I started reading the boys the Harry Potter series this summer. They love it...and I might love it even more :) We're only on the second book...which is also cool. It's awesome to know our nightly tradition of snuggling in Mommy's bed with Potter will continue for at least another year I'm guessing!
Tanner remembers every detail and spoils so many surprises with his deductive reasoning. He's very serious about it. He's also going to be Harry Potter for Halloween.
Alex is LISTENING AND COMPREHENDING...so cool! The language and verbiage is a little complex but he's surprisingly keeping up! The first half of the first book he didn't want to listen, so I let him read Garfield in bed next to us. Mr. Multi-tasker got hooked though halfway through however and now listens intently without other distractions.
When we finish the book, we watch the movie. We're all very excited for the next movie. I hear they get a little dark as the series continues, but maybe having read the book already the movies won't seem so scary (at least that is what I am hoping).
So we're reading the series of books passed down from Aunt Jenny/Uncle Ricky, and the fellas are already talking to Emily and Adam (their cousins) about passing them their way next. So fun to pass things like this through the family :)
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
INTERCEPTION!!!!!!!!
Proud parenting moment on Sunday. We were all watching the exciting Lions game. Cowboys had the ball so Jim and I scurried to change over laundry. All of the sudden the boys start SCREAMING "Interception! Interception! Interception! Mom...Dad...come quick!"
They love football, watch with enthusiasm, and now make sure we don't miss the big plays. Clearly, we're doing something right on this whole parenting front (well...you might need to ignore data to the contrary contained in my prior post...).
They love football, watch with enthusiasm, and now make sure we don't miss the big plays. Clearly, we're doing something right on this whole parenting front (well...you might need to ignore data to the contrary contained in my prior post...).
My Little Monkeys
It's sad...the older they get the fewer milestones there are to celebrate it seems :( This week however, there was a reason to haul out video camera and catch a first! The fellas finally figured out how to climb our maple tree with no assistance.
Well, NO assistance might be a little misleading. Initially, they figured out how to give each other just enough of a boost to make it onto that first branch. 24 hours later, they figured how to climb up completely solo and are literally begging to do so morning, noon and night.
Morning: We had a two hour delay one day this week and they chose to forego riding the bus so they could hang out in the tree.
Noon: It's the first thing they want to do when they get home after school.
Night: Oh my...we have a problem Houston.
A happy little AJ reported to me nonchalantly this morning that he climbed the tree in the middle of the night and watched the cars and counted stars. Jim was convinced it was a dream and that he was just sitting in his window sill watching the stars, which was what Jim witnessed him doing at 6:30am when he checked on him.
Doubting Mom...not so convinced it was that harmless. So, I checked the front door - yep - unlocked and backpacks that should have been sitting in front were moved to the side. Shoes that were in the closet when I went to bed were kicked in the hallway. Oh - and Alex showed me the dirt on his hand from when he jumped down from the tree. Busted. Well, since he so cheerfully self-reported, perhaps 'busted' isn't the right word? Confirmed?
He's so stinkin' cute and naive and infuriating all at once that little guy! Once he hyperfocuses on something, it's all consuming of his thoughts and generally makes him SO happy :) So let's break this down. Watching cars, counting stars...peaceful and quiet and harmless. Climbing a tree with adult supervision using only low, thick branches...great sensory input for the little dude. Leaving the house at night to climb a tree unattended...safety violation buddy!
Had a long chat about that one. He's never tried to leave the house at night, but I know that is a problem for some parents of kids on the autism spectrum. If he does it again, I'm jumping straight to an alarm system. Scares me to death!
And here I thought that sneaking out at night would be a teenage problem! Nope...a 3rd grade monkey is just as sneaky it turns out :)
Well, NO assistance might be a little misleading. Initially, they figured out how to give each other just enough of a boost to make it onto that first branch. 24 hours later, they figured how to climb up completely solo and are literally begging to do so morning, noon and night.
Morning: We had a two hour delay one day this week and they chose to forego riding the bus so they could hang out in the tree.
Noon: It's the first thing they want to do when they get home after school.
Night: Oh my...we have a problem Houston.
A happy little AJ reported to me nonchalantly this morning that he climbed the tree in the middle of the night and watched the cars and counted stars. Jim was convinced it was a dream and that he was just sitting in his window sill watching the stars, which was what Jim witnessed him doing at 6:30am when he checked on him.
Doubting Mom...not so convinced it was that harmless. So, I checked the front door - yep - unlocked and backpacks that should have been sitting in front were moved to the side. Shoes that were in the closet when I went to bed were kicked in the hallway. Oh - and Alex showed me the dirt on his hand from when he jumped down from the tree. Busted. Well, since he so cheerfully self-reported, perhaps 'busted' isn't the right word? Confirmed?
