Ivan loves playing Pokemon cards more than most things these days.
Although when he loses and his Pokemon are defeated, he grieves.
But when he wins, he celebrates!
And over the last couple weeks, he’s learned to take the losses more gracefully – though he still really wants to continue playing until he has a victory.
He is getting good at adding the points needed to win and at developing strategies for card combinations that are strong. It becomes clear that he is gamer.
Photo at the Bozeman Children’s Museum
Quotes and conversations with Ivan over the last couple months.
i: What if it rained money and I ran around to get it?
A: Inflation, that means that everyone would have lots of money so things would cost more.
i: What if it only rained money on me?
A: Then you would be rich and have lots of money. What would you buy?
i: A robot. . . the stuff to make a robot
A: What would your robot do?
i: The dishes. Then you could play with me while the robot does dishes. Then it can rain more money.
A: Then what would you buy?
i: A new robot
A: What would the new robot do?
i: it could help the other robot while you are work
“I will do 4 jobs on one day. A astronaut, a builder, a video game tester, and a ice cream truck driver.”
These are the 4 careers Ivan’s been considering as an adult. He plans to build his sister a Veterinary office so she can be a veterinarian and an invisible car because she wants an invisible car. He also says he will drive me to the grocery store in his ice cream truck and give me ice cream.
i: Do you know what are dogs good at?
A: Barking and licking you?
i: Being eaten by crocodiles!
i: Now I have four favorite colors because I’m four.
A: What are they?
i: Green, Red, Blue and Orange
When I’m five I will have five favorite colors – green, red, blue, orange AND gray.
“I make this noise when I fart wee-wee-wee-weeeeeee-Thpthpthpthpt.”
Home early from school because he ran into another child on the playground and got hurt and upset
A: do you want to lie down and rest?
i: Yes. (goes to curl up on his bed)
A; Do you want an audiobook to listen to?
i: Yeah. Can I have something to cuddle with?
A (looking at Ivan’s stuffed animals): what would you like?
i: Can I have you?
Now he’s been on a horse as many times as his father. Though not nearly as many as his grandparents. They say their horse riding days are over. Initially Ivan was nervous about being around the horse barn, but once up on top of this horse named Black Dog he was all smiles.
The swing in front of our digs at the lower lodge was popular with both kids
Everyone loved the hot spring heated pool. Here are the gentlemen enjoying the warm end near the hot tub.
Elk head in the lobby. We saw living elk on our day trip to Yellowstone, but we liked the taxidermy heads.
We hung a banner in the kitchen that read “HaPPY BIRTHDaY!”
Ivan ran from his art table to the kitchen and back to write each letter of Happy Birthday.
He did not want me to spell it he could do it himself.
He did ask me how to spell “love”
The picture he drew is of himself because he wanted to draw something Eric loved.
He included all the toes and fingers and his belly button.
Saturday at the pool
Sunday at the park
I’ve noticed building sandcastles with my kids feels alot like building snowmen with them.
There’s something deep in that thought. I just can’t put my finger on it.
Feeding Pidgeys at our near park.
This photo of Ivan with a cell phone catching a Pidgey makes him look alot like one of the 9 year-old boys doing the same thing in our neighborhood. So grown-up.
We took a break from Harry Potter festivities to catch some Pokemon along the Riverwalk.
Pokemon pajama walk.
Step 1) put on pajamas
Step 2) walk to Loy Park to trigger the Pokestop
Step 3) walk around the block
Step 4) talk to neighborhood children about venemoths
Step 5) home for bed
