then and now

Then

Now

Overheard

"Dad, what happens to the clouds at night?"

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"Dad, there are plants in this Biology book! Hahahaha isn't that funny?!"
"Jules, that's because Biology is the study of living things."
"It is?"
"Yep, it is."
"Ohhhhhhhhh"

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Jonathan on the results of our recent Bath and Body Works shopping trip:
"It smells like a pina colada in here."

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The kids were having a conversation about how to make a baby and Jules told Josh that the girl has to have an egg. Josh's response: "But I wanted to hatch an egg."

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And this one's my favorite... sort of reminds me of the time Julianna blamed her mess on the Pilot Paula Fischer Price Little People figure....

"Jane, who got the marbles out?"
"Josh did it."

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you be the judge

Sometimes he still surprises me with exactly how smart he is.

Josh has had really, really dry skin. He's been washing his hands a lot and the dry winter air has made his eczema really bad. His hands have hurt so badly that he's cried a time or two because of it.

This week Jonathan lathered him up in Eucerin one night after bath and he wanted to scratch his nose but since Jonathan thought he was picking it he told him not to. He said, "You've got lotion on your hands!" Josh asked, "Why can't I scratch my nose if there's lotion on my face and on my hands?!" Jonathan conceded that he had a good point.

After that I went to read him a story and he announced, "Huh? I guess Dad finally found a way to make me stop biting my toenails off!"

And then after the story: "Mom, how are you going to tell me to lay down and go to sleep if I have lotion on my face and we don't want it to get on the pillow?!!"

OK, so maybe it's not just that he's so smart, but more that he has such a smart mouth.

five

On the day of Josh's birthday party (which wasn't on his birthday) he came to me and put his hand on his hip and demanded, "Why didn't you put balloons on my door this morning, Mom?!"

I had to just look at him and tell him with a straight face that there were still four more days of being four and maybe he would have balloons when he woke up on his actual birthday (per usual tradition in our house).

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We had his party on Sunday and he had an incredible time playing with all of the kids who showed up. We had new friends from school, old friends from school, cousins, and kids of cousins. They ran around spraying silly web blaster at each other and played ball in the yard. Then we had pinata fun, cake, and presents.

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It turns out that for Josh, five is...

• growing tall
• a passionate story-teller (especially Biblical stories and stories about Mario and Yoshi)
• stinky feet
• hungry for a snack ALL. THE. TIME.
• "Yes, Ma'am" and "No, Ma'am"
• whiney when tired
• excellent at keeping time to music
• lazy when it comes to undressing and bathing
• a good sight word reader
• a limit pusher
• less bashful
• a super mommy-smoocher

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Happy birthday, Buddy! You're an amazing big cousin and a hilarious little brother. Your non-stop chatter may tire us at times but there's not a day that we'd wish to have without you. You help me remember why life is so good. Keep on bringing the happiness, Stinkbug!

by the numbers + recent giveaway winner announced

Agh! edit: I wrote this Friday but it didn't publish

• 36 days until we get a break from school (and even then it's just a workday)
• 7 days until the Dixie Classic Fair begins
• 122 miles run in September so far 
• 50 days until I run Richmond
• 7 long runs left (I really only count 4 of those since they're above 14 miles)
• 10 pounds lost since mid-August
• 10 years ago now that I had lasik eye surgery
• 27 days until Josh turns 5 (FIVE!)
• 24 days until our 12th anniversary (TWELVE!)
• 66 ounces of water I've had today and it's only 2 pm (I'm hydrating, baby!

Last but not least, many congratulations to Marilyn Miller who was selected to receive the $25 certificate and copy of Ted Dekker's A.D. 30 from my last giveaway!