Lisa n Tom (n James n Joseph)

It's early fall and there aren't that many leaves on the ground yet, but we've been reading Calvin & Hobbes and there's a series of strips about jumping into leaf piles (and slugs) so when we came home today and James noticed the leaves on the lawn he asked for a leaf pile he could jump in. Here's his inaugural jump.

Lisa writes: In particular, look at the footwork. Ambidextrous is when you can use both hands equally well. What's it called when you can use both hands AND both feet?

Lisa writes: These big kids have known each other since they were babies. Kira and Lil' Hannah (as we call her, to distinguish her from Big Hannah, his babysitter) live a block away. They all like each other, but watching them play together is an interesting study in the differences between boys and girls. The girls hug hello. James, not so much. The girls are thoroughly potty-trained. James, not so much. Both girls want to pick up Joseph whenever they see him. James has asked to hold Joseph ... mmm, once? That was plenty.

Lisa's mom writes: I am in the hospital with pneumonia. This was not on my agenda. Guess the Lord is telling me to take care of myself as well. How blessed that this didn’t happen in Hawaii or Seattle. He let me get home with wonderful memories I will always treasure of our 48th Wedding Anniversary. It was perfect to have technology so I could have all my family along when I couldn’t be in two places at once. I will be okay and everything will work out. Our baby Joseph in Philadelphia Children’s hospital is waiting to go home, like Gramma. We both have some fluid on our lung. Hopefully, today or tomorrow we will both be home. Cute brother James wants to go home too. Lisa wrote this morning that he said, “I want to go home.” Lisa said, “We can’t yet.” Then he said, “I want to go to Gramma’s house….." :) Next month, James and Joseph! We have our tickets to your house. I love you all. I will take care of myself as well as Dad :) Mom

https://youtu.be/rtRuNRuAV9o

Lisa writes: Joseph has discovered forward motion. Previously he could only roll and was limited to moving sideways like a crab. Today he figured out how to move forward a foot or two by pushing with his knees. That's the clever part. The less clever part is that he keeps his arms slack at his sides and plows forward on his face.

Lisa writes: We read James bedtime stories. He has a bookshelf in his bedroom and he selects a couple of books. A few nights ago, he pulled out a Calvin and Hobbes anthology. We've been reading it to him every night since then.... This has been an enormous mistake. Case in point: In "Something Under the Bed Is Drooling" there's a Sunday comic where Calvin imagines he's Godzilla emerging from the ocean after a nuclear explosion. He growls his way out of the bathtub naked and dripping down to the kitchen where his mother is doing dishes, when she tells him to get back in the tub, he "spews a fireball at her." Literally he spits a mouthful of water at her and then goes running back upstairs. Guess what James did at the earliest opportunity after that?

Lisa writes: I believe this is traditionally known as the "Costco anniversary."