Henry Had A Good Week

On Monday we went back to the library to get Henry's trophy for completing the requirements for their summer reading program.  Upon exiting the car, Henry mentioned to me that Josiah would now have two trophies.  I told him that, no, Josiah already got his trophy and he wouldn't be getting anything that day.  Henry said, "No, I'm giving my trophy to Josiah."  He is such the younger brother.  He has always been very generous with Josiah, quick to share and deferring to Josiah's requests and interests (for the most part).  Inside, Henry stood at the desk and spoke to the librarian himself.  When she asked him if he knew what he was getting, he smiled and said, "A trophy."  When she handed it to him, he was beaming.  And I noticed that he did not hand it over to Josiah.  :)

The best part was after all of this, we checked-out books, exited the library, and Henry proceded to scream and yell at Josiah the entire drive home because Josiah was reading a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle book and would not give it to Henry to read when he was finished.  It was a full blown tantrum as best he could in his carseat - kicking feet, screaming and yelling at the top of his lungs.  It did not seem to influence Josiah at all into handing the book over any quicker.  Which, of course, is probably for the better to not give into the tantrum.  So, he's a generous younger brother who still acts like the 4-year old that he is.  :)

The next day the boys went back to Half-Priced Books and redeemed their $5 gift certificates for reading 300 minutes (each) in July.  These summer reading programs have been the best.  They both were on the prowl for Bugs Bunny books.  Every few months the Looney Tunes make a comeback in our house and this was the week they came back.  The Bugs Bunny books prompted a lot of artwork for the remainder of the week as well as lots of "whole" carrots eaten.  The boys love the carrots at the grocery store that still have the stems attached.  So we endured little Bugs Bunny voices since it meant that they ate a bunch of carrots.

Josiah's drawings:


Henry's creations - a Ninjago Ninja and a Ninja Turtle:



Artwork seemed to be prolific this week.  I think in part it had to do with the Classical Conversations Practicum we attended.  I went and learned more about the CC homeschool program we participate in, while the kids went to "camp."  Caroline technically went to the "nursery camp" which consisted of just playing, but she loved her "class" as she called it.  After the first day she kept saying, "I go my class?"  Henry went to "Play Camp" and had a lot of fun.  He went in willingly, without hesitation, and even said he did not want to go to Josiah's class, but his own.  It helped that his class had two CC kids that he knew from our campus.  Josiah was enrolled in the "GeoDraw Camp" in which he drew art and learned about the world (countries, north/south/east/west, islands, oceans, continents, etc.).

Josiah traced this!

He traced this, too, even the fancy compass rose.

 One of the best parts was on the second day at lunch Josiah told me he made a friend, Zachary.  When he initially told me, I wasn't sure if HE made a friend and Zachary was unaware of this friendship or if it was mutual.  (Last year at CC Josiah always said one boy in the class was his best friend, yet he barely spoke two words to him.) But then on Day 3, I met Zachary and it looked like they really were friendly with each other.  Unfortunately this boy is not a part of our campus and it is unlikely we will see him again since I never saw his mother.

We have been praying that the kids all make good, strong, solid friendships here.  Upon picking Henry up from church today, he told me that he had made a friend that day.
"What's your friend's name?" I asked.
Henry said, "I don't know, but it isn't Zachary.  If it was Zachary then there would be three Zacharys."
"Was it the boy you were playing with when I came to pick you up?"
"No," he said. "It was the boy I was playing with on the floor." (which was the boy he was playing with when we came to pick him up)
It was quite the conversation.  I'm hoping next week to get a peek of this "not-Zachary" kid.

We love to pick Henry up from his Sunday School class at church.  He seemingly always gets a good report.  Today they told us that they loved having him back and they really missed him when we were gone.  It always brings up loving feelings towards him which helps because he has been somewhat difficult lately at home.  He just moves at his own (quite slow) pace, which can be incredibly frustrating for me who wants quick and efficient transitions from house to car, from car to store/church/etc.  Even getting dressed, getting teeth brushed, using the facilities.  These can all take really long times.  And yet, he has such a sweet spirit. He is always teaching Caroline new things.  He is constantly teaching her to say big words.  He breaks them down into syllables for her.  "Caw-wo-wine, say, 'Captain America. Cap. Tain. A. Mer. I. Ca.' "  He teaches her all the important words.  He helps her with the hidden picture puzzles in the Highlights magazines.  At dinner tonight, he saved a Whopper candy for Josiah.  He tried to give it to him, but we wouldn't let him since Josiah had not eaten much dinner (and was frequently saying how bad it smelled and how awful it was).  Then he goes next to Josiah and says, "Just eat some more chicken and you can have it."  He's a very good encourager which we are grateful for in this house.  

Henry is the boy whom I discipline, but then after the discipline is over I turn to Todd and mouth, "He is so cute!"  He's got our hearts this little guy.

I couldn't leave these out.  Josiah did some amazing Ninja Turtle (with skateboard) drawings this week, as well.