While You Were Gone...

Dear Dada,

We really missed you these past couple of days. Thankfully you don't have to travel often! To keep from feeling too blue we kept pretty busy. Here's a recap!

We pondered the monstrosity and power of garbage trucks from the comfort of our pjs.

We went on lots of walks with friends.

Checked out some fun rope swings and tunnels...

Daniel and I had some epic wrestling matches.

I even coined a few new wrestling moves such as "The Dolphin Kick" pictured below!

When we tired of that we finagled a sweet ride in a box-race-car and took turns racing through the house.


(Though, try as I might, I couldn't figure out how to start Daniel's engine)...



 And for the biggest announcement - we set up a BIG BOY bed in my room. Daniel gave me extensive advice as to how to climb in and the proper placement of stuffed animals.

I'm pretty proud of my accomplishment and scared to death of sleeping in it.

Don't worry. We tried to not grow up too much while you were away...

Love,
Joshie

Take Your Child to Work Day

Dear Dada,

I must admit I was a bit jealous of Daniel yesterday. He re-enacted every moment he spent with you at your office yesterday during "Take Your Child to Work Day". He even explained how he drove a pumper truck.

Did he really drive that truck?! Why exactly did he get to stay with you at work while I had to wait it out with Mom? I am just as much your child as he is!

We can discuss later.

He said he worked on your computers for a while...

Then checked out your bike rack situation...

And then headed out for a grand tour of the substation, water treatment plant and central plant...

To prove how great of an assistant I could be for you next year I wanted you to know I already sketched out some possible projects I could tackle for you while Mom and I were waiting for you to come back with Daniel from the tour.

Here's my plan for a central plant retrofit:

I think you already know I've mastered the art of drinking profuse quantities of water from your office fountain. I'm sure I'm quite ready to be your assistant next year!

Love,
Joshua-your-right-hand-man

Throwing it Back... how far?

Dear Dada,

Today, because it's Throwback Thursday... I thought I'd send a little trivia your way. Can you ace this test?!

1. Throwing it back to the 80's or just 2012?

A. With bear ears.

 B. Without bear ears.

2. Which one is a throwback to 2013??

A. The one with Dads.

B. The one with Moms.

3. Slumber from 1980's? Can you guess?

A. Newborn exhaustion.

B. Sweet slumbers with a bit more hair.

4. Who is the better water table splasher? One of these throws back to this past February...

A. Grandma Trish in purple?

B. Grandma Trish in red?

And an easy one to finish off your pop quiz:

5. Who was the best cake smasher? Throwback to March of 2013 or February of this year??

A. All Chocolate...

B. Chocolate with Red Sprinkles...

Let me know how you score! Extra credit if you can identify every person in this post!! :)

Love,

Joshua

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Answers:

1. A. 2012, Daniel B. Circa 1984, David

2. A. 2013, Joshua, Johnny, Liya B. 2012, Seth, Daniel, Timothy

3. A. 1985, Sarah B. 2014, Joshua

4. A. 2015, Joshua  B. 2013, Daniel 

5. A. 2013, Daniel B. 2015, Joshua 

The Good The Bad and The Birthday Boy

Dear Dada,

Last week we celebrated a landmark event: Elisha turned THREE!

Really the only way to properly recognize such an achievement was to don chaps, bandanas, cowboy hats, a few cowboy sized "owies" and head out to get our boots dirty.

We traveled far West for this birthday event and I put together a small clip of all we accomplished. I like to call it "The Good, The Bad, and the Birthday Boy".

I think we would've made Clint Eastwood proud. What do you think?

The Art of Manliness

Dear Dada,

You know how Daniel always talks about when he grows up and can finally become a Dada? I figure if I hope to ever grow up to be as big, strong, smart and bespectacled as you are I had better figure out how to be a man first. Only a real man could make it to the next level of "Dada" - your level. While I do seem to be lagging in the area of muscular development I think I was able to become slightly more manly yesterday.

Micah and I got right on it on our walk and I wanted to share our progress with you:

1. Real men hit bushes with sticks while exercising.

2. Real men keep long poles with them. Why you might ask? To fend off and lions or bears prowling about residential areas!

3. Real men fearlessly throw goldfish to hungry chickens. They're not afraid of an occasional peck (ok maybe just a little bit afraid).

4. Real men aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. They throw rocks into large tires for fun.

5. Real men don't smile for pictures. They put on their "tough face".

Do you think we're on the right track?

Sincerely,

Joshua

An Easter Photoshoot

Dear Dada,

Today we ventured off into the idyllic scenery at Village Homes for a little photo shoot. Ever since Easter when we dressed up like 64-year-old men in our Sunday best Mom has been wanting to document our cuteness.

It sounded kind of boring to us but thankfully Uncle Steve joined up with us midway and made this photo shoot one to remember for a lifetime!

When the Moms weren't looking he found us a nice huge river to jump in!

We carefully sounded the depths of the water then did what seemed to us to be the only logical next step: strip down for some good old-fashioned swimming. We didn't mind it was mostly muddy and grassy... Thankfully in Village Homes such shenanigans are seen as commonplace.

On the way home Uncle Steve even arranged for a sudden down pour and ran with us all stuffed into the jogging stroller like it was a jail break of sorts!

It was raining so hard Daniel even pulled a sweatshirt over his eyes in hopes he wouldn't be washed away in the torrential downpour! At one point I even thought they would be overtaken by the cresting waves that were washing down the residential streets toward us...

Ok well maybe I'm speaking slightly hyperbolically but... if certainly seemed that exciting.

I wish you could've been there.

So... I'm thinking we should have Uncle Steve join us every day these kinds of photo shoots. His ideas for scenery and poses are so much better than our Moms'. Better yet, if you join us too then we can have drag jogging stroller races through sudden rainstorms while Mom snaps some photos!!

Soggily,
Joshie

To Eat or Not to Eat

Dear Dada,

A little modern Shakespeare slipped into my mind today as I attempted to summarize one of the biggest struggles I face on a nearly daily basis. I think Hamlet was close in identifying the timeless question that plagues mankind and I'm sure Shakespeare won't mind the few edits I made below to clarify (I did make great effort to maintain iambic pentameter until the end... I got a little excited):

To eat, or not to eat- that is the question: 

Whether 'tis nobler on the tongue to savour
The fluff and wisps of outrageous dandelions
Or to take arms against their tantalizing flowerets,
And by blowing spread them. To fly- to tempt- 

No more; and by a flight to say we end
The temptation, and the thousand licks and tastes
That toddlers are heir to. 'Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To fly- to tempt.
To vanish- perchance...
Mother will then give us popsicles! ... ay, there's the rub!

Sincerely,

Joshua the Bard