Driving Lessons

Southern Californians definitely have a pro-car culture, and our family is no exception.

Joy is already teaching Daniel to drive.

"Here, bro--you try it now."

"Now, don't forget to signal . . ."

Of course, if we really wanted to simulate the California driving experience, we would have added a few dozen other toy cars so Daniel could practice driving in traffic.

In The Swing of Things

Joy is becoming a lot more comfortable on the big swings . . .

. . . whether in the standard, seated position (with a push from an obliging grown-up) . . .

. . . or in "Superman" position where she can push off the ground by herself. (Btw, I don't know what that yellow toy is, or who it belongs to. Ah, the communal nature of playgrounds.)

Daniel is getting into the swing of things, too.

And of course, since baby stuff is cool, Joy wanted to take a ride in a baby swing, too.

Choir Field Trip

Phillip has been singing with a choir on campus for several semesters. As you might expect, they have him singing 2nd Bass (the very lowest part).

The choir gave a small concert in the campus chapel today--a preview of the entire Bach B-Minor Mass they'll be performing later in the semester. If the lighting had been better, you might actually be able to tell that was Phillip on the far left, under the big candles.

The kids and I took a field trip to hear the choir perform. I thought they sang very well. Apparently Joy did, too--here she is joining in the applause at the end.

Pumpkin Cookie Season Is Now Open

Today is the autumnal equinox: the day of the year when nights stop being shorter than days (equinox = "equal night"), and autumn officially begins. It is a time honored tradition (translation: I started doing it two years ago as an excuse to make goodies . . . like I need an excuse) that I bake the year's first batch of pumpkin cookies on this day.

Mmmmm . . . pumpkin cookies.

As luck would have it, Mother Nature decided to start a Santa Ana Wind heat wave this week. When Phillip informed me yesterday that it was going to be nearly 100 degrees today, I said something to the effect of, "Shoot! I'm supposed to bake pumpkin cookies tomorrow, but if I fire up the oven we'll all roast!" Phillip looked momentarily crestfallen, then replied, "Well, just make sure you bake them in the morning." Wise man.

Nice Pillow

Joy is very fond of her "nice pee-yoh" (nice pillow). By nice, she means that it's a friend in need, and thus, a friend indeed.

It comforts her when she gets an "owie" or is just bummed out about something.

It's also a comfy place to sit and read books with Mama.

Joy would even eat meals on her pillow if we would let her, but spaghetti sauce and pillows don't mix well.

Joy in the House of the Lord

The stake provided babysitting near the temple for this month's stake temple night, and we gratefully accepted their offer.

It was the first time I had been to the temple since Daniel arrived. It felt so good to be back.

We arrived a little early and took the kids on a walk around the grounds. We thought Joy might like touching the walls, but she kept saying she wanted to go inside. She wasn't exactly dressed for it, but we concluded that the Lord probably cared more about her enthusiasm than her clothes.

Phillip took her inside the lobby and they quietly looked at pictures in a Book of Mormon for a few minutes, then they came back out. On the way home, Joy kept bringing up the temple and the fact that she got to go inside. She's already asking to go back, so we'll definitely be planning a return visit (with a dress this time).

Mastering the Spoon

I was cleaning up after Daniel's lunch when he suddenly picked up his spoon and decided to give utensil-wielding a try.

Right.

Wrong.

Smile Coach

Whilst I was taking this month's "Baby and Bear" picture . . .

. . . somebody else decided to get in on the act.

Joy the Sibling Smile Coach demonstrates how to properly grin for the camera.

"No--like this!"

"Got it. Thanks, Sis."

Baby and Bear 4

The "Baby and Bear" series continues:

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

I took all these pictures myself, yet it's still hard for me to believe that the little guy in the first shot is the same person as my big seven-month-old who's rolling around and so keen on exploring his world.

Labor Day Weekend

Holiday Weekend = Good Excuse To Play With Grandparents

First, off to the lake . . .

Daniel says, "Safety First!"

Joy likes turtles.

Here's Joy hosting a slumber party for her "guys."

On Monday we visited Mom H for a BBQ. Here Phillip and Joy tend the raging inferno that's cooking our burgers.

Grandma and Joy reading the old fashioned way . . .

. . . and the newfangled way: listening to Grandma's recorded voice as it accompanies a slide show of illustrations from her favorite books. Nifty, huh?

Pool Party

Phillip was at an engineering conference this week, so the kids and I headed out to my parents' home for a pool party.

Grandma watched Captain Curlytoes . . .

. . . while Papa and Joy enjoyed the water.

"Madonna and Child in the Pool"

They say clothes smell better if they air-dry. Is that true of people, too?