At play

I'm not 100% sure where he gets stuff. Today Ermias said to me, "mom, you buy something from me." And he lead me around the corner to the dinning room where he had set up a little work station for himself.

He had his DS set up as his computer, a lego Cars guy as his mouse, a notebook (and he was taking notes), and a file folder (thanks Stacy) with my papers to fill out.

I suggested a few things I would like to buy from him, but he said "no" to them all. And then he said, "you buy a bike from me. One dollar." When I said, "one dollar!" He said, "no, its three dollars." Then he took my money.

He had me write on some papers.

And, then went off the do something with them.

Then he took some more notes. And, then I had a bike!!

I told Waymond about my purchase and he said, "I really hope he doesn't sell used cars someday!"

Creative Outlet

Sometimes you just need a creative outlet. I found myself in that place the other day and thankfully a friend's birthday was close. I baked her a mini rainbow cake (and one for us). I found the idea for a mini cake here. And, the rainbow idea came from some other blog. Instead of just making a mini version, I just made a regular recipe and divided it between 4 pans and 6 cupcakes. White cake + food coloring = rainbow cake:

I only had two mini "pans" (Cost-co size tuna/chicken cans) so I baked, washed, and then rebuttered &

refloured and baked again. It would be less of a process with a couple more "pans."

I sliced each one into three pieces. The tops are just bonus for the husband who wants a little snack.

So, each mini cake could be it's own double layer cake or do like I did and mix the colors and did two, four layers on each cake.

I did frosting in between one cake and pudding in between the other.

I had some random blue frosting from something else, so I used it too.

Tasty, tasty mini cake!

Brothers

I snapped this with my phone while we were walking to the bus stop this morning.

Brotherly love, one minute its a hug the next its a punch to the face!

Bingo

Tonight's Family Fun Night at Isayas' school was Bingo! A first for Isayas. He didn't win, but we had a great time together.

I think we might need to buy a bingo game for home, it could help Ermias recognize numbers. Plus I love games!

Video: Super Cook Man

Waymond got this great video of Ermias while he was super cook man! I think he's been to Starbucks a bit too often. Before this video was shot Ermias asked Waymond if he wanted coffee and Waymond said yes. Then Ermias said, "you want vanilla and cream." I think he'll be a Starbucks customer for life!

Capes

The boys got new capes! Waymond cut the fronts of old t-shirts off and left the neck & back. They literally put them on first thing this morning. Ermias wore his brushing his teeth!

Ermais turned his cape around and he became a "cook man" and made us something to eat. He even poured my milk for me into my cereal! He then put a cape on the front and one on the back and said "I'm a super cook man now." :o)

And then they made them into beards!

And, then it was time for school and work! After school the capes went back on and they've had them on until bedtime! They might have slept in them, but having something around your neck just didn't seem like a great idea!

My kids are funny!

Tonight after dinner Isayas was doing some homework and Ermias wanted to do homework too. So, the boys were working together at the table being their normal silly selves. I asked them if they were that silly in Ethiopia and Isayas said no. And then he said, "Ermias taught me to be funny here." And, then Ermias said "pencil fire, pencil fire." Which I've heard lately from them but didn't know where it came from. So I asked and Isayas said, "Some kids at my school say, 'lier lier pants on fire.' and, when I told Ermias he said, 'lier lier pencil fire.'" We all laughed. I think pencil fire is much better than pants on fire! We'll be using that at the Hampton's house from now on!

Movies

The boys had a super fun day that included seeing Star Wars Episode I on the big screen. They both were super excited (although the picture doesn't exactly show it). We didn't spring for the 3D version since they have a hard time keeping the glasses on and frankly George Lucas doesn't need ten more dollars of our money!

The day started at the Glass Museum. Isayas explained it to me later (I wasn't with them) as the guys who were roasting marshmallows, but it was glass.

Working with Daddy

If you've ever stayed at our house, you know how squeaky our stairs are. I've been going through a bout of insomnia and have been sleeping horribly. And, the squeaky stairs aren't helping when our exchange student comes down in the middle of the night (not his fault)!

So, yesterday Waymond ripped up the carpet and screwed them down like crazy! It helped a bit, but we are planning on replacing them altogether to achieve complete silence!

The boys had an amazing time helping! Crow bars, shop vacs, hammers, nails that can wound ...boy heaven! And, thankfully only Waymond got bloody!

Action Figures

I have realized (and I know boys aren't going to like this) that action figures are dolls for boys. Ermias LOVES playing with this new Star Wars figures. I tried to get a good shot of what he was playing the other day. He had his Yoda figure out with his Ankin as a kid and he had them set up like Yoda was teaching Ankin how to use his light-saber. He recreates the movies all the time!

It's bonus when he plays during the day when Isayas is at school - he get free rein of Isayas' figures too!

Isayas' new job

We've been giving the boys some small jobs around the house. One of Isayas' new jobs is matching and folding socks. He doesn't love it, but he's pretty good at it! I think what he doesn't like is that there are a lot of socks to match and fold!

Birthday money

Ermias has been learning about money; with Christmas and then his birthday a month later he's had some practice. He's been really wanting an ObiWan ship. The lego one is crazy expensive, but he found one he can afford! So he got his Target gift card from Christmas and gathered some of his birthday money and we went to Target.

Then Isayas got home from school and he wanted to use some of his Christmas money and gift card...Waymond went this time!

They've been playing with this ships all the time! Now they are working on getting some figures to go with them (marketers are genius). George Lucas must be a billionaire! For sure he'll be getting some of our kid's spare money! :o)

Musical talents

Not sure if this is a tune we all know, but if you listen carefully some of his lyrics include his favorite ObiWan!

Our new ukulele

Waymond ordered a cheap ukulele on the interwebs and Ermias has found his calling. It's the perfect size for him. And, he loves the tuner that came with it; he plays it like a harmonica.

I'll post a video of him playing as soon as it finishes uploading!

Zoo

It was a beautiful day in Tacoma today and Isayas was off school (semester break), so we headed to the zoo for a little Sunshine (i.e. Vitamin D).

We got a map this time and Isayas was extremely excited about tracking us on the map.

Our first stop is usually the tigers. This trip it was the leopards, but they weren't out, so on to the tigers.

There was a lot of consulting the map to see exactly where we were.

These apes were quite entertaining and active!

I think Big Erm wouldn't even be a snack for a great white shark.

Of course our trip to the zoo included lunch. The boys can't go there without eating.

Our own monkey showing his skills! He learned a bit too much from watching the monkeys today.

Chuckee Cheese

Ermias was invited to a birthday party at...Chucke Cheese! I tried really hard to explain what exactly Chucke Cheese is; I wanted to prepare him, but it's just so hard to do because they have have no reference.

They had the time of their lives; I on the other hand would love to never go back there! There were literally hundreds of people there, it was chaos!

Here was the BEST part of the whole trip for me, I spent $3 on tokens and the boys were ECSTATIC! There will come a day, I realize, when they will expect to have more than $3 in tokens to share, but for now there is no expectation. On that note, tonight I was going to the store and right before I opened the door to leave Ermias said, "Mom, you bring us back toys?" Oh, he's learning!

He's got style

Isayas asked to wear my glasses the other day and then wanted me to take pictures of him. It went as follows:

Then he decided he needed to get up and pose:

Not sure where he got his sweet moves! However, not on an entirely different note, the boys have learned the word goofball!