Ivan is used to the routine now, and even got sick twice. And he no longer asks me, "Mommy, are you going to work?", because he knows I'll reply, "Vanya, are you going to school?"
Nikita loves having Ivan in the school. He often visits him during the day, making sure that no one beats him up. Of course, I see the visits as another excuse for uneaten lunches. Outside of school, Nikita is as overscheduled as ever. So far, he's keeping up, but still finds time to "compose" music and fight with his brother.
For me, September sets off an internal alarm clock. I immediately start checking the pediatrician offers flu shots, and ask the boys what they want to be for Halloween. Both goals have been accomplished: the boys have received their shots, and decided to be Star Wars characters. Ivan's Darth Vader costume was easy, thanks to craigslist. Nikita's request was more challenging because I didn't watch episodes 2 & 3. So, I posted the description (based on a Lego figure) to Facebook: "the good guy with green hair, black eyes, and a bone where the belt buckle is." Thankfully, my friend Kate had a Star Wars Lego sticker book by her laptop, and identified the character as Kit Fisto. This character does not come as a child costume, so we're going to have to be creative. Nikita's fine with this (he even suggested seed pods to serve as the "hair") as long the costume is not boxy like the homemade Transformer costume from a few years ago.
But perhaps my biggest accomplishment this month is breaking the curse of the red yarn. Here is the finished Lotus Blossom Tank, ends weaved the night before my first full day of classes:
