Ivan carrying Leapy in the hood of his sweater which he has put on backwards and decided works great as an extra pocket.

collected Ivan moments. . .

Ezri was holding carrots in front of her eyes.
e: I have carrot eyes.
i: I HAVE kaleidoscope eyes.

a: What was your favorite thing at school today?
i: Playing Bad Santa.
a: How do you play bad Santa?
i: Santa is bad and green and steals presents and we stop HIM!
I think the kids watched the Grinch rather than a Bad Santa movie. They’ve been playing “bad Santa” repeatedly. Bad Santa now has a wife who is witch and also takes presents and must be stopped. Apparently taking kids’ presents is super evil.

From the backseat of the car where Ivan now reads all signs as we pass.
i: Sea versus pharmacy
a: what?
i: That sign says “Sea Versus Pharmacy”
a: Looks our car window – oh, the CVS Pharmacy

Playing Pokemon video game with his sister.
i: He’s powerfuler. We’re gonna lose.
e: More powerful.
i: Yeah, he’s more powerful.
I find Ezri correcting Ivan’s grammar cute.

The kids enjoy playing something they call “Ninja Cats” Every once in awhile they sneak past me all stealthy. Now stuck in my head to the Thundercats theme. “Ninja – ninja – NINJA-CATS!”

The new clean-up game involves making exploding noises when a toy or item is returned to its correct spot. Stuffed animal in the bed KA-POW. Pencils in the caddy on the desk – POOF! The kids also claim to get points for returning items to their spot. If gamification of clean-up works for them, I am for it. BAM! POW! STRAIGHTENED UP!

Ivan has reached that age when he does NOT want to go into the women’s restroom with me. While he can do most of his business solo in the men’s room, he often struggles to reach the soap or the paper towels or both. The first time he went in and didn’t come out, I sent a kind man in on reconnaissance. Ivan couldn’t turn off the tap after starting it and would not leave the water running.