The Funny Things Kids Say

Noah has entered a new stage of life- the "talk back stage." I was getting quite upset at the way Noah was talking to me yesterday. He would be so snippy in his replies to me. I finally had had enough. My talking to him wasn't doing anything, so I sent Daddy to do some talking. Dustin told Noah he needs to talk to me in a loving voice. Noh looked at Dustin and then said, "I know Daddy, but I'm just too crabby today." It took a lot for Dustin to not laugh at that moment. Noah did come and give me a hug and tell me he was sorry. He is doing really well at saying his own prayers. He said breakfast prayer yesterday and brought me to tears. It was so sweet and heartfelt. He prayed for all the things he wanted to do that day- to play nice, to go to the indoor prark (the play area at the mall), and to watch movies together. It was very special.

Daniel is becoming more and more stubborn. I was helping him eat his dinner last night. He got super stubborn and wouldn't eat. I told him to eat and put the spoon up to his mouth. He turned his head all the way to the right. I held the spoon up to him again. This time , as he turned his head to the left, he opened his mouth really fast and snagged just a tip of food. I can't even describe the attitude and the face of defiance and the silliness of the act. It made me laugh instead of getting madder.

Jodi has entered the "I can do everything brothers can do" stage. She figured out how to climb onto the top bunk of the bunk bed!!! Luckily, I was in the boys' room as she atempted this stunt. We now stuff the bean bag in the ladder so she can't get up. That makes her really mad.

I have one more thing to share. Noah and Daniel have a new favorite show. They LOVE "Super Why" on PBS. It's a show that takes them into fairytales. The Super Readers have to change the story to solve the problem- like making a slide for Humpty Dumpty. The fairy tale story also solves a real life problem. Daniel is learning his letters and Noah is learning to read from it. They love it!!!

Noah and Daniel had fun being "Pillow People." They really liked bumping into things without getting hurt!






It's funny how the kids all have to be doing the same thing- even eating their snacks together.






"You got me!" The boys love their foam swords.







This was Noah's first person drawing! He's pretty good, wouldn't you say?! He drew himself fishing.







Jodi is now a climber! She got on the chair all by herself. Nothing is safe anymore!

Some More Noah-isms

Noah is too cute with his words. We were coming back from an outing at night- well past bedtime. I told Noah as we were driving home that we were going to read one book and then it was bedtime (we usually read 5-6 books before bed every night). Noah piped up from the back seat, "I'm too wakey to go to bed."

On Sunday, Noah whispered in Dustin's ear,"I have a secret Dad. I'm going to take my under-water guy with me to church. I'm going to keep it in this hand so Mom won't know. I'll sit by you and we can play together at church. Don't tell Mom." He did take the under-water guy with him, but he didn't play with it and he never sat by Dustin the whole meeting. It was amazing to see his mind thinking. We have been reading books where the main character tells a secret. It's funny to see Noah doing the same.

My Apologies

Wow, it has been awhile since I posted an update of the family. So much has happened and gotten in the way. Let's see: Once I got Daniel through the poty training, it was time for Jodi to make some milestones as well. She started really walking in June at only 11 months. We got her switched off of formula at 10 1/2 months- I was tired of the mess and expense! She loves her new found independence and is exercising a strong will with it!

We took a trip to CO for the 4th of July to celebrate all the July birthdays- Mine, Jodi's, and Dustin's. It was good to be in CO. We thought we were leaving the heat behind us, but we were wrong. It was the hottest summer in Craig. I got really sick while there and was miserable for much of the trip. We were scheduled to go camping for 2 days and ended up camping for only one. I was still feeling really ill and Daniel developed a severe eye infection. He couldn't even open his eyes from all the goop. He was miserable. Jodi couldn't be as free as she wanted to be with all the dirt and camp fires and stuff. So, we packed up and went back to vegg at Grandma and Grandpa's.

We enjoyed the awesome fireworks display in Craig. They really do put on a good show. We had a great time celebrating Jodi's birthday. She does not like cake, but loves her new Little People doll house.

Noah and Daniel are growing so tall. Noah wants Daniel to play with him more, but Daniel doesn't know how to play WITH someone. He does fine playing near Noah. They sure do fight a lot and I know they will grow in and out of the fighting as they grow. It makes me appreciate the patience and love my parents had with my younger sister and I. I suppose it is also pay- backs for all the fights we had growing up! Pay- backs are no fun!

Daniel is super lovey- dovey. I think it must be because he is the middle child. Noah loves to wrestle and play pirates and Army guys. He has a very active imagination.

I am still busy with our church's Primary music- music for 1 1/2 to 11 year old children. They keep me on my toes. I have managed to play my flute some and even performed a song in June for our church.

Dustin is busy working and waiting. We don't know how long we will have to wait for him to be accepted into nursing school. We hope not long. I hope to be able to work at keeping this blog updated. The summer was bad, but I hope to be better in the future.

