I was just reading through some of my friends' blogs when Felcity came up to me, packing Seth:
"Mom! Seth just ate one of my stickers and when I told him no, he laughed!" Don't worry he didn't actually eat it, just chewed on it. Felicity was not a happy camper about her soggy sticker. But I am a little worried, because he does think it's funny when people tell him no. He's been trying out his teeth lately, and those of you who go to my ward probably heard him doing his happy scream (it sound's like someone just stepped on him, but he really is happy when he does it) and he's constantly eating things that shouldn't go in a babies mouth, whenever he does those things and I tell him no, he giggles. Oh, I think I might be in for it with just him and Joseph at home now...

Felicity's Big 7

Happy Birthday Felicity! To my funny, giggly, great big sister, huge imagination, not so tidy (but we're trying!) and wonderful girl, I'm so glad you're our daughter. The jokes, songs and drawings you make everyday keep me laughing and I love seeing you play at the same things I loved when I was little (My Little Ponies, Strawberry Shortcake and making up silly songs, and well, yes, playing in the dirt, too). But you are very much an individual, too, and won't let anyone push you around. I'm glad that you've discovered books this year, I love finding you curled up on your bed reading. This year will be second grade for you and it will be exciting watching you grow. Happy Birthday our Joy!

Catch-up

We just got back from a week and a half in Idaho with parents (well, Farris went home in the middle so he could go to work for a few days), and as much fun as I had, awhhhhhhh, it's good to sleep in my own bed. We: yard saled in Ketchum/Sun Valley area (fun times), finished Felicity's quilt top (I'll post a picture...some time...), played with cousins, went to the Lincoln County Fair and Rodeo (haven't been for awhile, fun to reminisce, but I didn't recognize a single person in the rodeo, weird), only had one child throw up (Caleb got a little too hot during a long walk, poor guy), stayed up too late, went to an International Dance and Music Festival (I think I'm a fan of the Asian countries, the kids from Japan were incredible on the drums and the dancers from from Taiwan and South Korea were incredibly graceful), went to a small town Opera House in Oakley (anyone know where that is?), ate our way through my mother-in-laws raspberry bushes ('nuff said) and generally had good times.

ALSO, BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Seth learned to crawl! He's been chasing people around. My dad was so excited when Seth followed him into the kitchen. That little kid has been growing and changing so much lately I'm wondering what he'll do next. And it's a lot harder to have four kids that are mobile than four kids with only three mobile. None of them stay put now!
On the way home last night I thought Felicity had finally figured out Knock Knock jokes. She said "Knock, Knock." "Who's there?" "Cold!" "Cold who?" "Cold you open the door?" Pretty good, I thought, it actually makes sense. But then she started putting everything in there instead of cold and it didn't work anymore "Temple you open the door?", "Thanksgiving point you open the door","Car seat you open the door," etc. She would even read things off the billboards to put in there. And you all thought it was annoying to have a kid read every sign out loud for an hour straight. Try answering knock knock jokes based on the billboards for an hour straight. But she also brought out her Book of Mormon and read the entire book of Enos (I know, it's not that long, but I was proud of her). On Sunday she read one of the scriptures from it in Primary, she really is growing up.
Caleb is all set for Kindergarten now, he's excited, but I'm a little afraid that he's not going to want to go in that door. He will have the same teacher Felicity had, though, and she's great at making kids feel comfortable and loved. We'll see how it goes. Oh, and those of you who heard about him swelling up with the hives, he's better, no more puffy face, but we still don't know what he's allergic to.
Joseph is a party animal. I mean, he has to be the center of attention. At our family reunion he kept a table full of adults mesmerized with his magic trick. OK, we we're exactly mesmerized, but we were all laughing pretty hard. One of his nursery leaders told me that she missed him last week while we were gone and that it's his face (and one of the little girls, too) that she pictures when she thinks about nursery. That's my boy, the Poster Child.

Felicity speaks...

Felicity has taught me something useful. Yesterday at the playground she informed me that if someone claims to be a superhero, just ask them if their mom can still put them in time-out. No superhero, apparently, can be put in timeout.

For those of you who have parents that try to guilt you into eating your vegetables, Felicity has found you a way out. We were trying to get her to eat the freshly picked green beans from our garden. Farris told her that millions of people would love to be able to eat green beans fresh from their garden. Felicity looked at her plate and said, "I'll just sell mine, then."

