Victor and I were just discussing the gold, silver, and bronze medals that Olympic atheletes earn.
He wanted to know what the worst person got.
He suggested a black medal, so the person knows he did poorly.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Zeke Jumps and Swims
Zeke has taught himself to swim this summer. His strategy was to get in the four foot part of pool with me, then launch himself away from me. Then, he would struggle madly to stay afloat. I was not allowed to touch him, and if I tried, he'd stick just his little hand out of the water and finger-wag me. If I moved toward him, he would use his brief breaths to tell me to stay away.
It was alarming/funny. So I would stand in the pool with my arms out, and he'd grab them when he was ready.
Eventually, he figured out how to swim underwater with breast stroke arms and a flutter kick. (Adorable.) He also figured out how to flutter kick on his back, float on his belly, and dive under my legs. Like Victor, he will not let me teach him how to do any strokes.
Zeke has never been particularly daring, so it was interesting to watch him try so hard at something difficult.
Last night was our ward pool party.
It was Victor and Zeke's first experience with a real diving board and a real deep end.
I was not concerned about Victor, but I was not sure Zeke would be able to make it back to the wall after his jump.
The lifeguard made him swim across the entire deep end of the pool before he was allowed to use the diving board, and he did it! He was so proud.
The diving board itself was super fun. He used it to exhaustion, and I had to pluck him out of the water after his last jump.
It was alarming/funny. So I would stand in the pool with my arms out, and he'd grab them when he was ready.
Eventually, he figured out how to swim underwater with breast stroke arms and a flutter kick. (Adorable.) He also figured out how to flutter kick on his back, float on his belly, and dive under my legs. Like Victor, he will not let me teach him how to do any strokes.
Zeke has never been particularly daring, so it was interesting to watch him try so hard at something difficult.
Last night was our ward pool party.
It was Victor and Zeke's first experience with a real diving board and a real deep end.
I was not concerned about Victor, but I was not sure Zeke would be able to make it back to the wall after his jump.
The lifeguard made him swim across the entire deep end of the pool before he was allowed to use the diving board, and he did it! He was so proud.
The diving board itself was super fun. He used it to exhaustion, and I had to pluck him out of the water after his last jump.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Ice Cream Surprise
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Ammonia
A couple of months ago, I started experimenting with ammonia.
It's my new favorite thing.
I have always cleaned with Mr. Clean or Lemon Lysol, and they do a good job.
But ammonia is awesome, as long as you don't stick your nose over it and inhale deeply.
First, it cuts through kitchen grease like nobody's business. Washing down my cabinets, walls, appliances, etc. takes less effort and is more effective when I use ammonia.
Second, it works wonderfully in bathrooms. Although I haven't tried it on the shower tiles or grout or anything that requires a more abrasive touch.
Third, it is awesome on floors. I hear it is very good on wood floors and brilliant at removing waxy build-up, but I don't have either of those. I just have vinyl, and it cleans it up very well.
Fourth, although the smell is pungent while you are cleaning, it rapidly fades into the glorious smell of nothing. I love it when my house smells like nothing.
To use ammonia, scrub and rinse your sink. Then plug it and, while you are running in hot water, add several glugs of ammonia. I have only tried regular ammonia, but lemon scent is also available.
I hear ammonia is also great for laundry, but I haven't tried that yet. Catch the Window, do you have any info on that?
It's my new favorite thing.
I have always cleaned with Mr. Clean or Lemon Lysol, and they do a good job.
But ammonia is awesome, as long as you don't stick your nose over it and inhale deeply.
First, it cuts through kitchen grease like nobody's business. Washing down my cabinets, walls, appliances, etc. takes less effort and is more effective when I use ammonia.
Second, it works wonderfully in bathrooms. Although I haven't tried it on the shower tiles or grout or anything that requires a more abrasive touch.
Third, it is awesome on floors. I hear it is very good on wood floors and brilliant at removing waxy build-up, but I don't have either of those. I just have vinyl, and it cleans it up very well.
Fourth, although the smell is pungent while you are cleaning, it rapidly fades into the glorious smell of nothing. I love it when my house smells like nothing.
To use ammonia, scrub and rinse your sink. Then plug it and, while you are running in hot water, add several glugs of ammonia. I have only tried regular ammonia, but lemon scent is also available.
I hear ammonia is also great for laundry, but I haven't tried that yet. Catch the Window, do you have any info on that?
Monday, July 9, 2012
Victor's Vocabulary
It is always interesting to see what words my boys pick up from the TV shows they watch.
Can you identify which show resulted in the conversation I had in the car with Victor this afternoon?
Me: Look at that white truck.
Victor: That looks like the one Grandma and Grandpa have.
Me, surprised: Yes. How did you remember that?
Victor, with customary self-depreciating chuckle: Oh. Heh. I have good back-story memory.
Also, unrelated to TV, he calls speedometers "speed thermometers."
Can you identify which show resulted in the conversation I had in the car with Victor this afternoon?
Me: Look at that white truck.
Victor: That looks like the one Grandma and Grandpa have.
Me, surprised: Yes. How did you remember that?
Victor, with customary self-depreciating chuckle: Oh. Heh. I have good back-story memory.
Also, unrelated to TV, he calls speedometers "speed thermometers."
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Falcon Cam
Victor and Zeke's favorite animal is the peregrine falcon. They like it because it can dive at 200 miles per hour, faster than any other animal.
Last week, Jeremy found a falcon cam online. If you follow the link, you can watch three baby falcons on a ledge in Boise.
The boys and their dad check the falcons every night. Usually, there is very little action. But the one night they convinced me to watch, one of the parent falcons brought home a dead animal for supper. We got to watch it rip meat off the carcass and distribute it to the babies.
Last week, Jeremy found a falcon cam online. If you follow the link, you can watch three baby falcons on a ledge in Boise.
The boys and their dad check the falcons every night. Usually, there is very little action. But the one night they convinced me to watch, one of the parent falcons brought home a dead animal for supper. We got to watch it rip meat off the carcass and distribute it to the babies.
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