A Thought

I found myself wondering something as I chose a nice, sunny hiding spot during a game of hide and seek with the kids. First, it felt nice to lay down and stretch out on my back (you know, better for hiding) and also it was approaching naptime. So I wondered if it would be a bad thing to find a really good hiding spot, you know, one where it takes the kids 45 minutes to find me and has them wandering out into the garage and possibly the back yard because they are sure I cannot be in the house. I mean, what is the worst that could happen? Naptime for me? A happy coincidence. You tell me: bad parenting or excellent hide-and-seek skill?

Josiah is TWO

Two years ago, we were looking at this face:

And what a precious newborn our little man was. But he didn't like to sleep. Thankfully, those days are long behind us and he is napping like a champ right now. Here is the face of our two year old big boy:

We didn't get to have his party on his birthday, what with it being a workday and all, but we did let him make his own choices about the lunch menu, and capped off the evening with a trip to frozen yogurt. Josiah was excited about it, almost as much as the rest of us! He especially liked the "choc'ate candy" (M&M's).

He got his own dress-up clothes for his birthday! Three full outfits in firefighter, SWAT, and airplane pilot. Out of everything, he enjoys the flashlight and sunglasses accessories the most, of course.

It is most intimidating to have a SWAT officer show up at your door, showing a little diaper.

We also had his annual doctor's appointment this week. Josiah weighed in at 30 pounds, which is in the 74% for weight, and was in the 79% for height. He checked out as completely healthy, but he still had to get a flu shot, much to his chagrin. He is talking really well, stringing 4 word sentences together frequently, such as, "What that man doing?" and a popular one this last week, "Happy Birthday to you!" I'm also suddenly hearing a lot of "WHY????" and "That mine [teddy, plate, blanket...insert object here]!"

We had the cousins (and their parents), and grandparents over for a birthday party on Saturday. We enjoyed spending time together, eating a meal and cupcakes (which Josiah informed me that night were "Icky." Bummer for him, I guess I will eat the rest of them...) and opening presents. Josiah had more than enough help from his sister and Greyson. See him in the front opening one present, while the others check out his new toy train in the background. Quality control. Apparently all four of the little ones had discovered and unwrapped the toy train while we were cleaning up the meal, and then put it back in the gift bag before it was time to open presents. Clever ones, those.

More pictures were taken by my father in law, and will be posted upon acquisition. Thanks to all for the part you have played in ours and Josiah's life. We are so blessed that God placed him in our family.

Boots

You see, here at our house there are a couple of members in particular who are loathe to part with the long summer days and enter into the rainier, cooler fall weather. There are some who say they hate the rainy winters that may never end, and teach that philosophy to their daughter. I just say "bring it on!" and bake pumpkin bread. However, in an attempt to encourage the little ones to embrace the spirit of fall, we purchased some boots recently. For stomping in puddles. Playing in the muddy backyard. And going to the pumpkin patch. Now my kids love fall! Maybe we had better purchase Adam a pair... Hello Kitty or Batman?

Back by Popular Demand (or a couple of passing mentions)

It has been nine months since the last update. As one of my friends commented (one of the two mentioned above), "Josiah has been 15 months for a long time!" As time passed, I was unsure whether to try and catch up with everything that had happened, which just seemed too daunting, or to start off afresh as if no time had elapsed, which really seemed rather unfair to all the other happenings that didn't want to have their feelings hurt just because they are in the past, either.

So here, in bullet format, are a few things you may have missed in the life of Team Puckett over, well, almost all of 2013:

• Tax Season 2013 
• Numerous sickness season 2013 (trust me, you do not want photos here)
• Beginning of the Timbers season

See Kenji in the background?

• Playdates with friends

Josiah with Isaiah at the Oregon Zoo (spring 2013)

Michaela splashing with Lily (obviously during the summer)

• Nephew Liam's 1st Birthday!
• Begin attending Bible Study Fellowship (kids and I)
• Story time at the library
• Family vacation to San Diego (May) 

On the beach in front of our condo

Point Loma Lighthouse

Old Town San Diego (delicious Mexican food later that day)

My surf bum

San Diego Zoo

• First ever camping trip with our children (SUCCESS!)

• Grew a backyard garden
• Blueberry picking (and peaches, and apples)
• Swimming lessons (Michaela - Josiah can start when he's 3)

Spring session

Fall session

•  Cousin Greyson's 3rd Birthday!

Don't know where my photos are of the birthday, but a cute cousin photo nonetheless

• Camping with Abbey and Dave and the cousins 

Grammy hugs

•  Michaela's 4th Birthday!

The new bicycle!

"Hold my seat, Daddy!"