Josiah Goes Christmas Caroling

Look closely ... nope. Josiah isn't in this picture.
Cousin Isaac is front and center though.

Today Josiah went Christmas Caroling at the Sunrise Assisted Living Home. They sang, handed out Christmas cards which they made and shared the love of Jesus with the residents.

The Pre-K through 2nd Grade of Leadership Christian Academy went caroling together. Aunt Holly shared pictures with us. Thanks Holly!

This morning I was concerned that Josiah may get shy and not talk. So I reminded him - "You're going to visit a lot of people who are grandmas and grandpas like great-grandma. My grandma loved visiting with all you kids. Remember to answer. Don't hide. And smile." He let me know that he knew that. From the pictures and videos, it looks like he did great!

Nathan

Nathan is a builder, an explorer, an adventurer.

For whatever reason Nathan loves to pile all the couch cushions, pillows and blankets in one place on the floor and bury himself in them or just lounge on them. He doesn't fear risking the wrath of Mom when she discovers the "good" blankets have been absconded from their rightful places on the back of the chairs.
Not long after the new furniture arrangement for the Christmas tree, Nathan and Josiah made their own new arrangement. A fort! Nathan even invited me inside with him. What a sweetheart.

Here's Nathan in his fort joined by Cairo.

It's Magic!

Noah discovered a magic trick! He pulled out one soft white thing-a-ma-jig from a box .... and out popped another! Then another and another.... Amaaaaazing. He did it about 20 times! Mad magician skills.




Then we put the Kleenex box away.

It's Camoflauge!

This is a "catch-up" blog:

One morning recently, I woke up to see a green face staring at me.I went downstairs and discovered another green face. When I asked why they had colored on themselves, Josiah replied, "It's camoflauge!"

Of course. So I let them be green-faced most of the day.

John let me know that he had already taken the pictures.

Christmas Angel

The time has come to decorate for Christmas. We put it off a while this year. Last year we took the tree down right after Christmas because Nathan, a toddler at the time, and the kitten were constantly removing ornaments and/or branches. I was hoping to avoid some aggravation by postponing the set-up. This weekend I concocted the plan of a gradual set-up to ease them into it. We'll see if it works. So far, so good.

Yesterday, we cleaned the house and rearranged furniture before John and Josiah set up the tree. I had planned to put the lights on the tree after the boys went to bed but put it off because I had hurt my back during the cleaning part of the day.

Previously: Josiah had seen the Christmas Angel tree toppers both at Grandma and Grandpa's house and at church. Sunday morning, as we're heading to the car, Josiah asks me if we can get an angel for our tree. "No", I say, "We have a bow for our tree." Not satisfied Josiah asks again and again and yet again. "Not this year." "We don't need one." "Josiah, I'm not going to buy an angel." Finally, I ask him, "Josiah, do you want an angel or do you want a gift?" I'm not surprised when he chooses a gift.

This morning when I came downstairs ready to tackle the lights, John tells me that Aunt Holly and Uncle Micah had left an angel in our mud room for us. I had told Holly about Josiah's fascination and multiple requests - she blessed us with a beautiful Christmas angel wearing gold and red. Thank you, Holly!

I started to work on the lights! With the angel on top, the lights, the bows and ribbons, our tree is looking great! We'll see how soon and how many other ornaments we add to fill out the tree...

The Faith of a Child

Two Sundays ago our family watched a video by Louie Giglio. He talks about the massiveness of the universe and how God in His infinite wisdom and creativity created the cosmos. Creation declares the glory of God! He then talks about people. God made us in His image. He loves us so much and so interested in us that he even knows the hairs that on our head. Nothing is too big for God and nothing is too little.

As I talking to Josiah about how wonderful it is that God is so awesome and yet cares about the intricacies of our lives, Josiah simply responds, "I know that."

Maybe he does. Maybe Josiah has a better grasp on the awesomeness of God and His love for us than I do. The faith of a Child. He doesn't have the worries, the hurts, the disappointments, the betrayals and more that affects our views, that makes us focus more on ourselves than on our Creator and Savior for whom nothing is too difficult and Who tells us to cast our cares upon Him for He will give us rest.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." Psalm 19:1

“All things were made through Him and for Him. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16b-17

Foreign Languages

Nathan is an early riser. I don't know where he gets that. I heard him opening my door this morning and I got up to put him back in bed. "Nathan, it's too early to get up. Stay in bed." I hear him fussing and whining for awhile but he quiets down in a bit and I fall back to sleep.

John wakes up and I hear a commotion. "NATHAN!" Rumblings... up and down the stairs... "Great," I think, "What did Nathan do?" I envision the neatly folded laundry from last night strewn about the house, or the refrigerator open and with food mushed and eggs broken on the floor, or maybe he flooded the house in his love of playing with water. John comes into our room and says in his disastrous voice that I must come see what happened. There is great foreboding. I walk downstairs and look into the bathroom where John is. The mess. "Oh. Well that will clean up." Nathan had gotten into the bathroom closet which is usually locked for just such a reason. He explored the intricacies of my make-up bag. Make-up was dumped into a pile. Foundation had been shaken out in ribbons of beige. Tampons had been released from their imprisonment. And Nathan smelled like my old perfume. It was a relief really after what I had imagined.... nothing at all like the story I hear of what John did as a child....

At little later, Josiah figured it out for us as I'm getting the boys dressed for church and getting breakfast out. He says, "Maybe Nathan speaks another language." "What?", I enquire. "Maybe in Nathan's language, STAY IN BED means HELLO." Maybe you're right, Josiah.

Josiah the astronaut

Josiah had a school project in October. In the classroom, they had been talking about community helpers. Each student chose a community helper which they would research over the next few days then present what they learned to the rest of the class. They could do their presentation in costume if they so desired. (As if they wouldn't so desire.) Josiah chose to be an astronaut.
An astronaut? I think. Couldn't he have been a fireman or a farmer which we have an abundance of dress-up things? I was trying to figure out how to put together a costume resembling an astronaut. That Saturday, Josiah went out with his friend, Marcie, and while they were out they found a great costume at the party store. Yay! Thank you, Marcie!
We delve into astronauts. We read our book together about space and space shuttles, we watch movies such as Apollo 13 and Rocketman (heh heh), and we spend time on NASA's website. NASA is very helpful with lots of information, videos, games.

These are the questions to which he had to find the answers:
What is their job?
What tools do they use?
What schooling do astronauts need?
What do they like best about their job?
What don't they like about their job?

We found all the answers and prepared for the big day. I'd tell you all the answers if it wouldn't take up so much space! There's a LOT of schooling involved. He was so excited that morning; he could hardly hold still. I only wish I could have seen him in action.

Ready for space exploration.

Josiah isn't camera shy when he's taking the pictures.

Happy Birthday to Noah!

November 7th marked Noah's first birthday. He did a great job being friendly and welcoming at his party.

In the search for a cute birthday party theme, I discarded the idea of Elmo because of the cost. When shopping for unrelated items, I found party packs featuring Noah's Ark. I couldn't pass it up! I had fun making an Ark cake with animal crackers all around. It was a big hit with the kids!

Noah did NOT care for the candle on his cake. The cake and the icing were yummy though.

Everyone seemed to have fun helping Noah open his present then helping test out the new toys..... We had a fun time visiting, eating, and playing.

What's this? Pretty good.... All done!

Looking at that fire on the cake, Investigating the packages, playing with paper

Checking out the new stuff, playing, and visiting with Grandpa

Thanksgiving Play

Cousins - Isaac the Indian and Josiah the Pilgrim

Josiah was a pilgrim this year at school. They sang the books of the Bible. They rode the Mayflower. They shared a thankful meal with their Indian friends. It was a very cute performance.

Josiah and some of his classmate Pilgrims

Pilgrims and Indians - Theses pilgrims even had special buckles on their shoes.

For his homework two nights before, Josiah had to think like a pilgrim and pack just a few things in a shoebox that were important to him and to have in a new life. Josiah chose his Bible Story book, toothbrush, toothpaste, a picture of our family, Play-Dough (to make anything that he may need), a notebook, and a pencil.

He took his shoebox to school the next day to show what his choices were. We had to get past the surprise of discovering that he had used his toothpaste on the bus ride home to "paint" the lid of his shoebox before learning from him how his day went. Apparently, all went well.

Loving Husband

John waited in line this wet, chilly morning to get tickets for Governor Sarah Palin's Rally tomorrow. He's even going to watch the boys for me so that I can go. I'm excited to hear and support Governor Palin who so closely embraces the same values that I do! What a great guy!

This is the picture from the Erie Times News.

Potty Training

It's that time again! Time to start potty-training. I wish there was a switch that would instantly activate toilet skills.

This morning I said to Nathan, "Nathan, you're getting to be such a big boy now. Do you want to sit on the potty like a big boy?" He looks at me and says, "You stop it."

Hair Concerns

I gave Josiah a trim last night. Today is Picture Day at school so I wanted to make sure he was looking his best. As I'm trimming, he asks, "Are you making me bald? I don't want to look like Daddy!"

Nathan Quotes

I got a haircut this week. We were almost finished when Nathan came close, bent over and picked up a clip of my hair from the floor. "Oh no! It's broken?"

The New "Please"

"Can I have candy, Honey?"
"More water, Honey?"
Honey, ice cream, Honey?

This comes from Nathan. At 2 1/2 years old, he has observed that "honey" is the word that gets you things. Yep. Anytime Nathan wants something from me, it's honey this and honey that. Ahhh! They pick up on all the details, don't they?

Where are all the flashlights?!?!

As I was playing on the computer last night the house suddenly went dark and quiet. Very dark. The remnants of Ike had knocked out our power.

I felt around for the flashlight which wasn't there. Then I started searching for matches. It wasn't long before I heard footsteps on the stairs approaching. Josiah and Nathan were awake and probably wondering what happened to their nightlight. Even Noah woke up .... probably from hearing me gathering the jar candles from my room.

We only found one working flashlight. All the others we found didn't have batteries. Who knew? We lit plenty of candles and even two oil lamps.

John rocked Noah until he was calm enough to go back to sleep. Meanwhile, the boys and I hung out together talking about electricity, its invention and what people did before it was harnessed.


One of the oil lamps we used is an old one that has been hanging in our basement for a very, very long time. It was fuel for the imagination to wonder how old it is. I told Josiah that since I couldn't find a date on it, I'll have to do some research on it.

John said he did not get to watch the end of the Steelers game. The power returned shortly after the game ended.

It was a fun little spontaneous adventure that lent itself to sharing and learning.

Josiah's First School Bus Ride

August 27th was Josiah's first day of school. We got up early, ate breakfast, got dressed and went to the porch to wait for the school bus. This would be the first time Josiah has ever rode on a school bus!

He was more excited about than me. I was thankful that he would be picked up at our driveway. It is a huge blessing in the amount of gas money it will save us for the year.


We waited and waited. Then I began to worry. At 8:00 the bus was half an hour late. John called from work to ask how Josiah did getting on the bus. "We're still waiting. I'm going to call and see what I can find out.", I reply. I called the bus company first and got the answering machine. Then I called the school. From the school I learn that the bus is running very late but that it will come. Okaaay. We wait longer. I call the school again at 8:30. The bus is still coming and has picked up the first student. It should be there any time. Okaaaay. FYI - school starts at 8:45. The students are supposed to arrive by 8:40. It takes me 15 minutes to get there from my house - that's with no stops. I'm getting anxious. At 9:00 I call the school again. Pastor Diane, the principal, is in the chapel service. Since the lady answering the phone that time was a volunteer, she didn't have any information for me. Okaaaaay.

This whole time I'm thinking that I could take Josiah to school myself but I didn't want to mess up the school bus driver if we weren't here when the bus arrived. I was also disappointed that Josiah would be late for the first day of school.

Well, we wait some more. At 9:30 I call the school again. By this time, they know my number on caller ID and answer, "Hi. We were just about to call you." The school bus arrived to school and there was no Josiah. Mmm hmmm. I thought so!! Apparently, the bus company decided that they were picking up the students at the nearest corner this year. The bus company never communicated this to the school or the parents!

Brothers waiting together.

I quickly got Noah out of bed, put him in the car seat and gave him a bottle. Nathan and Josiah got in the car and away we went. Josiah finally made it to school. Yay!

Josiah arriving to school in our family car.

Josiah had a wonderful time at school and did get to ride the bus home.

Josiah getting on the bus the second morning of school.

Niagara Falls

We went to Niagara Falls for a wonderful day of fun, family and frolicing. I absolutely love this place! Grandma and Grandpa Bowers (my parents), Uncle Micah, Aunt Holly, Isaac and Eli joined us for this wonderful adventure.

















When we arrived, we had a picnic beside the Three Sisters Islands. After being refreshed with lots of nutricious picnic yummies, we walked over to the islands to explore.


Goat Island and the Three Sisters Islands are great to climb all over. Josiah said his favorite part of the day was climbing down and under the first bridge and coming up the other side to surprise Grandma and Aunt Holly.





The furthest island out is very rocky and the water is fast so make sure not to slip off the rocks! Josiah and Nathan both loved climbing on and through all the rocks. I loved getting to the end of the trails to see the awesome views of Niagara River.

Noah stayed awake for awhile but just couldn't keep his eyes open when we started strolling down the path to see the Horseshoe Falls and the Bridal Falls.


Peek-a-boo!

Nathan didn't want to wait to have his picture taken. He wanted out of this tree. Grandpa was assisting him.

One last picture before we head to the car. This is Josiah sitting with Nikolas.

After seeing all the Falls and walking the trail beside the river, we had another picnic since there was an abundance of food.

Josiah and I would have loved going back to the islands for more exploring but ..... it was time to go home. It was a great way to end a great week.