Joel's 3rd Birthday

Joel turned 3 on April 18th.  (I can't believe he is 3 already).  

We had a fun day being outside and spending time together as a family.  We went to the opening of one of the new fire stations.   Joel really liked getting in the 

big trucks.  The kids got hats which was great because Joel LOVES hats.  (Damon's "child sized" fire hat didn't fit at all.....it just sat upon the corners of his large noggin).

We went to the park and and spent some time on the riverfront.  Once dad started throughing rocks, then all the kids had to follow suit.  We had a few close encounters, but luckily there were no rock injuries for the day.

On Sunday evening we had the family all over for birthday cake.  It's nice to have family around to hang out with.  

Joel did a great job blowing out his candle and instead of waiting for a piece of cake, he just went straight into taking bites out of his entire cake.  He's so funny.  Luckily he let me get in to start cutting pieces for everyone else.

It was a nice birthday weekend, but I can't believe my little Joel is 3.

He is still my quiet little love bug who loves to give kisses.  He loves to be outside, sitting with the dogs, riding on a tractor or any other outdoor vehicle.  He likes to growl like a monster, run through the kitchen shooting his missles/guns like Damon, and wave goodbye to anyone when they leave our house.  He tries anything Damon shows him, but is just as happy playing with Olivia and getting into mischief.  He'll slug Damon when he's fed up, and pull accessories right out of Olivia's hair to see if he can get them in his hair.  He can always make me smile and that's why I'm so happy to have Joel in our family for all eternity! 

Easter = Sugar High

Having a holiday to celebrate is much more rewarding 

when you have little children to share it with.  

Saturday night we got all the kids to bed and then debated with each other on how much candy the "Easter Bunny" should leave the kids.  (Once again we bought too much candy, and Josh wasn't too happy with me because I failed to get his favorite: ma

lted milk ball/eggs).  I thought we gave a minimal amount, but then Easter morning hit and Josh added donuts to the mix.  (I was happy because I LOVE donuts).  The kids devoured the donuts, Damon inhaled about half of his candy, Joel worked on a Cadbury Creme Egg, and Olivia tried to keep up with the sugar intake of her brothers.  All this before 10Am and church.  So obviously the kids were a little "crazy" during church.

After church we came home and Damon polished off his candy and then it was off to Grandma & Grandpa Hunsaker's for an Easter Dinner.  Of course there was more candy to be had there and it was funny watching Olivia reach out and squeal in an attempt for someone to hear her plea and let her pick something from one of the numerous candy dishes.

It was a nice Easter!     

Aunt Lolly

We had a nice visit from my sister Lauren for about a week. The kids liked having Aunt Lolly around because she read airplane books to Damon (he wouldn't allow any other type of book)), she snuggled Joel after he had a collision with Damon's head during thier game of Duck-Duck-Goose, and Olivia, well she just loved having more attention from an adoring fan! What can I say, we all love Aunt Lolly. She even made dinner for us one night!

Josh was SuperDad multiple nights and days so I could spend some kidless time with my sister. We had some delicious food thanks to Lauren and my mom on Saturday night and Sunday morning & afternoon (I'm not a chef, but I'm great at the dishes so that was my contribution to the meals we had). Luckily Lauren is easy going so we didn't have a crazy schdule of stuff to do and places to go, it was just a nice relaxing week of hanging out, shopping, and eating. I couldn't ask for too much more. Thanks for visiting Lolly!!!

"Dead Horses"

On the way home today we drove by a pasture where 3 horses were laying down. Damon yelled from the back seat, "Mom! Those horses are dead!"
"No Damon. They are just taking a nap. They get tried and lay down just like you do. They aren't dead."
"Oh. If they were dead I would go give them a kiss."
"Well that is very nice of you, but they are just taking a nap."
"But if they were dead I would give them a kiss."
"Okay."

Where's the Gym?

I laugh when I see this picture of Joel.

We were making Valentine's cookies at Grandma's house. I think Joel was "sampling" the dough and made this face that I have never seen before. It looks like he inhaled air and is trying to look big and tough.

This is a typical Joel look. Just a mellow guy checkin' things out. This kid makes me laugh.

"Tea Party?!?!?"

The other night I went to check on the boys before I went to sleep.

This is what I found.........

Joel was out in the hallway asleep. Damon preferred the floor rather than a bed. All airplanes parked underneath the bed or around the lamp. All Lightning McQueens, The King, and other friends were placed in their perfect "Damon order" around the lamp that he removed from the dresser and plugged in at a more convenient location. Olivia's bear even received a large F-22 sticker plastered right on it's tummy.

The next morning I asked Damon what was going on in his room. Why were there so many toys lined up underneath the lamp and why was he sleeping on the floor. He said he was having was a "tea party" with all of his friends.

Well I guess that makes sense (even though there was no tea involved). I think it was more of a sleep over, since usually all of the toys stay in the toy room and not in the bedroom.

I was use to seeing this when I would check on the boys:

So he just added a few more toys to the mix this time.

"Going to the Jungle!"

It all started when dad pulled out the Costco muffins from the cupboard. Damon had already had a bowl of shredded wheat for breakfast, but once he saw those muffins, he just had to have one. I gave him half a muffin even though he argued and pouted that he had to have a whole muffin. I reiterated that he was only getting half a muffin and if he finished the half, he could have more. I gave Joel and Olivia half a muffin as well and then had to help Josh with something in the office. That minute I was in the office was all Damon needed. He grabbed the muffins, started eating a whole muffin, and even started the demolition of his half muffin by crumbling it into little tiny pieces.

When I came out of the office I was not happy because Damon deliberately disobeyed. I tried to make him eat all the muffin, but he complained that he was "too full," so I bagged up the remaining bits and pieces and told him that he would be eating it for lunch.

So lunch came and the muffin remainders were placed in front of Damon. Olivia and Joel got sandwiches and grapes for lunch and that did not seem fair to Damon. I kept explaining why he had muffin remains for lunch and why Olivia and Joel got a lunch. He did not like the truth and started getting really mad. I told him he wouldn't get anything else to eat or drink until he started to make some effort towards eating his muffin. He continued to get mad and finally he came up with a solution.

As he was getting down from his stool he said, "If you'll excuse me, I have to get started."

"Started with what?"

"I'm leaving our house and going to the jungle because you're ignoring me and making me sad & mad. I need my boots."

"What?! Damon I just want you to eat the muffin you took this morning. Remember, I gave you half a muffin and you decided to get a whole one."

"I have to leave into the jungle with no food & no drink. No coming back. When dad gets home, I'll yell.......I'm in the forest, lost. No food, no drink, and not coming back. Then dad's supposed to come find me with food & drink."

"What kind of food & drink?"

"One blue fruit leather (strawberry), marshmallows, and a drink. That should be it. And if he doesn't come. I'm never gonna come back...................Understand mom!"

"It looks like it's gonna rain though Damon."

"Yeah, I got a hood."

"Well, how long will you be in the jungle?"

"27 minutes."

Damon attempted to go through the front door (locked) and the patio door (locked) but I just kept talking to him about his "plan" and took his picture. With all the talking he forgot about the trek to the jungle. Meanwhile, Olivia & Joel took care of the remaining muffin.