Author Archives: amanda

Ivan speaks

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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.

Winter Break

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Upon opening several of his favorite Christmas presents this year Ivan exclaimed merrily, “FINALLY!” These were not gifts he had actually been requesting. But every time we passed the magnetic dart board display at our local bookshop he played with it and has for the past 3 years. So, Santa brought him the magnetic dart set this year even though it wasn’t on his list. “FINALLY!” smiled Ivan.

Many times over break often when we were walking and I was holding his hand, Ivan would ask, “Amanda, is this a good day?” I’ve realized when I am particularly happy spending time with my children I tell them, “This is a good day. I like that we’ve gotten to do X (play, walk, snuggle, read, eat-out, what-have-you) together.” Ivan was noticing that we were enjoying time together and asking me to notice too.

Ivan and Ezri went to a park district lead day adventure on a day school was off but the parents were working. Ivan has trouble with new people and places but having his sister with him meant he was able to adjust more easily to going to the park district program. Ezri when talking about the day told Ivan he would get to spend the whole day with her. She knew his worries and stepped in unprompted to reassure him.

Later we talked about how he will go to the park district’s adventure day camp with his sister this summer when school is out. He was commenting on the return to school today that he wished he could go to summer adventure camp instead. I asked why. He said, “Because I get to go WITH Ezri.” They go to the same school, of course, but completely separate classrooms. It is nice that after two weeks off school and much time together my kids still want to be together. As an only child, I wondered sometimes about raising two kids but I’m glad I decided to have two. They squabble but they love and care for each other.

Here’s Ivan celebrating New Year’s Eve in the best way – having a friend over and sharing things you love with them. They are building a bad guy prison tower here for Star Wars bad guy figures.
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