[Jen & Nate]

In the past three weeks we may have had two days where it did not rain. There have, however, been plenty of brief periods where we've been able to get the boys outside to tire them out before nap or bed.


One day, while sheltering from the rain we heard a loud noise bang against the window. We couldn't figure out what it was until I went outside the next day and found this poor little guy in the mulch beneath the window. I quickly discarded of the evidence before the boys could start asking questions. Strangely, they still talk about the noise that hit the window. At this age they are captivated by the strangest most inconsequential events.


Ice cream has become a near daily ritual after eating dinner. It may sometimes be a battle to get them to eat their dinner but the prospect of a full cone or bowl of ice cream generally motivates them to make good choices and enjoy the sweet, sweet reward.


One one extremely hot day we set up the sprinkler for them. Last year I did the same but both of them were borderline offended by the action. They hated everything about it and cried. This year had quite a different result and, basically, they look for the opportunity every day. One day they even ran into the sprinkler fully clothed while Jen attempted to water the garden.

We haven't put the sprinkler on in weeks since the ground is saturated to the point that we have giant puddles in the grass.



A couple of weeks ago we were going to go to the annual Cavalcade of Planes. We went last year and had a blast.

Unfortunately we found out about ten minutes before we were about to leave that it had been canceled. Apparently they posted something on their Facebook page about canceling it a few months ago but even after having lunch there several times a month for the past six months we never saw any notification about it.

After dealing with Martin's breakdown and telling him about the "nasty men" who "took the planes away" we made different plans and went to the zoo and had lunch in the park.


Grandad's friend, Michel, was also visiting again so Martin got a chance to do a fun dance with him.


They've also become obsessed with knights and swords so we've been trying to find any sorts of activities we can that feature such things. They've become big fans of the movie "Justin and the Knights of Valour" and quote it liberally while they fence with their rapiers and cutlasses.


It also rained on our anniversary so I grilled in the rain and we had a nice dinner with the boys inside.


They have packed down tremendous amounts of watermelon in the hours leading up to dinner in the past weeks, a holdover from last year when I had to feed them watermelon just to keep them calm on the late walk home from daycare. Now that Jen works from home things are much more relaxed and she actually has a chance to see them for more than thirty minutes a day during the week.


I also installed a new hammock and the boys had a great time lounging around in it after filling their bellies with watermelon.


We busted out some squirt guns for the boys and Evelyn and though we've convinced them all that they have varying favorite colors Martin has still been somewhat of a hoarder.


A continued tradition is that anytime Auntie comes over we get ice cream. They usually have ice cream when she doesn't come over too but they just get a lot more when she's around.


The first strawberries in our strawberry patch have begun coming in and the boys have had a blast picking them and then yelling at the bugs whenever they find one that has been compromised.


We went for a hike at a nearby trail where they warned of wild coyotes.


Parts of the trail were flooded and the most dangerous creatures we came across were the crawfish scurrying by. They boys both had a cautious fascination with them and now do crawfish impersonations any chance they get. It looks a lot more like a Richard Nixon impression though. They're like adorable little impeached presidents.


We've begun showing the boys The Mysterious Cities of Gold, one of my favorite childhood cartoons. I didn't know if they'd care for it but they are fascinated and sit quietly on the floor watching the entire episode without a peep. Martin was a little afraid of the costume that Tao wears in one of the earlier episodes and has had some bad dreams about it but after I convinced him that Tao was a nice boy and not scary he seems to be doing a little better.


I gave Martin his first guitar lesson last night, practicing playing a single note, and he took to it quickly. He woke up this morning and picked up the guitar and rehashed the lesson right away. I have no idea how to teach a two-year-old (or any age person) how to play guitar, but if he continues to remain interested I suppose I can keep showing him a few things until he needs a real teacher.



Before bed the highlight has been snuggling baby Josephine before saying goodnight. The lowlight is Martin yelling, "I have to pee and poop!" the second the lights are turned off then Elliott following suit. They don't actually have to use the bathroom. This actually translates as, "I wish to stall the bedtime process at any cost!"

After this is done Martin has taken to saying, "Daddy, I have to tell you something!"

When I say, "What's that, Buddy?" He says, "Ummm. Ummm. Ummm."

This lasts about five or ten minutes until he finally gives up.

All in all bedtime has gotten much, much better lately. They've been much more agreeable. There's rarely been any crying. The only thing has been that sometimes they are a bit hyper and wild, and they try all sorts of stalling tactics.

I'm so glad that phase is coming to a close. Life has been infinitely better with this change.

Pride cometh before the fall.

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