I've been reading (/gazing-at) the book Dinotopia with the dudes, mostly Hadrian, the last few weeks. It's a good one that I think too many people have forgotten. The paintings and illustrations alone! Hadrian takes it to his room most nights just to look at as he falls asleep. I bought the first one - we're going to check out the sequel from the library. Might buy that one too if it's even close to the first.
Hadrian's trying out Taekwondo, starting on Monday. He's very excited to learn about "being a ninja and kicks and stuff." He may be sliiiiightly disappointed in what he learns at the community rec center. But this was the thing he said he wanted to try out.
Pic is Hadrian in my grandpa's pilot hat/goggles from the 50s/60s.
Ansel still talks like a baby? Oh well. He wants to practice his new pedal bike every day. We're still getting the hang of the concept of pedaling in general at this point.
Today he came with me to find some ladybugs and we released them after dinner on one of our Box Elder trees that's become a bit overrun with aphids. We'll see if it makes a difference. At the very least, we've given 500 ladybugs a good chance at life.
Also I was thinking about how he never speaks loudly - doesn't really yell either. I wonder if his tonsils make it so he can't be loud? Not sure. Just an idea.
He's very much into helping with cooking and baking. He and I made some chocolate raspberry lava cakes in mugs last week - which were delicious. Two thumbs up to our new kids cookbook. It's been all winners so far.
For the first time in Paul's entire life, he had a "beginning of a cavity." He took the news very hard. I think part of his identity may have been "person who has perfect dental health" and was thrown into a bit of a crisis this week. He got a filling today - was very nervous about it - and when he came home couldn't stop talking about how weird it felt to have a numbed face. Kept trying to do simple face things and sending me pics of his attempts while I was in meetings. Here was, "Trying to make a kissy face." I'd just hear him out in the kitchen laughing and then get a picture on my phone a few seconds later.
We made Spaghetti alle Vongole tonight (aka just clam pasta). Something we made a few times in Denmark and more in Georgia. It was one of toddler Hadrian's, and Paul's, favorite meals, but we'd completely forgotten about it. Harmon's came through for us with a pound and a half of (as fresh as we could get in Utah) littleneck clams and we had it all made in 25 minutes. It was just as good as we all remembered too though Ansel was unconvinced. He stuck to his banana and buttered bread.
Both kids had a chance to sleep over at the grandparent's new house last weekend and basically it's all they talk about right now. While they were gone, Paul and I kind of stayed in our regular routine - which I know sounds boring, but it was kind of nice to do the same things, just slightly less harried and slightly more quiet. We still got our Friday Night Costa Vida Salads (a habit/tradition that came out of the pandemic), watched a documentary, read, fell asleep. In the morning we did some yardwork, went on a walk (to get some Boba Tea from University Place), took naps, read books. I think if there was a hierarchy of who had the best weekend there it was #1 - obviously the boys, #2 - us, #3 - my exhausted parents. We thank them for their sacrifice.
Oh yeah P.S. Hadrian got into the Chinese Program (or so they tell me but I'm still scared because it was all just over the phone and not in writing and maybe it's all a trick I don't even know but I really hope it's true it's probably true?). So that means Ansel will almost definitely get in as well. Which means I guess we should start saving up for a China trip in a few years.
