Lucky Find

From the time Josh was a little baby he has always liked the color GREEN. If he gets to choose something he always goes for the green one. When he goes shopping with me he is always telling me to buy the stuff in the green packaging. If his green Pajama's are clean those are the ones he wears first. (Even before the Firetruck or Thomas pajamas.)

Last week I was making a cake and Josh wanted me to make it green. In fact if you ask Josh what his favorite color is he will always say GREEN.

Now that I am feeling better. We have taken on my least favorite task of raising a toddler.....

POTTY TRAINING!!!

Josh and I went and bought a potty seat and some underpants with his promise that he would use the potty if he had these items.

The next day when he woke up we put on his underwear instead of a diaper. This did not go over well. He did not wet his pants, but every time he used the potty, after he was done he would cry for a diaper.

So I resorted to the "Potty treat" reward system. His favorite treats are M&M's, so I gave him a few of those if he could used the potty. This was working OK. He stopped asking for diapers, but he still cried a little when I took him potty, and he was still not very willing to go. He was not wetting his pants, but I was having to force him into the bathroom.

Yesterday I had to do the weekly shopping and so I stopped by the M&M's to restock. To my surprise I found these bags of all GREEN M&M's. They were left over from Valentine's day and on sale for half price.

This was such a lucky find, because now Josh happily goes by himself to the potty without crying so he can get his GREEN M&M's. No one else is allowed to have any, and Josh watches as we get him some to make sure that we are not eating "His Green M&M's." I know some might look at this as bribery, but when it comes to potty training I say whatever works,

and this is working great!

Outside Again

I love this time of year when the temperature warms up and the snow is melted. It is so nice to go outside and work in the yard and let the kids run free.

Joseph and Josh have spent the last two days out running around in the back yard. Josh was so tired last night that he was asking for his pajama's by 6:30pm.

The only down side to this is more dirt is brought into the house. So far the boys have been good about taking their shoes off.

This morning we got the bikes out and took them for a spin.

The weatherman is saying to expect snow at the end of this week.......... so we are trying to take advantage of the warmer weather while it lasts.

It's Most Likely a Girl

I had the official ultrasound today!

Everything looks good, and it looks like it could be a girl.

I know that does not sound very convincing, but the baby was not letting the technician get a good look between the legs. What she did see looks like a girl.

The doctor said we will try looking again at another appointment, but I have felt like this is a girl for a while so I am comfortable saying.....

IT'S A GIRL!

Draper Temple Open House

Last night we took the kids to the Draper Temple Open House. I had heard from a few people that the wait could be long so we went a little ahead of our scheduled time to wait our turn at the assigned chapel. We ended up only having to wait a few minutes before we were ushered into a room to see a video and then loaded on a bus to go up to the temple.

When we arrived they gave us a brochure about the temple with a few pictures in it. Joseph decided this was a map and used it like one. When we went into a room he would look at the brochure to see if the room was pictured. In a way this worked because the pictures were in the order of the tour.

Joseph was also impressed with how many pictures of Jesus there were in the temple. Emily really liked the chandeliers. The two favorite spots for the kids were the Baptismal font and the Celestial Room. I have to admit those are two of my favorite rooms also.
We had to get our tickets in early January and unfortunately when the day came Josh was not feeling well. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for letting him stay with you so we could still take the other kids.

I loved going through the temple with my kids and talking to them about it. After we were through Emily said that seeing it is person was a lot better than the pictures. I agree.

The Little Boss is in Charge!

When Emily was little she decided that she was the boss and was constantly telling Ryan and I what and how to do things. It was a constant battle with her about who the boss was and who was in charge.

Finally we told her that we were the big boss and that she was the little boss. The big boss was in charge of most things, including her, and the little boss was in charge of her toys and belongings. Emily was satisfied with that for a day or so, but after that she told us that "The Little boss was in charge.

When Joe joined our Family he was content to let Emily be the boss. Emily turned her attention to him and stopped trying to boss us around as much.

Luckily The little boss phase has passed with her. Although I still find myself telling her she is not the mother every now and then.

I thought that Emily went through that stage because she was an only child for so long but, In January Josh turned Three and Once again we have a little boss at our house.


He is constantly telling (not asking) Everyone what to do right down to how many ice cubes to put in his drink. At church last week every time it was time for a prayer he would tell Emily to fold her arms. (Josh did not fold his)

His favorite thing to do is to tell dad how to play the Wii. Even if it is a game Josh has never played he always knows how to play it better than dad and sits and tells his dad what to do.

I now hear Ryan telling Josh that he is not the boss. It brings back a lot of memories. I hope his boss phase is a short one.

We Love This Turkey

I know Thanksgiving was a few months ago, but I kind of missed it because I was not feeling well. So you will just have to endure me.

A couple of years ago Ryan's mom was sent an ecard with this on it. The next Thanksgiving we could not find the Turkey. Well now she's back and worth a good laugh.

Fireman Josh

Josh still loves trains, but over the past few months emergency vehicles have become his passion, especially the fire engines. So for his 3rd birthday we thought it would be fun to go visit the fire station.
Ryan's parents are friends with the Battalion Chief so Grandpa set our visit up through him.


We started off our visit at the Chiefs house where he showed us his truck and even turned on the lights and sirens. Then he let the boys ride over to the station in his truck. I think Josh was happy just doing that





When we arrived the fire fighters were there to give us a tour. We went inside to see the living quarters, but the Fire Engine was the most exciting part. They took us around the fire engine and opened up all of the doors to show us what was inside. This became serious business as Josh studied everything.

When they showed us where the ladder was Josh walked back to the side of the engine to see if they had one there also, because his fire trucks at home do.

Then the kids took turns driving.




Now when Josh plays with his Fire trucks at home the person calling for help always requests that Engine #32 comes to help. Thanks to the firefighters of Engine #32 for a fun and memorable day.