Wait, where did the mess go?

I hired a cleaning company to come out this morning and spend a couple hours cleaning my house. It was lovely and smelled so good afterward. When the boys came in the house from the neighbor's house, Erik noticed the smell of peppermint right away. He has said in the past how much he likes things to be messy, but I always assumed that was just because he didn't want to have to clean up. This afternoon he was driving a toy truck around, and he reached waaaaay under some heavy furniture to pull out a dust bunny and put it in his truck. He was just so at sea with the house being so clean, he had to find one of his old friends, dust bunny, to feel comfortable again!

Bittersweet

Erik is going to Vacation Bible School this week. Our church doesn't do VBS, so he's going to another Lutheran church in town. We visited there one week so he would be a little familiar with the building. I talked about it a little so it wouldn't be a surprise, but didn't dwell on it so much that he got anxious.

When I dropped him off yesterday, he was momentarily upset, but went right over, sat down and played with blocks. Adin and I left the room, talked to someone at a table in the hall and then peeked in, just to make sure he was ok. He was fine. I was very proud of him.

Then today, he was momentarily upset at home before we left, but did not show any distress at all at the church. He just sat down and played and could barely be bothered to say goodbye.

Both days, I was so proud of him, but also had a twinge of sadness. Joe and I have been working with him for years on transitions, separating from us, and mastering his emotions. It's very gratifying to see him do well, but it also hits home how he is one step further from his babyhood. sigh.

Really?

Tonight there was an ice cream social at church. During dinner Adin said he didn't want to go. I figured he was probably pulling a two year old maneuver and asked if he'd rather go with me to the grocery store. Yes he would. He steadfastly maintained that he would rather go shopping with me and how excited he was to go to the grocery store. [And by the way, through the entire shopping trip he did not shut up about how much fun he was having at the store. I had to tell the manager.]

I started up the car and as soon as the music from the CD started (Peter Himmelman "My Fabulous Plum") he said, "I love this song." We drove about two minutes and he said, "I love this music. I really, really love this song. It's really, really funny." I said, "It's not as funny as you!" He said in a small, sad voice, "It's a little bit funny."

Adin's language sample from tonight.

Here's what Adin said tonight as he was winding down in his crib:

Can you go over there?
I thought you was.
You have to look in the bookcase. (should have been past tense)
That’s a good idea mama.
He’s tired and sad. (he could hear Erik crying)
I’m a little bit sad.
Is somebody out the door?
Not you, no, not Mama.
But you was.
I was waiting for you and Papa.
What’s your name again?
What’s your names?
No, that’s not your names.
Anne is your two names.
Mama, can we meet Gramma here?
Ok, that’s a good idea Mama.
You said yeah. You said yes, too.
Can you tell me a knock knock joke to me?
You say knock knock. I say who’s there.
Ok. I will not cry. (after a boo who knock knock joke)
It’s gone on.
Is that a funny one?
Can you tell me a different one joke?
No. I don’t want another knock knock joke.
Papa dump it for me.
Me either. Not me.
That’s a laugh-y one. I laughed. (After I told him a joke. I love this comment.)
Should I lie down instead?
I’m asleep.
I want you cover me.
I want you lie down.
Oh no. I love jokes.
There’s two and three. I like those numbers. My number’s two.
‘K. I will be quiet.
So cozy Mama

Four years

So far, I really like the age of four. Yesterday, Joe was going to take the boys to the local kiddie pool. Adin tripped and skinned he knee. He refused to go to the pool. Erik was verrrrry disappointed, but he was able to say with a quivery voice that he was sad about it. Last summer, he would have had a flat out tantrum.
His Grandma was here Thursday night and he wanted to go downstairs and play 'Bert and Ernie Goodnight' with her. Adin said he wanted to play too, but he couldn't go down right away, I forget why. Lois (Grandma) said that Erik waited for Adin to start the play. So sweet, especially since once Adin came down they bickered quite a bit.

He's also become significantly better at cleaning up after himself. He doesn't make a big fuss about it, sometimes he will even do it without my asking or with only one ask. When he does put up a stink, I tell him I will think about that next time he asks to play with the item. He goes right over and starts putting things away!