Joseph today

This is Joseph today. He'll probably look different tomorrow. He was very good boy last night and only woke me up once at 4:15 this morning. He's also a good eater. He takes 5-6 ounces of formula every 3 hours and that's in addition to nursing! He's getting some meat on his arms and legs. He's not smiling much, mostly in his sleep, but he's a happy baby and is content most of the time. He loves to ride in the car or be pushed around in the stroller. Now that the weather is warmer, Joseph, Emily and I walk to pick Haley and Allie up from school. We're all having a good time together!

Happy Birthday Allie!

I took these pictures of Allie this morning before school. She's very excited to be 4 years old today.

Allie says "thank you" to everyone who sent cards and gifts. She felt very special today.

Mama, how are baby goats made?

Allie's preschool had a fieldtrip to the Wheeler Farm to see all of the animals. Thanks to a very hospitable and childless farmhand, the children got to see a freshly born, less-than-a-minute-old goat. The farmhand invited the children back to the stable and while they were stading there watching the goat clean its baby, it delivered its placenta (if that's what it's called for a goat). Of all the children there, you-know-who was the first to ask, "Mama, how are baby goats made? What was that? How was that goat born? How was Joseph born?" Haley is not shy and is always looking for an answer. Luckily Laura was the on-duty parent on this occasion and she brushed it off and gave an extremely general answer. But, that general answer was not satisfactory for some of the other, slightly older children and they persisted with their moms.

I don't know who took a picture of it, but I figured I'd post it. Look at the little baby goat, not the mama.

The kids chased ducks for a long, long time.

Family Date Night

Pictures at the top. Videos at the bottom.

Every Thursday is Family Date Night at the Helms house. We plan some kind of fun activity as a family. Our plan tonight was to play bowling on the Wii because it has not stopped snowing now for more than 24 hours and it is extremely cold outside. After we got Emily out of the highchair she walked over to the door and tried to open it. When it didn't open she began to knock on it and cry. We changed our plans and had a lot of fun outside in the snow as a family. I didn't realize how ruthless Laura was with a snowball in her hand - she even threw them at Emily.

Forget the .45, I'm gonna buy a Bazooka or a Missle Launcher when they start dating.

There was over a foot of snow this morning. It has melted since. It's the very wet kind of snow that makes great snowballs and snowmen.

They were not enthusiastic about taking pictures, they wanted to throw snow. Laura was in the front yard making a mound of snowballs and we were clueless. I told you, she's ruthless when it comes to snowball fights. Once the snow drys and it warms up we'll break out the croquet set and I'll pulverize her.

We came around the corner of the house and Laura started hitting us repeatedly with snowballs. We didn't know she was outside yet. Emily was checking the mail.

Allie is our little snow bunny. She loves the snow and the cold doesn't bother her much. Haley has grown out of her coldafobia - the fear of cold weather - and snowistouchingmefobia - the of snow touching exposed skin such as fingers, ears, cheeks, etc.

Emily walked up and down the sidewalk. She has about a six house radius in which she loves to walk. She is a stinker. She would not wear the mittens and she kept playing in the snow. She wanted to throw snowballs like the rest of us. Plus, she wanted to retaliate against Laura's attacks.

He's telling Allie a secret.

Obviously, it was inappropriate. You get 'em Allie.

He apologized.