the zoo

We went to the Hogle Zoo in SLC today with our neighbors. We had a lot of fun and saw a lot of animals. Some are more active during the colder months, so it's nice to go during different times of the year. Isabel did so good with all the walking we did. We were there for about four hours and just took a short lunch break. We were all pretty exhausted when we left. The kids fell asleep before we got to the freeway. I'm so glad the weather was not snowy.... and the temp was around 45 degrees, which was very nice for this time of year. What a fun trip!

friends

We have a neighbor friend who has two kids about the same age as our kids. Kathryn is one day older than Ansel and it was cute to see them actually play together. Ansel was giving Kathryn rides all over our dining room.

ansel and toilets

Ansel has discovered how to flush toilets and he LOVES to do it. He will try to go flush toilets whenever he gets the chance. The funniest thing though, is when someone is using the toilet he'll come into the bathroom, sit down on the bathmat, wait until they get up, then flush the toilet for them. I hope that this is some sign that he will be easier to potty train than Isabel was. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Isabel's first talk

Yesturday afternoon we came home to a message on our machine "reminding" us about Isabel's talk today. We were thrilled that she got an opportunity to speak, but disappointed that we could not practice all week. (As an adult, I could practice my talk non-stop until I needed to give it... however a three year old will only practice so much in one day.) Anyway, it turned out great. I showed her pictures that would serve as an outline and remind her of what to say. We wondered if she would get up in front of all the primary kids and just be too nervous to say anything, but that was not the case. She spoke out in a good voice. She was kinda fidgety during her talk and I just thought it was because she was nervous. But, on the last picture as she was telling the story of Moses and the poisonous serpents, she turned and told me she needed to go potty. So, she ended abruptly and we made it out in time. It was just too cute and funny though. We told her what a great job she did and she said it was so fun and she didn't think it was scary. We had company for dinner and she wanted to do her talk for them. We had the idea to have her do it for the website as well. We especially dedicate this post to grandmas and grandpas who we know would have loved to be there!

curly hair

I did two french braids in Isabel hair for church on Sunday and we just barely took them out a few mins ago (tues morning). Her hair is exactly like mine so that means it is CURLY. I mainly wanted to post this picture so Joseph could see it at work because he loves curly hair. Isabel of course is hugging her little puppy in the picture. I wonder if she will ever play with dolls.....

On a separate subject (that I want to write now so i don't forget...), last night at dinner Isabel was telling dad about her day. She told him how she climbed up the ladder on a bunk bed at a store we were at but didn't climb all the way to the top because there was no bug. We paused for a min looking at her and she said, I mean bed. (She actually meant mattress.) Then she started laughing so hard and said, "I said the wrong word, ha ha, I said bug, but I meant to say bed....that's so funny." Joseph and I just died. That is such a grown up thing to say. Isabel will sometimes do the same thing that Ansel does to make us laugh. We have explained to her that when she acts like a baby it's usually not funny. It's funny and cute when she acts older than she is. Maybe her sense of humor is maturing. lol.

Every morning I change Ansel's diaper as soon as he gets up. Lately I've been asking him to throw his diaper down the stairs. (Isabel or I used to do it, but he is capable, so we are teaching him.) Well, this morning I turned around and the kids had already gone downstairs for breakfast. I was looking for the diaper to take care of and couldn't find it anywhere. Well, I went down and saw that it had already been thrown down the stairs. I didn't know how he could have done it so fast without me seeing. I asked Isabel and sure enough she had NOT thrown it down. So, I was so proud of Ansel for taking care of his own things without being asked. Now, if only I could get the rest of the people in my house to follow Ansel's example!

the harmonica

Ansel recently learned how to play the harmonica. Joseph and I were showing him how it works. But he didn't get it until Isabel showed him how. She was very excited to be the one to teach him to play the harmonica. It's so funny because he'll just find it and start playing. Just a few minutes ago we said to each other "hmm....where did Ansel go?" Then right on queue we heard him begin to play the harmonica in the kitchen.

snow, snow and more snow!

We have been getting so much snow lately. Isabel and Ansel (and me actually) love to look out the window and watch the falling snow. We also like to play in it when it's not too cold. Isabel wanted to go out and play, but Ansel had been a little sick. I suggested we wait until he go down for a nap so he wouldn't have to watch us sadly from the inside. Isabel suggested that I wait inside with him so he wouldn't be lonely/sad and we could both watch her through the window. But, no way did I want to miss out on the fun too! Poor Ansel (He doesn't really like being in the snow. I'm sure next year he will.)

happy birthday ansel!

No, he was not born on Feb 1st. It was Nov 23rd. We did celebrate his birthday in Idaho on our Thanksgiving trip. I made little star cupcakes, but we forgot our camera! I recently read a book that mentioned how birth order influences children's personalities. For the second born children the book said for heaven's sake "take pictures of them!!!!" Maybe you have had some first hand experience with second born children not having as many photos as first born kids. I have noticed falling into this pattern with my kids and in a effort to improve...we re-created Ansel's birthday experience so we could get pictures of him eating cake. So, here he is. (This was actually Joseph's birthday and birthday cake, but who can tell? It was convenient to have his birthday a month later.) We don't eat a lot of sweets at our house so Ansel didn't mind getting another round of cake!