Joy!

Joy School, that is.  For probably a year now there's been a small group of my friends who wanted to do a preschool together when our kids were three.  One mom has done Joy School in the past and loved it, so we all just jumped on the band wagon.  My only issue is that we've had to turn down so many people because our group was getting full--that's what happens when you have 19 three-year-olds in your ward...

First day of Joy School--all the kids (and Krystal & Nora, since Victoria wouldn't sit alone)

back row: Nora, Krystal, Victoria

second row: Seth & Angelina

front row: Brie & Gabe

My son is a cheeseball.

Playing with playdough--a huge hit

Mom won't let me near this stuff at home!

(he always turns it into a car--surprise, surprise--and then 'drives' it all over the place, making a huge mess)

Doing some toe-painting

I was kind of surprised to find out that Seth was one of the 'problem children' in our group.  I guess I should have expected it: he's the second to youngest, and the youngest boy by six months.  The only one younger is Victoria, and she doesn't count since she's been speaking in full sentences since she was one.  

He's not a punk, he just prefers to play independently (always has).  He's also an observer--he doesn't like to jump into something without seeing what is going to happen, first.  So the hardest parts for him are learning to sit when it's time to sit and to participate even when he'd rather play cars.  We also had to have a discussion about how babies don't go to school, so Seth Baby (translation: Seth acting like a baby) has to stay in the car until school is all done.  I know it's a good thing for him to learn to be in a structured environment, but I understand his need for independent play and try to make sure he has plenty at home.

Speaking of at home...

Joy School is Mondays and Wednesdays.  On Tuesdays & Thursdays I try to have an hour or so of 'school' with Seth.  So far we've learned about our bodies, our skeletons & our insides, plus started on our five senses.  I love having the time to play with him and to introduce new ideas to him.  I love this age--he's like a little sponge!  I could swear to you he's not listening to a word I say, but then the next week I'll hear him singing the song he refused to sing with me.  

Seth & his body

He drew the face himself--we're both pretty proud of it!

It's a lot of work, but it's worth it.  And it's good practice for me since I'm very seriously considering homeschooling him for the first few years of school.  I know it sounds totally crazy, but if you saw the school he'll be going to, you'd want to keep your kid home, too.  

Sethisms

The Seth Man

(at a little over three years old he was 38 inches tall and 32 pounds)

Some of these I've posted on Facebook, so you might have seen them before.  But I want to post them here so I'll remember to scrapbook them later.

*First words out of Seth's mouth one morning: "Some people are wicked."
Me: "Oh, really?  What did they do?"
Seth: "They didn't listen to the prophets and Jesus.  But Seth listens to Jesus and Heavenly Father."
Guess he really is paying attention!

*Or maybe not.  Every morning I show him pictures from the Gospel Art Kit and tell him the story.  Today it was the Harry Anderson painting of Christ with the children.  In the middle of my story, Seth turns to me and says, "I smell strawberry shortcake."  Pokey Little Puppy, anyone?

Seth-in-a-Box

(he kept hiding in there and popping out at random times)

*Marah: Seth, do you want this poster of Jimmer in your room?

Seth: No, he might take my pacifiers.

*Me (pointing to picture of Jimmer): Seth, who's that?

Seth: Moses

*He's a little obsessed with bad guys right now.  Sometimes I'm the bad guy and he kills me, sometimes he's the bad guy and takes my stuff.  And one night he insisted we were ALL bad guys and then beckoned us into the playroom saying, 'Come on!  Yet's take each other's stuff!'

*During a FHE lesson on how Jesus and Heavenly Father love us, Jon explained that Jesus can make us feel better when we're hurt.  Seth said, "Jesus make my owies all better?"  "Yes, Jesus will make us feel all better."   "Jesus make my owies all better!"  He immediately looked down at his legs and was perplexed as to why all the bruises were still there after we told him Jesus would make him all better.

*Seth to me as I exit the bathroom: "Good job, Mommy!!!"

*Me: (happily building a tower for Seth)
Seth: "That's not very good."
I was actually pretty proud of that tower.

*Me, trying to discipline Seth: "Seth, is that a good choice or a bad choice?"
Seth: "No! YOU'RE a bad choice!"

