what a week!!!

What a week for the Bogers!

we had a computer hard drive problem...

then a blizzard...

and Lucas turned one!

First, the hard drive problem... I am not the computer expert in the family, but I can tell you that we thought we had lost all of our pictures and whatever else was on there. The only important things for me were the pictures. Now that we have a digital camera we don't print as many or as often so I knew there would be huge gaps. Richard and I were so upset! But, thanks to some anwered prayers, some freeware, and some magical skills Richard has with computers we have most everything back. Don't ask me how! We are now going to be extra careful with our pictures! All I can say is back up, back up, back up! Richard had already finished the taxes, but hadn't checked everything and sent them in yet, so he has to do them again.

The blizzard... It started snowing on Friday morning around 8 or 9 and it didn't stop until Saturday at 3 or 4. The inches of snow just piled up to about a foot. There was a lot of drifting so taking an accurate measurement was difficult! Richard shoveled the driveway 3 times and I must say our driveway was the best on the block! Richard's parents drove through the worst of the snow on Saturday and it took them 5 1/2 hours to get here instead of their usual 2 hrs. 45 minutes. It was some crazy snow in March! I went out to the grocery store Saturday night and really couldn't see much of the roads. The ramps were the worst! I even had to have someone help me pull my grocery cart to the car!

Lucas's birthday... He turned one on Sunday and we had a nice party with family, friends, and neighbors. He loved his cake and got lots of nice presents. There will be another post with pictures and details soon!

naughty words and more questions from a 3 year old

We have been lucky so far and Josh hasn't learned any truly naughty words, but he says some that he thinks are naughty. A while back Josh was calling us "Baby Bottom" and we decided to bring up the subject of naughty words. We told him that wasn't a nice thing to call another person and we weren't going to use it. He eventually forgot about baby bottom, but it has resurfaced. I don't know why, but he has started using it again. Last night while I was changing Lucas's diaper I said something like "Lucas, you have a very stinky baby bottom!" and Josh just chose to hear "Baby Bottom". He said, "Awww, Mom! You said baby bottom!!!" Then today in the car after a nice lunch at First Watch with Richard where people actually complimented us on our cute kids, Josh starts with baby bottom again. We are saying goodbye to Richard and dropping him off at work while Josh is saying baby bottom, baby bottom, baby bottom over and over again! Argh!

more questions from a 3 year old...
How do frogs hear? (he is very observant and has noticed that frogs don't have ears)
How come my eyes can't see my face? (think about explaining that one for a second)

As you can see, with Josh around I am challenged with my teaching skills every day. I don't really think I am taking time off from my career. I am getting full-time continuing education!

happy heart day!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! The Bogers had a lovely casserole dinner with bread and jam along with a spinach salad. Many people probably went out with their significant other, but we stayed in and ate at home.

We went out last weekend with a group from church and are going out again next Friday with a group from Richard's work. Last weekend we went to a vineyard, next weekend it is bowling. This is a lot for us, so I must also tell you that we found a babysitter. An actual teenage babysitter who we will have to pay. This is a good thing. Up until now we have usually relied upon our parents and other family members to watch the kids. Lucas will be one soon so it is time for us to occasionally go out by ourselves. So I am celebrating Valentine's Day by thinking of all of the dates yet to come!!!

Other exciting news... Lucas is starting to walk!! He took some steps from Richard to me last night and some more today. His longest "run" has been about 4 steps. Josh was totally amazed when he saw his little brother "walking" tonight! He still needs some help getting steady before he takes off, but we will keep you posted.

Josh news... When were were at gymnastics this week a photographer came in to take pictures for the local paper. Josh didn't make to front cover, but you can see him in the extra pictures that are online. check him out! He is in a couple of pictures so look through them all. He is incorrectly labeled as Michael in one picture, but you'll figure it out...

the boys are growing up

Well, I have recently been reminded over and over again how much my boys are growing up. All of my boys... Even my biggest boy, Richard.


Richard turned 30 last month on Jan 24th and we had a party for him that weekend. It wasn't a surprise party because I don't think that ever could have worked. Richard is my biggest helper and I never would have been able to get the house "party ready" without his help. Plus, how would I have explained all the food... beer, chips, and 15 pounds of pulled pork!!!! He's too smart to miss that clue!!! He loved the party. Thanks to everyone who was able to come. Sometime the next week he thanked me and said that I knew him better than he knew himself. He never would have asked for a party, but he really had a good time! Richard's mom put together a wonder photo album filled with pictures of Richard growing up. The best part of the present was the captions that explained what was happening in each picture. I noticed one that showed Richard at his Eagle Scout ceremony and commented that Richard looked sooooo young. They said, "Yeah. He was 15 - that's half a lifetime ago!"

The whole family at Richard's party (photo by Gordon's Photo Booth)



Now for news about the little boys (or Small and Medium as we call them when we talk about them in their presence...)

Josh started going to gymnastics at The Little Gym in January. I had been thinking about sending him to gymnastics since he started bouncing from the coffee table to the couch into a handstand. He would stay upside down with his back leaning against the couch to watch his TV shows. He is a fun kid. He is so light and just jumps all over the house and us. Since we are inside a lot in the winter, it is a good opportunity to get the crazies out and burn off some energy. We are not pushing him to be the next Olympian, so we picked a gym that is noncompetitive. His teachers, Miss Page and Mr. Kevin, are married and are the owners of the gym. We went for a trial and they got us hooked. I look forward to it almost as much as Josh. He asks me almost every day if he is going to gymnastics.


