What a SPLASH!

Today after Storytime, Josiah & I went over to Grady & Amanda's house for a playdate. After lunch, Amanda & I stayed downstairs to talk while Josiah & Grady ran upstairs to play. After a few minutes we heard them playing pirates. Amanda told me that Gabe had a new pirate ship that Grady liked to play with. A few minutes later we heard water running. This sound peaked our interest, so Amanda ran to see what was going on. Grady was putting the pirate ship in the bath tub with a little water. Amanda agreed, but said to be careful so no one fell in. A few minutes later we heard the water running again & didn't think much of it. Then we heard a sound that we had a feeling we'd hear..."SPLASH!" Then Grady, said, "Uh-oh!" When we got upstairs we saw Josiah, fully clothed, soaking wet. He had fallen in the tub. So, we did what every fun-loving Mom would do. We let them strip down to their undies & have a blast. That's exactly what they did.

The boys started out calmly playing with the pirate ship.

Then, jumping, kicking & splashing began.

Here's Grady trying to figure out who was taller in the water.

By the time we went home, the boys & the bathroom were soaking wet. They had more fun than I've ever seen them have before.

What a SPLASH!

Shower Time!

It seems like yesterday that I was giving my sweet little baby boy a bath for the first time. Well, now my little baby boy is wanting to bathe himself. We've been teaching him over the past few months how to wash his own hair & bathe his body.

Just a few weeks ago, Josiah decided he wanted to take a shower. So, we turned on the water thinking that he would last a few minutes & then want toys in the tub. Not the case. He has taken a shower & washed himself every night for about 2 weeks & LOVES it...as you can tell by the smile on his face.

Here he is rinsing his hair once it's been washed. What a cutie! I better go now because it's shower time!

Dinosaur Party!

For the past few days Josiah has been setting up in his playroom for a dinosaur party. He says it was for Brachi's birthday. "Brachi the Brachiosaurus was 29 & is now turning serdy (30) & needs a poddy (party)," says Josiah.

Here's Josiah setting up for the big event. We thought it would only be appropriate if we blew up balloons.

Once all of the dinosaur & Little People guests arrived, he needed to give them food. So, he put out the trees & rocks for them all to eat. Then, he felt they each needed to get a party favor for coming. So, he passed out balls to each of the guests. Josiah then needed some music for the party. So, he got out Dora the Explorer's birthday CD that Uncle Chris gave him for Christmas.

What a great party this turned out to be. It went on for...yes...three days!! We usually have Josiah clean up after being finished with toys, but we allowed him to keep the party set up until he was done. Three days later the party ended. Josiah was a great host. He threw the greatest dinosaur party!!!

Games! Games! Games!

Josiah's favorite thing to do lately is play games. Games of any & every kind. He loves board games, card games, computer games, video games, etc. etc. etc. Dustin & I look forward to playing a game with him now after dinner each night. He's gotten so good lately that we don't even have to "let" him win any more...he just does.

Josiah's recent favorite is a Reading computer game. If he completes all the reading skills he gets to go to the crane & get a prize. He loves the prize giving crane. Well, tonight we had dinner at Red Robin & they had a crane. He's never known what one of these cranes were before, but tonight he did. We thought he was so cute when he saw it & got so excited, so we gave him a quarter.

This machine was so cool because it let the child keep trying until he won a piece of candy. I love that they didn't make him lose on his first try.

After playing the crane game, my guys couldn't leave without playing some sort of car game. They raced to their hearts content...well, until they got out.

I guess I better finish typing now because my guys are calling me to play more games, games, games!

Pump It Up Playdate!

Today, Josiah & I met some preschool friends & moms at "Pump it Up" since they were out of school.

Pump it Up in an indoor inflatable playground for kids.

We talked to several moms about this playdate & had about 6 girls & 6 boys planning to come. Well, due to extenuating circumstances, 6 girls & 1 boy showed up. So, Josiah was the center of attention with all those ladies around him.

Left to Right: Taylor, Reilley, Aisling, Aoife, Josiah, Nicole & Stephanie.

(No...Josiah is not sweating on his shirt, he just had too much fun at the water fountain)

Josiah & I arrived first & had the whole place to ourselves.

These inflatables were awesome. He climbed in...

...& out of these inflatables all day!

