day.  It was also lovely, but it had a very different feel than the one on Tuesday.  Maybe because it was sunny out.  Anyway, I stopped by some fabric stores after dropping off the boys for their last day of school.  Then I took a walk around the lake.  I had been planning on doing this in the afternoon, but it felt like it was going to get hot out so I did it earlier.

Then I putzed for the rest of the day.  I did some quilting, some reading, some napping, and a bit of work.  Basically, whatever I wanted to do.  And without anyone talking to me.

Ben and I went out for dinner and to look at buying a new kitchen table.  I really like the size we have now, and how big it can get.  To match the other furniture, I can either go same day-to-day size and expand to a smaller full size or a bigger day-to-day size and expand to the same full size.  Decisions, decisions.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Wednesday: tulip time

We went downtown tonight to eat carnival food.  It seemed like a good time to dress up the boys and get a few pictures.



Joshua didn't look at the camera for most of the pictures; the two above are the only ones.


We ate on a ...stone thingy.  It was the perfect height when Isaac was standing up.  However, he frequently squatted like Ben and I were doing and then he was way to short.

Look who decided to show us some smiles!

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Tuesday: vacation day

This morning during breakfast Joshua was being loud.  Food didn't quiet him down like normal, so I put him in a modified time out (his bedroom with toys with the door closed).  Needless to say, I wasn't handling things very well.

But, hooray hooray, I had a vacation day today!  Ben suggested that we get an extra week of day care and I immediately agreed.

It was a wonderful day.  I got home, grabbed a cup of spice tea and read for a while.  It was rainy and my book was excellent.  (The Martian...highly recommended!)  Then I took a nap.  I got up and did some quilting, played some Warcraft, and finished my book.  I did a few chores, but barely any.  I was on vacation!

Isaac had swimming lessons again.  He did ok...I think he got rather cold.

Monday, May 4, 2015

Monday: 40 weeks...and a rough day

Joshua is 40 weeks old!


I think he's teething.  He's been a bit grumpy.


So, today was rough.  It started with Isaac throwing up at 8:30.  We've had amazing luck...this is the first vomit that required more than a quick clothing change.  Ok.  Got it cleaned up, Isaac seems back to normal...he seemed pretty normal before hand too, although he did complain a bit about his stomach hurting.  He seemed so normal that I just assumed he was hungry.

Since Isaac seemed back to normal, we went to the quilt show.  Or at least started to.  It was an odd trip, starting with both of us wanting to go, then only me wanting to go, then only Isaac wanting to go, then only me wanting to go.  We got to the parking lot and I just pulled right through as we both decided not to go.  Then Isaac threw up again.  Yuck.  So going probably wasn't the correct choice, but hindsight is 20/20.

We get home and Isaac goes in the shower, seemingly fine again.  Joshua won't calm down.  Don't know what his problem was.  Luckily, Isaac decides to play outside for a bit and Joshua eventually calmed down, so I have a few minutes to try and get some stuff done.  Joshua then becomes a bit grumpy, but at least holding him solves the problem.

I had told Isaac he could sleep with me when we got home, but Joshua woke up.  So he slept with me during rest time.  We didn't sleep.  I kind of expected that, but was ok with it because Joshua's been sleeping through the night and I wasn't super tired.  Joshua woke up and wouldn't settle back down until I nursed him.

Ok, let's try the quilt show again.  Look!  It's my quilt!

Isaac did pretty well at the show until about five minutes before I was ready to leave.  So not too bad.  He fell asleep on the ride home and I had to try and wake him up three times before it finally worked.  (I know I could have tried harder, but when I try the normal amount and there is absolutely no response I figure he really needs to sleep, even if it is at a bad time.)

Dinner.  It happened.  Again.  Joshua started crying at the very end and didn't stop again.  I finally got him ready for bed and put him to bed early.  Isaac went to bed at his normal time but fell right asleep.

Phew.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Sunday: summer is coming

Summer is coming.  And while that means there are suddenly a ton more things we can do, it also means the end of day care and more "Do you want to play with me?"  I like to play with Isaac, but...sometimes the same things over and over aren't so fun.

So my plan is to have two jars.  A fun jar and a work jar.  Each day we'll choose one activity from each.  (Although I have the right of refusal if it isn't going to work that day.)  We'll see how it works.  It might flop, but if it doesn't I think we'll both have a more fun summer.

Are there any more things that you can think of?  For anything around the house I would like to have the materials or spend a very minimal amount; that's the criteria for most of the art/science projects.  I expect that some things, like going to the park or playing in the sand/lake will still just happen as many activities aren't that long.


