Cute Boys

Ian: "I am a storm cloud that has rain in it! I need to go rain in the toilet!"

***

 The boys were "helping" me reorganize the linen closet. Notice how Joseph is picking at his chin? A tiny spot of skin irritated by some dried-on yogurt was turned to a raw, picked-at scab on his chin for more than a month. Those little fingers just wouldn't leave it alone!

 ***

When Joseph does something he is proud of, like connect the wooden train tracks, or arrange a pile of toys in a dump truck, or line up several cars, he'll come find me and say "Come see something Mommy! Come see something!" When I come, he spreads his fingers on both hands out wide and waves them over his showcased objects, exclaiming, "See?! See?!" It's adorable. 

 ***

 Ian and I were discussing whether or not our friends' boat-shaped water-slide would be open when we swam with them that day. Ian was sure it would be, but I knew that it was already closed for the season. Joseph pipped up: "I guess we jus' hav'ta da-wive by and see!" ("I guess we'll just have to drive by and see!" My jaw dropped. When did Joseph get so grown up with such big boy suggestions?!)

***

***

On the drive home from an Astros game, Ian suddenly declared "Astronaut!"

Scott asked "Ian, why did you say astronaut?"

Ian replied, "Oh, I was just talking about it in my brains."

Then Joseph started whispering "Texas" from the backseat. It sounded like "Keck - thith".

So Scott asked, "Joseph are you a Texan from Texas?"

"No way Jose!" came Joseph's reply.

"Oh, are you from Utah like me? " asked Scott.

"No way Jose!"

"Then are you a Californian like mom?"

"Ummm hmmm!" I felt very proud of Joseph in that moment.

***

Until two weeks ago, Joseph had never uttered the word "yes". It was always just "Ummm hmmm." But now he says "yes" and "eeee-ah!" (yeah).

 ***

Lately Joseph says "No, I don't" a lot. It's adorable, even though it doesn't always quite fit. Today on a walk Ian said "Joseph, are you yucky?" meaning dirty. Joseph's reply: "No, I don't. I'm yummy!"

***

Several friends have purchased minivans and had a baby lately. Ian likes the idea of a minivan as much as I do, and today said: "Mom, I think we should have a new baby in our family and then we can get a minivan. Or, maybe if we don't have a baby then we can get a Jeep because I think our family would fit in one."

***

Ian and I were talking about what to pack for an upcoming weekend at the beach. He said he wanted to bring his alarm clock, and packing was like "we are leaving from Jerusalem!" 

Here is Ian, with his PJs and shoes all "packed".

 ***

 The boys are really into racing to get things done. Who reaches the top stair first, who gets their shoes on first, etc. It can be motivating, but it can also be devastating for the one who isn't first. But lately, after the winner declares "I beat Mommy and Joseph to the top stair!" Joseph, who is often in last place gets to the top and declares "I beat Daddy!" and poor Daddy is at work, and didn't even have a chance. 

***

Ian picked a weed with a flower on it and told me that it was for me. Then he said, "Actually, you already had flowers for your anniversary, so I am going to to give this to Daddy."

 ***

 *** 

When Scott was gone on a boyscout over-nighter, and I was bathing the boys, Ian said in his deepest daddy voice: "Well, it looks like I am going to have to be the daddy now because there is no one else here to do it."

 ***

When Scott pulled out of the driveway for that same campout, we waved at him from the driveway and then turned toward the house to see Joseph closing the door and locking it behind him. Because of the baby lock on the inside, he wasn't able to unlock it again. Fortunately sister Jenks and sister Smith were still there and one of them had a cell phone. But until Scott was able to turn around and come back, we listened to Joseph sobbing and laying on the floor kicking the door with his cowboy boots. He was a sad little crumpled heap when we finally got back inside. 

***

Scott brought home a roasted chicken for dinner last night. Ian was not in a pleasant mood and when Scott offered him a great piece of meat (the loin) Ian rejected it, saying "No! I don't want the greasy loin!"

***

If Ian wakes up first he hollers while following me down the hall to Joseph's room, because he doesn't want me to get Joseph up. And when Joseph wakes up first, Ian screams when Joseph follows me into Ian's room to get him up. This nasty morning routine has become a little better now that Ian just gets himself up. But even then, Ian will often declare, "No, I only want one boy out of bed and it's me!" It was frustrating and heartbreaking. But lately, Ian has decided it is fun to wake up at 6 am and then wake up a playmate too. It's hard to be mad when we hear a pitter patter to Joseph's room, a happy squeal when Joseph sees his big brother, and then the two of them giggling as Joseph tosses out his blankets and "friends" and binky and then they scamper to the loft to play "quietly" so we won't hear them. Joseph always declares first thing: "I go outta bed!" He feels really cool. And this is really much better than the alternative, even if it usually happens much earlier.

***

 Ian put "night time underwear" (a pull-up) on his dog. To a three year old, this is hilarious. About two weeks ago Ian declared he wanted to wear "playtime underwear" (cloth) to bed, and has been dry at night ever since.

 ***