Songs from Joseph

A few songs from Joseph today (but not too many, because he apparently already did the other ones we requested):


Malcolm and Joseph and I were really enjoying the nice weather this evening after so much rain the past few weeks - good for the drought, not so good for playground and outdoor time!

Washington trip, part 1

For Spring Break this year we were very excited to take a family trip to Washington, DC for Noni's 80th birthday.  Mike and his mom arranged it to surprise Noni.  This was our first trip to DC in several years, and Joseph's first time there.  The boys were really excited about going.  Mike and I were happy to be flying direct from Love Field on Southwest, now that the Wright Amendment has finally, finally expired!  The newly updated airport was great.  It even had a playroom for kids - genius.

Donuts for breakfast...ready to go!

Kids' play area in the main terminal

Since the flight was about two weeks before Joseph's second birthday, we got him on the plane without a ticket.  Fortunately the kids are small enough that we could fit four to the row for a little while, so he didn't have to sit on my lap the whole time.  We stocked the diaper bag with snacks, coloring books, and calculators/little toys, and Mike brought the tablet and headphones so we could pull that out when needed, too - and everything mercifully went great!  We were able to fly directly into DCA, where we rented a car for the week.  Mike did a great job remembering how to navigate the bizarrely-unmarked exits to the Memorial Bridge and get us onto Rock Creek Parkway ... and it was crazy how familiar the drive back to Cleveland Park felt.

Watching Curious George and Brother Francis

Noni was so surprised to see everyone at the apartment.  She was very happy :)  Grandma thoughtfully got the boys a twisty track toy with a little fire truck and police car to play with, so they were happily occupied with that during some of our time there over the week.  Noni and Grandma ensured the boys had plenty to eat right from the beginning, of course.  Noni was happy everyone ate the rice and lentils that are one of her specialties.  I'm pretty sure I ate several helpings, too...  It was special to see how quickly Noni connected with the boys again right away.  The first afternoon, I dozed on the couch at nap time while the big boys were supposed to be resting in Noni's room (Joseph was napping in the other room).  Instead of sleeping, I heard Michael and Malcolm telling Noni all about their school, and things in Texas, and all sorts of other things, and they were all making each other laugh.

Noni with three of her great-grandchildren

It was a little surreal to come into the apartment this time.  I was reflecting on the fact that when I first drove out to meet Mike in 2003, I could hardly have imagined coming back there twelve years later, with us having been married for eight years now and having three kids!  We are certainly blessed.

Books we've been reading

On our recent library trips, the boys have enjoyed some fun new books:

• Put It On the List, by Kristen Darbyshire.  Malcolm got a huge kick out of this book, with silly, simple illustrations of a bird family that keeps running out of essential ingredients for their planned meals.  They have cereal, but no milk, pancakes, but no syrup, and macaroni, but no cheese.  Don't even ask about the toilet paper.  Mom really needs a shopping list, and they should definitely NOT put pickled grubs on it.  Malcolm was also really proud that he could read a lot of the words in this book.  We are so proud of how he's starting to read!

• For our first Texas favorite, Diamond Jim Dandy and the Sheriff, by Sarah Burell.  Nothing exciting ever happens in Dustpan, Texas, until a friendly rattlesnake shows up and starts entertaining the town - and causing a lot of consternation for the sheriff.  This book is pretty much impossible to read without a Texas twang, and it has had Malcolm and Michael (and Joseph, imitating) saying things like, "Dadgum it!" and "Holey buckets!"  It features characters with names like Idie Mae Tumbleweed and Odette.  It made us laugh every time. 

• The second Texas favorite is The West Texas Chili Monster, by Judy Cox.  This one takes place in Que Pasa, Texas, and features a widow named Mama and her six children, including Inez, Alma, and Baby, and a chili competition.  The competition is interrupted by a chili-eating monster from outer space who really, really loves spicy chili, and who at one point says, "Chee-lee," which Malcolm thought was hilarious.  I really had the best time reading this one in a total Texas accent.

• And on a different note, The Holy Twins: Benedict and Scholastica, by Kathleen Norris with illustrations by Tomie dePaola.  The text on this one was a little more involved and I sometimes paraphrased or skipped over some of the longer pages, but surprisingly, both boys really liked this one.  Each page features a story from the life of these saints - more on Benedict, since his life is better chronicled, but most pages at least had a little illustration of what Scholastica was likely doing in her convent while Benedict was studying, becoming a hermit, becoming a monk, and eventually the founder of his order.  It shows how the siblings loved each other and served God throughout their lives, and some of the miracles attributed to Benedict. 

Joseph is two!

Here are a few pictures of Joseph right when he turned two last month :).  I don't have any idea where this kid came from - he's so conversational and funny.  We love you, sweet boy.

With his new animal sounds book

Love that little grin