2015 Family of Four year in review

We collect pictures of the four of us together. 2015, the year WITHOUT Project Life was a rather bleak year in the photography department:

Using the iPad as a shield is good for you, NOT for iPad

Let it be known that IF your baby brother attempts to hit you with a cloth bag filled with wooden blocks while you are reading books on the iPad, the iPad may be used as a protective shield. 

HOWEVER, also let it be known that the impact from that blow MAY cause the iPad screen to shatter, resulting in a dangerous situation and highly disappointed parents.

Let it be known that inquiries on Facebook indicate that it costs $200 for a new screen and that the iPad was purchased during a really great Father's Day sale for around that very price in the first place. Let it be known that the family is already in the market for a new Apple computer because they are devoted Mac lovers.

They've waited for CHRISTMAS SNOW...

This morning, there was NO SNOW. Then, there were small flakes in the air... and a lot of them. Soon, Mike went out to move a few last items in the garage to put ONE of our vehicles into our attached two-car-garage. (The boys were perplexed with the concept of cars IN the garage since they have NEVER known of this before.) Eventually, we hope to fit BOTH of our vehicles into the garage. *NOTE: We are still contemplating getting rid of the pickup truck to get something more economical, but are finding it difficult without a MAGIC 8-BALL to know the right answer.

This afternoon, we went outside to sled in our yard. The freezing rain pelted our exposed skin, leaving a burning twinge of pain. Silas wore his new toolbox goggles to protect his eyes. Our new neighbors thought that THAT was brilliant.

Looking forward to more winter fun and for meeting more of our neighbors.

Bossy mom smiles at BOSSY E logic

In school, Sydney learned about BOSSY E. (You know, the letter at the end of a word that tells the vowel to say its own name.... the bossy E that changes kit - to - kite.)

I smiled when I saw the projector slide that Sydney wrote:
god nite Silas
(Good Night Silas)

I'm finding notes around the house a lot and he sounds out the words either like they sound OR like he pronounces them. For example, he still does things WIZ his brother (vs WITH)

SO SWEET!

I also found a note:
Soree Silas for being bad.
(Sorry Silas for being bad.)

I'm LOVING that we keep finding Sydney in his bedroom READING BOOKS or drawing. I love that he has FINALLY noticed that HE is able to read books BY HIMSELF (or to his little brother).

I love that he uses word patterns that he KNOWS to try to figure out how to spell words. ALTHOUGH, the English language is a tough one to learn.... as there are SO MANY EXCEPTIONS to the rule(s).

Holidays with cousins

LOVE celebrating the holidays (and hanging out) with cousins!
Photo credit: Sarah Guard, cell phone

Scratch testing

Scratch testing confirmed that Sydney is allergic to CATS and DOGS.
Solely hypo-allergenic is in our future, I'm afraid.

Silas completes 100 board!

DECEMBER 2015 - One cold, fall day, I dropped off some afternoon 4K students to the enrichment aftercare center (where Silas spends half of his school day during my work day as a school aide for the attached elementary school) to be excitedly summoned into the room. Silas had JUST set the final tile into "The Hundred Board" which he had been diligently working on for a good chunk of the day.

He was BEAMING with pride and was eager to share his accomplishment with me.  (*Note: I'm the body wearing the reflective vest and holding a STOP sign, on my way out to afternoon crossing guard duty.)

The complimentary flush

At bedtime on Friday night, I noticed that the bathroom toilet bowl was FILLED with toilet paper! (Four year old Silas is now responsible for wiping his own butt at school and likes to continue his responsible role most of the time at home. Although, from time to time, we discover poop smeared on the toilet seat or *dirty* fingerprints on the curtain... next to the toilet, wishing we could offer more assistance or supervision.)

As I stared into the full bowl, I knew that the toilet paper wasn't going anywhere and that there was a high probability that Silas had a very clean butt.

I grabbed the plunger bucket and decided that pulling the T.P. out was likely my best bet.

So, I reached into the cold water and started lifting handfuls of paper into the bucket. (Mike stood nearby... HORRIFIED... in a state of disgust and disbelief that he just witnessed his wife reaching into the toilet.) When the end was near, I maneuvered the plunger to break up the rest of the... um... remains. After a few slow flushes, I think we were back in business.

I started tossing handfuls of wet paper back into the toilet before Mike decided that theming it into the outside garbage can was likely a better idea. Thankfully, he was kind enough to open the back door (twice) and the outside garbage can for me, as well as turning the sink on for me to disinfect my hands and arms.

Saturday morning, I heard fast feet and discovered Silas sitting down to poop. I told him about "the incident" and urged him to use FAR LESS toilet paper or else we would have a problem. I explained that we were LUCKY that he hadn't tried to flush it last night at bedtime because it would have run ALL OVER the floor. (He thought that would be bad.)

"Hmmm...." He clarified "next time, I think I will use LESS and if I'm having a tricky time, I think I'll call one of you guys for a complimentary flush!"

(Oh, Silas... I love you! Thanks for paying attention and for using big words appropriately.)

I busted a gut laughing at the complimentary flush part.

"Good idea Silas!"

Once upon a time, the art center ran out of YELLOW paper

Once upon a time, a smiley four year old boy used up (almost) ALL of the yellow paper at his enrichment center after school care because he was VERY HAPPY to be in the art center at school (and because YELLOW is his favorite color!) So, the next day, he did the best he could and switched to lime green instead, making the best of the situation.

Silas confirms that there were THREE sheets of yellow left for others to use.

First Day of FIRST GRADE 2015