He's so stinkin' cute and naive and infuriating all at once that little guy! Once he hyperfocuses on something, it's all consuming of his thoughts and generally makes him SO happy :) So let's break this down. Watching cars, counting stars...peaceful and quiet and harmless. Climbing a tree with adult supervision using only low, thick branches...great sensory input for the little dude. Leaving the house at night to climb a tree unattended...safety violation buddy!
Had a long chat about that one. He's never tried to leave the house at night, but I know that is a problem for some parents of kids on the autism spectrum. If he does it again, I'm jumping straight to an alarm system. Scares me to death!
And here I thought that sneaking out at night would be a teenage problem! Nope...a 3rd grade monkey is just as sneaky it turns out :)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Major Milestones!
The first weekend of summer - no more training wheels!
The second week of summer - we learned how to play H-O-R-S-E
The third week of summer - Tanner learns to tie his shoes!
The fourth week of summer - Alex learns to tie his shoes!
And I thought these tasks were going to take us months. What to tackle next? :)
The second week of summer - we learned how to play H-O-R-S-E
The third week of summer - Tanner learns to tie his shoes!
The fourth week of summer - Alex learns to tie his shoes!
And I thought these tasks were going to take us months. What to tackle next? :)
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Chivalry is Still Alive
Tanner and I were playing checkers last night. The checkers game has suggestions for alternate versions that can be played. Tanner was reading through them to find a new twist and settled on one. He started to read the directions, which stated:
Corner Checkers
Place nine checkers of each color on the board as shown. Follow standard checkers rules except for these two exceptions: men may move and jump sideways and a king may only be crowned in the...
Then he said, 'Oh wait Mom. We can't play this game. It's really unfair. Only the men can move their pieces sideways. That wouldn't be fair to you."
Ahh. So sweet that I didn't even bother correcting him and just thanked him for being so thoughtful. Too cute. (I'll re-read the directions with him today and fix the literal interpretation).
So we picked an alternate checkers game and I said, "Ok buddy, you can go first.". To which he responded, "Oh no, Mom. Ladies first...always."
Corner Checkers
Place nine checkers of each color on the board as shown. Follow standard checkers rules except for these two exceptions: men may move and jump sideways and a king may only be crowned in the...
Then he said, 'Oh wait Mom. We can't play this game. It's really unfair. Only the men can move their pieces sideways. That wouldn't be fair to you."
Ahh. So sweet that I didn't even bother correcting him and just thanked him for being so thoughtful. Too cute. (I'll re-read the directions with him today and fix the literal interpretation).
So we picked an alternate checkers game and I said, "Ok buddy, you can go first.". To which he responded, "Oh no, Mom. Ladies first...always."
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Always an Excuse...
So this morning Tanner was really struggling to get moving. In his defense, we had a 7:30am dentist appointment so I had to wake him up early.
Whenever it's just the boys and I driving, the radio is typically off and we have little chats. The conversations are hysterical and I wish I recorded each and every one because I'm really going to miss our morning drive-n-chat 10 years from now. Anyhow...
So on the way to the dentist this morning I was telling them that we needed to move a little faster in the morning and follow direction the FIRST time. Tanner responded in a pleading voice, "Mom, you wanted me to do all these things but I was spending all my time just praying to God that he wouldn't make any more mosquitos. I was praying - like - all morning - because my mosquito bit was so itchy!"
Now how do I respond to that excuse?
Whenever it's just the boys and I driving, the radio is typically off and we have little chats. The conversations are hysterical and I wish I recorded each and every one because I'm really going to miss our morning drive-n-chat 10 years from now. Anyhow...
So on the way to the dentist this morning I was telling them that we needed to move a little faster in the morning and follow direction the FIRST time. Tanner responded in a pleading voice, "Mom, you wanted me to do all these things but I was spending all my time just praying to God that he wouldn't make any more mosquitos. I was praying - like - all morning - because my mosquito bit was so itchy!"
Now how do I respond to that excuse?
Field Day and Jaundice
Nice title, eh? So for Field Day at school each grade wears a designated color. For 2nd grade this year it's orange.
I don't like yellow or orange on the boys. I had a lot of yellow baby clothes and when they were jaundice in NICU the yellow clothes made them look so unhealthy. I've avoided yellow and orange fairly effectively through all these years because I just can't get that NICU picture out of my head. This is going to make dressing for Field Day interesting! Yuck...jaundice looking 2nd graders in the Wooden household tomorrow. Blech.
I don't like yellow or orange on the boys. I had a lot of yellow baby clothes and when they were jaundice in NICU the yellow clothes made them look so unhealthy. I've avoided yellow and orange fairly effectively through all these years because I just can't get that NICU picture out of my head. This is going to make dressing for Field Day interesting! Yuck...jaundice looking 2nd graders in the Wooden household tomorrow. Blech.
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