We Love Laurel!

After seeing Josie's makeshift baby beds (laundry baskets) aunt Laurel took pity on Josie and made her a real baby bed. Laurel built the bed and hand made all the bedding, she is amazing. She even custom painted it purple per Josie's request. Thanks Laurel we love it!

You did what?

Well first it was in this tree...

Then I climbed up there and poked it with a stick, and it ran to this other tree.

Why would you do that? Why would anyone climb up a tree and poke a carnivorous beast?

Then Lawrence comes over and tells me his side of the story, "Well we had the lion in the tree real close to the house, and we were trying to get it to come closer to the house so we could show it to you and the kids. Dean climbed up there and poked it with a stick but it just ran to the other tree".

O now I know... to get it to come closer to your wife and children.

I love having a backyard full of adventure but lets not be out just poking it with a stick.

FHE

Dean took us to the hot pots by our house. Josie was so excited to go swimming and talked about it the whole drive over. I was worried about taking the kids in the cold but they loved it, Trig especially he mostly just lounged around in his chair. Josie had a good time doing the back float and jumping off the edge.

around our house

"Grandpa Buce Ap-rica..."

We skpye with my parents in Africa. Sometimes Josie talks to them and sometimes she is shy and just sticks her fingers in her mouth. Addy gave her a computer and she loves to pretnend to talk to Grandpa.

Daddy, Josie and Bear having a little Tea Party. (These tea parties take a long time because everything has to go in the microwave and the fridge, and be stirred a dozen times).

Josie on a little shopping trip, she was sad because boy wouldn't follow her. He didn't want to follow because he stayed behind to crash the kitchen.

I basically just want to squeeze him all the time

This little dude loves his momma, he follows me around and is always climbing on me. He is so happy, but he is starting to get into a lot of mischief. Like eating a little chalk, but I can't stop him cause he is always very proud.

His new thing is playing the piano. He loves to stand up and play a few notes but more than that he likes someone to see him do it.

Did she learn that from me?

Today I walked in the living room and I saw Josie like this. I asked her what she was doing, "pick bebe's nose" of course I already knew what she was doing. I invented it, I just didn't know she paid attention. My mom used to tell my dad when he was telling a dirty joke or cussing or really doing anything naughty, "Your teaching Bruce, your teaching". Meaning that he was teaching us kids bad stuff. Well apparently I'm going to have to be more careful about the things I'm teaching my daughter. In my defense I don't really sit on him I just use my legs to hold his arms down. And the kid has a really gross nose he needs my help. As for the bobby pin, well its just an excellent tool.

Some people document funny things their kids say...

I would like to remember the things my husbands says!

I woke up this morning with a really bad headache and haven't felt good all day. I was cooking dinner and Dean hugged me. He touched my forehead with his face...

Dean: You have a fever

Me: Probably; I've been telling you I don't feel good.

Dean: Well you defiantly have a fever

Me Joking: Can you finish dinner and I'll lay down

Dean: Just lay down after you make dinner

he walked away, seconds later he walks back in the kitchen

Dean: Do we have any Zicam I think I felt a little sick this morning

Later he was in the livingroom and I hear...

Dean: Josie can you get Daddy the remote

Josie: No daddy

Dean: Josie get me the remote

Dean: Josie its right there, can you bring it to daddy

Dean: Josie, Please - get that remote for me

Dean: Josie just right there get it for dad

I love him a lot and I'm so glad he makes me laugh. He did give my puppy away yesterday and I'm still a little mad about it. Actually I can't decide if I'm more mad that I care that the dog is gone or actually that the dog is gone.

911

I'm not entirely sure why I still come running when I here her screeching scream. It is almost always because she can't find the comb or because boy touched her toys. This time it was boy. He was getting her babies. She had been taking care of these four babies all day (she wore those over sized slippers all day too). For Christmas Dean and I went to a couple stores trying to find a baby crib (they just don't make them like they used to). We never found one that was good enough quality to be worth buying; but good news she is just happy using laundry baskets. Besides even if we did buy her one crib we wouldn't have bought her four.

When I was little my mom bought me quints. I loved playing with them. That is what Josie and all her babies reminded me of today. My mom teases me because I played house and babies way into sixth grade. Maybe that is why I'm so glad Josie loves her kitchen and her babies!

Speaking of babies this little one has had a rough three days. You can't tell by the picture but he has been miserable. His top teeth are coming in and he has been pretty unhappy. I'm nervous for him to get top teeth. I have really enjoyed him being little and I'm afraid he is going to look so grown up.

Just to Journal

This little dude is getting so fun! He is standing up to everything and learning to walk along the furniture. He is always slobbering and usually has a runny nose. I know it sounds gross but he is so adorable and happy that it doesn't even bother me. I love the big smile he always has. He sleeps through the night pretty good, I usually have to give him his binky once. He greets me most every morning with a big smile, standing up in his bed with a smelly diaper, but I love him anyway. He loves to play peak-a-boo and patty-cake. He watches his sister all day long. Anytime there is a ball close by he is bound to find it; he loves balls. He is a good eater, but still allergic to milk. I have started him on a lot more table food and he does pretty good. He is so busy; he just cruises around and explores all day. He is getting so hard to take to church. He just wants to get down and play and truly he is to heavy to carry around for three hours. I love this age and I love this little man!

Dean has been taking Josie to work with him a lot lately. She loves to go with him. When he gets ready to leave in the morning she says, "Wait me Daddy" and runs to get her coat. Today was really warm, he took her for over 7 hours. They fixed fence, moved cows, fed cows, met with the piviot guys, and went to lunch. When she got home I asked her what she did and she yelled, "Cows, Cows, Potty side Mommy". So basically she must must have been impressed with the cows and with herself for going potty outside. (I'm not exactly sure how that even works with a two year old but aparently she and her dad figured it out - he is a really good dad, however he still will not change dirty diapers).

I think its safe to say Josie is potty trained. She wakes up at night if she needs to go potty, and only has accidents on really rare occasions. She talks a lot. She is really busy figuring her world out and testing boundaries. She loves to sit on, bite, and hit her little brother, when she isn't busy hurting him she loves to hold him, sing to him, or read to him. She loves to say prayers, brush her teeth, color and do hair. She LOVES to talk on the phone; she usually calls Addy or Koen 50 times a day. She is eating a little better, she still loves eating noddles most. I love this age and I love this little girl!