Family Pictures

Here are a couple of my favorites from our first-ever family pictures. They were taken at a local park, the day after it snowed -- it was so cold! We watched someone land a model airplane in a tree over the pond, and the whole scene created when they tried to climb the tree and remove it, then paddle a kayak across the pond to fish it out was quite a distraction to Ian and Joseph. But Koni is wonderful and I am thrilled with how the pictures turned out. When Ian first saw the pictures he was confused about Koni not being in any of the pictures.

Hopefully we won't wait four more years to get them done again...

Meeting Santa

Santa paid a visit to our ward Christmas party earlier this month, and when Ian heard Santa was giving out treats he wanted to go meet him. We hadn't mentioned Santa yet to our kids, so while in line we gave Ian a quick explanation. He seemed to think the whole thing was strange, but was still eager to go get some candy.

We told him he could give Santa some ideas about what to bring for Joseph. I was surprised Ian wasn't nervous or hesitant about this at all as he is usually shy and unpredictable with strangers. And when the 2 kids in line in front of Ian screamed and cried and never made it onto Santa's lap I figured Ian would follow suit. Instead, Ian hopped up on Santa's lap and immediately declared "Please bring a book for Joseph".

Joseph on the other hand refused to turn his back on Santa. He stared Santa in the face and refused to turn for the camera. A fair response to a stranger covered in white hair.

We've been sick lately, which means that we've spent more time than usual wearing only cowboy boots and underpants and staying indoors.

It snowed a tiny bit and Scott was sent home from work at noon.

So we ate cookies for lunch and enjoyed his company.

Joseph threw his on the floor, and Scott threatened a timeout. Joseph, having never experienced a timeout before but having witnessed many, many of Ian's timeouts, burst into tears.

Ian disappears frequently these days. He has reattached himself to binkies, and will sneak off to "eat" one. Here, he set up shop with his "friends" in our bathtub.

Joseph loves to climb in this chair and read to himself. He loves cats, and has a specific little laugh he uses when he opens to a page with a cat picture on it.

We set up our tree and the boys went nuts during their rare time in the "grown-up room". And now they are mesmerized each day when the automatic timer turns the tree lights on at 3:30 pm.They stand with their toes just hanging over the edge of the forbidden carpet and stare.

Unconnected Updates

I forgot to add to the last post that Ian always says the same thing when Scott asks him what he did that day:  He says "It's been a pretty good day so far." And it's always said in Ian's deep daddy voice.

Joseph began feeding himself with a spoon. It started back in October and he has gotten fairly good at the 'dip method' of spoon feeding.

Ian got his first professional haircut. Scott is excellent with a pair of clippers but since Ian gets hysterical every time we try to cut his hair, we decided we would try a new approach. He still looked nervous, but Scott said Ian looked like he knew he couldn't pull his usual haircut stunts at Snippits, so the haircut was accomplished without a hitch.

 Ian made this adorable turkey at preschool. He wore that 'Indian headband' non-stop for a week.

If there is a gate up, the grass must be greener on the other side. Even though all the toys are right behind them.

Even though we don't have any photo documentation to prove it, we had a fun Thanksgiving in the home of our  Fake Texas Family, The Linfords. We celebrated the last 3 Thanksgivings and many Independence days, Easters and a few Labor days with them too. Scott made 2 apple pies by request again this year. They turned out beautifully.