Two Monkeys: Nicholas & Joshua Read

Jean and I were just talking about our day - we really enjoyed the boys today!  We had gone shopping before we picked them up, so when we arrived home there were groceries as well as the boys' packs to bring inside.  Jean asked Nicholas to help us carry things, and he grabbed both his and Joshua's bags and also a shopping bag that weighed considerably.  He really had to struggle with the 3 bags, but he did it and got them all to the door. Inside and groceries put away, Jean fried bacon for the boys and hamburgers for me and herself.  Nicholas ate his 'bacon butty', and was eyeing Joshua's bacon. I told him that he shouldn't take his brother's bacon, but then Joshua offered it to Nicholas. Nicholas politely refused to accept it; they were both quite genteel. Jean put some strawberry yogurt into the blender along with some fresh strawberries, and then offered the liquified result to Nicholas.  He gobbled it up and was very pleased with it. Joshua went fo...

Feb 12 Jean has just asked me to tell you that Nicholas made valentines for Morah Jan and Morah Jess, and Cameron brought them home yesterday.  As there's no school on Friday they should go to school tomorrow! 2nd item: more wipes please. On Monday Jean noticed that there was a circle-time on at the Alta Vista Library, 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.  Joshua and I went and attended and found it interesting.  There was a little girl there who asked her caregiver - Can I go and sit on the potty?  Afterwards I said to the lady - That's very impressive, but she said the little girl just likes to sit there!  Joshua didn't sing, but when the circle-lady invited some children to come up and put a card on the easel (queen of hearts & tarts, knave, king), I gave him a gentle push, and he did it. When we had walked into the children's area, Joshua had said "Maisie", and I saw that the Maisie Mouse pictures were on the wall.  Coming out of circle time, I went ...

Yesterday Jean made playdough before Joshua's arrival.  After Cam left for work the 3 of us went into the playroom to try the playdough.  Joshua was very taken with it; he especially liked having me roll it into balls.  Then we used our small rolling pin to flatten it. Jean gave him a box of Mr Men (flat) molds to press onto the playdough; he showed a particular liking for Mr Happy.  Playdough kept the 2 of us amused for 20-25 minutes, and then we turned to building a tower with duplo.  I tried to go straight up, but Joshua kept choosing the longest pieces he could find, so our 2x2 base had higher levels reaching out in all directions.  And we perched a few toy people on the upper levels.  Then Joshua spotted the marbleworks - but he didn't start on that right away!  First he disassembled the tower, piece by piece, and put it all away in the proper box (we had previously put the playdough away). I hadn't suggested this, it was his initiative....

Here are some recent pics of the boys just being silly! I came home to Cameron with these two monkeys The boys enjoyed Purim and got dressed up for the festival - Nicholas was an M&M and Joshy reluctantly became a ladybug! My little superhero Nicholas might end up being a tree hugger!

Joshua words Owl Wow Wowo Mama Dada Yeye Nana Go go All done Elmo Bear Purple Out No Yeah Joshy Apple Cereal Juice Nainai Bao bao Up Fox Mut Mut Hai hai Uh oh Bye bye Turtle

Yesterday (Tuesday April 2) Nicholas and Joshua came to us for the day. Jean and Nicholas went to playgroup at 9:45 at Industrial Ave; Annik was the animator. Jean says that before circle started (10:45) she told Nicholas that Annik needed his help because the other children didn’t know the songs and he did. In the past Nicholas has been very reluctant to take part in circle time, but this time he sang every song: The more we get together Rolly polly Sleeping bunnies Old Macdonald had a farm 5 little monkeys Head & shoulders, knees and toes. He did all the actions too - the sleeping bunnies lie down, and then get up and hop-hop-hop around, and hand signals for 5-4-3-2-1 little monkeys. Jean was quite thrilled with this, and told him so! When they got home Jean made a milky jelly (strawberry flavour) as a special treat to mark the occasion. Joshua and I had been out for a push-chair walk, but had cut it short because it was...

Robert's post on April 11th This morning Cam returned the dentist's registration sheet all filled in, so Nicholas and I got warmly dressed and set out with the push-chair for Alta Vista and Bank St.  The trip there was quite straight-forward, we sang a few songs together but that was all. We parked the push-chair inside on the ground floor and walked up.  The receptionist was quite busy, so we asked for Patti and she came out from a back office.  I gave the envelope to Nicholas to give to Patti, and he passed it to her.  She crouched down to talk to him, but he didn't speak - there were some other clients there, so we didn't stay long; Nicholas said 'bye' and we went downstairs.  We were holding hands, and when we got downstairs Nicholas raced around and around me, turning me round until I was dizzy, and laughing.  Then I got him into the chair again and we started back.  We went via a sidestreet this time, with no traffic....