A Lot of Random

Well, we've been enjoying our summer so far. The beginning of May found John without work again. There just wasn't enough work at the cabinet shop and they didn't know how long it would be before they had more. (boy, that sounds familiar... this has been the third time that's happened in the past couple of years!) So Joseph and I have been enjoying a lot of time with him. Joseph loves his dad. If he's not around, he always signs "daddy" and asks for him.

John and I began this series from the beginning. I had never even seen a single episode before, nor had any interest in doing so, but conceded to watching them with John who wanted to watch them. His sister got seasons 1-5 for her birthday, so we've been borrowing them. We're in the middle of season 4. It's been keeping my attention for sure. There's a lot of mystery and unknowns, so that's fun to try and figure out. I heard someone say recently that the entertainment industry is attacking the institution of the family, so I have been interested in watching this series with that in mind. It's given me a lot to think about. I haven't drawn any concrete conclusions, I'm just allowing everything I observe to mull itself around in my brain.

John took on a project he's always wanted to do of making a cedar chest. It turned out quite beautiful. These pictures are just the chest. His sister was working on a cushion for the top.

And speaking of his building projects... I never got around to posting a picture of the toy hutch bookcase that he built for Joseph's room. I really love the way it turned out.

Joseph has been learning lots. He is learning his animal signs right now. He loves the song Old McDonald Had a Farm and imitates the animal noises of cows, horses, pigs, roosters, cats & dogs. He's also learning his colors and numbers too. He loves to hold up his fingers and do his best to count "three, two, one" so that we'll tickle attack him.

this is him counting

And as much as he likes us to tickle him, he also likes us to start counting down and then he'll stop us with a "no" and we'll stop and say, "okay." For some reason that is hilarious to him. Maybe he likes the feeling of control over us. It is really fun to pay attention to the things he notices in the world around him. I love being his mom.

*sidenote* notice the bumpy rash on his chin in this picture... anyone out there know what could cause that? He gets it frequently. I can't figure out if it comes because of an allergic reaction to something he's eating (if it is, I can't figure out what it is), or if it's from his drool (he salivates like a mad dog), or if it's cause his face doesn't get cleaned off well enough, or what! help?

He has really begun saying a lot of words. The only phrases he says so far are: "nice shot!" and "go Jazz!" Any guesses at where he learned those? It's really cool to be able to understand him and communicate with him at this age. I love the signing! As his parents, I'm sure we're the only ones who can really understand most of what he says just because we watched him and helped him learn how to say what he does.

this is how he signs "flower" and it is accompanied by some adorable sniffing noises

One of his favorite things to do is to play in the car or truck. He can sit in there for a surprising amount of time, entertaining himself with all the buttons and knobs and steering the wheel. We just make sure the windows are down and the keys aren't in there with him and let him play.

and he also loves this little crazy coupe... he plays in it at his cousin's house and a couple of friends' houses. I would love to get one for him.

He started nursery about a month ago and does, eh, *okay* in there. I am actually one of the new nursery leaders, so that is nice to be able to be in there with him, but he still has a hard time leaving my side. Our church is from 1-4, with his nap time falling right smack in the middle of it. Needless to say, by the end of nursery he starts to lose it. Last week we all played ring around the rosies in circles around him while he laid on the floor and whined at us.

All in all though, I think he enjoys it. He definitely enjoys snack time, and always seems to be the last one at the table still stuffing his mouth. I really do love being in there with him so that I can watch how he interacts with other kids and other adults and how he responds to the little lesson and singing time.

He loves to go outside and likes putting on his shoes. He says and signs "shoe." I even caught him one day trying to put on both daddy and mommy's shoes.

Around the house he usually is wherever I am. He is much more interested in pulling things out, especially after they've just been put away.

A sure guarantee to get him to play in his room for a little bit is to clean it up perfectly for him. Every time he walks in his room he has to go turn on the music in the cd player. He knows exactly how to work it. I love when he sings and dances. Even cuter is when he is enjoying someone else's music and dancing... he puts his hands above him in the air, bounces up and down, and snaps his fingers. Yes, he snaps. He's actually snapped for a couple of months. Wasn't something we taught him how to do either.

