I just remembered as I was going to post some Christmas pictures that you wanted a video of Silas riding a bike.  Unfortunately, this was the only such video that I had and it was right at the beginning of his bike-learning adventures.  So, here's a glorious crash.

Silas' Quotes

Silas has been learning how to ride a bike without training wheels today.  He came in the house, face glowing with pride, and said, "I'm impressed with myself.  I'm very impressed with myself!"

Yesterday we were driving home from the park when Gideon told Silas to feel his armpits because they were very sweaty.  Silas--in a that's-so-obvious voice--said, "I know their sweaty.  Armpits are like hamburgers."

Happy Birthday Dad!

I told the boys to sing "Happy Birthday" to you, but Gideon being a mischievous six-year-old boy, sang this version.

Silas said that you were going to like that it said zoo.  Hope you have a fantastic day!

The Dollar Store

I heard Gideon explaining the concept of a Dollar Store to his friend who had apparently never been in one before.  This isn't an exact quote because I can't remember his exact wording, but it went something like this.  "So, if you have three dollars, you can buy three things and if you have one hundred dollars, you can buy one hundred things there.  Then you would have one hundred toys and they would all break because they are cheap and then you can build something really big out of it!"

First Day of First Grade

Gideon started school on Monday.  Here he is in his cute school uniform that just so happens to match what Peter often wears to work.

It has been a really weird week!  It's too long of a story to explain here, but on Friday I switched Gideon back to the same school where he had kindergarten.  I'm quite sad that he doesn't have to wear uniforms anymore.

Sweet Dreams

A few nights ago:

The boys usually go to bed a couple of hours before Peter and I do.  So, Peter and I were downstairs talking when we heard Gideon wake up.  He was moaning.  "I bet he has to go to the bathroom," I said.  Gideon has a long history of not waking up thoroughly when he needs to use the bathroom at night.  He'll stay in bed whining and dancing for a few minutes before he realizes what he needs to do.  As predicted, we finally heard Gideon get up and stumble to the bathroom.  Instead of being quiet after relieving himself, however, he continued to moan and stumble around the upstairs.  So, I went to check on him.  "Gideon, are you alright?"  Completely blank stare.  Then, without responding, he turned abruptly and headed back to his bed.  Since he was still making the most pitiful noises, I thought that he must have been feeling ill.  I followed him to his bed and continued asking him if he was okay.  At last he responded.  In a mournful voice he said, "I can't get these bracelets threaded."

Last night:

I woke up in the middle of the night to the all-too-familiar sounds of Silas screaming, "Mom! Mom!"  When I went into his room to see what was the matter, he was quite shaken by a dream he had just had.  I tried to soothe him and convince him that there was nothing to be afraid of, but to no avail.  Finally I asked him what his nightmare was about.  "I slapped an old lady and she bit me!  She bit my finger off!"

If it weren't for those dang old ladies and bracelets my children would sleep soundly at night!

I was reading a book about reptiles to Gideon and Silas, when Silas stopped me and asked, in all seriousness, "Mom, when will I have to go seek my fortune?"  I'm not sure what his question had to do with reptiles, but I assured him that he wouldn't have to "seek his fortune" until he was an adult.  He seemed satisfied and relieved by this response.

Gideon Quotes and the Silas Ice Cream Incident

Quote #1:
Gideon: "Momma, you should marry a prince."
Me: "I already am married to a prince."
Gideon: "No, you didn't marry a prince, you married a nerd!"

Lest anyone get the wrong impression here, I don't call Peter a nerd (at least not too often) but he regularly calls himself a nerd and holds nerdiness in the highest esteem.

Quote #2:
The boys were all gathered around me as I looked at Our Best Bites blog.  They were oohing and awing and trying to convince me to make each delicious-looking treat.  Unable to take it any longer, Gideon proclaimed, "My mouth is watering in vain!"

The Silas Ice Cream Incident
I gave Silas and Gideon each an ice cream cone on condition that they would only eat it outside.  After a few minutes Silas opened the door with his ice cream cone in hand.  Peter said, "Silas, what are you doing?  Go back outside!"  Silas retreated, but about ten seconds later Gideon popped inside with his ice cream cone.  Peter, feeling frustrated, shouted, "Gideon, go back outside!"  Instead of retreating, Gideon urgently shouted back, "But Silas has his pants pulled down and he's peeing on the lawn!"  Sure enough.  Peter looked out the window and there was Silas--bare bum, ice cream cone in one hand, something else in the other, and a little yellow rainbow in front of him.

Silas and Ambrose both think the dogs' water dish is the best toy in the yard.
Silas gives the dogs "fresh water" about every two seconds.

Puppies!

Here are our new puppies--Birdie and Josie.  They are very sweet--especially with Ambrose.  So far I have seen Ambrose stand on a tail, lay on their feet, stick his fingers in their nose and mouth, take toys from the puppies, and feed them bones.  They have been so wonderfully gentle with Ambrose and he LOVES them!  Silas was scared of the puppies at first, but quickly warmed up to them.  Yesterday when Silas was going upstairs for nap time, he said, "When I wake up, I will be delighted to play with them!"  When I was explaining to Gideon that the puppies were Golden Retriever/English Pointer mixes, he asked, "But how do they regrow their bones?"  I did my best to clarify but it obviously wasn't a good explanation because later on in the day Gideon said, "Wouldn't it be funny if the neighbor's dog came in our yard and then we would just have one dog [instead of two] that was a mix?"