They even had little mat to slide down on like sleds. The kids thought these were cool.

Even the moms got involved on the action at one point.

Here's Keri & her girls, Reilley & Taylor sliding together.

Reilley is one of Josiah's closer friends from preschool. Her sister Taylor came along as well since she was out of school, too.

After our session at Pump it Up came to an end, we didn't know what to do with these excited kids. A couple of kids cried at the thought of having to go back home after all this fun. So, I invited everyone back to our house.

Reilley headed straight for Josiah's room to play on his acoustic guitar. She had no idea he even has an electric guitar. She was jammin'. Her right leg bounced up & down the entire time she rocked.

They had so much fun destroying...I mean playing...in the playroom. Ha!

They even brought the "Cars" to the kitchen to race. Reilley...drum roll, please!

We had a blast with our friends at the Pump it Up Playdate!

Fun at The Children's Museum in Seattle!

Today is President's Day & the Fox boys are out of school. Since Josiah & Grady go to school on opposing days, we never get to spend too much time together. We decided to spend the day together at The Children's Museum in Seattle.

This picture perfectly describes the kind of day we had. Four of us had fun & one had fun doing everything...um...different. Can you figure out which one it was?

Josiah enjoyed playing in "Cog City."

Cog City was cool because he got to watch & learn as a maze of lifts, levers & pipes move balls throughout this exhibit.

He really enjoyed that at the press of a button he could make this beach ball float.

Josiah placed a ball in this hole & it shot the ball all the way through the pipes on the wall. Super cool!

Next, we headed into "Mountain Forest."

In the forest, the boys got to camp in a tent, slide, discover animals & crawl through a cave.

Gabe & Josiah showing how tall they are!

Then, after loading the luggage, they hopped in the vehicle & headed to the "Global Village."

Josiah found a Philippine home & cooked some dinner for them.

Once he prepared the meal, he hopped on a motorcycle sidecar taxi to go to Japan.

Once in Japan, Josiah & Grady became sushi chefs at the Bento Lunch Shop.

We had a great time in the "Global Village," but figured we'd have more fun in "The Neighborhood." Josiah began making his way there by driving the Metro Bus. He let pedestrians on & off the bus.

He needed to take a stop to fill up the tank.

Once he arrived in "The Neighborhood," he needed to stock up on groceries at "The Metropolitan Market."

I was so proud of the healthy choices he made in the market.

He then unloaded his cart so Gabe could scan each item so Josiah could pay. Grady told him he was either going to pay $6 or $1000. We told him we would take the killer deal of $6.

After shopping for groceries, Josiah figured he needed to do something manly.

He went to "Dunn Lumber Construction Zone" to build. He made a staff like Moses had.

We ended our day at the museum by spending some time in "Imagination Studio." He painted three beautiful paintings for the other children at the museum to enjoy.

We had a great day at the museum!!

When we left the museum, we walked outside & the fountain at the Seattle Center was on. The boys ran right down & waited for the water to spray at them & then ran away. They did this for close to an hour. Grady was the only one to get covered in water & that was because we think he secretly wanted to.

What a great way to end a day of fun at The Children's Museum in Seattle!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! I love my two valentines more than anything in the world. I am so blessed!

Since we had church in the AM, we decided to have Valentine's Day after nap time.

We started the fun by opening a valentine Josiah received in the mail from his best friend, Grady. Grady had drawn him a picture, wrote his name & a poem for him. How sweet!

My parents sent me & Dustin a nice valentine's card with money inside. Woohoo!

They gave Josiah a card, too, with money inside. Woohoo for him!

They also sent Josiah a present. He unwrapped it to find 6 more Tag books & a new Lightning McQueen car.

Dustin & I gave Josiah a new Berenstain Bear book & a new VeggieTale video.

Here are all the Valentines we received.

As soon as present time was over, Josiah ran in the kitchen & played with Lightning McQueen.

He then came into the living room to read his new Tag books.

Our tradition every year is to cook a heart-shaped pizza for dinner.

Josiah always loves to see the pizza once it's ready to eat.

After dinner...came dessert. I love Josiah's expression. He was ready to eat ALL of them, but thankfully was willing to stop after one. We really wanted him to sleep that night! HA!

From our family to yours, "Happy Valentine's Day!"