A Sinking Feeling

Ready for a test of your observational skills?

OK . . . here we go.

Notice anything different about this picture?

How about this one?

Joy likes to stand on our futon and throw a ball to me, but she stands at just the right angle to slowly slide the mattress off the frame.

When it gets too far down, there's nothing left to do but bail out.

Small Wonders

Daniel has had a lot of fun with his play mat over the past few months, but he's ready to move on. Literally.

Now that he's learned to roll, Daniel sees his mat less as a play location and more as a starting line.

And of course, any journey is more fun if you have company.

Speaking of fast-moving little creatures, look what we found outside our apartment. I'm surprised he let me hold him, and even more surprised that he held still long enough for me to document the encounter. He's kinda cute, but our managers don't allow pets, alas.

Prepare Yourself

Recently we decided to get our family a little better prepared for emergencies.

Among other things, we invested in a few sleeping bags. Here are Joy and I modeling them for the camera . . . in 80+ degree summer heat. Yeah--they kept us nice and warm.

Speaking of preparing for emergencies, I'm steeling myself against the day when Joy finally learns to climb out of her crib. She's getting close, but she's not quite there yet.

Ready or Not, Here We Come!

In the spirit of inclusion, Joy decided to play hide and seek with her stuffed bear this week.

Here she is counting to ten in our kitchen while the bear "hides." Joy actually remembers to include 7 in her counting about half the time these days (she used to just count . . . 5, 6, 8, 9, . . .).

Here's Yellow Bear's clever hiding place. I guess he thought the pool ring had some sort of cloaking device.

Biter and Beater

Here's Daniel showing off his new choppers . . .

. . . and here's Daddy getting ready to belt a softball into the outfield at the ward BBQ.

Phillip ended up batting a single, and when the next batter made a modest hit Phillip rounded the bases and made it to home because all of the basemen dropped the ball as he ran by. Courage and luck are a great combination.

P.S. If you know what book the original "Biter and Beater" appear in, you win a cookie. Or free hippies. :) And no, it isn't a Harry Potter book.

Joy Stuff

Inquiring minds want to know . . . what is Joy up to these days? Well . . .

She really likes Daddy's smoothies (Mama does, too).

She loves spreading every blanket in our home on the floor, then jumping off the futon onto the blanket pile.

She likes sucking on her fingers (she must have picked that up from Uncle Robbie).

And since she has so much fun helping Mama cook, she's started "cooking" for her stuffed animals. Here's White Bear enjoying some delectable "necklace and clippie porridge." White Bear says the texture's a little weird, but you can't beat the flavor.

Pool Day

What's Joy so excited about?

Pool Day! Lately we've been having lots of families over to swim on a weekly Pool Day. Everyone in the ward is welcome (call me for details, or check out the ward Relief Society blog). We'll probably keep doing it as long as the warm weather lasts.

I've had lots of fun swimming and chatting with the moms, . . .

. . . and Joy loves splashing in her pool ring . . .

. . . and mooching other people's food (mmm . . . grapes).

Happy Half-Birthday!

Guess who's six months old this week.

That's right--Daniel!

And guess what he got for his half-birthday. Two more teeth (pictures forthcoming)!

Let Them Eat Cake

We celebrated GiGi's (Great Grandma's) 81st birthday today.

Daniel enjoyed the pool, . . .

. . . and Joy enjoyed the cake.

Being the polite guest that she is, Joy took her bowl over to the sink where Papa helped her rinse it out.

Here's Red Amah helping Joy put a sweater on so she can go look through Papa's telescope.

The Force will be with you, always.

Baigoh Sweep?

This morning over breakfast, Joy and I were discussing which family members were awake. The conversation went something like this:

Joy: "Dee wake. Mama wake. Dwah wake. Danyoh sweep."

Mama: "Yes, everybody is awake except Daniel."

Joy: [glances down at bagel] "Baigoh wake. Baigoh sweep?"

[Pause]

Mama: "Um, I guess the bagel is awake."

How does one tell whether a bagel is awake? It may not be easy, but it's got to be easier than explaining to a toddler that bagels don't sleep.