It is easy to make Ivan happy.
Let him take two pool noodles into the yard and blow bubbles at him. He will run around whacking at bubbles for as long as you will blow them. Let him help load woodchips into the wheelbarrow with his shovel. Let him be first to wash to his hands before dinner.

It is easy to make Ivan unhappy.
Let him get into the cab of a large piece of construction equipment at the park district’s “Big Wheely Truck” event, but then try to remove him before he has gotten to touch all the buttons and levers because there is a line of small persons waiting their turns. It took both parents to remove him and he wailed for the next 15 minutes. Eventually back home he was put in time out and stripped himself naked and curled up in his bed and passed out. Nap improved his disposition greatly. Other smaller ways to make him unhappy today included informing him there will be no dessert unless he bathes and reading his story after his sister’s story pick of the evening.

Ivan did a great job waiting in lines for his turn to climb into vehicles.

He wanted to touch every button and lever in the cab. He then wanted to make certain he could not hit the gas pedal and hold the steering wheel at the same time. As he asked what each button was for, I was reminded of the mechanical curiousness of his father.

Ezri just liked to hold the wheel and feel tall.

There were big wheels at the event. This is the wheel of the vehicle Ivan did not want to leave.

Ivan loves “Brinley the Bear” who is one of the Great Wolf Lodge’s animal mascots. Here he is with Brinley relaxing at the lodge.

He does not love the lack of green life vests. They only come in red and blue. He does not love the fact that his swimsuit has short pants and his rashguard has short sleeves.

He loves the water canon and the jets that tickle his feet.

He loves the arcade which he calls “The Light Zone.” There is a race car game that he likes to play. Sure, he needed me to push the accelerator, but he could steer pretty well and went from not completing the course to coming in 4th place of 8 against the computer generated race cars.

Ivan thinks this gardening is important to have plants to fight any zombies we may have in our yard. Thanks, DG Library, for introducing him to the Plants Vs. Zombies app.

Both the visiting grandparents get the joy of reading Plants Vs. Zombies books to Ivan.
Tam read the long book. “Brains! Brains!” Ivan loves the plants battling zombies for the lawn.

Most of the kids’ projects sitting on the rack outside Tot School said something like, “My name is Finn. This is my friend Lincoln.” Not Ivan’s. I think Ivan may be more introverted than my elder child, but at least he considers himself a friend.

Now, there’s a new reader in the house to amuse him.

Here’s Ivan at basketball class. He seems to have learned that he has to throw the ball at the basket and not just walk up and try on tiptoe to place it in. He’d rather not dribble though he does try upon request. It is easier to control the ball if you just hold onto it instead of dribbling. Also, while basketballs are fun to kick, Ivan has accepted that one simply doesn’t.