I love that Joseph pretty much tries anything, food-wise. (I have to add food-wise since there are so many other things he's unwilling to try...but that's another story!)

Here's how I get Joseph to eat eggs and toast. If I give him scrambled eggs and a slice of toast separately on a plate, he usually won't eat them. Instead I do this:

That's a piece of toast covered in applesauce and then topped with eggs. (Some may say yuck when reading this but I also enjoy something sweet with my eggs. My favorite is jam, which I spread onto the toast and then top with eggs...I know, sounds kooky!)

Here's the aftermath:


Almost done...

What zany things do you put together hoping your child will eat them? Is it something you would try yourself? Or do you just end up pawning off random foods to your child hoping to hit upon something that they'll love?

How often do you get mad at your kids for something when you are yourself ultimately responsible?

It seems to be happening to me more and more lately. As I consider the situation, though, I realize that I need to discipline him anyway. How else will he understand that he did something wrong...even if I helped cause the entire incident. There's immense guilt, I've discovered, but what else am I supposed to do?

Maybe you don't feel the same way...but I did leave the butter within easy reach even after finding him poking at it the first time. Fool me once, Joseph, shame on you...Fool me twice, doubly shame on me!

What ARE you eating?!
How can he look so smug? Maybe I better use my mommy voice?
Finally, some remorse...or is he just realizing this will be on my blog within a few days?

The Golden Arches

What to do when you are watching over your sister's three kids plus your own? Take them to McDonald's, of course! We got there a little after 11:00 a.m. and left at 1:15! Talk about a great way to get in some fun play time for the kids and great reading time for me.
Caprice, Karina, and Joseph were very willing to pose for the pictures...all we needed was Brayden. Don't worry, they convinced him to come up eventually.
Joseph kept saying "cheese" and "mama" while hanging up in the play place. Can I just say one more time how much I love that little guy?
Brayden is such a cutie! A great helper/older brother, too!

Freezing in Texas

Ahh, Texas...don't most poeple think of sunshine and humidity when they think about the weather here? I did until I came and it was 34 degrees and raining a little. I walked out of the airport and simply froze...I guess all of my Utah blood has become Arizonized. (I cover up with a blanket when it gets down to 73 at my AZ house.)

My older and most definitely wiser sister

Theresa's neighborhood is beautiful. I love it! She lives on a nice street with lots of trees (what are trees? some of you Arizonans may ask...they are large and leafy and gorgeous!) She's a few blocks from her school and today Caprice (2 1/2 yrs) and I walked down to meet Brayden (6 yrs) and his mom while Joseph stayed home with Karina (9 yrs) who wasn't feeling well.

Great tree, huh? Makes a nice picture spot!

Joseph, Brayden, and Cinderella



Theresa's house is treasure trove of toys...Joseph's little slice of heaven :) She has so many different toys, I feel like I'm in a really high end Toys R' Us. Joseph is loving life right now. Today, Theresa set up this amazing train set in Brayden's room. He is having a great time playing with everyone...especially Caprice, the closest to him in age.

The best room ever!

Mark's work had a grand opening for his branch. We went up and had tons of fun! The kids ate so much junk! Jumping in the bounce house worked all the sugar out of their system, though.
Popcorn...that's healthy, right?

Snow Cones...it was chilly outside, but Joseph still chowed down on it!

Joseph

Cash

Ashlyn

Need a clean house?...host a brunch!

I invited Marci and Molly over the other day for brunch. It was perfect because my house was getting messy! I always love a committment to motivate me. All I need to do is host a brunch once a week for the rest of my life and my house should stay clean :)


Snacking on peppers, carrots, and celery...yum!

Cash loved the ranch dressing...can't you tell?

Thought this was a picture, but took a great video instead!

Picture Tag

Nothing too exciting with my tag from Marci...I think I've blogged this picture before. Should've made something up and picked a crazy one anyway.

4th file, 4th picture
This is William and Joseph in Marci and Sam's backyard. It's his first time on a bike, afterwhich he became addicted! He loves bikes (and trains, cars, buses, diggers, garbage trucks...I really could go on and add more.) I am so excited that he's getting a bike for Christmas ($10 on Craigslist...not too bad, if I don't say so myself.) I plan on putting it under the tree with a big bow...how classic is that!? :)

I reserve the right to not tag anyone else...I admit that I'm a bit of a tag humbug.

