Isaac was an okay car kid.  He didn't like it too much when his car seat faced the wrong way (and who would) but even after he switched directions he was never thrilled.  The iPad in the car has been a patience saver for us when Isaac's riding for more than 30 minutes. 

Ethan on the other hand is a positive joy in the car.  I don't have him in the car alone all that much, but when I do I am stunned at how good he is.  From his tiny seat, in either my car or Biancas, Ethan will call out locations.

"Are we on the highway?"
"I like Summer St.!"
"When is Water St.?"

No matter where we are, Ethan is calling out spot.  He knows when we are in Worcester because he asks about his hospital.  He knows when we are near Rota Springs.  He knows if we are going to Church. 

The best part is when he calls out not just where we are but where he thinks we are going.  If its around dinner time and we are over by Panera he will notice and ask:

"Are we going to Panera?"

But if it is a different time of day, even in the same location, Ethan will look around and ask:

"Are we going to the doctor?"

And then if we are near Isaac's karate, he will make sure Isaac knows (because I am not sure how much Isaac really pays attention to this kind of stuff): "Brudder, we are near your karate!"

I love my little GPS and boy is he smart. 

If you are at our house these days (circa March 2018), there is one word and only one word that matters--buttcheekola. 

Isaac had a bit of potty talk working its way into his vocabulary.  This meant that Ethan was also getting an injection of potty talk.  At some point Bianca and I decided that we needed to give them a word, not an actual bad word, but a word that they felt was a potty word.  This way they can "swear" without swearing.  They get the thrill of profanity without being profane.

After making the terms of the deal clear with the boys, they picked a word Isaac made up: buttcheekola. 

So now if you poke your head in at dinner time or just randomly listen in on our conversation in the car, you will hear the word "buttcheekola" more than 100 times an hour.  Isaac is a buttcheekola, Ethan is a buttcheekola.  Isaac is mad that Ethan called him a buttcheekola.  Ethan is furious because he is NOT a buttcheekola.  Its a swear, an exclamation, a joke--everything that little boys want and it is all found in one made up word.  Its just scandalous enough that it SOUNDS bad, but no one on Earth would mistake it for an actual swear word.

In a word, buttcheekola is perfect.  A solution to many problems for both parents and kids, all in a single four syllable word. 

Twice a year St. Bernard’s hosts a book fair.  They convert the library into a mini bookstore and the kids browse the offerings.  There are a lot of books that are from popular series—Captain Underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, etc.  There are also kids “refernece books” like the DK guides to Star Wars movies and the like.  I had book fairs too and this is where I feel in love with Guiness World Records (which I still get annually to this day).

In previous years it was alway a bit of a hassle because one of us had to go at some point and pay for the books that Isaac had scouted out all week.  This year they instituted a new e-wallet system.  Bianca loaded up Isaac’s e-wallet with $25 and explained to him how it worked.

Bianca: Isaac, this year they are using an electronic wallet.  You do not need Mom or Dad to pay for things.  You have $25 to spend.

Isaac: What if I don’t spend it all, do I get what’s left over?

Bianca: No Isaac.  The book fair supports your school.  This $25 is for you to spend ONLY at the book fair.  Do you understand?

Isaac, with slightly stooped shoulders: OK

Well, that night I came home to a bit of controversy.  Apparently, Isaac spent his money on a car poster (McLaren 720, if you are curious).  Bianca was upset because he didn’t buy books. When I confronted him he told me:

“You guys said the money was for the book fair.  I bought something at the book fair.  You didn’t say I had to by books.  I don’t think it is fair that you are mad at me.”

I had to preserve the Parental Facade and be stern, but deep down inside, the lawyer in me was tickled by this argument.  We decided as punishment, Isaac had to use some of his money to pay for the poster.  When he conceded and paid the cash ($5), we rewarded him for taking responsibility by giving him $2 back.  Or least that’s why Bianca gave him the money back.  Personally, I paid him for making a good argument.