Whenever I start writing about Ollie, I always want to start with, "This kid." Because, well, this kid. He's just so...Ollie.
I think the biggest Ollie news is that we finally found an extra-curricular activity he's interested in taking. He likes many things, but I think he was terrified of having to get used to yet another adult whose job it would be to tell him what to do. But after seeing him running around the house, treating every piece of furniture as if it was at a playground, it hit me: PARKOUR. And of course, in 2019 in suburban D.C. there is a class for this. There were many classes, actually. So we picked the one that best fit our schedule and he's been going for a couple of weeks. He LOVES it. They jump on the trampoline, do burpees, and practice cool tricks off foam blocks. It's hilarious.
He's my dabber. This kid, way more than Rhett, does stuff like this. Rhett would NEVER dab, but Ollie? Yep.
Playing with my phone because his brother's band concert was boring. Ha.
I won't lie. He can be hard. He doesn't want to do what he doesn't want to do. But man, the kid keeps us laughing.
Oh man we love this boy. He's everything I'm not: silly, creative, and energetic. But that makes him that much harder. I just don't relate easily. However, we're getting through it.
Where does he get this???
I had to take some stuff to the school for a PTA event and Ollie hitched a ride home.
I made this beard for him to wear at the ward Christmas party's nativity scene. Of course he jumped off the stage in the first two minutes, but he still loves wearing the beard around the house.
And then he made more facial hair all by himself. Amazing.
Here are his latest hilarious things he said:
"Only people who are fancy eat hamburgers with a fork."
O: I wish I didn't have a sister.
Me: Well, you don't, so you got your wish. Why don't you want a sister?
O: Because she might tell on me and Rhett when we fight. Girls do that.
After an intense game of pop guns: "What is my purpose? Why am I even here??"
Talking about Chuck E. Cheese: "That guy creeps me up. It used to be there was a person inside, but nowadays it's probably a robot."
We were driving in the car, and no one was talking. "All is silent....voices rise." WHAT?!?! He still can't/won't explain this.
To me: "You're just mad because you married a bimbo!"
O: Why do we have to do chores? I hate doing chores.
Me: Well, they build character.
O: I like my character just like it is. I don't want to change it.
After a spirited dinner with the missionaries.
Missionary: Where you do you get all your energy?
O [suddenly calm and serious]: From within.
O: Mom, you don't use laughter like I do.
Me: Oh, how do you use it?
O: I use it smart.
"I didn't really laugh that hard because it didn't touch my funny bone."
My boys love taking my camera. They especially love taking the camera to capture themselves jumping on the tramp. They take 100 pictures and about five are good. Here are those five. Note: There are more pictures of Ollie simply because Rhett is a better photographer.
A few weeks ago the boys were creating some collages with people. Unfortunately for them, we don't have that many magazines in the house that they can create with. Fortunately for them, I did have a bunch of pictures I printed years ago that they could use. Holy crap. It was the most fun our family had together in a long time! We were all just laughing and giggling at every single creation. I highly recommend it. The next time Shutterfly offers 100 prints for a dollar, I'm doing it!
FINALLY. Holy crap. This starting after Labor Day is killing me. But finally the first day of school came. I swear that Monday night was as exciting as Christmas Eve...at least for me. We did our usual prep the day before by stamping shirts and getting blessings. And, of course, I had to start the cinnamon rolls.
Holy crap. I really really love these things.
And then it was time to go! Rhett is starting his last year of elementary school, and he's in yet another new-to-him school building. He has two teachers, one for math/science and the other for the literacy/social studies. It's a nice introduction to middle school. Ollie is in second grade, in his second year in the new building. We love it there. Both boys are doing okay and at least one of them is happy to be back in school, but that's only because he hasn't had too much homework yet. We already lost, but then found, one lunch bag and fight daily about the "no screens after school" thing, but I think we're all adjusting okay.
Remember how we rented kayaks at Rocky Gap? And then remember how after 15 minutes Ollie got bored and I had to take him back to shore? Then remember how I traded the double kayak for a single? Well guess what? Single kayaks are AMAZING. I could not get over how much lighter and easier to maneuver they are. I had so much fun and really enjoyed it compared to when I have to single-handedly propel me and a child in a double. It got me thinking: what if the boys had their own kayaks? Rhett and a buddy shared one at Rocky Gap and it was so much fun to watch them go, but also a little hard to see them struggle to try to control it (and control each other). So I scoured Craigslist for about a day, when two child-sized sit-upon kayaks came up for sale. Chuck and I talked about it and decided to go for it.
A lot of the campgrounds we stay at have some sort of lake. However, because we frequently camp in the off-season, we're not able to rent boats. So having these would be excellent and give us one more thing to do while camping. Plus, they're small. They fit in the Scamp, so we don't have to get a roof rack. And if we're just going locally, they fit in the car (not well, but we make it work).
