The one with all the pictures...

Happy St Patricks Day!!!  And Happy 5th birthday to Josie!!!  

The obligitory blowing picture.  We all have one, err,,, many.  :)

One of my co workers asked Josie what she wanted for her birthday.  Josie replied "Gift cards - so I can get what I need"   What kid asks for gift cards??????   :)  also, not shown is a giant megaphone covered with shamrocks, a irish music box, a stuffed animal heating pad, gum(from uncle Seth) and a few other goodies that she shared equal enthusiasm for.

Thanks grandma and grandpa!!!

A new haircut!!!!!!

back view.   I love this!

Side view.  :)  fingers are made for picking.  

I believe he may just be cross eyed.   (i had to throw a cat photo in here somewhere...)

Off to the park!

Climbing on rocks with daddy is ALWAYS a good idea

A little dirt never hurt anyone.

What a ham - posing away!!!

Happy birthday little Josafine.  You are growing up too fast and I am enjoying most every part of it.  :)

Now, for more ginger photos....

We were at breakfast this morning when a lady came up to us and poked him, saying "He is sure a healthy baby!"   yes, he is a bit healthy.  Thats how we grow them here.  :)

The Chim loves his daddy! (and I love that red hair!!!!)

A child's prayer...

I had mentioned before that we had to replace our furnace this week.  While the guys were coming in and out of the house, bringing everything furnace related down to the basement, we had Crosby locked up in our room.  Nate didn't bother locking the other 2 in a room because they are afraid of everything and would hide anyways.  Crosby is very curious and likes to lurk under peoples feet causing problems, which is why he was a prime candidate for solitary confinement.

After the furnace was installed and all the outside doors were shut, Annie and Nic came out from their hiding places.  We hadn't seen Crosby since he was banned to our room.  I was looking for him when Josie told me that she had opened the door to our room because he was meowing very loud.

We then started to look inside AND outside.  No Crosby. It was getting cold, dark, and starting to rain.    When it was bedtime and time to say our prayers, I told Josie to ask Heavenly Father to keep Crosby safe and warm tonight.   She also added 'to get him home safely.'

After she said her prayer, she slowly went upstairs to go to bed.  At the top of the stairs was sitting Crosby!!!!!  She was so happy that she was almost in tears.  She scooped him up and hugged him.  She then looked at me with big eyes and whispered, "Mom, it worked!  My prayer worked!!!"

I was so happy to see her willingness to pray and ask for help,  and her reaction when something as simple as a cat at the top of the stairs was an answer to a her very heartfelt prayer.   I love her and love seeing her learn, grow, and figure things out for herself.

Right before I tucked her in, she says "mom, Heavenly Father and Jesus are sure life savers."  

They most definitely are.   :)

Sunday stuff and things...

"dont throw me in the garbage because I am a special girl."

yes, she is so special that for quiet time today, she built an angry birds set in her room and is busy squishing pigs and monkeys.   Quiet time today is not very quiet.


In other news, we had an interesting week that ended with us needing to replace our furnace STAT.  Thank goodness for friends with space heaters and only one night with 20 degree weather.

Yesterday, Nate and I had the chance to get away for a while.  We took a drive north and ended up at Lake Tionesta and the Allegheney National Forest.

This picture is the beginning of Plantation Trail - all of the trees were planted in this section in 1972 to replenish the forest - so that is why they are all in rows.  I thought it looked pretty cool.

 Here is the walkway to the observation deck by the spill way.

Here is the observation deck - completely under water and roped off. (see how the water washed away the cement slabs?)  The water was pretty deep.

Here is the water as it came out of the spillway - pretty cool to see how fast it was going

It was warm enough that we didn't need coats, but in shaded areas, there was still ice and snow

We almost went on this road but decided it may be a bad choice.  :) I think it was a dirt road too.  We saw lots of them on this trip.

 Being up there made me me think of the times we went camping as a family when I was little - to Allegheney State Park.  (the owl walk, climbing on the boulders, taking a log chewed by a beaver - which is a major no no these days, Jiffy pop, bunk beds and sleeping bags)

After we realized that we were over 3 hours away from home, it was time to turn back.  I love road trips, even if they are just for the day.  I made a comment to Nate - "I love going no where with you"  (meaning that we didnt even have to go anywhere and we always have a good time) and his reply was "Welcome to the rest of your life. "   hah hah.  Funny dude.

