What is going on here?

Lately, I have given Sofia and Marcelo some heightened expectations with respect to their daily routines.  After waking up, they are to get dressed and make their beds independently before coming down for breakfast.  They've been quite good at doing so thanks to Accountable Kids, a program I'll have to talk about a little bit later.  It is a well know fact that I was born loathing the morning. After rolling out of bed and brushing my teeth, I then meet them downstairs as I try to pry my unwilling eyes open without causing myself an ocular migraine.  That was very unpleasant back in 2008.

So... on this fine day, after all our morning routine activities (homeschool, online preschool, lunch, playing) where completed in the downstairs of the house, I came up to the second floor with Marcelo and Peter for Quiet Time.  I love Quiet Time.  It's really quiet.  Well, most of the time.  Upon reaching Marcelo's bedroom door, I was greeted with this happy scene. It kind of made my day, for some reason. Immediately, I wondered -what the hell have these stuffed animals been up to?  And, how did they get this way?  They are always in baskets on the floor with the exception of Bear & Blanky which are usually the only ones allowed on Marcelo's bed.

Apparently, there was a big party going in Marcelo's bedroom this morning, and I didn't even know about it.  God help me when Sofia and Marcelo are teenagers.

Summer days

Last summer, Marcelo was drawn to this tree like a magnet. He wanted to climb it. And he wanted to climb it, I guess, because in his mind, it was little, like him. Of course, we told him that he was to do no such thing to this recently planted tree representing a substantial financial investment in our future shade. This year, Marcelo managed to get his horse stuck in the tree and then, of course, had to climb it to retrieve it. Peter quickly caught on and even aided and abetted him in this crime of nature. Boys. How quickly they come together amicably for such ideas.

"Hmm, I think I know something that might help."



"Here, try this."

"I'm almost there."

"Ah, forget it.  What if I just kick this thing while I swing on this limb?  That might be fun."

My Little Brother

When Marcelo first saw his little brother at the hospital, he followed suit to Sofia's reaction. He and Sofia entered the room quietly (this in of itself is highly unusual) with eyes and mouth wide open. In fact, their eyes were as wide open as I have ever seen them. I think Sofia knew what to expect but for Marcelo it was real wonderment at seeing the baby that we had been talking to him about being in my tummy for all these months. And then to see a real baby in my arms was probably like some kind of magic trick for him. I wish I could have captured it on video (but alas I am only one person and have only to hands.) Anyway, after the first five minutes of wonderment, Sofia started asking if she could eat my left over dessert and Marcelo became fascinated with the window and the blinds.

Since then, Marcelo hasn't been too interested in interacting with baby Peter. I've asked him if he wants to look at him up close or touch his feet, to which he replies, "no". I guess he's just not sure what to make of him much. He does talk to me about the baby and the baby's things and often refers to him as "your baby" or "my baby [brother]". And each night, he sweetly says goodnight to the baby when he goes to bed. He doesn't appear to be jealous or acting out do to our new addition so I don't mind him keeping his distance a little from the baby for now because ironically, I know I will be begging them to stop causing havoc together in only too soon of a time.