We took them out the first weekend after we got them and they were amazing! I expected my boys to last maybe 15 minutes, but they paddled around for AN ENTIRE HOUR. They stayed together and even made my little mama heart beat fast because they were so far from the shore (and therefore from me!). I expected Ollie would be comfortable straying far, but not Rhett. I thought for sure he'd hug the shore, but nope. They were off and gone.
We're camping at another lake this weekend, and I'm so excited to give the boys another chance to try them out. (I should add: Chuck took them out in August. Ollie was freaked out by signs warning them about the (bad) quality of the water. Sigh.)
After an additional three days (thanks snow--and no, that's not sarcastic), the boys finally got their last day. Well, technically Rhett had only an additional two days. His school is being redone and so they give teachers an additional day to pack up because they'll be moving into the new building this fall.
They both had fun days but were happy to have it all over with. And of course: candygrams! I put Chuck in charge this year and he did a way better job than I did. Looks like someone got himself a new job.
Overall, it was a good year. Ollie did SO GREAT with his teacher. Oh how I wish she was doing second grade this fall. Rhett, well, he did okay. Academically he was fine. The program was just enough of a push for him, but not too much so that it pushed him over the edge. His behavior, however, could have seen some improvement. But here's to summer!
The boys have been having too much fun with making movies. Although, I think they're really only fun for them because ain't nobody want to watch this 12-minute video. But try it if you dare!
Last Saturday Chuck was on a Scout campout, so I was alone with the boys. I showed them a video of two of their cousins doing a trampoline routine, and encouraged them to make their own. I thought this was a great idea. So did they...until it just turned into fighting and yelling, like so many things. However, by Monday the animosity had abated somewhat so I thought we'd do it for Family Home Evening. The boys had a lot of fun. I was just happy to sit there recording. And Chuck was totally into his job as prop manager.
This child. As far as funny quips go, Rhett hit his peak around age three. Ollie, however, is just hitting his stride. The kid is hilarious!
After talking about swim team he said, "I hate my future."
After discussing doing things that we adults don't like but do anyway, he says, "Yeah, like having kids."
"You're not like other moms. You go running. If the other moms would go running then they wouldn't be so fat and the kids could fit in the doors in the morning."
"You shouldn't startle a young man like that!" (He was the young man.)
Ollie and Chuck were playing Candyland and Ollie was three spaces from winning. He drew the cupcake and had to go back to the beginning. He dramatically yelled out, "Oh the humanity!"
Ollie had a bag of loose Smarties. He ripped a small hole in one corner. When asked, "why?" he replied, "Because it's like a piping bag and now I can pipe them into my mouth."
Chuck and I were discussing, but not arguing. Ollie says, "GUYS. Don't let this turn into a divorce."
Last year, Rhett wanted to be Harry Potter, but we convinced him that a ballot box would be awesome and he concurred. However, this year he still wanted to do it which meant Ollie decided he wanted to be Ron Weasley. Done.
Of course I was excited to do some sewing too. The ties and scarves came together quickly, but those capes. Oh those capes. I saw some tutorials online, but wasn't in love with them. So when I saw the Simplicity pattern at Joann that had a little girl dressed as Hermione, I knew I had to do it. I'll tell you what though: NO MORE PATTERNS for me. I just don't speak pattern-ese. It's terrible. I want to write them and tell them to hire me as a translator between pattern-speak and tutorials because tutorials do it so much better. But a week later and more money spent on fabric than just buying them from Amazon and they were done. And I love them.
And once I spend all that time and money making them, I have to find multiple opportunities for the boys to wear them. We did a ward trunk-or-treat, school party, and neighborhood trick-or-treating. I just love Halloween and I love watching my boys enjoy Halloween.
We went trick-or-treating with Rhett's friend. I'm thinking next year, when they're ten, they'll be big enough to go alone, right? I think they can do it.
P.S. The last-minute trunk decoration was a true family effort the day of the trunk-or-treat. We all enjoyed creating it. And now we'll have it forever. It'll work even if we don't go dressed as Gryffindors, right? I thought so. Also, we won second place for best car decoration, so that's awesome.
P.P.S. UGH. I totally forgot to do the lumarias! So mad at myself.
This year is particularly exciting: Rhett is starting with a new bunch of kids, but at the same building he's been for the past 1.5 years. Ollie is starting with the same bunch of kids, but at the newly-renovated school. And for me, I don't care where they go: JUST GO! Kidding.
Here's the picture from Monday, the day before school. This is our new local school and it is HUGE!
Our Monday morning power breakfast: cinnamon rolls and sausage. Oh, and don't forget to wear striped polo shirts, boys. I mean, who knows what would happen if you didn't.
Pretending to love each other in their school year shirts. Crazy how Rhett is starting to grow into that "dress." Obviously not really, but he's definitely closer than Ollie.
