M&M Habitats

Are you wondering about animal habitats? Natural selection? Well, Lydia has been. SO we did a science experiment all about habitats and natural selection. I can get behind this experiment! 

We gathered 11 M&Ms of each color. 

Made a habitat for the M&Ms. (I always thought the habitat of a M&M was my tummy but the joke fell on deaf ears with Lydia!). 

Isaac felt like an M&M habitat was defiantly his tummy! 

Timer set and the little girl goes digging for M&Ms in their habitat. Apaprently this was harder than she thought!

There were 55 M&Ms to be found and Lydia found less than 10. So apparently she is very effective at making a safe habitat for the M&Ms ;) 

Isaac wanted a turn too. I think he found more than 10 but he was am immediate gratification guy and I did not get a count as to how many he found in his 1 minute. 

It was high action for the toddler. He resembled an animal hunting food! 

And after all was said and done, snack was enjoyed by all! 

Evil mom - Isaac was happy, safe, and contained. He dug in the habitat much longer than one minute (Lydia gained a huge handful of M&Ms too!). 

Drinking From A Cup

This is a huge step for our little man. We introduced this idea several months ago and there were so many scream sessions when the cup was empty (hours and hours - 2+ hours over this small disappointment were not unheard of) . The logical solution is to put more water in the boy's cup and most children would stop crying. Well, Isaac did not fall in that category and I said whatever. Drink from a sippy cup all your life kiddo. I may have even told him that he will never get a job still drinking from a sippy cup and he was not going to live with me forever ;) I can summarize the scream sessions as bad. Really bad for the entire family (maybe neighbors too!).

Then this week, this magic happened!

See those smiles. He is very proud of himself for this victory. And when the cup is empty Isaac signs all done or more. We are working on words - we will get there eventually. Drinking from a cup is cool but I am WAY more excited about not screaming about the empty cup for hours! 

As long as we were talking about magical things in Isaac's world, I realized this week I took pictures of several small victories. 

Looks minor BUT Isaac is jumping on the trampoline WITH another child (infact that other child can even talk to him and interact with him!). He isn't screaming about it either. I tried to get his smiling face but he was a bit preoccupied. As I said, seems small but playing with another child near you without screaming is a wonderful development. 

OH, and instead of screaming for hours and hours when we are done with an activity we have learned to say NO! Success!!!!! Infact, look at that picture - he is done with an activity, has said no, and is waiting somewhat patiently while I take a picture of this moment! Small victories but I am rejoicing over this development (a simple no is much more socially acceptable instead of screaming for hours because you were done with an activity!). 

We have been working very hard with this little guy and I am very encouraged to see the progress he is making. I think he is even happier - screaming for hours wasn't enjoyable for him either! Many answered prayers for Isaac. 

Spelling Test Victory!

Lydia is actually liking spelling tests and doing really well. Her test today she was pretty tickled about and wanted pictures taken during her test and afterwards. She also took pictures of her test too!

Pure happiness! I hope she always love learning that much. 

Icecream

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. So we all go to the icecream store together ;) That is one way to celebrate right (we have a date night planned for this weekend to really celebrate!). But I happen to think that being married for nine years with these darlings is a reason to celebrate too.

Choo choo!

I thought Isaac was too young for this particular toy but then we received some from Gramma Mary and it was love at first sight. For both kids. Oh, and James too. I knew James and Lydia would love but I was surprised that A. Isaac was interested in big kid trains and B. not only does he know what a train is but a train says choo choo!

"Dad, get more trains!"

"Choochoo"

Isaac crawls around the train track making the trains go "choo choo". Lydia makes up huge stories about the people and drives them in the ambulance to the hospital, fixes them up, and then takes them all back home. I have really enjoyed watching their personalities come out ;) 

Weekend

James went to a funeral in Chicago this past weekend. Isaac was crushed that his Dad was not home. I really thought it would be a mute point to Isaac but... He cared that Dad was not home. He spent many hours (yes, hours), standing at Dad's chair crying. Pitiful uh? 

Oh, and his shirt says "If all else fails just cry and cry again". Appropriate Kiddo! 

Since playing at home was not working for our family at all, we went to the bounce house with our cousins. That improves all! 

I am good with this idea Mom! BIG slides - wheeeeeeeee

Tall climbing things. No problem! 

Bike Love

My kids march to their drumbeats and I love that! Speaking of which, our most recent trip to the ice-cream store...

"Isaac, really??? A helmet and a onesie on a rainy night makes you look WEIRD!"

"Finally he left. I don't know him!".