bishka came to see us again!

we were so excited to see bishka for the second time this summer!  last time my mom was here, any time pace saw a truck, he'd look at her so earnestly and say, "pace need that truck."  "pace need bucket lift."  "pace need front-end yoader (loader)."  my mom found a bucket lift model and brought it with her for pace.  before she came, she made a little video showing pace the bucket lift, and letting him know she was bringing it out for him.  pace's focus was on nothing else the weeks leading up to her visit--every day he'd say, "bishka bring you white bucket lift!"

and so, the night my mom came in, pace could not sleep...she arrived at 10pm and pace came running out of his room.  he knows the routine--unlike normal traveling people, bishka doesn't fill her suitcase with clothes and bathroom supplies...she fills her suitcase with gifts and treats for the boys!  (and some for david and me, too!...and don't worry, she already has a stash of clothes she keep here.)  pace knew there would be a white bucket lift somewhere in that suitcase, so he promptly sat down and waited for the goods.  and bishka delivered!    

bishka helped out with our theme days, too!  she taught pace the water cycle--they splashed through puddles on the morning walk and looked behind them at their footprints and watched them evaporate.  pace gets it, too!--when you ask him where water goes when it gets hot, he says, "apper-ration!", and when you ask him where water goes when the clouds get too heavy, he says, "rain! this!"  and then demonstrates "raining" with his fingers.  they also made rivers and lakes with blue paint on paper, and we took a trip to the splash pad to play in the water.  max has even come out of his shell and has decided he likes splashing in water now!

on color day bishka helped pace line up his cars like a rainbow--and of course, more stacking!  don't you love those little baby bottoms as they sit and play?!  max consistently uses his left hand for eating and playing...will he be our second lefty in the family?  bishka also likes to bake something with pace while she's here.  this time they made a pear cobbler.  yum!

max decided to take his first unassisted steps during bishka's visit, too!  as long as he was holding onto something in both hands, he felt secure enough to make a run for it.  since then, however, the little stinker makes his mad scrunchy face if i try and get him to walk on his own!