Rinn Reflections

  Emma still naps twice a day, though I do push her through her morning nap time a few days each week.  Generally, though, I like for Emma to stay on schedule...which means we are home a lot.  So, this past weekend, I made a list of summer projects and activities to help us "beat the heat" here at home.  :)  

This morning, Isaac and I tackled our first project--a foil river.  It was pretty windy, so our foil blew away a few times and then became really wrinkled.  Running the hose at the top of the foil as you shape your river helps a lot (tip found here).  

This lion is one of Isaac's favorite toys right now.  He liked pretending that the lion was stomping through the river in the jungle.  :)

After lunch, we rebuilt the river on our driveway, where there is more of a slope than our backyard.  And, Isaac put his swim trunks on.  :)

While Isaac was sitting on Dave's lap, he touched and named each letter on Dave's shirt.  Then he asked what those letters spelled, and Dave said, "Texas Rangers."  Isaac's eyes got really big, and then he said, "But why doesn't it say 'polo' like my daddy shirt?"  So cute!

I love these two in their "daddy shirts" (and shorts!).  :)

Emma also loves playing in Isaac's room--she even climbs up the ladder and onto the top bunk.  

 Emma also likes playing with all the cars on Isaac's racetrack.  One of her favorite activities is "out and in"--pulling objects out of their container and then putting them all back.   Isaac doesn't mind if she pulls all the cars out as long as he can have his favorite race car (which seems to change daily). :) 

Emma learned to bow her head and fold her hands to pray before meals.  Of course, the second she did so I took a picture.  I think this is the sweetest!  However, if the prayer goes on too long, she is done with folding her hands and starts to clap.  :)

 

This is probably one of my favorite pictures ever!  I came home late one evening and couldn't find Dave anywhere...I finally found him fast asleep and snuggled up with Emma in her room.

We love this smiley girl so much!  Happy 15 Months, Emma Victoria!

Isaac loves, loves, loves baths.  I think he asks to take one at least twice a day.  And, he also loves pretending to be a workerman "just like my daddy" (as he always says).  Actually, I don't think he pretends to be a workerman--I think he believes he is a workerman.  Isaac carries his hammer around everywhere and tucks it into his waistband when he needs to do something else.  The hard hat Isaac's wearing in these pictures is usually at my mom's house; but, my mom let him take it home two days ago, and since then he's worn it for the past two days straight.  (He does take it off at meals.  He told me in a very serious voice, "Mommy, my daddy says we don't wear hats at the table.")

Needless to say, when I saw this idea for a construction bath on Growing A Jeweled Rose, I knew Isaac would be crazy about it.  

By far, his favorite part was the play dirt I made.  I made Isaac close his eyes until he got into the bathroom and then I yelled "surprise" for him to see how I'd set up the tub for his construction bath--he leaped into the tub and immediately touched the piles of play dirt I'd set up around the edge of the tub.  The second he felt its consistency, he yelled "yuck" with a huge smile on his face.  :) I only used two boxes of baking soda to make it, and I'm sure it was the best $1.25 I've spent all week.  :)

Since there wasn't any water in the tub, I dropped into to check on Isaac every few minutes.  The first time I left, I said, "Have a great day at your jobsite, Workerman Isaac."  Immediately, he said," Have a great day, too, Workerman Mommy."  :)

An hour (yes, an hour) after playing with the machines, workerman figurines, and play dirt, I let Isaac have a little bit of water on in the tub to make mud.  :)  Isaac asked, "Mommy will you sit right here and just watch me play?"  My first thought was, "I have pizza crust to make, laundry to fold, and music to practice...." but then I remembered something I had just read in a book by Renee Ellison.  Mrs. Ellison wrote about how important it is for mothers to watch their children, especially when they ask you to watch them.  What Isaac was wanting me to do may seem small--even insignificant, but I speak volumes of love to him by just being in his presence and watching him.   

Dot Paints

Clothespin Letters

 I wrote Isaac's name on a notecard and then also wrote each letter on a clothespin.  Isaac pins each clothespin onto the notecard.  This is a great small-motor activity for his little hands!  This last week I added our last name with clothespins to the bottom side of the card.  Isaac usually does this while I'm getting breakfast ready or while I'm setting up our school activities.  (I can't remember the blog where I originally found this idea.)

Magnetized Scrabble Letters

 Several years ago, my friend gave us magnetized Scrabble letters that spell each of our first names.  I used a overhead projector marker and wrote letters all over our refrigerator, and then Isaac covered them up with the Scrabble tiles.  (This would also work with the letter magnets that are at Dollar Tree or the Dollar Spot at Target.  Here's an Etsy shop that sells similar Scrabble tiles.)

Before we went outside to play, I was putting Emma's shoes on in the laundry room & heard a strange sound coming from the driveway.  I looked out and Isaac was hauling our empty recycle bin up the driveway.  

I love what a great helper Isaac is becoming, and I also love how he likes to do all the "daddy jobs" (with his hammer in hand).   :)

Time goes by so fast!  Wasn't it just yesterday Isaac was pushing this yellow bus around?

This little bus has always been a favorite with Isaac and Emma.  :)