Isaak the "Pilate"

Isaak doing his best impression of a "pilate".

Unfortunately, pilot and pirate sound much alike,

especially coming from the mouth of a two-year-old.

Fortunately, the "sword" stuck in his sweatpants is a dead giveaway.

Halloween Candy

Last night our Halloween plans got cancelled when Macey started running a fever. The kids weren't so much upset about the not dressing up part, as they were disappointed about the not hanging out at our neighbors' house to help pass out candy...oh, and the getting candy part!

Instead, when it started getting dark, I put a movie on for the kids, and a special delivery was made at our back door...big bags of candy for each of us, and warm brownies. We ate our brownies while we watched the movie, and saved the bags of candy to sort through in the morning.

This morning, Jaela concentrated intently on the book she held in one hand as she took care of the bathroom garbage with the other. I asked her if she didn't think it would be easier and faster to set her book down for a minute. "Not really", she answered, "it's just taking me longer because I'm reading upside down!" (Again, I don't know anyone who would do something like that. Nope. No one.)

Anya stood in the hallway watching her, but obviously thinking about something else...something that was waiting for them downstairs. "Mom," she asked, "when we get downstairs for breakfast, can we please have a piece of garbage?"

Well, if you put it like that...sure you can! :)

"Why?"

Yes, Isaak is two, and his favorite question is, of course, "Why?". Most of the time, we have endlessly fascinating conversations that consist of him asking me "Why?", and me answering.

Which is usually followed by more of the same.

I have a rule, though, that he may not ask me "Why?" when I tell him to do (or not to do) something, because that becomes the forerunner for talking back. Instead, we practice saying, "OK, Mom" or "Yes, Mom". (Occasionally, after I have given him instructions, the "Why?" is a genuine question, and after he has given me the proper response, I will explain why.)

This morning, we had gone through the pattern three or four times already. I told him not to do something, he responded "Why?", and we went back to the beginning and talked through the appropriate responses. Finally, as he was completely absorbed with attempting to sharpen a colored pencil with his fingernails (slivers under the fingernails, anyone?) I told him to go put it away before he got hurt. He automatically responded, "Why?", and we started over.

"Let's try that again, Isaak. Go put the colored pencil where it belongs before you get hurt." I prompted him, "What do you say?"

Still intently inspecting the end of the pencil, he answered, "Thank you!".

At least something is sinking in!

Little Alarm Clock...Version 3

Earlier this week, just after Isaak woke up, I heard over the monitor:

I awake? Yeah! I awake!

Then I heard him run to his door, through the hallway, and into his sisters' room, shouting:

I awake! I awake! I awake!

And then we were all awake.

(And slightly less cheerful about it.)

Fall Treats

This evening the kids and I celebrated our first really cool Fall day with nice warm mugs of spiced apple cider that had been warming on the stove all afternoon.

And we all have to agree with Isaak, who finished his with a sigh and announced:

"Dat was good apple spider duice!"

The Blame Game

Me: Isaak, get your finger out of your mouth.

Isaak: Why dat unabbepable?

Me: Because your fingers are dirty, that's why it's unacceptable!

A minute later:

Me: Isaak, why were you chewing on your finger, anyway? Do your teeth hurt? (He's working on his 2-year molars.)

Isaak: No, teef not hurt. Daddy tell me to put my tinger in my mouf!

Me: No, he didn't.

Isaak: Mommy tell me to?

Me: No.

Isaak: (grinning) Mr. Nobody tell me to!

Probably! That Mr. Nobody gets blamed for a lot of things around here. :)

Pirates!

Yesterday in school, Jaela and Macey read about pirates. Their lesson was more about one pirate's place in history and less about descriptions or actions of pirates in general, so they were eager to learn more. I found that my bookshelves are embarrassingly short on books about pirates (except for a children's version of Treasure Island, which they've already read more than once), so we sat down together and watched the 1983 movie version of The Pirates of Penzance instead, just for fun. As usually happens when I watch that movie, I laughed until I cried!

This morning, as I sat at the computer ichatting with Mike, I could hear the girls playing pirate in their room. They found things to use as swords, knives, and guns, and contrived belts to hold them all. Macey instructed Anya in the finer points of using a powder horn to load her gun. (She might have missed a few details here and there...) A few minutes later I heard them discussing how full to fill their cups with rum, and then a rousing chorus of "Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum!" There was a brief moment of quiet as they pretended to drink, followed by fake gagging, choking, and spitting, and "Ew! Yuck!"

They went from ship to captured ship around their room until they finally landed on an island that looked like a good place to bury their treasure. Unfortunately, Anya was too slow in getting back onto the ship, and Jaela and Macey decided to maroon her on the island. Anya burst into tears. "I don't like you guys marooning me!"

Luckily (for them), the other pirates had a change of heart, and made the ship wait for Anya, and their adventures ended peacefully.