*"I so darn cute!" or, alternatively, "I so darn skinny!"

*He likes to grab the scriptures from our room and 'read' to us.  My favorite 'story' was when Moses didn't put away his sidewalk chalk.  From there we got into a theological discussion on why Jesus always put away his sidewalk chalk...

*At the moment his two favorite things to pretend to be are a 'yizard' (lizard) and a baby-with-no-teeth.  The lizard I find hilarious--the baby is getting old really quickly.  At his three year check-up the doctor was trying to ask him questions and all he would say was 'Buh!  Ga!' because he was being the baby.  Sigh...

(this is his face while he's 'being the baby.'  I was trying to show his new shoes...)

*Going back to the bad guy obsession: occasionally he will change things up and be a 'bad yizard'.  Which apparently means scowling and glaring at everyone as you try to bite the couch.

 *My favorite is playing 'Nightmare in the Closet.'  He'll hide in the closet and we have to say, "Don't come out, Nightmare, or I'll shoot you!"  Of course, he comes out, and gets shot (but always miraculously survives and then turns to shoot me).

*We're teaching him to ask to be excused before he leaves the table.  His translation? "Maybescused, please?"

*Uncle Stephen's catchphrase: "That's crazy talk!"  Translation into Sethese: "That's craisin talk!"

*Some kids like Lucky Charms.  Our son, however, prefers 'Yucky Churns.'

Our cheeseball.  We love him so.

Seven

I realized Catherine was going to be seven months old about five days before it hit.  I swear I just did her six month update last week!  Crazy...

Oh, and I keep forgetting: at 6.5 months she weighed 15 pounds and was 26.5 inches long.  Average height, skinny little weight.

At seven months, Catherine is:

*eating three solid meals a day.  

And usually cleaning out a container at each meal, plus a Mum Mum or two.

*graduated to a few 6 month size outfits

*still not a great napper.  

Apparently she just doesn't need much sleep--her total nap time is less than two hours.  

It used to drive me crazy, but now I've just accepted it.  

She's so happy all the time that I can deal with having her awake all day.

*sleeping (usually) from 7:30 to 5:00 am, then going back to sleep until 7:30 or 8:00.  Love it.

*she's 80% of the way to being able to sit up on her own

*two bottom teeth are in!

*she really wants to be moving.  

I'll give her a toy to play with during tummy time and she'll move all around in a circle chasing it.  

But she still won't push up on her knees, just like her brother...

*had her first churro at a Rick Bayless party we went to.

I was eating it and she snatched it right out of my hands. 

She was seriously going to town on that thing: 

*still adores her big brother, her daddy, and bath time.  

Doesn't quite hate her car seat as much as she used to.

*went on her first walk sitting in the stroller (instead of sitting in her car seat in the stroller).

She loved it.

I say this every month, but Catherine is just such a joy.  She is so sweet, so happy, and so easy.  People in the ward are convinced she never does anything but coo and smile (I wish).  We love you, Princess!

WV

Over Labor Day weekend we took our annual summer trip to raid Dad Blood's garden...I mean, visit Jon's family in West Virginia.  We were very impressed--both kids survived the 6.5 hour drive remarkably well.

We got to see Mary & the kids for about three minutes before she took off, but it was fun to meet Andrew! (Catherine's cousin twin--he's two days older)

We were so excited to head to the wave pool, especially since it was supposed to be in the 90s on Saturday.  But, no.  The wave pool was closed.  (They seriously couldn't find enough lifeguards?  What? Did all the 16-year-old kids leave town?)

So, instead, we headed to the Nitro pool, which most definitely didn't have waves and was ridiculously overcrowded.  Made for some great people-watching, though.  And people-watching in West Virginia is extra fun, for obvious reasons.

The Princess swims

Swimming with Uncle James (she adores him)

A very, very happy Princess

Seth kept himself (and his daddy) occupied by going down the slide repeatedly. 

Tongue out.

Awesome.

Joanna.  And Jacob, if you look carefully.

Swimming with Daddy in the kiddie pool

Post-swimming bath

Cousins! Brianna & Catherine.

