I Scream!!!

Both Aunt Lucy and Mami suggested we try the NYT recipe to make ice cream in a mason jar. Now, I didn't have the smaller mason jar, so you'll see in Maceo's video what we used. But Maceo is waaaaay into making movies now, and both boys are way into ice cream, so here you'll see a blending of their passions.

A Trip to the Barbers' Shop

Boys Making Stuff

For the past year or so, Cassius has been sleeping with me, and I let him because he seemed to need it. But--he's not the easiest person to sleep with because he kicks and moves and grinds his teeth. So, in an effort to help him go back to his room, and to appease Maceo who would also like someone to sleep with (and thanks to Mamy's eagle eye on her neighborhood listserve), I got a free bunk bed for Cassius's room. This Sunday, I built a border to keep Cash from rolling out of the top bunk in his sleep and to stoke his enthusiasm, I let him spray paint it with his own original design. First, we put down painters' tape. 

Cassius designing an aesthetically pleasing work.

Cash generously allowed a collaborator to paint
the other side of the plywood.

Kids and barrier in place and ready for bed!

And then last night, they went to bed, no problem, and I didn't see them until about 6:30 in the morning!

Weekends Are Work

So, even during normal times, I felt like weekends were somehow harder to get through than week days. Something about being next to small boys at all hours makes me sleepy. But during quarantine, it's somehow more tiring? Is that possible?

Anyway, yesterday, Saturday, we were in the house and the number of activities skyrocketed. It was a lovely day, but a little cold, so the boys were happy to play in the house. And we brainstormed a bucket list of activities for the sunny days to come, so we had plenty of things to start doing and crossing off the list.

Cassius's first bucket list item was to "make forts of couch."

You might find a small boy in this photo.

Maceo wanted to get in on the action, too.

Maceo's in there somewhere.

The next thing we did was not on the bucket list, but we might add it. The McMurrers had given Maceo a macarons kit, so we made them. And holy cow, they were delicious.

Not perfectly beautiful, but so tasty.

 Maceo then worked on his video about solving energy waste. He was impressively proficient with adding text, sound, and music, though the throughline of the project isn't so well thought out.

Once the macarons were cooled, we were able to mix the filling, taste it, and then make the actual cookies.

The judges gave the macarons passing scores.

Then, it was time to get out of the house before we rubbed each other the wrong way once too often! We went across the street to explore one of our favorite places, the Howard Divinity School.

Some industrious folks had been busy building structures, and Maceo and Cassius were entranced. They worked on the huts, too, and loved it!

This quiet hang out lasted SO LONG!

Again, there are children in the photo, if you can find them.

When we came home, it was quiet time. I let them pass the hour silently reading in their forts, and I retired upstairs to take my afternoon nap.

All in all, a day chock full of good activities and good times!

Small Territorial Children

Cassius spent a lot of time working at the dining room table the other day. Later, I found out what he was up to.

This was the rough draft.

The final version, now on his bedroom door.

When I come to his closed bedroom door now, I knock.

"Say your name!" Cassius yells. "

Nick," I reply. 

"What's the password?" he demands. He had told me the password earlier, but I didn't remember it.

"3316," I guess. Silence. "3361?" 

"Nope!" 

"3661?" And the door swings open.

Quarantine and Creativity

The boys have enjoyed the quarter pipe thus far, and they are getting better and better at riding it with their scooters. Skateboard riding is improving, but much more slowly. Maceo did want to add some aesthetic improvements of his own to the platform, though, so I taught him how to use spray paint, and let him get to it.

Next, I'm going to have him spray some weather protection on there, and then he'll have really put in some work.

It's been rainy here the last two days, and the boys have also taken to hiding underneath the quarter pipe where they talk about dragons and prepare potions with water and mud and grass and magic. I'm not entirely sure where this comes from, though it's probably Harry Potter. In any case, it's been really nice to have them playing together pretty well, using lots of imagination, and being outside even in not so great weather!

Dinner Convo

Tonight at dinner. Cassius ruminated while peeling a piece of Easter candy. “ It’s weird how they can make the foil gold.” I responded, “Yeah it is.” 

Cassius continued, "And it’s weird that your butt can poop."