Oct 1 - I figured out how to see how many minutes my kid has logged in IXL so that I can tell him if he's done enough for each subject. He also successfully rewrote his narrative assignment from four lame sentences into a four-paragraph novella that is way more captivating. We're gonna celebrate by buying art supplies today!

Oct 14 - As we basked in all our victories last week, Ian and I took the afternoon off to ride around First Landing State Park. I would have sworn the Cape Henry Trail was 6 miles round trip. It's 6 miles from one end to the other. That means when you get to the end you have to ride 6 miles back to the car. In sand and pine straw and roots and mud.

I had to leave Ian at the Narrows on a bench while I rode back to the car, loaded my bike, and drove the 20 minutes around to retrieve him. When I texted Ian I had made it to the car, he responded, "Yay thank you so much mommy I love you so much."

In other news, Uncle Lee isn't allergic to poison ivy but Ian is. But we got him some steroids and the expensive poison ivy cream so he's no longer puffed up like a blowfish.

Oct 21 - Ian and I are reading a book together (Maze Runner) before bed and it's good enough that I'm annoyed if he falls asleep "too soon". I may have nudged him back awake occasionally to at least let me finish the chapter.

Oct 28 - Ian's room is an RGB oasis. His computer, mouse, mousepad, keyboard, and string lights all light up rainbow colors. You need a blow pop just to hang out in that rave of a room.

Oct 28 - Ian is another year old so his new chore is changing all the sheets on his bed once a week. He managed all that with flying colors despite his mattress being Princess And The Pea depth.