Movin' right along

It has been a busy week for all of us. Ryan and I have been recovering from our colds - we are finally better! I have been working on planning our ward's next Primary activity and Primary program that is scheduled for October. This will be my first program so I am a little nervous, but will it really matter when such cute little kids are involved? I don't think so.

Ryan has been working on his walking skills all week long. He can now easily take 7-8 steps in succession before falling down. He is also getting much more brave. He loves to play with anything his older brother has, even if he has a large variety of toys of his own around. I think he just really likes playing with his brother (or pestering him - what are brothers for?) He likes to play with balls and climb the stairs. He can also look out the bay window when he stands on his tiptoes. Someday those little legs of his will grow!

Matthew is such a fun boy. Every day is an adventure with him. Let's start with Monday. I was talking on the phone with one of my friends (What's up Ali?) when I noticed that the boys had closed themselves in the bathroom. TROUBLE ALERT! I opened the door to find Matthew painting Ryan's hair with my mascara. Exhibit A:


On Tuesday we went to Kevin's work for a University breakfast. Afterward we took the boys to the BYU library to get some books. Matthew has been reading them nonstop. He has them memorized and tells me all about Curious George and the dump trunk, how David got in trouble, Dumpy and the apples, and Watch out Mr. Rabbit! He is very good at telling stories and his imagination has really blossomed. One day the couch was a boat and we had to watch out for sharks. Another day we were on the lookout for bears. He has elaborate conversations between his cars as he drives them to and from the grocery store, the library, the church, and the temple. Here are the boys playing cars.


He can also be very literal and holds us to our word. He has been going to timeout lately for not listening, usually during moments of "wrestling" with Ryan. Stop is supposed to mean stop, but Matthew thinks it's okay if he is playing with his brother or trying to protect his territory (ie cars) while Ryan is crying because of the extra attention he is receiving. When Matthew goes to timeout, he is not allowed to talk to anyone. One time I sent him to the corner and was explaining to him that he made a bad choice with his brother when he responded, "Mom, stop talking to me. I am in timeout." True. Very true. He has also memorized a response to our timeout talks. Mom: Matthew, why did you go to timeout? What did you do? Matthew: I made a bad choice. I need to make good choices to make Heavenly Father and Jesus happy. I will listen and obey. Mom: That's right. But why were you in timeout? He tried this on me a couple of times and thought that would suffice, but he quickly learned that he needed to own up to his actions more. I may need to be a little more creative from now on.

On Saturday Kevin was getting ready to take Matthew to Home Depot for the monthly project. I told Matthew he needed to hurry and get ready so he could go. I asked him if he was excited to build something. He said, "Mom, let me tell you a story. I am not going to build something. I am going to make it." Logistics. He made a little stool to use for the potty. (Don't even ask us how that is going. Let's just say it's been put on hold until after Christmas.)

Here is one of Matthew's stories word for word that he told Kevin one day while Kevin was working on the computer. Kevin quickly typed it up. Sometimes I can't quite follow his train of thought. Any ideas? "If you don't tell me what to do than I will cry and I won't play with you anymore. Someday when you make me sad I will say to Dad, Mom, just change the picture. I will get the book and the hammer and then I will hammer hammer the picture. Someday we will have to do that."