May

 
I often think Gus understands emotions better than a lot of grown men. I heard about this book, The Treasure Tree, that's supposed to teach kids about personality types, and then I happened to see it at a thrift shop, so I figured it was providence and grabbed it. I thought it was something he might be interested in in a year or so, but he loves it now and requests it often. Cracks me up that that's his current favorite above the books about trains, dinosaurs, etc.

They were coming for the camera.

Gus has been really reluctant to participate in classroom settings, and he's young and I don't think he should have to worry about that now, so I've just been trying to get him through the required ones (church and BSF) and I'd pretty much decided to homeschool him instead of putting him in the Spanish preschool next year. But what do you know, all of the sudden he's participating. I got to witness it first hand in our mommy and me Spanish class. He was yelling "presente!" "aqui esta!" "muy bien!" and even counted to ten into the microphone. Then he wrote Maestra Susy a "message" on the back of his coloring sheet and took it over to tell her about it.

He rarely wants pictures taken these days. But every once in a while...

When he's in a good mood, Lu is "the best sister ever!" and he's the best brother and I'm "a beautiful mama"! When he's in a bad mood, we're all "bad cousins." 

...and other times mom forces him to stop and pose.

He's also been really into the concept of "zero" lately. When I tell him I don't have something he'll say "Mom, you have ZERO snack bars." Then he'll make a zero with his hands and look through it for emphasis. Also, all circles are now zeros.

Luci's first sentence: "I want chocolate."

That's my girl.

Mom's heroic save at the Japanese Friendship Garden.

She is definitely talking now though it is pretty hard to understand her most of the time. I rely on context, pantomime, and multiple choice guesses. Gus attempts to help, but his success rate is about the same as mine. Her ABCs are pretty unmistakable though. She loves for her daddy to throw her on the bed and begins pleading "on bed" and jumping at him as soon as he gets home.

She still loves animals and has even managed to win over my brother's dog who is not crazy about people other than my brother, and specifically kids. Also, she continues to deliver her awesome hugs to people who she decides need them. I think it's a special gift.

A girl and her dog.

She just kills me; she's so fun. She's so rough and tumble and yet she loves mom's makeup, heels, and purses. When her little dimple comes out, it's about all I can do to keep from eating her with a spoon.

Naps were rough this month.

She is also exhausting. She's in a pouring stage. Thing is, kids don't know how to pour right away, they have to practice. This seems obvious and reasonable until the practice area becomes your dining room table. Daily. With her brother's cup and bowl. Gus and I are in agreement that this is not our favorite stage.

Luci examines the greater portion of our unripe blueberry crop. Then she picked two...

She requested a selfie with mama.