You should be nicer, Mommy

This morning I asked Joseph (in vain, as usual) to put his shorts on.  After asking several times, I told him that he needs to do as I ask when I ask him.  His reply?

"Don't talk that way, Mommy!"
"What way?"
"um... Normal."
Tearing up: "How do I normally talk?"
"You say 'Please, may you get your shorts on'" [edit: he confuses will and may]
Laughing inside now: "How should I say it?"
"You should say..." [voice changes to a high pitch like when he talks to his baby animals] "Oh! Oh my goodness!  Your shorts!"

Right, kid.  I'm so mean.

Just a day in the life

Water play - it never gets old!

Babies?  Who needs babies?

Idlewild

Idlewild is a theme park for little kids.  It's phenomenal.  I've never been anywhere like it, and we had a blast!  Joseph LOVED the rides, the train, storybook forest, and the Mr. Rogers neighborhood.  I can't wait until next year when Nora will enjoy it more, too!

Raggedy Nora and Joseph

Joseph and the Giant Peach

First ride!

We were terrified of Sir Topham Hat

Race cars!

What are these called?  They were fun anyway!

Tea cup time!

The big climb!

Slide Time (Nora hated it)

Ball pit - Joseph loved it despite his sensory issues:

Our First Pet

Yes, Joseph won this battle.  Sort of. 

Joseph began telling me a few weeks ago that he was going to get a pet.  On August 19. 

???  WTF

Yes, August 19 was the day.  Why?  When asked he said "because that's when I'm getting a pet"
"Why not August 18, or 20th?"
"Because it's not the 18th."

Well, duh.  I'm such an idiot.

When I asked what kind of pet he wanted, he said a kitten (no surprise).  I nipped that one in the bud.  Not only is he not responsible enough, but cats live a long time.  Longer than I plan to be housing children.  I have to be 100% on board for that sort of comittment.  As of yet, I am not.

I told him we could get fish.

So this weekend we became proud owners of Wavy and Cloud.  Wavy is a blue fish.  Cloud is a bottom feeder.  We "rescued" them on craigslist.  That is the fancy-pet-owner way of saying that I bought them used.  Even so, we've been to the store 3 separate time to buy crap for them already.  Woo hoo!

Both Nora and Joseph love them.  Hopefully we don't kill them.  We have bad luck; if you recall Blackie the class fish, who met its demise at my house over Thanksgiving and was replaced by Blackie Jr. (and who was a different fish entirely by the end of the year, FWIW).