Christmas Lights

Sunday night we went to the Mesa Temple and saw the lights. It was so much fun and Joseph loved it!

Camel Train Across the Deseret of Arizona

Palm Trees
Joseph loved it, as I mentioned. He was all over the place! William and I had to keep running after him...I'm amazed I was able to even catch a few shots of him :)
see that speck in the distance...yeah, that's him
redefinition of the quickstep
and he's off!
I was able to get him to sit still for a few pictures, though...
Four of the cousins
Say Cheese!
The kindness of strangers (she played peek-a-boo with him which is the only way he'd smile)

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was great...mine was wonderful!

We spent it at Marci's after the boys got finished with work. I did the turkey, stuffing, yams, and gravy. My first :) It seemed to take forever and felt kind of stressful but was a success. Tasty leftovers, too.

I made Becky's pumpkin cookies with my leftover pumpkin, too. A great (but healthy) treat!

Nap Time Troubles

Wow, finally...Joseph has fallen asleep after two and half hours spent in his room. Some of you may wonder why I let him play for so long. Shouldn't I have "given" up on his nap and let him out of his room? Heck no! Nap time is my time too! Here are some pictures I snuck in and took. I think it's funny he still used a pillow, even on the floor :) I guess he was too tired to use the one on his bed!
Carefully open the door...snap
Check if really asleep...snap
Okay, he's out...use the flash...snap

Photo Shoot

Molly's sister, Stacy, came into town after Sadie was born. She took some great pictures of Joseph. I love them all, though I only placed some of them here.

21 Months and Counting :)

Just had to type this up really fast.

Joseph was climbing on the computer chair, which he knows he's not supposed to do. I said to him, "If I count to five and have to come get you off of the chair, you are going to spend some time in your room. One...two..." at which time, he climbed off and ran away saying "five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!"

What a smartie :)

Making the Most of His Wardrobe

Ah, to look back at cute pictures I took when Joseph actually sat still :) I took this one when he was six months old (August 2007). Please take a close look at those darling shorts he has on...Thank you, Marci! Loved those shorts. (size 6 months, btw) Oh, wait...I guess I should say love those shorts. I recently went through a box of clothes, making sure there weren't any I wanted to get rid of. Luckily I found those same shorts and decided Joseph should try them on. Well, 15 months later, they still fit! I guess he has really held on to his boyish figure :) (Wish I could wear some of the same things that I had years ago!)

Midnight Reading?

When we put Joseph down for the night, he often decides to do other things for a while before finally getting back in his bed and falling asleep. Here is the activity he chose to do the other night:

I'm such a copycat

I couldn't help myself. I had to copy Marci, and many others before her, I'm sure. She recently posted about her couponing and I had to do so as well. My outcome certainly wasn't $9 but $13 isn't that far behind right? (That's 30 items up there, I'll have you know...not so bad if I don't say so myself.)

For those considering the joys/pains/hassels of couponing: it's sales like this one that make it all worth it :)

Auntie Tracey!

Molly had her baby on November 2nd. She was so precious! I felt so happy and joyous for her and her family. A brand new baby...so little and helpless. So dependent on you, as a parent. Wow! How exciting.

I cannot describe how different Sadie's birthday here in November was compared to Isabell's birthday in July. All I know is that, as happy as I was for Marci (mother of Isabell), I could not "get into" the joy of the day. I felt disconnected; distant. Looking back now, I may have even been experiencing a little bit of depression...who knows? But last Sunday, on Sadie's birthday, I could not seem to hold her enough or take too many pictures even though it wasn't even my own child.

September has come and gone...my baby is still very real to me but yet is now my past. I guess I have moved on, sadly, and can now connect with other babies and birthdays and mothers. Why does that make me cry a little?

Without going on any further, here are some pictures:

Uncle Will...or as Karina used to say, "trouble." (Which is to say uncontrollable tickling episodes, wild piggyback rides, kooky songs about ice cream, and other crazy things.)

Leaving the hospital along with hand-holding training...didn't last long for Joseph.