Isaac has grown up so fast, especially since Ethan was born.  He went through a lot in a few months--Ethan's arrival, kindergarten, karate and he handled all of the changes with an amazing amount of patience and joy.  In first grade he seems to have integrated into the social fabric of St. B's a little more.  He has a recurring cast of characters that he talks about and when we are at school functions he is very comfortable there with everyone.  Its not to the point where he is embarrassed I am around, but he definitely doesn't hang on my arm like he did when he first started.  

At the Christmas bazaar he ran around, played games, won THREE (ugh) fish, and hung out with his friends while Ethan and I walked around.  Seeing him dart around laughing from six year old in-jokes was a treat.  And he has picked up a lot of mannerisms of his peers.  He now does the Cam Newton, salute thing...whatever it is called all of the time, as an expression of success or excitement.  He tells his mother and I that he is shooting his Nerf blasters "gangsta" style, which, as it turns out, doesn't really mean anything, he just likes the sound of it.  He also uses all sorts of slang words, such as the aforementioned "newb."  My favorite expression of late is "jelly" as in "jealous."  

I feel like if last year was a big year for change, this is a big year for getting into the flow of things and in a way he seems a bit like a teenager, growing up and being social.  And it is fun to watch.  A little sad, but more fun than anything.  

Thanksgiving came and it was glorious--delicious food at Uncle John's house, shared with the entire family.  After grub, Isaac, Colby, Myles, Little Anthony (who is not so little), and I ventured outside in the cold and the mist to wage an epic Nerf battle.  We brought some guns...er...blasters and Colby and Myles did as well.  After a few games of capture the flag where one team one in a landslide we had to change things up.  It was at this intermission that my buddy Ethan joined me.  The teams were: Colby, Ethan, and myself versus Myles, Isaac, and Little Anthony.  It wasn't too bad, except only two of our blasters were working, and one was in Ethan's hand (who can't prime the blaster or reach the trigger because of his tiny chubby hands).  Then Coby had to go in because he forgot a jacket.  So when opposing team started raiding us, it was Ethan and myself versus three pretty competent kids.  

Ethan refused to be left out of the action.  When we went to raid their base and take their flag, Ethan came with me.  When we had to hold off three of them with one working blaster, Ethan hung in there, chasing more than a few people away with his tiny blaster (Little Anthony and Myles don't know he is too little to actual fire the blaster).  And when darts (or as Ethan calls them bulldats) were flying he hung in there.  In the end we lost, but it was closer than I thought.

It is so amazing to see Ethan wanting to hang out with the boys.  He soldiered on in his tiny little parka pointing his useless blaster at people.  It was even more heartening to see how well the boys treated Ethan.  Colby was especially sweet.  And now I know who will have my back when I am 85 years old...my buddy Ethan.

As Ethan's language skills improve, Isaac's do as well.  Instead of starting to use common words, Isaac is starting to learn slang.  In part it comes from YouTube.  He and I enjoy a wide range of channels and over time the language has seeped into his daily vocabulary.  It also comes from school.  There, Isaac is exposed to a whole new set of words from people outside our family.  

This all came to a head at dinner on Sunday when he and I were talking, in depth, about items on his Christmas list.  Bianca was following along until we got deep into some jargon.  At this point she asked what we were talking about and he responded to her "Mom you are such a newb."  There was a pause at the table as Bianca and I registered what Isaac had just said.  Then Bianca continued on, making clear she didn't get it.  Isaac then asked if she knew what a newb was.  She responded that she did and then provided a definition that was not...dictionary quality.  Isaac then revealed that newb was short for newbie and that we were newbs about somethings, while mom was a REAL newb about those same things.

So, to those uncertain of the new slang kids are using, you are a newb about using the word newb.  I can't wait for Isaac to drop some slang neither of us know.