Growing and changing

The kids are growing and time is flying.  Fall has arrived and by the time I know it it'll be Christmas and then Zoë's fifth birthday. 

Oliver's current favorite phrases include "me self", "my turn", and "me first" and he is usually pretty adamant about getting his way when he screams them.  His tantrums are intense and usually quick to brew and explode.  He does not like being told what to do or that he cannot do something.  His favorite things are anything Disney Cars (he has a collection of Die Cast vehicles growing) and we took him to his first movie at the movie theater in July and had a great time!  He was hilarious during the movie cheering for the characters.  We are attempting round 2 of potty training and trying not to push him as much.  So far it seems like it's going better (he's self-initiating much better than he was last time) but I don't want to speak too soon.  He is scared of the car wash, Maui from Moana, and bears (?!).  It has been increasingly difficult to watch movies with him because he is getting scared at the scary parts!  His no-fear attitude has melted away.  He is chattering away speaking in full sentences now and it's hilarious to hear him tell stories with a tilt of his head as he looks towards the ceiling and holds his hands out.  He's still running from place to place without a thought for his personal safety and enjoying his time at gymnastics class. 

Zoë has really been enjoying preschool and loves her teachers.  She's slowly warming up to some new friends but she is still super stand-off-ish with new people.  It drives me nuts.  Also.  She has suddenly become a real teenager overnight.  Folding her arms, stomping her feet, huffing and puffing when we tell her no or she doesn't get her way.  It's crazy and really really really really bugs me.  Her sour puss face sticks until she is completely distracted by something or gets her way.  ARGH.  Vicki gave me the best piece of advice the other day and said "you don't have to see everything".  So.  I need to just not look in the rearview mirror when I know she's being huffy (although I CAN still hear her).  Zoë is still mispronouncing blanket (bwanqwet), Oliver (Ohver), and something else I can't remember right now.  I love it and want her to pronounce them like that forever.  She has been working on her letters and phonics sounds and I'm impressed with how fast she's memorized letters and how to write them.  She LOVES to work in her 'tivity book during nap times. 

Watching her and Oliver play together is both wonderful and super frustrating.  They can play for an hour perfectly well together and then fight over who gets to hold more handfuls of pony beads.  Or who gets to let Fiona out in the morning. I am lured into a false sense of security and then WHAM.  They bicker.  BUT, when they ARE playing together nicely it is amazing!  They love to pretend together and everything Zoë does Oliver wants to do (feed baby, tuck in baby, do a show, make a fort, etc). 

Chris is demo-ing the pool and deck this weekend so we (he) can build an in-ground pool next summer.  He is a champ (with the help of Drew and big Chris) and excited for a new (BIG) project!