Josh's other big news is that he started preschool! He goes to Cornerstone Christian Preschool which is located in a Methodist church about 5 minutes from our house. He goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the afternoon for 2 1/2 hours. He just started last week and his teachers say that it seems like he has been there from the beginning. They are having their Valentine party on Tuesday and we have been working on writing his name on a dozen valentines. The only letter that is legible is o. We have 4 more to sign before the party!

Josh - fingerpainting

Lucas is as wonderful as ever! He just turned 11 months old this weekend. He recently learned to clap and can climb up an entire flight of stairs! He now has 4 teeth and ate his first complete meal with the family (turkey meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans) last Thursday.


Lucas - first haircut


(BEFORE)

(AFTER)

Does all of this growing up mean that I am growing up too?

Christmas Pictures

The kids were soooo cute at Christmas! I can't believe how fun they made it for me. You have already read about Josh and his questions. Well, he had a million questions about Santa. He wanted to know how to get to the North Pole, why wouldn't we see Santa when he stopped at our house, and all about the naughty/nice lists. I think he wanted to know exactly how good he needed to be to guarantee presents.

Christmas morning was the best. Our kids are early risers - usually up around 6:30 AM. We had a late night at Gram's on Christmas Eve after the service at church, eating cookies, drinking punch and opening presents. Josh called it the "cookie party" and it was definitely his kind of party...juice with ice cream and as many cookies as he could ever want. Lucas slept right through the "cookie party" and was up before 6:30 as usual. Josh kept sleeping until Richard started nudging him around 8 because we were anxious to get things started. Josh and Richard called down the stairs to me, "Did Santa come?" Josh's face was full of wonder as he looked around my parents' living room and saw all of the presents and the stockings that Santa had left for him and Lucas.

This is the toy I was most excited to give to Lucas...Parents Block Party!!!! He and Josh have had sooooo much fun climbing on and rolling down these giant wedges and cubes.

Richard reading Josh a dinosaur pop-up book

Josh and Ethan playing with pirate ship from Carrie. Josh couldn't believe that she knew just what he wanted... He kept saying, "How did you KNOW?"

Our niece Leah and her Christmas morning surprise...Sunny, the adorable grey striped kitten

The whole family or at least as many as I could get in one picture... I think we had 25 people at mom and dad's house on Christmas! The most ever and the family is still growing!

Josh and his cousin, Bradley, at Richard's parents' house. Aren't boys in jammies too cute!?!?!!

questions of a 3 year old

Josh is 3 and full of questions. I know this is very normal, but his questions aren't the normal why? questions. They are interesting/difficult questions. His favorite topics to ask about are God, animals, and bodies (his and the bodies of others). For awhile we were dealing with lots of Santa questions too. His favorites times to ask these questions are while he is sitting on the potty or in the car (especially when I am backing out of a parking space).

Here are some of the more memorable questions...
Why do we have 2 ears?
What are cheeks for?
What color is my brain?
Did the fake god make the real God?
What is Santa doing right now?
What part of the reindeer makes them fly?
Why is Florida so far away?
What does the sky feel like?
How do giraffes poop?

There have been many other good questions. It is so funny to watch Richard try to answer these questions. I'm sure he enjoys listening to me stumble through the answers too. Josh's curiosity is one of the best parts of the 3 year old stage. I love it because I know exactly what he is thinking about and wondering. I know when he gets older he may still be curious, but he probably won't ask as much. I really love his questions and hope you do too. This may become a regular post topic. Let me know what you think...

fall pics

Here are some pictures from this fall...

Bathtime with the boys

(Sorry, I don't know how to turn this picture. If anyone knows... Help!)

Josh loves taking baths. If anyone takes a bath at our house, Josh is sure to knock on the door and ask if he can join. He sometimes takes 3 baths a day. Once he was even "grounded" from the bath for a few days when he dumped out so much water that it leaked into our kitchen on the floor below the bathroom. When he was finally allowed to bathe again after The Flood of 2007, he had limited water privileges.

Lucas loves baths too. Last weekend he pulled himself into an empty bathtub at Gram and Pap Filer's house where Aunt Wendy's gigantic white cat was getting a drink. The cat was so surprised and hissed at poor Lucas. I scooped him up quickly and saved the day.


Thanksgiving at GG Boger's house
Josh and his cousin Bradley have a love/hate relationship. They were like little wolf pups. They picked and poked at each other the whole visit. Here is a quiet moment while Richard reads all 3 boys a Dora bedtime story.

Grumpy Josh

Josh has recently become less cooperative in front of a camera. Here is his grumpy, I'm not going to smile face that he uses when we get the camera out. It usually just makes us laugh and then sometimes he laughs.

Halloween... Josh and Lucas were frogs for Halloween. Some clever neighbors called them a frog and a tadpole. They made it all the way up and down our street. Josh got extra candy this year because our neighbors insisted that they give candy for Lucas too.