Right now the boys and I are learning how to get along on our own for a few days. Anthony's off in D.C., where he's representing his squadron at an awards ceremony. His unit won the best small maintenance squadron in the Air Force, and he was one of two Airmen who were chosen to go along with some of the higher-ups to the ceremony. He's staying in a hotel that he said "blows every Marriott I've ever stayed in out of the water." While he had a blue crab sandwich for lunch, we had fish sticks and canned fruit, so it's pretty much the same. When we took Anthony to the airport, Will told him, "Don't do it," when he said he had to get on the plane. That is one of his favorite phrases to try to keep us from doing anything he doesn't like. And Ethan has been following me around everywhere, as if he doesn't want me out of sight. Other than that, they're pretty oblivious. There are far too many things to destroy around the house to notice anything is different. Patience is wearing a little thin (today I cleaned up an entire box of macaroni noodles that were thrown all over the basement), but it's only for a few days, so we'll make it. I think.
We're also REALLY looking forward to flying home on the 8th. I'm worried about the temperature difference, since it's usually 30 degrees hotter in Indiana, but hopefully we'll adjust. We will definitely need super sunscreen when we go to South Carolina. The boys have never been to a beach where you can go swimming, and we are all white, white, white. We were able to go outside and play on the playground for the first time today because it finally made it to 50 degrees and most of the snow is melted. It was really nice for the boys to be able to run around and play in the sand. We had to watch out for multiple piles of moose poop, but that's just how it is here.
Will's learning that he has a mind of his own, which in turn has made Ethan realize the same thing. Instead of the little boys that would come when I called, they like to run halfway to me, laugh, and then bolt in the other direction. Some days it is funnier than others. We've also learned to be a little worried when Will says, "I did it!" A few weeks ago, I was making chili for dinner (if you're a Corbin, I mean goulash) and I went to the bathroom. I came out to Will telling me, "I did it!"
"What did you do?"
"I dump it all in!"
"Dumped what in where?!"
Then I noticed he had in his hand the what was once full jar of chili powder that was now half gone. I frantically started searching the house and finally glanced at the fish tank. The water was blood red. I yelled for Anthony to get out of the shower, and he helped me grab the fish and the snail out of the mess. The fish got in the clean water and gave what looked like a cough, which made chili powder fly out of his gills. Amazingly the two are okay. Our pets are invincible. We just have had to remind Will that spices are not fish food, and he shouldn't feed the fish without our help.
Ethan has learned to climb up the bench in our entryway, pull himself up the windowsill, and stand with only his toes gripping onto the window ledge as he holds onto the frame and yells out the window. He has absolutely no fear. He also drags the little rocking chair around to wherever he needs to reach something, so nothing is safe. My favorite thing is when he picks up an item he thinks I need (everything from my iPod to a toy car), brings it to me and says, "Go" as in "Here you go." He's very helpful. He also told me dinner was "gross" the other night. He is SUPER picky. I'm pretty sure he takes after my brother Daniel, who even at Thanksgiving will only eat turkey and rolls. If Ethan doesn't like a food, or even thinks that there is a possibility that he won't like it, he will turn his face away and stick his tongue out so I can't get anything in. Waiting until he gets hungry enough doesn't work either. Hopefully it's a phase.
Here are a few pictures from the last couple months:
Ethan enjoying his first taste of soda
Will with his new blanket from Grandma Corbin
Celebrating Fur Rondy, our annual winter festival
One of the snow sculptures at a Fur Rondy event
Sledding at Hillberg Ski Area in March
Ethan after his first sled ride down the hill
The sunset turned the mountains a beautiful purple that this picture really doesn't do justice!
Dyeing Easter Eggs
