August Small Bits - Part 2

This post is for some of the small bits that occurred in the second half of August.

August 18

We have decided to start a new institution in our house: Sunday Father-Son Day (clever!  And sung to the tune of Sunday, Bloody Sunday).  This means that every Sunday Art takes one boy out (must be 5yrs old).  He gets $5 and 30min to do what they want.  Go get ice cream, go get donuts, go to Target and spent it.  Combine it with their own money to get something.  Their choice.  Just DaU and son.  Today is the inaugural day.  Zachary's first Sunday Father-Son Day.

The other special thing about S-F-S-D is that they get to sit in the front seat.  We are able to turn the airbag off, so it is legal for them to be in the front, as long as they are still in their car seat/booster.

August 20

Yannick does not want to actually EAT his chicken nuggets for lunch.  He tells me that he only wants to "lick it".  Gross.  

He did eventually eat them, but not before licking them all.

August 20

We were preparing to make a birthday video.  That means crazy costumes.

Costume one deemed "too little"  Nice Spidey capris! 

Now that is better for Z!  Combo of Red Power Ranger, a Clone Trooper, and Mr. Incredible.  

Wyatt is ready as grey Ironman with a mask and wooden sword!

Art with Scooby Doo and Mr. Incredible boots.  There are no words.  No. Words.

Doesn't every Superman also wear a transformer mask??

August 21

First day riding the bus together!!

Zachary coming down like a pro!

Wyatt coming down moments later, all loaded down.

Sadly, I caused them to have a bit of a scary first bus ride.  I had told them NOT to get on the bus without the other one.  But I did not know that Wyatt's teacher would not have him stand in line for the bus, but take him all the way on the bus.  So Z did not know what to do, and W did not know what to do.  They both got on the bus, and ended up sitting together, but they were both uncomfortable at first.  So we had to make some new and improved rules.  The second day of the bus was so so much better!

Aug 22 & 23

The house down the street from us is being torn down.  I took Wyatt and Yannick down to watch some of the destruction.

Wyatt back at the site.  No more house!

Asking if he can throw this rock.  Sure!

There it goes!  All this time I have Yannick in the ergobaby because he is not feeling well.

We will not be able to go to the Chima Tournament again today because Yannick has a fever.

He fell asleep in my bed while I was holding him.  Poor little guy!  Luckily Wyatt is very happy still with his win from Wednesday and is ok with not going back.

Wyatt killed me at Blokus before school this morning!  I was trying to keep all my pieces tightly together, and Wyatt was "getting all up in my business".  he destroyed me!

Wyatt wanted to play Star Wars Wii with Art.  Yannick wanted to play too of course, so Art let him hold the nunchuck.

Aug 24

Today we went to a new-to-us beach.  Natural Bridges.  It was a social outing for our Neighborhood Group (bible study).  It was a bit chilly on the beach actually.  I was very glad I had brought jackets for everyone!  It was a bit of a walk for us, and straight down to get to the beach.  Kevin and Leslie were there, as were the Parks, and the Stantons.  There was a very cool area where high tide left tide pools. The water was so cold, I was happy the boys did not really want to spend much time in it.  When Z would get chilly, he would lay doing in the hot sand to warm up.

He and Wyatt and Jaelyn had a great time rolling down the sand hill.

At one point we thought Yannick was getting sick again, because he just lost it.  We thought he was going to fall asleep at 11am!  But after we had a picnic lunch, he was ok again.  It was a beautiful beach, but it was just a bit windy for us.  I would come back here again though.

August 25

After much discussion, and input from others, we decided to try the concept of an allowance again.  We tried it once with Zachary when he was about 4, or 5, but it was a total fail.  We made the mistake of setting it up so it was chore based, and he would just refuse to do the chore, saying he did not want the money.  So now we are trying again.  NOT chore based.  They have their chores and assorted "jobs" to do just for being part of the family.  With that responsibility comes the reward of getting an allowance.  Starting at age 5.  $0.50/yr old.  So we are starting with $2.50 for W and $3.50 for Z.  They can earn extra money for special jobs (like once I paid Z $1 to clean out a rubbermaid container).  They also have been, for about 2 years, earning Counts Bucks.  We made, out of construction paper and stickers, fake money.  They earn a Counts Buck when they are caught doing something nice or responsible, or obeying right away, or not complaining with a hard task, etc etc.  They can exchange 10 Counts Bucks for $1.

Today is the first day of getting allowance.

Zachary excited to be getting money

Wyatt feeling pretty grown up.

Tonight is also Sunday, which makes it Sunday, Father-Son Day.  Wyatt's turn.

Wyatt also gets to sit in the front seat with DaU.  30 minutes, $5.  Wyatt opted to go to Target, look at toys and get a cookie

Yum!

August 25

This is a bit uncalled-for, but I needed to document it.  I asked Art to please clean up the bath toys.  I had taken the mesh turtle out of the tub and washed it, and asked Art to put it all back.  This is what I found when I went to shower.

Sitting in the bottom of the tub was all the toys piled ONTO the turtle.  The turtle was not hanging up, nor were the toys put IN the pockets of the turtle.  WHAT?!?  Sorry, but this has to be documented!