Watch

Jonah's latest thing is calling out "watch!" and then doing something totally spectacular.  Usually it's just flipping on and off light switches (isn't he talented?), but sometimes he'll do front roll type things on the floor.



And, as you can tell from the video, his other current thing is trying to steal the camera!

Skyler's Other Soccer Shirt

Since Skyler's soccer shirt had a big number on it, he thinks any shirt with numbers on it is a soccer shirt.  On Monday night he asked me to wash the soccer shirt he was wearing (the one in the picture - there's a number on it, promise) because he wanted to wear it for Joy School the next day so he could show his friends how much he loved soccer.  I thought it was funny that he asked me to wash it, usually he just pulls things out of the dirty clothes if it's what he wants to wear.  He wears a certain pair of sweatpants nearly everyday, but never asks me to wash them!  Maybe it's because I've picked up on the fact that he treats them as his only pair of pants and I wash them after about every two wears (unless I need to sooner for whatever reason). 

We've been talking a lot about gratitude lately, because 'tis the season after all.  Two nights ago at dinner, I warmed up some corn, but then realized that it had been in the fridge for too long.  Skyler was upset because he wanted corn, so I offered to open up a new can for him (I work hard for my children, I know).  After I did that, he didn't want any corn.  Jordan told him that I had got that corn just for him, so he should show that he is grateful and eat it.  Skyler announced that he was grateful for the corn, he just didn't want to eat it.

Night-Night Jonah

 

Several weeks ago, Skyler decided that he wanted to put Jonah to bed.  So he took Jonah upstairs, put his pajamas on him, and then read him a story.  He needed a little help with the pj's, but other than that, he did a nice job.  Jonah must not have thought so, because he hasn't let Skyler do it again! 

Bits and Pieces

Just a few random things that have been going on lately

Jonah is into throwing things into the trashcan.  While sometimes useful, this could also be troubling.

When Skyler turned four, he announced that he'd start eating the crust of his sandwiches.  This lasted for a short while and which point he decided that he will only eat crusts on church days.  He holds to this, and while he doesn't always eat them (sometimes he just takes them off himself) he never insists that we take the crusts off on Sundays.

Skyler is a stubborn eater.  I wouldn't say he's necessarily picky, because sometimes it seems like he tries really hard to not like something since he told us before he tried it that he didn't like it.  He must always. Be. In. Control.  As a result he really won't eat a whole lot.  We told him once, "look Jonah likes it", to which he replied, "Jonah likes everything, and I just don't".  And that is totally true.

Skyler has been learning about being kind at joy school.  He's been quite polite this week, which has been a nice change, because normally he yells at us anytime we tell him "thank you" or if we thank him in advance, he refuses to do what we are thanking him for.  One day he brought home a book of kind words.  It just has words like "please" and "may I" on each page.  Jonah loves it and I read it to him several times a day.

Jonah likes to take my hand and take me on little walks around the house.  Usually it's because he wants something and he'll take me to what he wants.  He used to be pretty good at signing, but has decided that grunting and vague pointing is much more effective.

Jonah thinks that every animal is a dog and therefore says, "woof".  Skyler likes to take advantage of this by asking Jonah "What does the cat say" and laugh like crazy when Jonah says woof.

I heard Skyler tell Jordan, "I love you dad, sometimes"

Jordan and Skyler were talking about how, although Skyler's full name is Skyler David Ficklin, we just call him Skyler.  Skyler then said, "when I do stuff bad you call me that name".

Some For Me, Some For You

The boys don't really share all that often, so I like to take pictures when they do.  Here they are sharing a ring pop.

 

 

A Visit From Grandma

My mom and aunt came for a short visit this weekend.  We had a great time hanging out, baking bread and cinnamon rolls, going to the Balloon Museum, and going to Skyler's soccer game.  Here are some pictures from our weekend

At the museum:

Aunt Judy and my Mom both thought the air thingy that makes your paper airplanes fly was pretty cool

 

 

Halloween

We spent Halloween weekend with Jordan's parents at their house. I don't really care for Halloween at all, but I do like candy, and dressing up my kids is fun, as is eating their candy (I know I won't get away with that for too much longer!). So, ultimately Halloween causes some moral issues for me. But, I digress, because really you're all here for the pictures, right?

Jonah was a monkey, Curious George to be exact, and Jordan was the Man with the Yellow Hat. I was supposed to be Professor Wiseman (if you watch the PBS show, you know there's got to be something going on between her and TMWTYH), but Jordan forgot to bring home his lab coat from work for me to wear. Skyler was Handy Manny. He fixes things and has his own show on the Disney Channel, which must mean he's as cool as Hannah Montana, right? I had forgotten Skyler's good jeans to go along with his shirt (but at least I wasn't the one who forgot the condiments for the hot dogs at the Trunk or Treat) but luckily his extra outfit that I keep in the car included a pair of jeans. Both of the boys had lots of fun at the trunk or treat and doing some other trick or treating around the neighborhood. I declare Halloween 2008 a success.

For comparison's sake -

Jonah decided to add some leaves to his treat bag

  

  

Jonah enjoying his beloved lollypops and Skyler checking out his candy