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:

Poor kid doesn't know what a popsicle is...

Josh brought this home from Sunday School saying, "What are those kids doing with those knives?" (Knives was pronounced "Nife-is") Apparently the meaning of the verse was lost on him.  Cracked me up...hardest I've laughed in a long time!