She makes Catherine look gigantic.

We braved the rain on Labor Day and headed to the New River Gorge.

Jon thought I needed to see West Virginia's claim to fame.

The view from the Hawk's Nest

Seth & Jon overlooking the river 

It really was a miserable day.  

Check out this awesome poncho I whipped up for Seth: 

Hey, when in Rome...

(I really do like West Virginia.  But the jokes are just so easy!)

Our family at the Hawk's Nest

At least the girls look good.

Look!  It's #11!

Okay, fine.  It's Brianna inside Mom Blood's jacket keeping warm.

Claudia, Stephen & Mom

Daddy Moneybags

He's got the umbrella to prove it.

Wet, cold Seth

Wet, cold twins

And here it is, the New River Gorge: 

In the fog.

Still gorgeous, just...hard to see the actual Gorge.

You can actually see the rain dripping from Jon's face if you look closely.

We had, as always, a lovely time.  Seth & Catherine were adored all their waking hours, which is how they prefer it.  Seth even informed me that I was to address Jacob as "Uncle Jacob" instead of "Jakey."

I'm pretty sure Jakey put him up to that.

We love you guys!  Thank you for putting up with us!

Earthquakes and Hurricanes and Tropical Storms..Oh, My!

WARNING:

The following photo contains graphic images of the destruction caused by the earthquake on August 23rd:

That's right: my Pogs fell off the fridge!

Horrifying, isn't it?

(That I still have my Pogs after 15+ years?  Yes, that is kind of horrifying).

Honestly, it was a little scary.  I had just gotten both kids down for a nap and was in bed reading when I felt the house start to shake.  At first I thought they were just blowing up something big at APG (they do that a lot), but then the shaking kept going and I knew exactly what it was.  

I'm actually pretty proud that my first reaction was to run into the kids' room to make sure they were okay (and to grab them and run for the door if it came to that).  By the time I opened Seth's door it was all over--and he was still asleep.  Catherine woke up, but (thankfully) went back to sleep after a few minutes.  

I think my favorite part of the whole experience was seeing how it played out on Facebook.  There were a few "Did anyone else just feel that"s followed quickly by posts linking to maps and scales.  And many thanks to Dawn, who reassured me that she had, in fact, felt the earthquake, too.

I was a little nervous about aftershocks, but apparently the only decent one we had happened during the night and no one noticed.  Thank heaven!  

Of course, from earthquakes we headed straight to hurricanes.  I was nervous after hearing the locals talk about days without power after the last big hurricane.  We have all our food storage and 72 hour kits, but still...it didn't sound fun.  And if the electricity goes, so does the sump pump.  Bad news.

Once again, we were incredibly blessed.  The power flickered 4-5 times, but never went out (although the houses literally around the corner lost power for three days).  And the giant broken branch dangling above our shed never fell.  How a broken branch didn't fall when entire trees were down is beyond me.  Our basement stayed completely dry, and our internet even stayed active (which is really the biggest miracle considering how it goes out every time the power flickers).

Many of our friends & neighbors weren't so lucky.  There were several flooded basements, many without power for days, and even a friend who took a tree to the house (it slid down and crushed their deck instead of the main portion).  We were glad to be able to help hoard frozen foods and to offer warm showers.  

We even made it through the last tropical storm with no damage (other than our tomato plants, which are totally diseased since they haven't seen the sun in weeks).  We're grateful to have made it through and grateful to see the sun again!

PS--does it reflect badly on me if I say I was disappointed we didn't get to use ANY of our emergency preparedness stuff?  I was SO prepared--we even went to bed with flashlights that night because I was positive  we'd lose power.  Nope.

Dam Fun

On August 19th we met up with some friends at Rocks State Park for some fun in the water. 

Despite what it looks like in this picture, Seth really did have a great time.

He spent most of his time dumping water on this log and crying when his cup would float away.

Catherine & I had fun, too.

I think we might be related.

And also, I need a haircut.

Playing in the water is hard work.

TMI: The highlight of the day for Seth? Pooping in the bushes.  

When we went again the next weekend, he insisted  he needed to go again.  Lovely.