Growing Joe

One day Gracie called me to come and see that Joseph learned to draw on the chalk board (he also draws on everything else with chalk too).

Gracie was pretty excited about this. The look on her face in the next three pictures kills me.

This guy is growing up so fast.

He is starting to talk so much more and I can understand most of it. 

fie (used to be fah) = pacifier 

MA! and Mama = Mom (sometimes I can get his to say mommy and it is really cute)

Dada = Dad

Um = William 

Um and See = Gracie

Ha = hat

bucca bucca bucca (said quickly) = cup

baba and bowme = bottle

nana = banana

sigh = outside

soak = sock

show = shoe

ffff = the sound any weapon makes

he will also say; no, yeah, yes, car, hat, cookie, and have"

When he says "have" that means he wants you to give him something. He will point to something he wants and say "have, have, have" until you give it to him. This morning when he wanted out of his crib he reached to me and said, "have". Melted my heart.

This kid is a sweetie but also a stinker. If he doesn't get his way he will yell "no" over and over, stomp and cry and sometimes he will sit down and then slowly lay down on the floor. I love his cautious tantrum. It makes me laugh every time. He loves babies and can't get enough of my friend Anna's little girl Hazel. He was hugging (putting his head on her), kissing, and crawling around with her in the happiest mood yesterday. It was pretty cute.

He loves to play outside and at the park. We drove by a park the other day and he pointed out the window and said, "weee" so I stopped so we could play for a little bit. 

Rollin' with the homies

One Friday night sometime in the beginning of March we did something I have been wanting to do for awhile and that is take our old stroller to Freestone park where there are large hills and let the kids roll down. I wanted to do this because once at Williams school I pushed Joseph down a small hill and realized it would be really fun and safe (the thing won't tip over). It didn't disappoint. We invited our friends the Hatches to come and our kids always have the best time with those kids.

Joseph loved "running" up and down the hills.

The kids faces never get old to me.

William and Mallory raced down the hill. I am amazed that neither of them biffed it.

We got pizza for the kids

And then when it got dark we went back to the Hatches and the boys picked up some Cafe Rio and I had already got some Cinnabon and the kids watched a movie while we ate. 

It was a really good day.

Playing in REAL snow

Last Monday was Russ' day off (as usual) and Williams first day back to school after spring break. But his cousins had two weeks of spring break and there was a lot of snow happening north of us, so William ditched school and we declared it a snow day! I am really proud of us for doing this because:

1. Russ had big plans to do a lot of yard work that day (and the yard really needed it)

2. I would have to dig out all the winter clothes and get all that together

3. Joseph had started teething pretty bad the day before (4 molars coming in at once)

All of these things made the trip seem very unappealing, but I knew the kids would love it and there is nothing that compares to spending time/making memories with the people you love. Like Dieter F. Uchtdorf said in his talk Of Things That Matter Most, "In family relationships love is spelled t-i-m-e". (and after skimming that talk to find the actual quote I decided I am going back to read the whole thing once this post is done cause it is AMAZING, even if you are not Mormon, and full of stuff I need to hear...again:) I believe that quote and I am so happy we we took the time and spent it with people we love.

Get ready for a picture overload.

First signs of snow.

Even Joseph noticed it and was pointing it out to me.

Mister Matthew ready for fun (he actually wasn't too crazy about the snow).

Miss Marie loved it (sorry a few pictures were really bright and it took me a while to realize it)

When I knew we were going I immediately called Connie cause I figured she would want to come, and I was right. She took the day off.

Joseph was so bundled up it was hilarious.

Grandma and Anna making a snowman.

The lovely Vaeh. 

Angie helping the kids with the snowman

This poor little guy didn't like the snow. He wanted to play in the mud.

The kids (and I) loved eating the snow. It was so soft and fresh and tasted so good. I tried to convince Russ that we should come back and bottle some:)

I think most the kids tried a face plant.

Gracie having a bit of snow.

Joseph spent a lot of time being held.

Gracie loved it so much

Sliding down the hill on a bin lid that my mom brought. 

check out that snowball that William is about to throw at Marie!

Gracie found a bed.

They didn't play for much more than an hour. By that time they were wet and freezing and ready to go home. It was perfect.