Conner's A-maize-ing Acres

Last week we visited Conner's A-maize-ing Acres with our MOPS group.  It's a family run farm that puts on a fall festival with a corn maze, hayride, pumpkin patch, petting zoo and other fun stuff.  We all had a blast and are hoping to go back there with Daddy, Papa and Tata before the end of the season.

Joshua had just gotten cowboy boots from Gigi and Papa for his birthday, so, of course, the cowboy wanted to wear them to the farm.  I couldn't believe it, he tromped around all day in those things!  What a stud!

Brielle was the leader of our whole group in the corn maze.

Best buddies

Fun times playing in the "corn box"

 

Common quote around our house, "What's that farmer doin'?"

On the homefront

It seems like life has been extra busy around here lately. It's just the usual stuff - work, housework, fun with friends, etc.  I guess both kids are going through some new phases right now that are requiring some extra energy and training on our part, so I think that's leading to some of the extra tiredness we're feeling at the end of the day.

Brielle is starting to act like a two year old!  Imagine that!  She now has an opinion and definitely makes it known when she doesn't like something. We're trying to nip in the bud her new habits of screaming when she doesn't get her way, whining, and throwing a fit.  The other day she started throwing her first temper tantrum (which I was ignoring) and in the process ran right into the couch and got a little boo-boo.  It worked out perfectly because she got distracted from the temper tantrum, I was able to comfort her, and we all moved on.  She is a clumsy little thing, but at least this once it worked out to everyone's advantage!

Joshua has been working on potty-training, which anyone who's been through it can attest to how exhausting that is.  It's been a long haul with him...he's definitely capable, but that strong will of his gets in the way sometimes, and he'd just rather play than pee.  Ugh!  He's also entered the "why" phase.  I know this is normal, but Josh seems to have taken it to an extreme!  We sometimes think it's literally going to drive us insane!  It is non-stop and often after we give a command (unacceptable) or at a time when "why?" doesn't make any sense and there's just no answer to it (nor does he really care about our answer).  So, we're wrestling with how to encourage his curiosity, but preserve our sanity and make sure that he's not questioning our authority...oh, life as a parent, somehow, I don't think it really gets any easier as they get older...

Daniel fried up a big platter of fish he'd caught!  Yum-yum!

We've been feeling a little out of sorts because we've never taken our kids camping, and it was such a big part of what we did before kids.  At the same time, we were skeptical that it would work because both kids are still in cribs and just seemed too active...but, other people with toddlers do it, so we figured we'd give it a shot...in the safety of our backyard, that is.

 

Testing out Brielle's sleeping bag

We bought the kids fun sleeping bags, ate dinner outside, set up the tent, built a fire in the chiminea - everything was going relatively smoothly.  Then it was bedtime.  We got our PJs on inside the tent, read a bedtime story with flashlights, and did our nighttime prayers and songs. As soon as we tried to get Brielle to lay down she started crying and saying, "Hold you, mommy."  She wouldn't calm down until I stood up holding her and got upset again if I tried to sit down.  Joshua was doing okay, but obviously, not asleep with all that going on around him.  We decided it just wasn't going to work for Brielle, that we had nothing to prove, and it would be better to get a good night's sleep and enjoy our Saturday together rather than all be cranky and tired.  So, I went to take Brielle inside to sleep in her crib.  We gave Josh the option to stay outside or inside, but he wanted to be with me, so we all wound up in the house, in our own beds.

While it didn't go as we'd hoped, it went pretty much as expected, and definitely answered any notions we had about attempting to camp anytime in the near future...so, overall, I'd say it was success!  Thank the Lord we weren't at a campground far from home and that the kids went right to sleep once they were in their own beds.  (I guess that's the downfall of sleep training your kids to fall asleep on their own...once and a while it sure would be convenient if they would fall asleep in your arms or laying next to you, but it's a small price to pay for the many, many, many nights of uninterrupted sleep we've enjoyed these past three years!)

Happy 3rd Birthday, Joshua!

Joshua has been talking about his next birthday since October 14th of last year - wondering if it's his 'birthday time' and requesting another choo-choo cake, just like last year! It's been fun to see him so excited about something. For several months after he turned two, whenever we sang Happy Birthday to anyone else, he always sang 'dear Joshy'. He's recently come to the realization that every birthday is not for him, but I don't think he minds, since they all still involve cake, friends, and fun times!

