2 WHIZ KIDS

 

As you know, these kids are ALL BOY, all the time. Both of them play hard and don't like to be interrupted by anything, much less stopping to go potty. Gabe usually barely makes it to the toilet and Gavin sometimes still has accidents or does a peepee dance so as not to stop playing and go.

They have recently learned to pee standing up, not sure I'm crazy about it, but they think it's big kid stuff! When we were playing outside, Gabe said "Mommy, I have to go potty real bad"....knowing that we'd have to load up and go home from the park to use it and that he may not make it, I suggested he go outside, (which I try to reserve for emergencies like this one), cuz they'd want to do it all the time! As soon as he pulled his pants down and started going, Gavin ran over next to him, dropped his pants and screamed "I gotta go pee pee too!"

I'm not sure if he actually did, but it sure made me giggle to see this. I couldn't resist a picture of those two little matching cheeky hineys! This has to be some blackmail material for graduation or wedding slideshows in the future, dontchya think?

Playing Tug

 

 

Gabe and Gavin love the new puppy we got last month. Gabe named him Wags the Dog and we affectionately call him WaggaDoodle sometimes too. They think he's great and have been so willing to help with him. Gabe likes to hold the leash and walk his dog, he feeds Wags and gives him treats when he's a good boy. Gavin has been a little afraid because the puppy jumps and moves quickly and unpredictably. Gavin runs from chair to sofa picking up his feet and screaming "He's trying to EAT me!" I'm working on getting him to say "No, Wags" or "Down" when he jumps on him and he's getting better with that part.

Last Sunday, the boys and I went to the pet store and bought Wags a new toy. Gavin picked it out and Wags seemed to like it right away. We went outside to play and they enjoyed tossing it for Wags to fetch. I was showing the boys how to play tug with Wags pulling on the other end of the toy. They thought it was a funny game and it really used up the puppy's boundless energy, plus helped Gavin not to be so afraid.

Slip Slidin' Away

 

Summer's almost over so we pulled out the mini pool and the slip and slide mat one more time....The kids loved it! Gabe kept begging Wags to get in with him, but no luck. The boys figured out that when the yard is uneven and they bounce on the end of the mat, water squirts out faster.

Splashing fun....Water play....
Fading summer sun....Fall's not far away!

Board games

The boys are both old enough now that they can exhibit the patience
needed to play a board game. They have played Candy Land, Chutes &
Ladders, and a few others and seem to have a good time playing. They
both want to win every game, so that is a bit of a problem, but for
the most part it is smiles all around.

Which means we have new "indoor activities" for rainy days. Yay!

Sunday drive

As I posted not to long ago, the boys have recently discovered the joy of driving. Outside play consists of 1) playing on the fort then driving the jeep; 2) riding bikes and driving the jeep; 3) playing some form of ball and then driving the jeep...I think you see the pattern...

Well, Jeep driving is especially fun after a rain storm. Because then there are puddles.

Out for a swim

I'm not sure if it is a great idea or not, but I have been teaching the boys to swim when we go to the pool. Most parents that I know seem to enroll their kids in some form of swim class for 2-3 months, but I figure if I am going to be in the water with them constantly anyways, I might was well see if I can teach them to swim on my own.

So for the past month or so, we have been working on things like holding onto the side and kicking, or splashing water into each others' faces to get comfortable with a wet face, holding our breath, etc. And I have been trying to get them to the point where they are willing to submerge their faces underwater completely. I have had some success with it in the bathtub, and limited success at the pool. Needless to say, it is an important step.

Well, today Gabe had a breakthrough. He has come close a few times, but today he broke through a wall and became fearless. He jumped in face first and went under, trying to put it all together. See for yourself. Needless to say, I couldn't be prouder.

Democracy in action

Gabe and Gavin are often at odds about the order in which certain things should be performed. Specifically, they disagree about who should get out of the car first, who should get out of the bath first, who should get the first treat, who should pick a show to watch, etc, etc. Basically, anything that falls to them and only one of them can do or be first has the potential to cause a bit of a tiff.

Usually, this can be gotten around by taking turns or compromising. For example, Gabe gets out first this time, and Gavin gets out first the next. Or Gavin gets to pick the show, but Gabe gets to pick the episode. Stuff like that. However, one time I did 'Eeney, meeny, miny, mo' to make the decision. And Gabe, with his fantastic memory, remembered it and started doing it himself. And, as everyone knows, you can game that particular system to guarantee the winner of your choice. So, for a while there, Gavin got the short end of the stick every time.

Well, Gavin figured it out and started doing it himself. And he also figured out that all he has to do is make sure he stops by pointing at himself. But he doesn't quite have the words memorized, so it is a little obvious...

Rockstar Cheesin'

 

Gabe is really maturing and looks like a little man in his collared shirt! I can't believe he's going to start Pre-K on Monday. Where did my baby go?
I just know he's going to soak up all the knowledge they have to offer him and be begging for more. He loves to learn and tells me things every day that he's learned or discovered. He asks questions and commits the information to memory almost immediately. When we drive over the Chattahoochee River (still affectionately termed "the Hattachoochee") in the mornings, he likes to look out the window and tell me if it's foggy and that fog is caused by cold and warm air mixed together! I told him about kudzu and he thought it was a silly word. Then the next day he asked, "What kind of 'zoo' is that again, Momma?" Now he tells me whenever he sees kudzu.
He was so proud of his spiked hair this morning and likes gel so he can be a ROCKSTAR! I just can't get enough of my boy!!!

Driver's Ed

The Christmas before last, Poppa Owen got the boys a toy motorized Jeep. They tooled around in it for a little bit, but it was really a bit 'old' for them then, and so it eventually just started gathering dust in the garage.

Until recently.

Right around the 4th, Gabe rediscovered the Jeep. He wanted to drive it around the cul-de-sac for the first time in perhaps a year. However, once he started driving, he rapidly got bored, mainly because Gavin was riding his bike much faster than Gabe was driving.

That's where it got interesting.

You see, the Jeep has a little throttle that sets the speed. It can go in reverse, forward slow, or forward fast. Up until this point, the forward fast speed had been locked away, set off-limits through a screw that kept the throttle from being moved to that position. I figured that since Gabe was 4.5 now, he could handle driving a little faster. Plus, he's my kid, so I figured he would appreciate a little speed.

Man, was I right.

Ever since then, all he wants to do is drive. Drive to the neighbor's house. Give rides to the other kids. Drive across the yard and off the curb. Up and down the street, over the curbs...there is no obstacle too great that Ranger Gabe and his super Jeep can't overcome.

What's even funnier is that after about two weeks of doing it, he has mastered driving in reverse. He will drive up to a bush or curb or similar obstruction, kick the shifter into reverse, look over his shoulder, and navigate backwards until he is clear to move forward again.

He's just a written exam and a parallel parking test away from asking to borrow the car...