(This was written on Monday but I had to wait until today for Joel to show me once again, how it insert pictures into a post.)

Day 2 on the job (and weekends don’t count because Joel is here) and I set the alarm in hopes of getting up and ready before the boys. Unfortunately, Joel believes they can hear my alarm going off from their room because inevitably, they call out after the alarm rings. Sigh – oh well. Best intentions. At least this time, Joel was ready and I was out of the shower and had my hair dry before they emerged from their bedroom.

This morning’s story concerns therapy – occupational therapy to be more specific. Dexter qualified for OT with the Everett School District on gross motor skills, so once a week, he has a half hour session with Mrs Hollie at the elementary school next to our house. Mrs. Hollie is super nice and lets Nicky participate too. Because my boys cannot draw a simple stick figure at age 4, one of the homework assignments she has given us is to assemble a person called Map Man and then draw a picture of him. At last week’s OT session, she asked the boys if they had done Map Man that week to which Nicky responded “no”. WRONG – well, technically right for Nic because he refused when I brought that exercise out but Dexter did do it. So, seeing that this week is my first week of meeting Mrs Hollie in person, I’m trying to redeem myself.

This morning, I set up Map Man and scissor time. I had them cut out three shapes – a circle, a square, and a piece of pizza – and write their names in each one. Then they had to put together Map Man. Having fun with the situation, I asked the boys if Map Man was going to eat a donut, a grilled cheese sandwich or a piece of pizza. They laughed and that was that until I saw Dexter’s Map Man. He had put all three shapes into Map Man’s stomach. Dexter turned to me and said, “He was really hungry, Mommy.” I also want you to note in the picture that the two Map Men are holding hands. That was Dexter’s doing too. I love how creative they can be.

One more thing to share with you about Monday.  We had enough time to run to Value Village to drop off donations and look for Halloween costumes.  We ended up picking up to police officer hats.  The boys absolutely love those hats.  That night, after dinner, Nicky puts on his police hat, turns to me with the biggest smile on his face and says “Mommy, can we be naked police officers?  Please????” or something to that affect.  There was no way I could turn him down.  ”Underwear stays on” was my only reply.  Off came the clothes and there was Nicky, proud in his almost nakedness and police officer hat.  Dexter got his pants off but then got distracted and his shirt stayed on.  I went back into the kitchen to pack lunches for the next day’s field trip to the pumpkin farm.  All of a sudden, the song “Gangnam Style” by Psi came on the radio.  I started to dance and Nicky joined me in jumping all around.  It kind of felt like I was at a bachelorette party.  Yes, I do have pictures.  NO, I am not going to share.  ;)