Memorial Day we took a trip to Fillmore for a little family get together on my Dad's side. I was able to get a four generation picture with Joseph, my dad and my grandma and I love how it turned out. It was really nice to be able to spend a couple of hours with family. I am glad that they are a part of my life and a part of who I am.

And yes, I chopped my hair off. I haven't had it this short for over 5 years and I love it.

A couple of weekends ago while I was enjoying visiting with my grandma, aunt & uncle, John & Joseph were enjoying a massive thundershower accompanied by hail. There was a LOT of rain in a short amount of time.

Well, that gets me almost current. Okay, not really. But I'll blog again soon. The boys flew out to Ohio last night. I'm leaving tomorrow. We'll be back east for two weeks. Oh, and remember how I said John was out of work? Well, last week he was able to work all week at the cabinet shop, and it's sounding like there will be work to do when we return too. I'm hoping it's work that will keep him busy for a while!

June 16, 1997

*I decided to pull out another journal entry from the vault*

Dear Cat,
Well since it’s been a while since i’ve written, this entry will be long. :) i’ll start with the biggest things first. i got my ears pierced! i love it! For a while my left ear was infected, but it’s ok now. :) Lee went on his mission. He went to Chicago. That’s where my dad went. And yes, i am writing to him tons. :) Mary Ann went to Russia in January to teach english for 6 months. She just got back on Friday, 3 days ago. During the school year, me and my friend Christina, began doing homework together because we had 5 classes with eachother. it worked out really well & i raised my grades. For 4th term i got a 3.9 GPA which brought my average up to a 3.7. i’m really proud of myself and i hope i will be able to do this well in high school. See! i’m a sophmore now! :)

The reason why i am finally writing in my journal is because i was reading my other journal last night & i loved it! it was really cool to read even the little things in there. So no matter how boring my day was, i want to write every day so i will always remember. :) On Sunday was father’s day. it was really fun. i got dad some new clothes because he really needed them. He liked them a lot. This summer i am running at the Jordan River Parkway with Megan & Christina. i lost 5 pounds from last weeks excersizing. (i can never spell that word!) Sherbet is laying next to me snoring! :)

Today i went to Smiths to apply for a junior courtesy clerk because i need a job. But they said they would get back to me in three weeks because there are so many people applying. And i don’t really think i will get it. Ari is visiting from Colorado, so her & Elaine went with me. i bought some really cool, bright blue nail polish at Smiths. Ari says it makes my fingers look like Christina Ricci fingers! Everyone tells me i look like her! (the girl on Casper) After Smiths we went to Now & Forever & bought some cute stationary & stickers. They are so cute!

We went to our “big” family home evening tonight at Varena’s house. But when we got there Varena & Sam were taking Jairon to Primary Children’s hospital because he had fallen & cut his lip. So we just went ahead & started to eat. We were eating outside. There is a metal wire that is hanging in their backyard. it is for the dogs. They are attached to it. Well we called everyone to prayer. Russell came running and smacked his head right into it. He fell down screaming. The wire had cut him bad, right below his eye. He is very lucky because if it was one centimeter higher it could have caused him to go blind &/or loose his eye. Dale took Russell to Primary Childrens also. Mom was feeling very depressed & upset today. She had stayed home. When we called her she yelled at us to come home & hung up the phone. This was like the last straw for me & i just found a corner outside & sat with my head in my arms, crying. All my bottled up anger & feelings just exploded. i was embarrassed because everyone was looking for me & when they found me i wouldn’t lift my face up because my face was soaking wet with tears and snot & i had little snot bubbles coming out of my nose! :) (you’re supposed to laugh!) Anyway, after i talked with everyone, (still not showing my face); & after everyone talked to me i finally went home. Brother B was there. He is our home teacher. He talked with us & gave Mom a blessing. Brother B is very handsome, he has a strong testimony & a wonderful sense of humor. He is exactly the kind of man i want my husband to be when i grow up. :) Well, me & my blue fingernails better get to bed. it is 12:37 & i’ve got to go running at 8:00 in the morning! :) See ya!