The ALS sign for "all done" is to use your hands to cover something up, sort of the opposite of opening your hands for prayer.  Ethan, like Isaac, was taught this sign very young along with "more" and "please".  All three form something of a pre-verbal vocabulary for many kids, as they understand sign language well before they can talk.  Ethan has two other signs--"milk" and "thank you"--to round out his lexicon.  

As he picks up more and more words, though, these signs (perhaps because of his Italian heritage) take on a new meaning, a way to emphasize what he is saying.  The "more" sign along with the word more, means "I REALLY want more."  The "please" sign along with the word please is Ethan's equivalent of begging.  

Unquestionably the funniest combo is how he uses the sign and phrase "all done", which, when spoke comes out as "all duh."  Instead of being the emphatic form of finished, which really wouldn't make a lot of sense, it is Ethan's phrase of protest.

This past Sunday Ethan was eating quite well, sitting in his little seat using his fingers to scoop up strawberries, bits of turkey, and the like.  Isaac had finished his meal and begun playing, while Ethan was still eating.  Then, all of a sudden, Ethan look at me and shouted: "ALL DUH!" complete with hand motions.  He was telling me, in no uncertain terms, he wanted out of the high chair and down.  While his mouth and hands said "All DUH!" his face said: Get me the hell out of here!

This is something of a recent trend too.  Ethan is All Duh when he is laying on his changing table and has just about had it with me taking a long time to clean him up.  Ethan is All Duh when we are outside and Isaac takes something from him that he was playing with (it's either All Duh or insta-tears like only a younger sibling can do).  Ethan is quite frequently All Duh about 30 minutes from home during a car trip of 31 minutes duration.  All Duh has become Ethan's mic drop.  He is done with this scene and done with it RIGHT NOW.  

So next time you are finished dealing with some stressful event, do the ALS sign for all done, scream "ALL DUH!" at the top of your lungs and walk away.  

Having children, especially my two boys, does, on occasion transform you into Johnny Knoxville from Jackass.  They believe so fervently that you can do anything that they will ask you to do crazy stuff.  And when they ask, all of your inhibitions and fears fall away and you become a dare devil.  Or, at least, I do.

So when Isaac decided he wanted to catch a snake and keep it as a pet, I became Johnny Knoxville, dipping my toes in stinky snake-infested waters all in the hopes of seeing that smile of his.  The past three weekends we ventured to Coggshall, home of Turtle Cove and a clutch of Northern Water Snakes.  One such venture was almost successful.  The water has receded significantly, such that now, if I am careful, I can lower myself in to the mucky shoreline and down next to the water.  I did so one day and got very close to getting us a baby Northern Water Snake, but alas it was too quick and I was too limited in how I could move.  It got away and Isaac was crestfallen.  He didn't whine or cry, but I could tell he was sad.

Then, this weekend, we went to Barrett.  We brought the critter catching gear--a dip net and our little terrarium, but the lack of prior success made me less than hopeful.  We stalked around the lakeshore, with P-Pa, Mom, and Beethan in tow, and we found nothing, not even a frog.  Then we ventured up to the waterfall, which, thanks to the drought, is nothing more than a trickle, and stomped around there.  Just as I was about to give up hope, Bianca let out a clear but muffled scream.  I came running to find a nice two foot snake crawling in the rocks and mud.  It looked like a Garter snake, but given how much Isaac wanted it, unless it rattled I was going after it.  It was a quick but tense pursuit, he really did not want to be caught, but we were able to get him into the net and then into the terrarium.  

And just like that Isaac finally had his snake.

As we were walking out he turned to Bianca and said something that he undoubtedly got from me: "Mom, now that we have a pet snake are we weirdos?"  

After a vote, we named him Stripey Slither Sculimbrene.  He lives in the terrarium outside and we are going to do our effort best to keep him alive until October when Nanna comes.  

Also, I have no idea what I will do to further impress my sons.  Let's just hope it doesn't involve chainsaws and juggling, though I am sure there is a YouTube video that can show me the trick.  

The WWE used to have a championship belt for something called the "Hardcore Division."  The winner usually used a wide range of weapons to win--from bats covered in barbed wire to fluorescent light bulbs.  It was usually a pretty gruesome affair to watch.  But one rule made the belt especially exciting. The hardcore championship could be won anytime, anywhere.  No ring required.  Dude walking to the ring could be attacked and BAM! a match would begin.

Well, it's pretty much like that at my house with Ethan and Isaac.  If they are in arms reach of each other, it becomes a wrestling match.  Usually, it starts out as something like a hug by Isaac or a curious peek by Ethan, but the end result is the same--wrestling match.  The funny thing is that it is quite apparent that neither boy wants to start this match as they walk close to each other, but the moment they come in contact with each, it's on.

Isaac is pretty good about this, he could positively whip is younger brother.  Usually he just slowly falls to the ground and let's Ethan roll on top of him.  Sometimes though what starts as a hug becomes a headlock and then Bianca or I need to intercede.  Beethy, on the other hand, sometime starts out with a face slap and, once in a blue moon, a mouth-wide-open approach that is the start of a bite.  Regardless of the opening move the result is the same--wrestling match. 

So far no one has gotten really hurt.  There might be a cry or two from Ethan but that has more to do with him Little Brothering it than anything else.  Occasionally Isaac will get legit bitten and he will howl in pain.  I imagine this will go on like this until they are 30 and 25 respectively.  My experience with brothers tells me this is something of a permanent thing.  I can see it now--wedding day, both in formal wear, and boom, wrestling match because just like the Hardcore Championship, being brothers is a 24/7 kind of thing.