Happy Birthday Mark

Hi Mark,

We hope you have a wonderful birthday, even in the midst of these trials. We love you and respect you. What you are doing will be honored by Him, and He will see you through it. We are proud of you.

Have a wonderful birthday.
Love
Timothy, Elisa, Andy & Joey!

Hyper Smiles!

Joey gets so excited about the simplest things. Here he is enjoying a chocolate chip cookie. What is special is that he gets just as excited when I come home from work. Makes going home all that much more enjoyable!

Happy Birthday Carter

Carter turns 6 years old today! He is Andy and Joey's first cousin on their mother's side. In view of that, Happy Birthday CARTER!

The video says it all...

The Pay-backs have started...

Joey has a new trick.
Andy takes out the toys in the toy box and climbs in, then closes the lid.
At that moment, Joey climbs on top shutting Andy in.
Andy can't get out with Joey on top.
Joey knock-knock-knocks on the lid to Andy inside.

He also loves to turn the lights on and off, on and off, on and off, while standing on top of the toy box.

"Weeve me a-wone. Tank you." Is the response when Joey comes off the top to play peek-a-boo with Andy in the box.

Today, Andy has started to keep his hand on the lid of the box so he can at least attempt to open if should Joey climb back on top.
I see squished fingers in Andy's future.

Joey, Brushing His Teeth

Not quite yet. He still hasn't learned the hang of it, but he is trying. He has learned to climb up on the stool and play in the water, which is what he is doing in this picture.

Monday Yard Work

My only goal for the day was to cut the back yard. Granted, I got a lot done on my day off. But all that was icing on the cake since none of those things were on my goals for the day. My only goal was the back yard.

But then there was Joey. Just as I was heading out back to cut the grass, he woke up. He didn't want Mommy. Not at all. We tried that. He wanted Daddy! So much so that when I handed him off to Mommy, he broke out in a cry, where I heard her say, "breathe!" He screamed so long, she thought he wasn't going to breathe again. But he did.

Elisa tried to get me to forgo the yard. She said what I needed to do was play with my boy. But I was hard headed. She even said, "why don't you put on your bathing suit, get in the kiddie pool with Joey and a beer, and I will cut the grass for you." I was so hard headed that I passed on that offer. What was I thinking?

But alas, I have to do things my way. I thought I could distract Joey long enough with the sand box or the fire engine to get started. Then, once he saw that I wasn't leaving, and would be right there, all would be well. Not so. As soon as I cranked up the lawn mower, he came around the corner of the house with a face full of tears.

Plan B. I will carry him while cutting the grass! Ha! That lasted all of three strips around the yard.

Plan C. Get the carrier from the garage, put him on my chest and finish the job. Double Ha! It was liked adding a 40 lbs. pack to my chest and heading up a mountain. After three strips across the yard, I was done.

Plan D. Let Andy and Joey play in the pool, while I recover on the porch. Accomplished.

I never did get that beer.

A Down Day

A Down Day, as in, we're not doing much at all. I hope to cut the grass, but not until later this evening. Joey and Andy are watching Toy Story.

Joey has learned to pick his nose. We're trying to teach him not to. We did have some success with Andy in that realm the other day. He picked his nose so much, it started bleeding. We took him into the bathroom to clean him up, and he saw the blood all over his face. That really scared him and he has done it since.

O great, as I was reading the above paragraph, Joey crawled up in my lap and tried to pick my nose. Then he stuck one finger in each ear... my ears! I guess this is part of the learning, unlearning process.

Toy Story just ended. Now for some breakfast... or perhaps brunch since we are approaching 11 a.m. Yup, major accomplishments on the way... just not today!

Joey has also learned to open the child gate. The $90 child gate, guaranteed to keep your child locked up. Alas, we have smart boys. So Elisa tied a ribbon there to keep him from getting through. Guess what? He learned to untie it! What fun...