Keeping busy

We helped Gracie (Alex's cousins daughter) celebrate her 3rd birthday Saturday. It's always fun to get all the kids together. Grace has a new pool at her house, and we all went swimming, even Dana. Dana was almost asleep in her little pink whale, she loved the water.



Dana in her pink whale. / Corey & Josie eating lunch.










Grace holding Dana.












On Friday I told Josie, tomorrow we are going to Grace's birthday party, she replied with "I want cake". I was surprised that she put 2 and 2 together. For the next 3 hours all she talked about was going to Grace's house and having cake.

Patiently waiting for cake.

Dana before her bath.










I just had to take this picture. I think Josie is starting to pick up some not so good habits from daddy.














Josie loves to read at night. She does like to read the same book over and over and over and over again. Recently, this week it seems she FINALLY got tired of Goodnight Moon. THANK GOD. Ok, I know it's a classic and all, but Alex and I
are SO tired of reading it every night.

Josie hasn't grown tired of
holding her baby sister.
She asks every day I think.
Eating mashed potatoes
right out of the pot. Lately, she's been wanting to help me cook. She likes to help stir things. She says "I help you cook mommy, I stir mommy". She's an excellent helper.


Livermore vineyard.

Alex and I took a friend of ours to a winery today, he was just passing through. Anyway, since he had to hit the road, and we had a babysitter, Alex and I went to another winery and tasted more wine. It was so nice to be out together, just the two of us, doing something we used to do here in Livermore, B.C. (before children) These grapes are almost ready to harvest.

Sidenote: I am watching the Olympics right now. Anyone else really into them? I love them, especially Gymnastics, Swimming, Diving, Water Polo. Did you know there is now a Trampoline event, and a Fast Walking event? Kind of lame I think.

Characters

Here I go again, taking more pictures of my baby sleeping. I can't help it, I love the way they put their butts in the air. Dana is 4.5 months now. She is drooling so much. Much more than Josie EVER did.









Josie is doing her "squishy face" below. If you ask her she can do any of the following, sad face, happy face, surprised face, and squishy face.











Wearing her backpack.










We went out for a walk this morning. Josie insists on carrying her purse whenever she pushes her baby stroller. Today she was particularly funny. Halfway through the walk she stopped, put her sunglasses in her purse, took out her cell phone and had a long phone conversation. I wish I had my camera on me because I would have loved to post the video of her talking to whomever she was talking to. So, she had a big long conversation with all the "ok's, yeh, ha ha ha's", and other Josie mumble jumble, then she said good bye and put the phone back in her purse and put her sunglasses back on and continued walking. She is such a character and I get so much enjoyment watching her.









Another new thing she does is say "bless you". Alex and I were driving last weekend, Alex sneezed and we hear a "bless you daddy" from the backseat. We both looked at each other like, "when did she start doing that"? She has gotten much better at "please and thank you" and for the last 2 days she has pooped in the potty. I'm still not counting on that being an everyday thing. She is doing awesome with pee peeing on the potty. I guess to be fair I should also say she does have her share of temper tantrums as well. Those aren't as fun to write about though. We ignore her and usually she quiets down on her own when she realizes she isn't getting her way.

For those of you who want hints on how to potty train, a major helpful hint is to make sure your child is not constipated. Any sort of painful poopy will scare them from using the potty. The easier it is to poop, the more likely they will want to do it on the potty, as opposed to their pants. At least that has been my experience so far. Unfortunately for us, Josie loves bananas and would eat 2 a day if I let her.

Family Ties

So, over July 4th, my cousin Billy got married in Mexico. Unfortunatly, due to lack of funds, Alex and I couldn't attend. Our Aunt Joanie gave Billy and Heidi a reception at their house in Sebastapol last week, and it was so nice to see the newlyweds and the rest of the family as well.

Bride and groom / Rachel & Josie on hammock




Josie and I with my cousin Alex.









My goddaughter Ana, with Dana.
Jacob and Josie on the hammock.









Me and Jonathon.




Me, Christina, Janel and Laura.....4 cousins.










Me and my godson William.

Alex, Josie, Nicholas and Dana.


Josie liked the fishies.