Busy Week

Wow it has been a busy week! We were supposed to go camping near Payson to celebrate ustin's end of the semester. But, where we wanted to go was surrounded by forest fires. So, we went to Kingman instead to visit Grandma Joan. We went through Flagstaff, which really made us want to be camping. Then, we drove to the Grand Canyon Caverns. It was a fun trip for the boys. They sure wanted to be out of the car. They had fun exploring the caverns. It was here that we discovered a career for Noah- modeling. The pictures of Noah with the giant dinosaur are all his "poses" as he told Daddy.

The kids had a great time in Kingman. we took them up to the Hualipi mountains and went on a very short hike- it would have been longer had I remembered my tennis shoes. I only had 2 sets of flip-flops the whole trip. It was a beautiful area and we hope to go camping in it this October. The kids loved playing at Grandma's house- especially outside in her bird bath and fountains. My pretty little princess was the dirtiest I have ever seen her!!!

Once in Mesa again, we took the kids bowling for the first time. Noah and Daniel had tons of fun. Noah's competitive edge came out. He would be quite upset if he knew he were losing to Daniel! They lasted all of a game and a half and then it was on to the arcade room. Dustin and I got lots of bowling practice in playing their spots as well as our own. We also got our exercise running back and forth from the lanes to the arcade. I was awesome and beat Dustin- even after his semester of bowling class!!

Noah thinks he has discovered how to get what he wants qithout actually asking for it. Noah had a homemade cookie bar earlier in the afternoon. Daniel hadn't had one yet and was having the pleasure of enjoying one after his nap. noah was playing and noticed Daniel eating a cookie. We told Noah he had already eaten his and he could have one later. The next thing we hear is Noah talking to Daniel saying, "Daniel, do you want me to have a cookie? Say yes!" Then Noah turned around and told us that Daniel told him he could have a cookie. It was too cute. I, of course, gave in- but I know the trick and am on my guard! Also, we were in the car and Dustin and I were just teasing each other/ mildly arguing when Noah pipes up from the back, "Will everybody just calm down!" I busted out laughing. Noah had to say it a few more times when he realized there was a reaction to his comment. What a ham!!!

Jodi is now drinking from sippy cups and going to sleep on her own- no more rocking chair. I miss those moments and am feeling not needed. It's silly, but I love those moments and truly so treasure and feel the loss of them. I can't believe how fast this year has flown and how much I have been blessed in that year. Jodi is such a joy and I can't imagine our family without her. It's like she always had a place and was just waiting to be physically in it. I hope that makes sense. Enough sap= We had a great week!

Big Changes!

Wow, Our little family is making some big changes! The first momentous occassion is that Daniel is now a potty-trained little boy! "They" tell you that potty training gets easier with each child. Noah took a long time of starting and stopping. Daniel took 3 days! He still wears pull-ups for the just in case. I hope to move him out of those in a couple of weeks. He picked up on it so fast. We spent one day with the potty in his room watching Disney movies all day and drinking fluids constantly. I spent the day sitting on his bed reading a book. Daniel has loved all the hugs and kisses that he gets when he goes potty. Noah hasn't like it one bit and has become super clingy and demanding. "Mom, I just want you to play with me." ALL DAY LONG!!! Daniel has grown independent over night. He is now the big protective brother of Jodi. He yells at her to stop doing something if he thinks she will get hurt. He is a big helper now around the house as well. He is getting so big!

Jodi, now 10 months old, is getting so close to walking. I have been working with her on standing by herself. She is a smart little girl. She knows when I am going to let go of her and she plops her bum right down. I know she is thinking, "I am not standing with out help- you can't make me." The little goober. She is happiest when I walk her through the apartment with her holding my fingers. She wants to go fast. Whenever I let go of her hand though, she stops and won't move on until she gets my finger back. I CAN'T make her do anything she doesn't want to. Oh, boy it's already starting. Like mother- like daughter!!

Noah is having fun just being a rambunctious 4 year old. He loves doing school work with Mommy and is getting better at writing and coloring and cutting. We have fun together. He still loves his trains and cars and Little People. We went to the zoo a week ago. They have a fun water play area and he had fun playing in the water. He didn't want to leave. He loves playing zoo and sets up a zoo with all his animals and Little People and Weeble Wobbles. He loves books and "reads" the books to Daniel and Jodi. He is loving Primary. I found him playing Primary the other day. He was teaching his pretend class the songs and giving them a lesson on the Holy Ghost. It melted my heart!!!

I am enjoying every minute I get of practicing my rocking flute!! I love it and get such great enjoyment out of it.

Dustin finished his last semester of pre-reqs with an "A" in bio 202!!! We are thrilled. Now it is a waiting game to see how soon he gets into a nursing program. We are hoping he will be in one by January. Keep your fingers crossed.

Pictures