"Want to play orange ball bounce with me Mama?" 

Dotty loves to follow Ah-ma around, it's cute. My mom likes to talk to her all day. I think she likes it here, she gets spoiled. Dot gets two or three walks a day, lounges on the recliner, gets attention, and even a little extra food sometimes. 

Dot was watching us bounce the ball back and forth. She's not allowed in the living room, but she kept going back on the chair. I had to take a picture of her on this chair, NJ joined in.

Ah-ma was outside trimming the vines on the archway. While NJ and I were playing ball, there was another earthquake. I quickly opened the door to check on my mom knowing she was up on a ladder. She said she was fine and didn't feel a thing. 

Jogathon

His class getting ready for the run with some stretches.

Sitting nicely for some announcements and more stretches. 

NJ did great at running, he ran most of the half hour. He ran a lot with his teacher. Everyone was commenting on how fast he was. He ran really well, I was very proud! I feel like we really need to put him in a sport soon. 

He almost filled his whole card. I think he would have if he hadn't been running by so fast. I saw him not get marked several times, but no big deal. He seemed to really like running. 

When they finished they got a bottle of water and a yogurt.

I pre-ordered him an italian ice. I'm glad I did because he really enjoyed it. 

I volunteered again today with my mom too. I followed them to their classroom. I need to volunteer more because I got to see how he interacts with the other kids. He was doing great today, I was impressed. I'm glad I was there to watch him run, see the excitement, hear the cool music (including Chris Tomlin and the lego movie theme song), and it was sweet to see how encouraging everyone was. 

Supermex

"Have a chip, Mama."

"I'm done coloring the unicorn now, Mama." 

I don't think that's a unicorn...

We got the same thing, chicken tacos, beans and rice. 

We went for his school's fundraiser at a local restaurant. A percent of the proceeds went to his school. 

There was a Target right next to the restaurant, so we went to walk around. We were all quite full so a walk sounded nice. NJ picked up a basket for us. 

Lucky little guy gets to stare at lego boxes twice today! 

NJ wanted a ball to play with at Ah-ma's. She agreed to get it for him if he could carry it to the register without dropping it or bouncing it. I thought that was a pretty good deal. He almost made it until I stopped to look at some flip flops for him. But she had mercy on him and still got it for him. He only let it hit the floor that once. It was very nice of her. 

Picture Day

Mom came with me today to volunteer at school. We were going to get each class as they're ready for photos, but actually we stayed and groomed the kids. We helped fix their hair and straightened out clothes if needed. But understandably, most kids didn't really want to be touched. We are practically strangers. It was so cute to see all the kids dressed up. Some were so, so cute that I wanted to take a photo of them myself, but didn't want to be weird. Ha,ha. I took this one of NJ with none of the other kids looking. 

Baba dug out our paper storage shelf thing. It's been really useful mostly in my invitation making days. It's stacked with so much paper and I've kept it thinking I'll use it. I have made use of it, but there's still a ton left that are collecting dust and it will take me forever to use it all. 

So it's found a new home at the school. It looks nice and cozy in that corner. I don't feel so bad when it's going to great use. 

Our room is collecting more colorful work from our little man. He likes to sneak in there when we're not and tape more up to surprise us. It's cute and sweet.

Enjoying his crackers with his dinosaur made by Ah-ma. 

NJ asked to play with Ah-ma's iPad, but when we said no she showed him videos online. He likes to watch stuff with music or instructional stuff.

We played a game of chutes and ladders that baba won. And NJ got second, beating me. 

Some tickling before going off to get ready for bed. 

"No. I just want to pray."

He had a good day at school so I took him for a small snack and a walk around the toy store. 

He was excited about today, they wore the color of the animal in the story they wrote. For him, it was pigeon, so he was in all gray. At school, they made hats to match. 

We shared some noodles Ah-ma made and he seemed so pouty over dinner. After we did our bed time routine, devotion time, and prayer, I asked him how he's feeling. He said with a pout and his head down, "I'm sad. I want to go home, I miss our house."
It made me sad. So am I, and so do I! Yes, yes, and yes to all of it too. Trying to keep it together and make things as normal and routine as possible. I'm sure he misses his room, cooking and baking in our kitchen, eating dinner at our table, having his play area and all his toys, so many things we all miss. He's even asked to go swimming despite it being chilly (for here, anyway). I asked him if there's anything we can do to make things less sad for him while we're here. He said, "No. I just want to pray."
So I prayed for us about making the most of spending time with Ah-ma, keeping our house safe, blessing everyone that's working on it, that it will go smoothly...
I hope it's not effecting him too much. I try to remind myself that this is all just temporary. I want him to be more himself again. 

NJ asked me to help him make a tunnel. It was not approved upon inspection a couple of times until I made it high enough for the mini figures to walk through. This one's mine.

This one's his on the other side. 

He also built some kind of house.

NJ rode his bike to help Ah-ma with getting her mail. 

NJ was surprised by some "new" toys that we laid out for him. So kind and thoughtful of his friend to give some of his toys to NJ. He's having a lot of fun playing with them. 
He also got some clothes from his friend that didn't fit anymore. 

Someone was very excited about having hand rolls for dinner. He was so excited he could hardly sit still, kept making a mess and making and eating rolls faster than I could even make and eat mine. I'm glad he can enjoy it that much! 

Some homework time.