FINALLY! Walking to school again. (Well, for Rhett, we're walking to his bus stop which is at Ollie's school's bus loop.)
One last picture at the school! Good luck kiddos! Hurry up and go so I can skip on home.
And how did it go? Great! Rhett may have missed getting on the bus headed for home on the first day of school. But we figured that out and it hasn't happened again. Rhett's program does seem more intense than anything he's done before, but if the homework is always done on the computer, he may survive. Ollie has had all great days! Phew. And how have I coped with them out of the house? Um, do you really need to ask?!
Chuck had to go out of town (Palmyra) with the youth for Labor Day weekend. In order to not kill my boys, I knew we'd have to spend a LOT of time out of the house. So Saturday we headed downtown to the National Book Festival. I had high hopes; they were crushed. There were just so many people. And I don't do well with so many people. We tried to get a book signed by an author, but that didn't pan out (again, too many people). So we found something to keep us busy for a bit, then I was able to bribe the boys with Shake Shack and the Postal Museum if they left. Much better.
Sunday morning there was a tiny triathlon at our pool. I was supposed to volunteer, but that turned into all three of us participating. The water was frigid, but it was still fun. After church, a dear friend invited us to dinner, keeping us out of the house even more.
Monday morning we went to the Kensington Labor Day parade. We chose (ahem, I chose) to ride our bikes down there and the boys did great. They may have been bribed with Slurpees before the return trip. That afternoon we tried the pool, but it was just too cold for actual swimming. Then we just waited for Chuck to come home. Oh, we also took a trip to the new school to take some pictures. Because you know, the next day would certainly include too many people. And we now know how I feel about too many people.
Epilogue: While not the last weekend of summer, I thought it better to include it here than forget. This past weekend Chuck had to write a talk so I took the boys to hike the Billy Goat Trail (again). Some kind fellow took a picture of the three of us. I will never say no to that.
(Yes, he asked that we call him Oliver. I really prefer Ollie, so it's hard.) ANYWAY, the little dude had a birthday! As it's not a party year, he got to choose a fun activity for him and a friend. He invited his friend Leila over for a playdate and then all of us went to the pool and had pizza dinner. After swimming it was back home for cake and fighting. Sweet. Turns out five hours is a bit too long for a birthday playdate, at least for Oliver.
Present-wise, he got a reading pillow in the shape of a pig, Star Wars legos, a nightlight (some weird thing from Ikea that he pined for on our last Ikea trip), a watch, and money.
Because Rhett moved up in age divisions at the pool, he's not swimming in A meets this year (or maybe he's just not as fast). Either way, we haven't had to spend four hours at the pool every Saturday morning (just Wednesday evenings). It's been a welcome surprise. This past Saturday we were all so tired we really didn't do anything. Which normally is VERY hard for me, but because the boys were on such good behavior, it was kind of amazing. Rhett made a big chocolate chip cookie, which was delicious. Then, because he was still in cooking mode, he asked if he could "make something" with "anything/everything" in the kitchen. Because the boys had been so great all day, I said yes. This is not my normal response. I limited the amounts (3 T from the big stuff, much less from spices) but the boys LOVED it. They had the best time and I got to sit by and watch (and read the paper and do a crossword puzzle). It was glorious.
My boys are allowed to bring boogie boards to church. It's the only "toy" they're allowed. Now that Ollie can write, he's taken to writing notes to us instead of talking. This was Sunday's (the spelling may be adapted):
Ollie: How many talks are left? Me: I don't know. It's testimony meeting. Ollie: That doesn't make sense. Me: Sorry. Ollie: That sorry doesn't change anything. Chuck: What kind of sorry would? A slurpee sorry? Ollie: Be like that.
The boys also had some stuff going on the last week of school. What? You mean, it's not all about me?! Interesting.
Recorder and orchestra concerts. Thankfully the recorders went on first so I could duck out and not subject myself to the pain of an elementary school orchestra.
The little girl on Rhett's left is his friend, Vyvyem.
And then there's this guy. This was at the Kindergarten Celebration (he's front row, in the green stripes). What can I say about this child? I love him, but man, he can drive a person crazy.
Not letting people look at him.
Not looking at others.
This was the last day for Rhett at Wheaton Woods! Of course Ollie will still be with the same kids, but they're moving back to the newly-built school in the fall. Rhett, as he's going to the other school, will be right back at this holding school as his new school is undergoing construction. Poor dude.
Miss Pam! This was the boys' morning care provide lo these many years. The new school necessitated a new morning/afternoon care provider and sadly she was not awarded the contract. We love her so much! She especially helped with Ollie's transition to school and all of us will miss her.
Welcome home from the last day of 3rd grade and kindergarten! And welcome to summer!
Are you praying for me whilst I'm away at girls camp? You better be.
