Happy Birthday, Joshua!

You know, it's tough being a third kid. Especially the third of three boys. Poor Joshua's 2nd birthday probably had a little bit more activity than he would have liked.

We started the day bright and early at a walk for the March of Dimes.



Since this baby spent several days in the hospital after birth, I feel this is truly an appropriate way to spend the morning of his 2nd birthday.



I do believe they enjoyed themselves.



Joshua's birthday fell on a weekend, and well, weekends mean baseball.
In this case, a double header.



We spent four hours on the ball field. Michael took it in stride.



So did Birthday Boy Joshua, after I allowed him to play in dirt.



And Jason, well, Jason did all the work.




It's not to say Joshua wasn't busy in the dirt, filling his pants with it, putting it in water bottles, covering his kneecaps in the brown stuff. All good.



But when we finally got home to enjoy Joshua's birthday brownies and presents, well, who could leave him in his dirt-filled clothing? I would say he enjoyed his day pretty well. Thank you for the Mr. Potato Head Family, Grandma!!! He loves his new "friends."

House party

Where to begin? I realize I haven't posted in a while. I think you'll see things have been a little bit hectic. We wouldn't trade a minute!

Spring is here, so we are making frequent trips to the baseball field.

With Jason in coach-pitch baseball and Michael in t-ball, we spend quite a bit of time on the ballfield. Sometimes, the league wants to make sure I'm on my toes. It will schedule two different places for the two different teams.

It is still pretty early in the season, so both our little sluggers seem to be enjoying the innings, or the "endings" as they call them.



By the way, Michael has learned the art of tying a double knot, thanks to Grandma! We are thrilled with this new skill. It helps us keep those cleats on his feet!




We recently went to the doctor in honor of his fifth birthday. Michael is 37 pounds. He stands 42 and a half inches!



Jason is on two leagues this season. One of them is way more competitive than the other. I almost cannot stand the pressure! We'll talk more about that in coming posts.

It isn't all baseball, though.
Sometimes the circus comes to the town.





And sometimes the circus (that would be us) goes to see how the other half lives! :)
I had the chance to be a Ringmaster for a moment. Just a moment. That was enough.

But you should have seen the kids. What varying reactions to the action under the "Big Top." Jason was a little bored. Kept wanting to know when we could go home. Joshua paid a little bit of attention, then kept wanting to eat popcorn. Michael was enthralled. He is still talking about his favorite parts of the circus. Ask him about it sometime. Specifically the talented female dancers.



And, we had the opportunity to welcome a visit from Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Jeanne, Aunt Joyce and Uncle Bud.



What a treat!



Any new visitors should remember they will get a "lesson" on the inner workings of the Nintendo DS before they can fully be allowed to relax. Again, you have been warned.



It was so nice to come together to celebrate Grandma's birthday.
And, we are waiting for the big "2" for my baby.
Joshua can certainly tell something is coming.



He walks around singing all the time.



And smiling.



Oh, when the terrible 2's truly hit, we'll be in trouble!

Chat mode

Be warned: if your phone number is in our cell phone directory, Michael thinks you are fair game. He has discovered the wonders of voice dialing and will spend hours trying to say the words that the phone will understand. When the phone dials the number of the person he would like to talk with, you guessed it, he carries on a multi-minute conversation with whoever happens to pick up on the other line. By the way, he gets out of school just after 3 p.m.



I think the baby has started to speak in full sentences, without us realizing the milestone was taking place.

I was getting ice cubes out of the freezer and I dropped a couple this afternoon. I didn't even say anything. But his eagle ears must have picked up on the sounds.

He comes running and says, fairly clearly, for an almost-2-year-old, "I'll help you."

And he did.

Where does the time go?

I'll tell you where it is going this season, on the baseball field.
And Jason received his first injury on the diamond. In a scrimmage against the parents. Apparently, the parents wanted to teach the kids a lesson because they played with all the skill they could muster against these 7-year-olds. Good thing they won, by two whole runs.

From what I understand Jason and a 200-pound dad "bumped" into each other as Jason tried to take a base. He has a welt on the side of his neck that looks kinda frightening, but I'm told no tears were shed on either part.



All is quite well here, enjoying the weather! Hope you all are doing well!!!