Ivan chased ducks. Was horrified by gnats until he realized running through them was a fun game. He hopped across rocks and climbed onto fence posts.
Exploring Graue Mill
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Author Archives: amanda
Daffodil Glade
Ivan was pretty into stopping to smell the daffodils.
Ivan Speaks
This photo is kids climbing on a construction vehicle at the “Wheely Big Trucks” event hosted by the Park District.
Another collection of Ivan quotes.
“These are my attackulars. I attack YOU!” While playing with a viewmaster and brandishing it menacingly.
“Eggy and Owie like this song. Please, play it again.” Ivan from the back seat letting me know that his feet like the song and I should play it again for his feet who he’s named Eggy and Owie.
i: I WANT A VIDEO! I WANT A VIDEO!!!
A: You need better behavior to get a video.
i: Please, have better behavior, please. (He was requesting that I give him the better behavior he needed to get the video)
A: How many tickles does it take to tickle an octopus?
i: Legs?
The correct answer was ten-tickles.
Dramatically waving a stick at the park:
i: Look, Amanda!
A: Wow! Is that your magic wand?
i: No, it’s a stick.
Ivan loved Freddy the Firetruck. He was remote controlled and occasionally sprayed kids with water. He also “danced” and played tunes like, “Come on, kids, don’t play with fire!” to Light My Fire and alternate lyrics to Safety Dance all about staying safe. We spent a lot longer than I needed to hanging out with Freddy and his police car friend, Officer Patty.
Ivan liked high fiving the bunny
Ivan blows bubbles himself and consumes a minimum of bubble solution.
Clean Up Time
When asked to help clean up toys, Ivan opts to hide. This is how I feel about housework too, kid. Sadly hiding never results in the mess cleaning itself up.
Ivan speaks
i: I am a cowboy.
e: I am a horse.
i: No, Ezri, you a cow.
As we got ready to take out the tricycle:
i:May I please have my Mike Wazowski helmet, please?
A:You have two Mike hats and a Mike toothbrush, but your helmet has a truck on it.
Upon arriving at the park with the big slide Ivan declared in wonder, “The big slide is BEAUTIFUL.” The three year old we met at the park was afraid to go down the big slide, but Ivan wasn’t. Wheeee.
Ivan now does a pretty good Scooby Doo impression as he plays making Eric his Shaggy and Ezri his Daphne. His “Ruh-Roh!” is adorable. He is strongly committed to character during his improv play and woe is to the grown-up who accidentally calls him Ivan when he is clearly Scooby.
Ivan as muse
Ezri is the artist here.
Our friend Julia is the artist here.
Smurf Stew
Ivan’s been cooking in the play kitchen and made this culinary creation. I assume he’s invited Gargamel over to dine.
On a couple of recent weekend mornings, the kids have gotten up and gotten out of their room and played for a few minutes before coming to wake us in hopes of breakfast. I am hoping for a larger trend here and may be leaving them some sort of breakfast on the table and crossing my fingers they let us sleep in.
Ivan has become harder to get out the door on time and much pickier about his food. He mostly wants to eat bread, cheese, pasta, and chicken nuggets. He is wary of trying new things to the point of complete refusal. I am hoping these are phases that will pass soon.
He likes to count in both English and Spanish and loves imaginative play with his big sister. They are playing for longer stretches together without screams of, “No, Ezri, no!” or “Ivan, get off of me! GET OFF OF ME!” Ezri is also choosing to play with Ivan in settings with other kids available like the park or the indoor play yard. It’s nice to see the sibling love.
The books of the week for Ivan are:
The Very Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
Ten Minutes Till Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann
Hello Mommy! Zooborns by Andrew Bleiman and Chris Eastland
Bear’s Song by Benjamin Chaud
Roaring Rivals: Monsters University
We are listening to the audiobooks from the series of Mrs. Pigglewiggle, Nate the Great, and Roscoe Riley Rules at bedtime.
We went to our last library storytime at DGPL for the next 6 months this morning. They are remodeling the building. After five years of spending most Saturday mornings at the library, this will be an adjustment for the kids.
I like to ride my tricycle.
Bike and trike are outta the garage for the first time since fall.
Ivan is chanting “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. . .”
This next photo is what happens when he gets to the great fall.