One more amusing thing heard in my house today  -  "Dont call mommy a jerk - its her birthday!!!"   hahah.  so any other day is ok then, right?  :)

Happy Birthday to me.  :)

Josie-isms and recent happenings...

"Did you just hear that dinosaur blink?????"


"I can't remember, mom, I gave my brain away."


"These are called 'Long Neckers'".
     "you mean Brontosaurus?"
"No, they are definitely called Long Neckers, mom.  See that super long neck???"
Duh   :)


"Is that a good wookie or a bad wookie?  What is Princess Leia a princess of?  Why do wookies make that noise?  I'm afraid of ewoks under my bed"
someone has recently watched star wars.... 


"Josie, what are you doing?'
        "Nothing, mom"
"Is that a good choice or a bad choice?"
       "Probably a bad choice so don't come in here"


I need to keep a notebook with me to write these down when I hear them.  Sometimes her logic really does make sense.  Other times, I wonder what egg she hatched out of because it sure wasn't from me.

This week, I got to do some things I haven't done in a while and really miss -

• hanging out with Lidia and kids
• taking photos
• working (ok, i do this, but still enjoy it)
• making some new recipes  (7.5 dozen spinach lasagna rolls for our freezer swap group - delicious!)
• going outside without a jacket - several days in a row
•  daily using our elliptical machine.  
• saturday night 'Idiot Abroad'   I love that show.
• having more family time - stories, baths, playing, chasing cats, running marathons around the house
• buying a new couch (finally - ours has bitten the dust - has to stay against the wall for support right now...)

ok, off to bed and dreams of at least 4 consecutive hours of sleep at a time.

Catnip, asparagus, and baths...

I was cleaning out a cupboard that we are getting rid of and found a bag of catnip.  I figured is was old and out of date so I just threw it away.   After a few minutes, the garbage bag containing the catnip was moving.  2 cats were in it, and one was on the outside trying to get in.   This would be Nate's dream - cats in the garbage...  heh heh...  No such luck.

I took the catnip out of the garbage and let them play with it for a while.   Crosby dragged it into Josie's princess tent and kept it hostage for a few hours.

No one was allowed in - human OR feline.

I grabbed the bag and threw it on the floor - They came running!!   

ok, enough about cats - I do enjoy their antics though.     

On to other stuff...

Andy had his first asparagus today.  He couldnt figure it out but knew it went in his mouth.

Along with a baked potato that I shortly after had to scoop out of his mouth.

Lots of fun at dinner means bath time ASAP.  This is everyone's favorite time of day

Andy has been pulling himself up - very wobbly - but still, is able to stand with little help.  I wish I could have captured his face here - he was squealing and laughing so hard.  He loves his sister.  I hope this continues throughout his life.  :)

Josie's comment was "He looks just like a little man with his little man sweatpants!"    Hah!

Sunday at Granny's...

After church today, Josie, Andy and I went to Granny's for naps (HAH!!!) and dinner.  Nella, Lucy, and Uncle Seth were there too.   

Josie and Lucy played so nicely that I hated to leave.  Andy was in the corner doing his own thing...  :)

Here he is, attempting to join the fun.

This girl is growing up too fast!!!  Lucy isn't big on smiling for the camera, so I followed her around for a while until she was happy to see me.  This is the best one.  It is now my goal to make her smile.

 Andy still looks shocked when I surprise him with my camera.

Today at church, Josie was to excited to give a talk in primary.  We worked on it all week - she decided she would pick a prophet from the scriptures and tell what they did to choose the right and how they were blessed by heavenly father.  She chose Nephi and how he was asked to build a ship and sail across the ocean with his family to the promised land.  Then she went on to say that she could choose the right too at home and at school by listening to her parents and Heavenly Father so she can be happy.    

That was the game plan anyways.  She was super prepared and ready with pictures she had drawn and her scriptures and had everything memorized.    Needless to say, the talk did not happen.  It is a scary thing to get up in front of your friends and classmates and give a speech.  Especially for a 4 year old.

Later this evening, she said "Mom, I am so sorry I was scared and didnt give my talk today.  Do you still love me?"   

"Of course Josie!  Talking in front of people is really hard sometimes - at least you prepared and tried."

a few minutes later...

"Mom, does Jesus still love me even though I was scared?"

"Yes, Josie.  He loves you no matter what."

I love that kid very much and am so proud of her for even wanting to prepare her own thoughts to share with the primary today.