Happy 2nd Birthday, Joseph!

Last Friday our little Joseph turned TWO! We started the day with the traditional Larson Family Birthday Picture.

 That morning Ian had taken it upon himself to wake Joseph at 6 am! After I heard them romping around in Joseph's crib I went in there to get the picture. And got a few of Ian as well.

 Since we had such an early start on the day, we got to have a birthday breakfast with Dad! We had blueberry pancakes. Unfortunately I set off the fire alarm while making them. So Joseph covered his "ears".

We also had some time to open a present, which worked perfectly because we wouldn't be home that evening to do it.

Do you think Joseph was excited with his present?

 With all those train tacks you can build an impressively long line!

That afternoon we went to Olive Garden for lunch. Joseph devoured almost a whole adult plate of orecchio pasta. And half a dozen breadsticks. And a bunch of salad greens. He has not yet outgrown his hollow leg.

That night we all went to Kelly's Pond for a birthday camping trip!

 By the time we had camp set up and were ready for cake, it was already completely dark. Here's Scott carrying the cake up the hill from the car.

 Joseph attempting to blow out the candle, and a helpful brother waiting in the wings.

This is about how the night actually looked. There were real bugs flocking around the fake bug cake.

Despite being covered in "buggies", the cake was pretty good.

Cake by lantern light.

All the woodland creatures cleaned up the cake mess by morning. Perfect!

Thanks to some classless individuals who decided to make camp at 10 pm, then laugh loudly, clink beer bottles, discuss Elton John and play music until 5 am, we didn't sleep well. Joseph was also a bit chilly in his pack n play and was restless all night too. He and I both slept better once he snuggled into my sleeping bag with me. The next morning we took a nature walk and packed up. It was actually a really fun quick trip though. And the Shipley's doughnuts and kolaches we picked up on the way home made our sleepless state bearable.

Joseph had a great time "driving" the logs. I think our new family tent in the background is bigger than our first married apartment.

 So far there is no hint of the Terrible Two's. Joseph loves his big brother and is learning to fight back when he is wronged by Ian. Joseph talks beautifully these days and has the cutest conversations with Ian. He's cheerful, observant, nurturing, silly, an excellent sleeper (still 12.5 hours at night and 2 hour naps) and will eat nearly anything in large quantities. He loves his pacifier and yellow "banket". He works his fingers through the holes in the knitted blanket for comfort. He loves animals and babies and trucks and bugs and anything Ian is interested in. He still snuggles and hooks his wrist around your arm when you carry him. Joseph, it is so fun to be your Mom. We are all so glad you joined our family two years ago!

Farewell to Summer

 Our beach trip was bumped from summer to early fall this year, making it the perfect "farewell to summer" affair. The weather was warm enough for swimming, but it was cool enough to be sure that fall was really on its' way. The misquotes were out in abundance (have you ever seen ones with stripes?) making us think that all the summer abatement programs had, well, already abated.

We spent some time swimming and BBQ-ing at the clubhouse pool.

Another huge hit was the lazy river. 

Joseph could go around and around for hours, just like last year.

Ian and Joseph were the envy of every other boy when Scott threw them repeatedly up over his head and into the water. As soon as they'd spit out all the water they'd sucked up, "Again Daddy, again!"

  But we also got in a lot of time at the beach. I am happy to report that not only does Joseph consider himself a Californian, but now he also refers to any body of water as an "ocean". Even a dried up pond.

 See? The weather was gorgeous in late September.

But there was enough wind for some incredible kite flying.

 Joseph and his special friend Ruby had a roaring good time at every meal. Unfortunately they were a poor influence on each other and lots of food was thrown. Fortunately Ruby is forgiving about Joseph's hitting habit.

 We were sad to bid farewell to Ruby and some of our Texas Family a few weeks later. If they ever decide to move back to Texas, we will take them!

This year Scott added something new that is sure to become tradition: buy a huge chocolate cake, cover it with candles, and let the kids take turns blowing them out. Over and over. It wasn't even anyone's birthday.

It is fun to think about how much has changed since we were there last year. Joseph had only begun walking, and Ian was only about the age Joseph is now. 

2010

2009

Summer Fun

 Ian took swim lessons with Ms. Lori. He was skeptical at first, but it was amazing how motivating that post-lesson lollipop was. After the first day, Ian said "When we go back, I want Joseph to do my swimming lesson but I eat the lollipop." He always seemed to enjoy himself once in the pool. 

Here they are singing the catchy "Learn how to swim" and safety songs. 

Ms. Lori tells us Ian is a "natural floater".

 Joseph enjoying a lollipop. I always kept him buckled in the stroller for lessons, and provided a banquet of snacks to keep him happy.

We played outside whenever we could, but this summer the heat index was rarely under 100. The boys usually consumed several popcicles and a whole lot of water, even during 20 minute play sessions in the early morning. 

The red-faced children photos from the summer won't upload -- so here are some from the cooler weather this week.

 The "fire boots" and cowboy boots were worn constantly this summer. They only took them off long enough to trade with each other. 

 Ian's "hat" was another common accessory. (It's actually a neat gift box my grandma gave me several Christmas' ago.)

One morning we took a trolley ride from the library to some fountains, where we picnicked and splashed around. It was hot but oh-so-much fun!

It was a very fun summer, though we have gratefully watched it give way to Fall in the last week. More pictures to come!

Cute Boys

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

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 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!

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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. 

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 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?!)

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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.

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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).

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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!"

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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."

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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".

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 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. 

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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."

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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."

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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. 

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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!"

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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.

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 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.

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