  • Clean fridge
  • Fruit picking
  • Feed ducks by Carter's
  • Clean duplos
  • Get a movie from the library. Eat with popcorn
  • Clean under things
  • Dutch village
  • Clean a room
  • Bouncy balls under deck or downstairs bathroom-with hat
  • Critter barn
  • Dominoes
  • Timber town
  • Move furniture around and run
  • Play twister
  • Make another thread holder
  • Have an m day
  • Have a j day
  • Have an i day
  • Make a fort and then have rest time in it
  • Get out some new duplos 
  • Get out the new books 
  • Make cookies
  • Invite someone over to play
  • Make milkshakes
  • Cut up cardboard in garage and then jump on the pieces
  • Put up a curtain in frog room
  • Clean window frames
  • Clean door knobs
  • Change everyone's sheets
  • Clean bathrooms
  • Draw a picture for yameogo
  • Do something nice for someone
  • Read a Jesus story and activity
  • Have lunch with Ben
  • Dressing up in funny outfits and taking our picture
  • gliding robot: http://buggyandbuddy.com/robot-craft-for-kids-free-printable-gliding-robot/
  • chicka-chick- boom boom come to life - buggyandbuddy.com
  • cut up magazines and glue
  • name writing: http://buggyandbuddy.com/beginner-name-writing-practice-for-preschoolers/
  • seperating colors: http://buggyandbuddy.com/chromatography-butterflies-separating-colors-in-markers/
  • water bag and pencil: http://buggyandbuddy.com/science-activities-for-kids-baggie-and-pencil-magic-science-invitation-saturday/
  • make a rain cloud: http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2014/02/rain-clouds-in-jar-experiment.html
  • density: http://pandawhale.com/post/7013/density-of-liquids-illustrated
  • Squirt gun fight
  • Water colors
  • Scooter ride
  • Make freezer meals
  • Help with vbs prep
  • Sweep and wash garage floor
  • Garden
  • Dust
  • Write a letter
  • Ice cream or capt sundae
  • Degraaf
  • Outdoor discovery center
  • Walking trail - Riley?
  • Go to the zoo
  • Fly a kite
  • Excersise with wii fit
  • Science activities
  • Clean Isaac's bedroom...have him decide what to move
  • Water balloons
  • Paint outside with paint brushes and water
  • Clean kitchen and bathroom floors with a tag
  • Garden
  • Do all the puzzles
  • Big coloring book
  • Visit great grandma
  • Dust vents/fans/walls
  • Saturday, May 2, 2015

    Saturday: 10000 steps

    I finally hit 10000 steps today...I apparently need to be way more active than I normally am.

    It started with a race!  Isaac (and I) ran the kids' fun run around a park, about 1k.

    I wasn't sure how it would go.  We practiced a little bit, but not really all that much.

    And we're off!  They split the race into 5 and under and 6 and older, which made the starting rather nice.  It sounded as though it was crazy last year.

    We made it all the way around, running a bit and walking.  Isaac likes to try and step on my shadow, so when the shadows were aligned properly that helped.  The playground almost detoured us, but I kept us on track.


    At the end he got a medal!  He seemed to enjoy it and said that Chico was saving the race so he could run it again.

    When we got home I mowed the lawn.  Blah.  Later Isaac tried popping some of the large air cells by jumping on them.  He's only semi-successful with this, but Joshua found it hilarious.  It was some of the biggest laughs I've heard from him.  We also got the sprinklers working...well, started at least.  There are a few that need more help than we were willing to give this afternoon.

    Friday, May 1, 2015

    Friday: 40 months

    Isaac is 40 months!


    He thinks carrots are treats/snacks, and so has been eating a lot of them.  PB&N is still the favorite meal, and still the answer to what he wants for breakfast.  Every single day.  And every day I tell  him it's a lunch food.


    He doesn't like having his picture taken as much anymore and will often hide.  He still doesn't have many songs, but he does know his ABCs and sings that one a lot.  The rest of his songs are "locked away."


    He likes to open the garage door.  I feel like we're not having as many semi-meltdowns as we were in the beginning of the year.  When he does cry he can sometimes calm himself down without a wipe, but it is an effort.  He is "getting bigger."


    He can get himself dressed in the morning, but it still sometimes takes a half hour.  (Why?  I'm not sure.  I think he gets distracted.  And he always wants to know where his color change T-shirt is.  It's usually in the wash.)  He sometimes needs help getting his socks twisted the right way.  (Above he's showing Adam and Eve in furs.  He made it in Sunday School.)