It's been a long time since my last posts...

I haven't updated the blog in months, so I finally decided to sit down today and catch up a bit.  The kids are growing up so fast and they are loving having James home again after he was gone for so long.  There is still some adjustments to it all--Elise is quite possessive over her Daddy but Joseph quickly figured out that James wasn't just a nice guy but was here to stay.  

The posts below are me playing catch-up a bit:  Elise's 3rd birthday, Joseph's first bike ride, and James' Army graduation.

Here's just some recent pictures of the kids:

Joseph loves the kitchen and all the fun that hides in the cabinets.

He also loves the trash can...it's just his height and is full of interesting things.  I think I need to invest in a can with a lid!

Elise in her big girl car seat when we finally could upgrade her from the toddler seat.  She insisted on her dolly being seat belted in the car as well.

Elise turned 3 years old

In February we celebrated Elise's 3rd birthday.  She was so excited we did her cake and candles before breakfast since she couldn't wait till evening.  She is such a sweet girl and makes us all quite happy. 

Elise putting on her party hat!  She doesn't think it's a birthday without a hat and she insisted everyone wear one.

Joseph loved all the fun celebrations.

 

The castle cake I tried to make.  It had...issues...but Elise loved it anyway.  It fell apart into 5 pieces when it was cooling and I fixed it as best as I could without starting over.

 

Blowing out the candles...

Playing with her new toys...tea set, apron, and doll stuff...

She very kindly let Joseph join her tea party.  He loves the teacups!

Joseph's first bike ride

Joseph loves going on bike rides with his Daddy.  Here are some photos from his first bike ride in January.

James' Army graduation

James joined the National Guard in May 2010 and left in August for 5 months for basic training and AIT (advanced training to be an MP) at Ford Leonard Wood, Missouri. James came home for two weeks for Christmas, and then had to go back to finish up the rest of his training. James graduated on January 20, 2011 and we drove out to attend his graduation ceremony and to pick him up. My mom helped me drive out to Missouri and then flew back home from Missouri after the ceremony. It was a fun trip, but it was even better to pick James up and have him come home with us. It was a long, hard five months with him gone--he left when Joseph was 4 months old and I had just gone back to work after maternity leave--but worth it. Here's a few photos:

Joseph with his daddy when James came home for the Christmas holiday.

James marching up to the field house with his platoon for the graduation ceremony from AIT on January 20, 2011.

Officers watching the company arrive at the field house.

James receiving his certificate.

Our happy family.

Elise with her Daddy.

Pictures of the kids...

It's been quite awhile since I posted on the blog and figured it was about time. Friday was our ward Christmas party and Santa came at the end. Elise was so excited she could hardly contain herself. She did pretty well waiting in line until she could see Santa, and then I could no longer control her...one minute she was standing next to me, the next she was running up to Santa and pulling herself up onto his lap and grinning up at him She skipped about 10-15 kids in line ahead of her to get to him. Instead of pulling her off and causing a scene, I just plopped Joseph on Santa's lap, too, for a quick photo. Elise was so excited to have Santa talk to her and to have her picture with him, a wonderful change from every other year where she cried and screamed if he even looked at her! Joseph did wonderful as well.


We had pictures taken of the kids just before Thanksgiving, and I think they turned out pretty well. Joseph was 6 months old and had just figured out how to sit up on his own the day of the pictures. He's now 7 months old and sitting up very well, crawling (but only backwards), has 4 teeth and is working on more, and loves to jabber and talk. Elise is two, will be three years old in February and loves the movie Snow White--Daddy is her prince and Joseph is a dwarf, but I don't know which one! Happy, if I had to guess, but she may think he's Dopey since he doesn't talk, or Grumpy since he's been teething.

Enjoy the pictures!

My kids are so much fun!

I love my kids, they are so much fun. They are sweet, creative, and playful. Here's just a few pictures that show what they are up to and how they are growing.

Elise loves to read, and she loves sneaking into Joseph's crib.

Joseph trying rice cereal...he's still not a fan!

Enjoying lunch together...

Coming home after a fun day at the sitters...look at Elise's pretty hair!

Trying out the new stroller...

Showing off her Zoe tattoo (from Sesame Street)--she loves it so much she doesn't let me wash it with soap in the bathtub...

Joseph smiling in his Sunday best...

Elise fell asleep while eating her cereal after a long day at church. Definitely time for a nap!

Joseph happily played in his chair and let me get some dishes done while Elise was sleeping.

4 months old already!

Joseph had his 4 month old check-up today and I was reminded again just how fast time is going! He's doing really well and is now 14 lbs 5 oz and 25 1/4 inches long. He's such a happy baby--he loves to chew on everything and always has a smile ready for you. He loves to laugh at his silly family and is very patient with Elise who loves to play with him and help take care of him. He is a joy to have in our family.