Joshua started his birthday morning off with a couple of serenades...one from Sis and one from himself. When he walked out of his room and saw the birthday banners I hung up, he said, "Does that say 'Happy Birthday, Josh'?" So cute...and smart! ;)

For breakfast he ate a chocolate donut with candles in it, then we were off to the zoo with the whole family for his special day.

Joshua got to ride on the train at the zoo, as well as ride the carousel there for the first time.  Brielle wanted nothing to do with it (I knew this from previous experience and didn't even try to take her on), but even started crying while watching Joshua and Daddy ride.  Too funny!  I'm not sure if she was afraid I was about to put her on it or was scared for them, but for whatever reason, she lost it!

After naps, HaHa came over for a dinner, cake, and presents.  Josh LOVED his choo-choo cake again.  For whatever reason, it truly delights him.  So fun.

Brielle enjoyed it too, I think!

 

 For his present, we bought him a zoo train (how appropriate).  He has loved it and played with it all the time since.

It's hard to believe how much our boy has grown up this past year, and even especially so in just the past few months.  He's gone from speaking in only phrases, to whole sentences, paragraphs, and thoughts.  Throughout the year he's transitioned from asking "What's that?" to "What's his name?" to "Where are they going?" (about every person or car we pass) and now we've moved on to the dreaded "Why?" (we're wondering how long this phase is gonna last!).  We are glad he's so inquisitive, but the questions just keep getting harder!

 

He has started to enjoy reading books.  Some current favorites are Oliver and Fire Cat.  Joshua continues to be a great big brother.  He asks for an extra lollipop from his Sunday School teachers so he can give one to his sister!  We've been working hard on potty training, and I think we've almost got it down.  Joshua is still into trains, planes, cars, balls, dirt, the beach, getting dirty - basically all things BOY.  He's started to like going for rides in the boat and canoe and is showing an interest in fishing...much to Daniel's delight.  He makes us laugh everyday.  Yesterday when he needed a tissue he told me he needed a 'noser'...not a bad guess while trying to figure out the difficult English language!

Overall, Joshua is independent, extroverted, curious, and active.  He loves to leave home and asks every morning what we're going to be doing that day.  We still can't tell him more than moments ahead of time what our plans are because the anticipation drives him crazy - he wants to go NOW!  

 

We love our boy - he's brought so much joy into our lives.  We are thankful to God for this past year we've had with Joshua and look forward to what the coming year will bring!

Florida State, Florida State, Florida State, Wooo!

We have season tickets for the first time for FSU football.  Although only a 'Nole (or even football fan for that matter) by marriage, I've enjoyed the games and everything that comes with it. It's been fun for Daniel and I to spend time together doing something we wouldn't normally do (and something that's close to his heart).  We've also gotten to spend a lot of time with our good friends, Brian and Amy.  (Daniel was friends with Brian in high school and roommates in college, and he has known Amy literally his whole life.)  And, of course, it hasn't hurt that FSU is having their best season in several years, so we've gotten to see them WIN some games too!

 

An added bonus has been getting to spend more time with Daniel's family.  We haven't made it to Tallahassee much lately because of our schedule and the difficulty of traveling with kids (much easier now with a minivan and lifesaving DVD player).  It's been fun for us to see everyone more and especially fun to see Joshua and Brielle bond even more with Papa and Gigi.  Brielle is Gigi's girl!  She runs right to her when we get there yelling "Hi, Gigi.  Hi, Gigi!", grabs their special book about farm animals, and heads for the couch.  Josh is completely entertained with the ponds for fishing, a swingset, and tractor rides!

  So far, so good as far as the season goes.  It will be interesting to see what the rest of the season holds...

 

Daniel and Jeremy doing the Chop!

Fashionista

Brielle has started showing a lot of interest in dressing herself.  She especially likes to put on and take off shoes (regardless of who they belong to) and really wants to learn to take off her socks.  Here's some of her 'outfits'. 

 She likes to put on Josh's big boy underwear and waddle up to me saying, "Dry. Dry."

She put this outfit together all on her own...

shoes on the correct feet, PJ shorts backwards and inside out, bib, and beach hat!  

So silly!

Introduction to Popsicles

Well, Josh and Brielle now know what a popsicle.  Thanks to a bout with Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease, Joshua's diet for the past week has been yogurt, applesauce, popsicles, and mac 'n cheese...

We're over the illness - that was a doozie, though.  Here's some pics of the kids enjoying a treat and the beautiful weather: