Things they say

Two men in suits walked into the YMCA lobby where we were having a snack.  Brian whispers, “Mom, are they the president?”

Hiking in the woods, Brian (our self-appointed line leader) tells us we are going to continue for 0.4 miles.  He also tells me his teachers called him a GPS.  Can’t imagine why…

I asked Eli what he wanted for breakfast and he said “cinnamon.”  On applesauce?  In oatmeal?  I asked.  “No, mama, no.  Cinnamon.”  He knows what he wants!

Eli saw a school bus (this is big excitement in our car) and said “Bus!  Bus!”  Brian and I had already seen it, so I told Eli we’d seen it already, that was the bus we were talking about.  Brian said “Yeah Eli, I already saw that bus waaaaaay back in the 1480s.”

Brian told me, “When I get big, I think I’d like to have a job.”  Good, I say, most people do.  What kind of job?  “I’m going to work at the hospital like daddy.  At the same hospital with daddy.”  A doctor, I ask?  “Yes, I’m going to fix broken bones too, we can work together!”

Eli's first day of school

Then on Tuesday, Eli started preschool at the Y too! He is doing the same 2x2 program that Brian did when he was two. Eli just barely makes the cutoff and is probably one of the younger kids in the class. He was very excited to go!

He was not very excited to pose for this picture.

Eli knew where he was going already; he was not nervous like a lot of the other kids.

He's a preschool pro, having followed Brian to school all last year. He found some toy cars right away and got to work! We know 2 of his teachers from when Brian was in the class, and they were happy to see the boys again.

By all accounts he is doing great so far! I've had 3 people tell me they checked on him and he was doing great, so it must be true. It's nice having a network of spies there! In the afternoon, after dropping off Brian at his school today, I told Eli we were going home for a nap, and he said "No mama! No nap! School!" I'm glad that he's enjoying it so much already!

Brian's first day of school

Monday was Brian's first day of preschool!

This year he has school at Camp Arrowhead, which is part of the YMCA, but has the advantage of a lot of outdoor space compared to the Y where he has been doing school.

The classroom is full of fun things, including a pet hermit crab!

His class is small, just 8 kids, all boys. They all headed straight for the play kitchen (Eli too!)

So far Brian is really having a good time at his new school. Having school every day in the afternoon has been a bit tiring for everyone, but hopefully we'll adjust and sleep more at night (haha)!

Rehoboth Beach, take 2

This week, Calvin is on vacation, so we are down in Delaware for another visit to the beach!  The weather forecast looked grim, but fortunately we had a couple of nice days before retreating north today.  We went to the beach right away when we arrived on Sunday, thinking it might be our only chance!

Eli loved walking on the “mountain”, and Brian worked on some kind of wall/moat system that I don’t know the details about. 

The wind was brisk, so we took the kite out for a spin after dinner.

Eli got a turn too!

Monday morning, still no storm!  So we were back at the beach where I got a picture before my camera batteries bit the dust. 

The rain finally came, so Tuesday was a day to visit the library, walk around town (sans kids, who were at the library), and visit the Dogfish head brewery.  It was supposed to rain all week, but lo and behold, Wednesday morning was bright and sunny again, so off we went!

Run, run!

Playing with the beloved sand toys – the jeep and bulldozer. 

Running to get water, dark clouds always on the horizon. 

Fun with Papa in the water. 

The guys working hard on a construction project. 

Family picture!

In the afternoon we went to Cape Henlopen state park, where we visited the nature center, and Fort Miles, a WWII fort. 

Petting a horseshoe crab

Eli in a bunker (he is saying “cheese” rather unhappily). 

Climbing on the enormous guns

Oh, that smile!

The end of a hike, with some tired kiddos.  And the end of our beach vacation, a good time was had by all!