Henry and I toast to one of my very favorite things: the end of summer!
Hooray for less sunlight!
While Steve was out of town on a short work trip, I took the boys to Panda Express. I don't cook and it didn't seem responsible to let the kids eat mac & cheese and cereal every night. I thought the fortunes we got were amusing.
Henry: "You are always entertaining and delightful."
I do like the word choice of "inevitable." As if this is a horrible, unavoidable fate.
The kids and I made another one of our semi-regular trips to the boardwalk arcade. We hadn't played this Nerf game before, but Jack and Henry really liked it. All the fun of shooting stuff without the blood and guts. It did look pretty fun.
I spotted a woman carrying a colorful piñata animal around the arcade, so I knew that claw machine was at least theoretically possible to win. I got one on my second try. However, when you have twins, one animal from the claw machine is worse than zero. So, after more tries than was probably reasonable, I managed to snag a second and claim victory.
Henry
Henry is a maddening, frustrating, amusing little instigator. Henry is the living embodiment of what my grandma used to tell me somewhat regularly, "If you can't be good, be clever."
Henry the kindergartener from last year:
Henry the 1st grader from this year:
Hanging out with friend Avery at school:
Less than thrilled, but compliant in showing off artwork:
Dishing with friend Isabella in art class:
With baboon on bring a stuffed animal from home day:
Henry's hair is getting long. Henry doesn't usually want to wear it pulled back, but we do it occasionally (and always for swim lessons).
Poor kid complains somewhat regularly that I don't know how to deal with long hair. Henry really lost the Mom lottery on that one; I can't stand dealing with hair.
Henry showing off press-on nails courtesy of Aunt Jessica:
Henry's problem is that press-on nails of any kind just can't stand up to being such a wild and active kid. Henry is philosophical about it, though, opining, "These nails are for special occasions only."
Henry can be very challenging, but also very funny. A couple similar exchanges a few weeks apart...
Henry: [gets in my face]
Me [exasperated]: "What do you want!?"
Henry [deadpan]: "Freedom."
Henry: [gets in my face]
Me [exasperated]: "What do you want!?"
Henry [deadpan]: "Everything."
My friend Melissa pointed out that she imagined Henry was missing some punctuation, proposing this reading of the following card: "I like my Dad. Sometimes I like my mom... sometimes." I think that's absolutely spot on.
Henry actually said to me, after I pointed out a lie Henry told, "Mom's clever... enough."
Jack
Jack continues to be unusually strong and coordinated for his age. He's doing parkour class once a week and is doing really well in swimming. He's interested in a lot of sports, but his antisocial mom is avoiding team sports like the plague, so for now he settles for playing basketball and two-touch at his after-school program.
I was trying to pick Jack and Henry up from their after-school program one afternoon (they were ignoring me and continuing to play their game of two-touch) when another mom walked by on her way to the soccer practice taking place on the adjoining field. "They have really great ball handling skills!" she exclaimed. I managed to reply with a murmur of agreement instead of what came to mind (don't encourage them!)
Jack's kindergarten picture from last year:
Jack's 1st grade picture from this year:
Jack, showing off some of his schoolwork:
Jack in art class:
Jack's teacher pulled Steve aside at pick-up and mentioned that he should go see Jack's art on display up in what they call the "multiuse room." She (very discretely) said she's really not supposed to make editorial comments about artwork, but that it was really good.
Jack and Henry checking out the artwork display:
Jack's picture:
Once he sets his mind to a task, Jack is a really hard worker. Here he has volunteered the clean the bathroom floor and, being a responsible worksite manger, has blocked off the entrance with cones to prevent any slip-and-fall accidents:
When I was complaining about the kids leaving stuff laying all over the house, Jack claimed the mess wasn't his and added, regarding Henry, "I'm the better brother. He's dirty and messy. I'm neat and tidy." I corrected him that he is not "better," just different. Although he's not wrong about being the cleaner of the two.
Jack is good at entertaining himself and can spend a lot of time setting up elaborate scenes with his toys (when Henry doesn't wreck them for a reaction). Jack's glass gems go out for an excursion on mini-skateboards on the couch:
I make weekend to-do lists with tasks for me, Steve and the kids written out on a small whiteboard. Jack decided he should make the list one weekend:
It says Kids - Play with Dad, Mom - Nap, Dad - Play with Kids. That's my boy.
Jack with his beloved wombat on take a stuffed animal to school day:
When your baby is four feet tall and over fifty pounds, but they're still your baby. Steve and Jack:
Jack still wants his dad to carry him around. I can't even lift him anymore. It won't be long now before both kids are too big to pick up at all.
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