bedtime update

We've put Jonah back in bed 4 times already. The last time, he walked in with an arm full of books saying, "But Daddy, I found these books to read!"

He has now turned his light on and is sitting in his tent reading books. And sobbing intermittently.

bedtime resistance

For some unknown reason this past week, Jonah has begun waging an all out battle at bedtime. Joel thinks he might be getting his last 2 molars in, but whatever it is, he's raising quite a bit of hell when it comes to staying in bed. Joel, who is normally very patient, has been getting more and more frustrated - especially after putting him back into bed for the 15th time and listening to all his screaming and arguments. Here are some of Jonah's best objections:

"But, I don't want to be in my big boy bed forever!"

"I need to be wrapped up like a baby."
He didn't.

"I really don't want to go sleepy night night in my big boy bed. I'm serious!"

"But, I don't like that choice!"
When told he could choose which of his 2 beds to sleep in.

"I'm going to tell on you!"

"Stop pushing me! You're always pushing me and pushing me!"
When Joel put him in his bed.

"But milk's not yucky! Milk is yummy!"
When told he couldn't have yet another cup of milk.
" How about some apple juice then?" (Joel said no.) "But it's really yummy!"

"But I want to sleep on the ground right there!"

"But I don't want my jammies on!"

Last night we put him back in bed about 20 times, each time with screams of "But I don't want to sleep in my big boy bed! I want to sleep with Mommy!" echoing down the hall. At one point we heard him throwing all his stuffed animals into the hall - "I don't want Boopers! Boopers doesn't help me sleep!" - followed by a chair. He then crept into the hall and almost fell asleep on the floor. Around 10:30 we finally thought he was asleep so I went to check on him. He had climbed into Annie's bed to sleep with her. He then wandered into our bed sometime in the middle of the night, when we were too tired to put up a fight.

Joel's getting creative tonight and giving him the choice between sleeping in his bed or in his play tent on the floor. We'll see. The kid is very determined and a master at arguing his point.

two wheelin' it

beach picnic

After months of gloomy weather, we've had a whole week of sunshine. Up here, you make the most of the sun, so we've been hitting the parks, riding our bikes to school, roaming the neighborhood to play with the other kids and catching up on yard work. We topped off our week with a Friday night picnic at the beach.






Too bad it's blurry.




Our little Napoleon Dynamite.

sequim

My good friend, Michelle, hails from Sequim and whenever she goes home we usually head over for breakfast at the Oak Table (bacon and 49er Flapjacks - a little slice of heaven!) and to hang out at her parent's house. This time we also walked down to the Dungeness Spit to enjoy the sunshine and play on the beach.


Michelle, one of my very favorite lady mammals.


Soren, Jonah & Annie


Jaxson, Soren & Jonah making a lake.

auntie mary's wedding

Our good friend, Mary, who also happens to be Annie's godmother, got married last month. Annie got to be the flower girl - and we have never seen her so excited! The energy she had all day was astounding. Of course, she was in tears the minute the wedding was over. She was so proud of herself, though and she did a great job of walking down that enormous aisle at St. James.


Annie got to join the rest of the wedding party for her very first spa day.


Getting her hair ready.


She had a lot of sillies.


Trying to steal Auntie Mary's bouquet.


She crashed during the reception.

One of the best parts of the weekend was getting to spend it at the Bammerts, who graciously let us take over Soren's room. We even managed to squeeze around a tiny table at the reception with Steve and Michelle, where Michelle and I laughed harder than we have in a long time while trying to figure out what makes a mammal a mammal. I'm still not positive, but I gather it has something to do with breasts and not laying eggs. (Is it obvious that I skipped Biology in college?) Joel is still shaking his head at us. I do have to say, that as far as mammals go, the Bammerts are some of my favorites.

yard day

Stomping down the leaves in the yard waste bin.


I think Joel was a little more effective at it.

5.5

Annie celebrated her half birthday on February 1st, always a special occasion at our house. Having a summer birthday means that you can't have a party at school, so her teacher let her bring some cupcakes on her half birthday. Of course, she also woke up asking where her fairy Barbie was (umm...I didn't know I was supposed to get you a present) which I finally wound up buying for her and sending her on a hunt for clues around the house to find it.


Jonah very meticulously putting the M&M's on the cupcakes.


Finding another clue.


Annie, Fairy Barbie, cupcake.


Jonah insisted on blowing out a candle too.

more sac pics

The kids love their Uncle Drew & Aunt Becky.


Riding the carousel downtown.


Mac & cheese. On pizza. Nothing could make her happier. Nothing.


Drew trying to take on Jonah in a lightsaber battle.


With Nana & Papa. Jonah's had it with the pictures.

at the railroad museum

There's a great railroad museum in Old Sacramento and we were finally able to take the kids there. Jonah was in heaven. Annie was good too until she came down with a 102 fever, climbed in Jonah's stroller, and fell asleep.


Engineer Jonah.

back in sacramento

The day after Christmas we headed down to Sacramento and spent several days with Joel's family. The kids had a ball with Nana and Papa and their aunts and uncles. Drew and Becky taught us how to play Speed Scrabble and we even got to spend an afternoon with them (sans kids) at Bella Bru playing Skip-Bo.


Uncle Drew and Aunt Becky gave both the kids stockings full of candy. We can't wait until they have kids!


Another present from Uncle D and Aunt Becky.


We didn't realize Becky was so terrified of slides.


Drew, trying his best to make Annie throw up.

yummy

There are only a few things we miss about living in California. This comes close to making the top of that list:

christmas in february

Here's some Christmas pics for all those dying to see them. We spent Christmas in Medford with my brother Jason and his family along with my parents.


Annie, Jonah & Saiah on Christmas morning.








Mom tried to cook an oven mitt along with the ham. Delicious.

christmas eve

Leaving out food for the reindeer.


Trying to leave out cookies for Santa.


Annie's note for Santa.

ginberbread houses

While we were in Medford, my parents brought gingerbread decorating kits for the kids. Luckily, we had a high adult to kid ratio because it took all 6 adults to help them. Well, 4 adults for Jonah alone as he put a candy on, ate one, put one on, ate one, etc.


Grammy & Jonah


The finished products.


What else are you gonna do?

christmas in yreka

One of the many stops during our Christmas travels was in Yreka, CA where Elizabeth's brother Jed and his family live. The whole Merrihew family got together to watch Kylie in her Christmas program, exchange gifts, start fires and watch the kids prance about pretending to be in "The Nutcracker." Good times.


All the cousins: Kylie, Saiah, Brianna, Jonah & Annie


Jonah & Saiah. As Joel pointed out, whenever my brothers get together, they find a way to involve fire.


Kylie the sheep.


The whole Merrihew clan.