I always like to get a "take-off" cup of coffee at the airport Starbucks before we go on a trip. This last time, when we were flying down to Palm Springs, I went ahead and got the kids a "hot" cocoa to share. Next thing I know Ava dumped her entire cup of cocoa on her Beary's head! Jonah took one look at her and said, "You're a trasher, Ava."

Out for a cruise along the Desert Shores 

Jonah (4) and Ava (20 mos) in the pool at Nana and Pop Pop's Casita. 

My friend Ian told me that there is a Chevron in town that has a sign posted:
"Not responsible for lost gas caps".
Oh, please.

Last night:
Jonah: "Mom, you wanna come in da hot tub with me and Daddy? It's cold! It's hot! It's the hot TUB!"

This came to our email today:
"This is so fun and only takes a minute. Sometimes when you have a stressful day or week, you need some silliness to break up the day. And, if we are honest, we have a lot more stressful days than not. Here is your dose of humor... Follow the instructions to find your new name.

The following in an excerpt from a children's book, Captain Underpants And the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants' by Dave Pilkey. The evil Professor forces everyone to assume new names......

Use the third letter of your first name to determine your new first name:
> a = poopsie b = lumpy c = buttercup
> d = gadget e = crusty f = greasy
> g = fluffy h = cheeseball i = chim-chim
> j = stinky k = flunky l = bootie
> m = pinky n = zippy o = goober
> p = doofus q = slimy r = loopy
> s = snotty t = tootie u = dorkey
> v = squeezit w = oprah x = skipper
> y = dinky z = zsa-zsa


> Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name:
> a = apple b = toilet c = giggle
> d = burger e = girdle f = barf
> g = lizard h = waffle i = cootie
> j = monkey k = potty l = liver
> m = banana n = rhino o = bubble
> p = hamster q = toad r = gizzard
> s = pizza t = gerbil u = chicken
> v = pickle w = chuckle x = tofu
> y = gorilla z = stinker

> Use the fourth letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name:

> a = head b = mouth c = face
> d = nose e = tush f = breath
> g = pants h = shorts i = lips
> j = honker k = butt l = brain
> m = tushie n = biscuits o = hiney
> p = chunks q = toes r = buns
> s = fanny t = sniffer u = sprinkles
> v = kisser w = squirt x = humperdinck
> y = brains z = juice

Thus, for example, George W. Bush's new name is Goober Chickenshorts. William Jefferson Clinton is Bootie Liverbiscuits.
John Kerry's new name is Cheeseball Girdlebuns!

And remember that children laugh an average of 146 times a day; adults laugh an average of 4 times a day."

Jon's new name is Zippy Gizzardsquirt
Elisabeth is Chim-chim Gizzardsquirt
Jonah is also Zippy Gizzardsquirt
and little Ava is Poopsie Gizzardsquirt
Have a great day!

Since it was Jon's b-day last Sunday, Jonah is asking everyday whose birthday it is.
So, today we are celebrating "Mum's" (Jonah's Lambie's) Birthday!
And today at lunch Jonah prayed and thanked God for "Mum's" birthday. How cute is that?!

Today on a walk:
Jonah: "I will HIT this wood and it will BREAK and it will DIED!
(then a few seconds later) Mama, will it go to Heaven or to Hell?"
Elisabeth: "It depends if it knows Jesus or not."
Jonah: "Oh. I yuv Jesus. I want to go to Heaven!"

Today Jonah and I were sitting at the kitchen table making pumpkins out of construction paper.
Jonah: "Thanks for doing this, Momma, that was weally nice of you!"
Me: "Do you know why I am nice to you Joe?"
Jonah: "Cuz you wuv me."
Me: "Yup! When we love each other we try to be nice to each other."
Jonah: "And if you died I would be weally sad."
Me: "Uh, good, I guess."
Jonah: "If I BONK you on the head you would died!"
Me: "Well, then please don't bonk me on the head."
Jonah (looking a little confused): "Okay, Mom, I won't."

Jonah, almost 4 years old:
"Mom, I have chapskick on my face from your bafroom. I was trying to get curlies in my hair like Ava's hair. Wow, Mom, you have boingy hair, too!"

Jonah: "I have a yot of work to do today."

Jon's new nickname for Ava:
"Cookie"
She's a little cookie-monster! And now she actually has molars so she can really chew them. :)

Recently (hey--it's only been a month ago) we took a trip up to Lake Chelan to go camping. We went with William & Heather, Stewart (Jon & Heather's cousin from Kelowna, B.C.) and his wife Tobi and their baby, Jacob.
We stayed for four nights and had a blast. The only problem was the weather!
But it was so nice to finally meet Jacob and spend time with our friends who also happen to be our family.
The following five pictures are from that trip.

Story time!

Tobi & Jacob campin out in the 5th wheel 

Stew and Heather taking a tour of Lake Chelan--it was so windy! 

Elisabeth & Jonah staying warm on the boat! 

Baby Jacob--Jonah and Ava's cousin--at Lake Chelan. 

We are currently without either set of grandparents and the kids are feeling it:

Ava: "Nana?"
Elisabeth: "Where's Nana, Ava?"
Ava: "In RV"
--------------
And sitting next to my sister April:
Jonah: "Where's Gampa? I haven't seen him in a yong time."

Jonah is loving preschool and especially loves his teacher Sharon. The other day when we first arrived, he followed her around for a few minutes. She was talking and didn't notice that he was following her. It was adorable.