Joshua: 15 Months

Our little baby has definitely transitioned into toddlerhood. He's FINALLY walking as of about a week ago. He toddles around the house and it's absolutely adorable. Here's what else Joshy is up to at 15 months:
-Loves to twist caps on bottles
-VERY strong-willed, especially compared to Seth and Sam
-Has a hard time transitioning away from something that he really wants to do. For example, he LOVES playing with the big boys' crayons. So one day I put him in his high chair with some crayons while Seth and Sam where drawing. He sat up there for a very, very long time. But all good things must come to an end, and I wasn't going to spend my entire day picking up the crayons he was throwing on the floor. Well, taking him down from that high chair was the end of the world! He spent the entire day obsessing, pointing, screaming at the table. As my mother-in-law put it, "Josh's waffle squares are very deep."
-He's turned into quite the cuddlier. He gave us all goodnight hugs and kisses tonight. Watching him hug and kiss Seth and Sam might just be one the sweetest things ever. He was even hugging and kissing grandparents this weekend!
-Loves bathes.
-He may have taken only one morning nap all month. Yep, the days of 2 naps are over.
-He loves to hug and kiss his stuffed animals
-He slaps our hand and points to where he wants to go (very persistently)
-Loves shooting baskets
-Stopped taking a bottle and just does sippy cups of milk
-Says: "Mommy," "Daddy," "more", and is trying really hard to say "Seth and Sam," (and has a lisp when he says it).
-Grew up WAY too fast!

He loves putting together the pieces of the medicine droppers, and I love how busy it keeps him!

Sometimes You Just Have to Laugh

This weekend we had one of those moments where we had to decide if we were going to laugh, or cry (or get very angry).

We ran out of gas--100 feet from the gas station. BUT, we didn't run out of gas in the middle of the Columbia Gorge on I-84 when it was pouring rain. And for that, we thanked the Lord, a thousand times over.

Sure, we felt stupid that we ran out of gas. I could explain to you all the circumstances that led to us running out of gas, but they really aren't that great of excuses. It just happened, and we had a choice of what kind of reaction to show our children.

The real laugh came after we got the vehicle running again and headed to McDonalds. Yes, that's right, McDonalds. Barf. Unfortunately, it was our best option, especially considering that Josh had been crying on and off for an hour because he was starving and I didn't plan ahead enough to have snacks for him in the car. The boys and I walked into McDonalds, and Sam exclaims, "But, mom, McDonalds is bad for us!!" Yes, Sam, I'm aware. So the boys had their first happy meal ever (yes, we're that weird allergy food family).

BUT, we were heroes in our kids' minds. "Mom, Dad, thank you SO much for taking us to McDonalds and letting us play on the jungle gym." Ha. So, we're laughing and not crying. You have to count your victories!

So, here's another story that may make you laugh. A couple weeks ago, I was working with the boys to start having the daily chore of clearing the dinner table. Seth asked if they would be paid for their chore (we've had them work for money before). I let them know that they would not be paid. Seth's indignant response, "But mom, that's slavery!"

Finally, I found an old draft of "Oh the Thing They Say," that I haven't published yet. These are a bit outdated (maybe  6 months old). They are still just as sweet, though:

-“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Sam: “Hum…I don’t know. There are so many good options.”

-Sam, “How do they take pictures of planets when they don’t talk?” No need for Ben to reply as Seth jumped in with this solution, “They take the pictures without saying ‘cheese.’”

-My mom was reading the boys Cinderella from an old classic fairytale book with beautiful illustrations. When they saw a picture of Cinderella dressed up for the ball, they told my mom, “That looks like mommy when she dresses up for a date!” So sweet!

-Seth tells me, “I like that sweatshirt on you mommy.” (Pauses, looks down at my feet). “But you’d look better if your toenails were painted.” All the tact of his father.

-Sammy, pointing at the water heater and furnace, says to Seth, “Yah, and if you touch them, then you get smaller and smaller and smaller and then you die.” Seth nods. I ask, “Where did you hear that, Sam?” Sam replies, “Because, they are so hot.” Ah, son, I totally understand your logic.

And a post would not be complete without pictures. Here's pictures of the boys with their favorite little animals. Josh is crying because he only wanted to hold the boys' monkeys, and I just wanted a picture of him with his favorite Piglet. He was smiling by the end, though.

 Before I took the money away from him

 Sammy

 Seth

 So angry!

 Pathetic

Brothers!

Hunting and Halloween

Well, it's mid-November and I'm just now posting the rest of my October pictures. But, that's ok. At least I'm posting, right?

First of all a few pictures from deer hunting in Dufur. I have to say that going home to Ben's family's house for hunting has became one of my favorite fall traditions. The gorge and Dufur are so beautiful in the fall, and I always get to go out on at least one "hunt" (i.e. walk) with Ben around their land. They have an aspen grove and a view of Mt. Hood that are hard to beat. I also have lots of help with the kids and we get to catch up with Nate and Holly. We loved seeing their baby, Ellie, who is growing up way too fast in my opinion! All in all, it was a wonderful weekend!

 Josh was not cooperative in the group grandkid picture.

 Seth was very into Ellie. He spent a lot of time petting her head and holding her hand. It was very sweet.

Ellie is just the cutest little thing and is doted on by all.

 I just adore this picture of Joshy in his camo overalls holding the football.

Seth in Ben's hunting boots 

Seth and Sam were so excited to go out on a "hunt" with Deedo and Daddy. Ben said that they did really good being quiet. Next generation of hunters!

 Deedo and the big boys looking through a scrapbook. They love their Grandpa!

 

Despite the (not fun) pumpkin patch outing, we did have some great pumpkins to carve. Seth and Sam were so excited, and Josh thought it was the most fun activity ever! He sat on the counter, grabbed his spoon, and was in the middle of everything. In fact, he liked it so much that he spent the rest of the evening pointing at the counter and crying when he was so longer sitting on it. Oh, the life of a toddler, it's rough.

Seth and Sam 

 Ben couldn't have been more proud of his idea to make the perfect circle eyes. I have to admit: it was quite brilliant!

Josh is so "helpful"

 All done and displaying our beautiful pumpkins!

 

This was the first year that we let the boys do actual hardcore trick-or-treating. We went to their school buddies house and they went out with a very sweet group of kids. The neighborhood was definitely all decked out for Halloween, with the majority of the houses and passer-outters dressed up. The consequence of the that was that Seth and Sam saw a lot of creepy, scary, bloody things. I sure don't understand that part of Halloween! And while it was a good time, I think we'll probably head to our churches Harvest Party next year.

 

Seth and Sam's costumes were Seattle Seahawks football players, and Josh was a Blazer basketball player. I know, not my strongest costume year. I had what I thought was a dinosaur costume for Josh that I bought at a garage sale, but it ended up actually being a court jester outfit that was way too small. Him being a Blazer was a cute compliment to his brothers football wear, though.

 Here's the big group of kids from school that they trick-or-treated with. My favorite costume of the night is the girl second from the left. She's a crazy cat lady!

 The spider web decorations were mild...one house had bloody handprints all over the door and windows.

 Joshy joined us on the walk wearing some cute winter accessories. I couldn't stop laughing at how cute he looked in that baby scarf!

 

And finally, this post can't be complete without me showing off Ben's pictures from his elk hunting trip this past weekend. On opening morning he shot a 6 x 7 bull, and Caleb a 6 x 5. Two days later Jeff shot a 6 x 6. It was quite the trip for the Morris boys!