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July, we had a lot of fun. My (little =) used to be little) brother and his family came here on the 2nd and spent the night with us. He has three girls and a boy, and Felicity was lovin' have some girls around. His little boy, Michael, just turned two a couple months ago, but him and Joseph are little pals. By the time the weekend was done, Michael was doing Joseph's evil cackle, too. Sorry, Rob and Tasha. On the 3rd we met up with the rest of our family in Huntsville, which is a little town in the Ogden canyon, right next to Pineview Reservoir. Huntsville always does the best hometown celebration, starting with the local sheriff driving around town with his siren on at 6:00 in the morning to wake everyone up for the pancake breakfast at the city park. There's a fun run, 1 mile, 5K and 10K, and then the parade at 10:00 and activities in the park all day long, a town melodrama, and then the fireworks. This year Farris did the 10K and did a great job, especially considering he had bronchitis a couple weeks ago, and eye problems two days before, and slept on the hard ground the night before. I did the 5K, and as nervous as I was about it, it was so much fun. I decided to just have fun with it, so I didn't push myself, just enjoyed the scenery and even stopped to chat with my aunt for a minute when I went by her house. It is gorgeous up in The Valley and this year everything is very green and the reservoir is full and a very, very blue. I definitely recommend this 5K to anyone, anybody want to join me next year? the parade is always fun, the town owns an old civil war canon and several soldier costumes, so they usually start off the parade and present the colors with some of the veterans from the area. I love how they always make sure everyone is standing with their hand over their hearts. Although, I really think we shouldn't have to be reminded! We were also able to spend time with some extended family, Aunt Ellen and Uncle Daryll camped with us in their camper, Sally Forth (Tee-hee, Aunt Ellen!). We also got to meet my cousins new foster kids, a cute set of 8 month old twins and their older 3 year old brother. They were so adorable and fit right in with the family. I hope all goes well and they are able to adopt them soon. All together we had five little babies being passed around, let's see how camping goes next year when they're all a little older. We drove home before the fireworks, or really it was during, we could see several celebrations going on all the way home. Felicity stayed behind with Grandma. Mom and Aunt Ellen decided to have a Granddaughter trip and they are taking the girls to Lava Hot Springs with no parents allowed. They called today and are having a blast.
I have to add two stories. Yesterday, we were taking care of the garden for our FHE activity (yippee says all the kids out there). Joseph went inside to go to the bathroom, and I helped him get partly dressed again and left him with the instructions to put his pants on. So, twenty minutes later we're wondering where he is...in my search I could smell a something strong coming from the bathroom, like soap. But no, it was half a bottle of lotion that he dosed himself with. Hair, legs, arms and a big dab on his nose. I took a picture (I couldn't resist), and then while I was cleaning him up, he says with a sigh "Mommy, it's been a long week."
Today Caleb wrote a song called "Doin' the Looga" and him and Joseph performed it for me. The lyrics are basically "Doin' the Looga, Doin' the looga, go around in circles, doin' the looga, doing the looga, going to the looga, going to the looga, Doin' the looooooogaaaaaa!" and they even have hand movements for it. I love my crazy, talented little boy!

I never thought I'd say...and more Joseph

This morning I was working in the front yard with all the kids behind me. I could hear them discussing their Super Powers. I heard a clang and turned around to see Caleb brandishing a garden hoe and I found myself saying "Caleb! Hoes are not super powers! Put it away!" And then I thought, that's something I never thought I'd say.

We're pretty conservative when it comes to make-up for Felicity, but other people have given her nail polish and glittery lip gloss that she loves, so we let her wear it. But Joseph has just changed our ideas on when Felicity will be able to wear real make-up. It won't matter how old or how mature she is, it will all depend on how old or mature he is. Yesterday I found him spotted with nail polish. Then, of course, I found several toys and walls that had been painted. Felicity's nail polish wasn't under lock and key, so he decided to have fun. Then, just a few minutes ago, I hung up the phone (I was only on it for about ten minutes and he was supposed to be in bed!) and Joseph appeared around the corner with his "I just did something bad, and I know it" little devilish look (he does that a lot). On closer inspection, I realized that he was shiny. And goopey. And glittery. This time he got into three of Felicity's lip glosses, blue, pink, and orange tinted. His whole face, his hands and some of his shirt, he even got the tip of one ear, were covered. I got the goopey off, but the glittery will probably stay for a couple days. Luckily the nail polish is almost off his cheek, maybe by the Forth of July he'll be un-glitterified. That boy.

Happy Birthday, Joseph!

Well, someone who has been a two year old for at least five years is finally turning three! We'll see if it works. Oh, Joseph, it's been an (insert here: crazy, laugh riot, happy, snuggly, all around good) adventure having you in our family and we know it wouldn't be complete without you. You make me laugh every day and I love the hugs and kisses you give out. I never know when I'm going to find you asleep next to Seth, or streakin' around where ever, or teasing Caleb or Felicity, or sneaking a snack. You keep me on my toes, that's for sure. I love how you can sing "Once I was a baby" or "If You Could Hie to Kolob" or "Bob the Builder." We love you so much and can't wait for the next part of the adventure.