My Funny 2 Year Old

Happy Birthday to my little Joshy! We had a great time celebrating Josh's birthday. I did want to make it a special and fun day, even though he would likely not remember. I blew up the whole pack of 24 balloons the night before his birthday and made a trail from his room to downstairs, I decorated the table with balloons, and party hats, and new birthday plates that Sam's parents sent, and I put to good use right away! These seemingly small things I did made the morning awesome. Both the boys were so excited to see all the balloons. Sam got Josh in the morning, and he usually strolls into our room, with Kaj already there we cued him that we would begin singing "happy birthday" when he walked in, as soon as we got done singing Josh's just let out this huge roar/grunt. It was hilarious. I took the boys to the bounce house in the morning, and the playground in the afternoon, and miraculously Rowan was having a very good day, and allowed all of these things to happen, it was his birthday present to Josh. We had planned on having friends over for cake and ice-cream but each of those families had at least one child sick with the stomach flu, but we still had a lot of fun. 

Sam's schedule has been crazy this week. It started out on Monday getting called in at 2:00am and then getting home at 6:30am, and then still go to work the next day. On the Tuesday which was Josh's birthday Sam only had a small 45 min window to come home late after work and spend some time with us before having to go back in till 10:00. He then had another night this week where he had to go in at 11:00 at night and then get back in at 2:30 in the morning. Even though we didn't have a lot of time as a whole family on Josh's birthday the boys helped assemble the little bike we got Josh, and let him ride around on it for a bit, had some cake and ice cream before Sam had to leave again, and the boys loved it.

I have said it before, and I will say it again. I am crazy about Josh. His fun personality is always surprising and adorable. I love that he puts every hat and scarf on, and proceeds to walk around the house. I love that he sets up little obstacle courses for himself, trips on purpose, and then get up and runs as fast as he can. I love the little things he starting to say. The kid spills every single day, and he will always go run for the towel and try to clean it up. I love  the little smirks he gets when he wants you to watch him. I love how easily he shares, and how easily he loves, and how he can laugh at almost everything. He makes our home so happy. He is a best friend to his brother, and is simply a contagious light to be around for anyone. He loves being a big brother, and runs to soothe Rowan when he cries, and tries to help by giving him hugs, and kisses. He is very good at following direction, and he is so helpful even when it may not be actually helpful, I appreciate him trying. An example of that is when he will get into my purse and proceed handing me everything in my purse individually saying, "here you go." He has a delightful energy, and curiosity. He is cautious and careful with new things, but learns to love new activities quickly. He can make me laugh every day. I love his quiet moments when he will actually sit still, and listen to a story, and he puts his little hand on your lap. I love that when I let him pick out his own clothes he actually takes the time to not only look, but then usually picks out the snappiest outfit, and is usually a church going shirt, and I am the one who will ask him to tone it down. He has a face that it is simply hard to ever be mad at despite the craziness he can cause completely alone- dumping nearly a whole box of cereal all over the carpet being the most recent of the Josh damage control, noting that it was not simply dumping all the cheerios out in one spot that is too simple for Joshy, but running around the house dumping them everywhere is more like it. He really is such a great kid. I love Josh so much, and cannot picture my life without him. I am so happy to be his mom. 

Where Have all the Spoons Gone

Being a mom of 3 little boys is a lot of dinosaurs noises, race car driving, muddy hands and feet, rock collecting, running around, and messy fun. Growing up never once did I think that I would have 3 boys. I had sisters. We had Barbie dolls, paper dolls, and dress up…it's different, but I am sure much the same. Josh and Kaj are quite the pair. They have started venturing and getting into everything! Things they couldn't reach before they can now reach, and if they can't reach something they will dump out the contents of a basket to enable themselves to reach. Spoons are a new phenomenon in our home in that they need a spoon for every drink they have. They have also discovered the refrigerator can make ice so they need water with ice, and a spoon to stir the ice. They need a spoon for their chocolate milk so they can slurp it up like soup, savoring each sip…which makes sense to me. But, I seriously am beginning to wonder where all our spoons have gone. 

I am running up and down the stairs a lot. Whether it is changing the laundry or just trying to shower, because, if the boys are downstairs things can change drastically from one moment to the next. One day I was going to shower at a decent hour meaning in the morning- I have to preface this that I had a pan with 2 hard boiled eggs out for my snacks, and 2 cubes of thawed butter out to make cookies. I had told Kaj :" I need your help making cookies later, do you want to help me?" Of course he did. Always before going upstairs and the boys are downstairs I say, "ok guys, are you going to be good?" More a hopeful request than an expectation, because they are crazy and you never know. I went upstairs started the water, and was about to get in, and before doing so, I thought: I should go check on the boys again real fast. Got my robe on, ran downstairs, to find the 2 eggs smashed to smithereens all over the floor, and thawed butter everywhere- on the counter, on the drawers, inside the drawers, a couple of spoons out, and two little boys looking guilty as ever. I gasped, and sat there for a minute to process everything, and also to calm down before I reacted. I asked, "what are you doing?!" Kaj answered that they were making cookies. I knew that is what they were attempting to do, I am not certain but I don't think they would have turned out without the rest of the ingredients, "Well, you have to wait for mom." I actually even managed to laugh a little, and I didn't get that mad about until I started to clean up. Other not as horrendous of times when I come down and both the boys are sitting on the couch eating slices of bread, "We're eating bread, mom!" Kaj will say happily! Ok…? They have been caught out in the backyard on multiple occasions the funniest was finding Kaj with no pants on, and a pajama top, Josh in pajamas, both of them wearing a pair or my shoes, and Sam's flip flips, with their beanies on their heads. So props to them for putting shoes on, I guess. So needless to say, I am kept on my toes all the time.

 

In other stories picking out cards at the store for my mom's birthday was memorable this time, because Kaj knew exactly that we were picking one out for MorMor's birthday, and as I scanned the options I heard Kaj say, "What about this one, mom?" I turned around to see him holding this bum card, and laughed so hard. Because, obviously that is the perfect card!

My dad planned to visit for Rowan's blessing. Sam does not have strong friendships developed with any men in particular here yet, he is pleasant with them all, but we really would not have much of circle, and we thought if my dad could manage to come out when he was up here for work again, it would awesome. So that is how we planned it, unfortunately, by the time we told a member of the bishopric we found out that it was actually going to be stake conference. So we figured that we would just bless Rowan at home. It was a good decision considering he cried the whole time, and stopped as soon as it was over, which was quickly. Despite the shortness of the blessing it was still sweet.

The blessing of Rowan was done March 9th 2014. He was blessed with the desire to learn. And to learn about the Savior, as well as a desire to follow the Savior. He was blessed that he would be an example to his brothers, and to know his family loves him. He was blessed to seek truth from the scriptures, and to go to the temple one day, and to serve in any manner the Lord asked of him.

Kaj has been loving the letter puzzles, again. He now is very interested in spelling names. He came up to me the other day saying "This spells Kaj! K-A-J!" holding up those letters to show me. He then wanted to learn mom, dad, and Mor Mor. The next day he spelled out MOM and DAD all by himself. He then wanted to learn how to spell Pappy, and later in the day randomly he wanted to spell Whitty. What I also love about Kaj these days, if there are ever moments where I am stressed, or cleaning up after Josh who spills every day Kaj will say, "It's ok, mom, we can try again later." This is what Sam has told Kaj. It's sweet to hear from him. 

Rowan before his blessing

Rowan "during" his blessing