Family Photo

Last week, as we picked Andrew up from nursery, they asked us to bring a family photo for the lesson the next week. This would be great... if we had one. I suddenly realized something that had been at the back of my mind for the last few months, but I hadn't done anything about: We have no family photo. In fact, we haven't had a shot of all four of us since we moved here- when Andrew was a newborn.

Since we haven't really had time to go schedule something formal, we persuaded a neighbor to take a shot for us. It's nothing fancy, but here's proof that there are indeed 4 of us. =)

Aren't we cute?

It's spring!

The weather has finally turned here, and we have been taking full advantage of it. We have spend every afternoon this week outside, and I have to practically drag the boys back inside. They're loving playing with their outside toys, and digging in the dirt (of course). This morning, we even went to the park. I didn't get as many pictures as I planned, we were having too much fun on the swings, the slide, and everything else.

Here's a few shots of our week so far. Enjoy!

Growing boys...

My boys are growing so fast these days! Sometimes it seems that I can hardly keep up. Here's a few highlights:

Timothy:

Our firstborn is constantly amazing us with the things that come out of his mouth. He's learning jokes, and finds them absolutely hysterical. He finally gets knock-knock jokes, and his favorite is: "Knock knock."

"Who's there?"

"Boo"

"Boo Who?"

Don't cry, it's only a joke!" (Insert manic laughter here)

He graduated from nursery in January, and is so excited to be one of the "big kids." He loves to help with Andrew, although sometimes more and Andrew would like... =) He dresses himself, and is learning to dress quickly when he wants to eat breakfast. We got some preschool scissors, and he's had all kinds of fun learning to use them, and glue stick. Here's some of his creations.

He also likes to work with tools, and sometimes uses his mechanical skills in surprising ways. I didn't know my end table was so easy to take apart....

He also surprised us the other day when he tried to write his name all by himself. You can make out the first three letters. We've been practicing, so hopefully the others will be clearer soon.

Andrew:

Our little man is getting so big! He's constantly trying to follow in Daddy and Big brother's footsteps.

He loves to read, and will plop in my lap with a book anytime I sit down, and he LOVES storytime with Daddy at night.

He's learning more and more words every day, and loves to explore. Sadly, he's so busy, it's hard to get him to sit still for a photo, so most of his shots look like this:

Unless he's eating, then I can get all want:

He's my little helper though: Dishes, sweeping the floor, he even likes to pick up toys. Here's hoping that lasts. =)

The best part though, is to see them play together. I love that sight!

February Recap.

It's been a busy couple of months around here, illnesses, snowstorms, and all the normal havoc of our lives. I haven't felt much like blogging. But, it's time to play catch up again, so that hopefully we can actually stay on top of new news... =)

The snowstorm started out our month, with 16 inches dumped on our little town, and drifts up to 4 feet around our house. John had to dig out our doorway, since the drift on our porch nearly covered the railing. Timothy was thrilled, but Andrew not so much.. at least until we let him sled down the drifts... =)

Sadly, the storm was followed by extremely cold weather - highs in the single digits, and lows reaching negative 30. We stayed inside a lot and didn't get to play in in before it all melted. But we made up for that when the weather turned. It got up to almost 60 about ten days later, and we thoroughly took advantage of that. =)

Or course, it's now cold again, but the warmth was nice while it lasted. A reminder of things to come. =)

Car Seats

Margaret and I only have one car. I sometimes wish that we had a 2nd vehicle, but we don't really need one where we live. When it's nice out, I ride my bike to work, and when it's not the city bus system is quite reliable. Other than church, work is the only place I go on a consistent basis, so Margaret drives the car much more regularly than I do.

Tonight, however, I had a meeting with the Bishop. As I went to get in the car, my knees were shoved into my chest and I nearly lost my breath. Once again, the seat had not been pushed back to where a normal sized person could actually get into the car. This always makes me a little irritated, but no matter how many times I ask, Margaret never seems to think about it.

First, I don't understand how she can drive that close to the steering wheel. I know I'm taller than her, but it's not like she's that short. I think Timothy could reach the pedals with where she has the seat at.

Second, I don't know that she does (or ever will for that matter) have any idea how uncomfortable it is for me when I get in the car and this happens. She would probably tell you it's my fault for not checking before I get in the car, but I say that is nonsense. My friend Scott once told me that he broke his wife of this habit by leaving the toilet seat up everytime she didn't push the car seat back. I guarantee you that if Margaret fell in the toilet she would not say it was her fault, but would instead have it out with me.

As I was driving home, an hour later, my mind somehow wandered back to this incident, and I decided that I would have a talk with Margaret about this. That is until I walked in the house and there was pie. Not just any pie either, lemon meringue pie, which happens to be my favorite pie. Not only is it my favorite pie, but Margaret doesn't really like it, so when she makes it I know it is a special treat she made just for me.

So I ate the pie, and forgot about the seat. Moral of the story is I will just keep pushing the car seat back instead of leaving the toilet seat up (at least until we get a 2nd vehicle) because I love my wife that much. And if she keeps making pie, I may have to push it back just a little bit further.