A few pictures from the start of 2013...

I promised grandma a few pictures of the boys and thought I'd post them here for others to peruse as they like. The boys are growing so fast.

Joshua turns 1 in just a few weeks and is so expressive - he is our social boy and wants to be acknowledged by anyone who comes or goes. His favorite things are balls, measuring spoons, and his security spatula - often at night it is impossible to pry the spoon or kitchen implement out of his grip, he really loves those things. He also loves wrestling and more physical forms of play.

Prescott is 2.5 and loves to read, ride his bike, and play with trucks and tractors. A day rarely goes by that he isn't hooking chains up to his skid steer to pull some vehicle out of the mud or snow. His favorite books usually involve animals, vehicles, or rhymes and regularly throughout the day I hear him reciting rhymes and singing songs as he plays. His old favorite "Little Jack Horner" has been replaced by "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", "The Bible Tells Me So" (his favorite line from Jesus Loves Me), and "Hickory Dickory Dock". Most of the babyisms have disappeared from his speech but I am thrilled that one of my favorites - 'doylo' instead of 'girl' - is still lingering for now (to be honest, it has already changed from 'doylo' to 'girlo').

We haven't done anything special in 2013, just loving regular life. We try to spend time outside everyday riding bike, sliding, or walking in the woods. We usually bake something daily whether it be bread, granola, crackers, rusks, or something else; Prescott is becoming quite proficient in the kitchen. It cracks me up to hear him say 'That smells like ginger.' or 'Did you put marjoram in this?'.

Already playing together so nicely

Prescott making vitamin soup in the play kitchen he got for Christmas

 

 

Happy outside

6" of snow doesn't stop this boy on a bike

Tromping in the woods with cousin Parker

I was sewing buttons onto the sleep sack that I made for cousin Clyde and Prescott insisted that he wanted to sew too. So he sewed 'buttons' (wooden beads) onto a toy for Clyde.

Helping Jon put peppercorn buttons on the snowman pie crust decoration

I now have two boys sitting at the kids table playing with play dough!

Prescott donned my shoes, yellow bee socks for mittens, his safety glasses, and a hat from Auntie Angie then came to tell me, "I am going on a nature hunt. I'll be back on Sunday."

 Believe me, dishes take 6x as long this way (but they are 20x more fun)

Spring is Here

Jon is in the middle of another trip so I am sharing some pictures to give him (and you all) a little glimpse of our week at home.

Prescott, Joshua, and I went on a brief expedition to a nearby Nature Reserve that I've never been to before. Prescott had fun practicing his outside voice, climbing, peeing in the woods (one of his favorite new activities), and playing hide-and-seek with a rock he'd toss in random directions.

Practicing the outside voice

Exploring

We try hard to make sure Jon stays connected to the kids when he is away. If he is free during nap time he calls to tell Prescott his pre-nap story. Prescott's current favorite is Goldilocks and the Three Bears followed by stories about himself with cars, airplanes, or playing with Joshua when they are bigger.

Listening to Jon tell Goldilocks

The local farm where we buy meat has several horses. Prescott loves bringing carrots to give them as a treat.

Joshua is growing SO SO fast. At six weeks he is already nearly 13 pounds, wearing 3-6 months clothes and rapidly filling those.

The cutest little Badger fan. Thanks for the fan gear Guy, Karen, and Laura!

Our toddler sized infant

We spent the weekend at my parent's lake cabin with cousin Parker and my brother, Peter. The lake was still too cold for swimming but some of the dock was put in, many plants were transplanted, and the garden beds are starting to get installed... and the boys had lots of play time outside.

Prescott climbing on some of the dock waiting to be installed

Parker helping Papa water plants

Parker loves Prescott's wheelbarrow. Prescott loves filling the wheelbarrow but won't wheel it around.... yet.

We got home in the rain and Prescott enjoyed puddle stomping while we unloaded the car.

Happy Easter

Thanks to Auntie Ellen, Prescott had a magical Easter complete with egg hunt. With Jon away flying I wanted to share some pictures - thought you all might enjoy them as well. He was ecstatic...

What kid wants eggs filled with chocolate when there are eggs filled with keys around?!?  After emptying each egg he had quite a wad of keys.

Trying out the keys

And Joshua enjoyed lots of hugs and attention all day.

Joshua and his great grandma

Thanks for all your hard work Auntie Ellen!

A few Joshua pictures

In the hospital, being held by Grandpa Steve

 Joshua Steven Bell was born Feb 25 at 7:47pm. A big boy at 10 pounds, he is healthy and growing well.
 

It took Prescott a few days to acclimate to the new addition, but he is now a doting big brother. He loves kissing his baby brother, holding Joshua's hand during diaper changes, and hearing stories about what he and Joshua are going to do together as they get bigger.

A proud big brother

Joshua asleep in the baby hammock that Jon, Grandpa Steve, and I made.

Catching Up...

The past six months have seen a lot of change for the three of us. In September we moved back to the US to be closer to family. Jon started a job as a pilot with Skywest Airlines.

Prescott riding his hippo before we left Bots

We were thrilled to enjoy our first winter in four years (even though real winter weather only lasted two weeks this year). It has been the perfect re-introduction to our native climate. Enjoying our daily lives in the presence of both sets of grandparents and spending holidays with those we love has been incredible.

Washing cranberries for Thanksgiving cranberry sauce

Cousins, Prescott and Parker, under the Christmas tree

Sharing some Christmas love

The Bell cousins at Christmas

As much as we loved our life in Botswana, we are so happy to be back in the US closer to family and those we love again.

Walks and Projects...

Prescott in his regular place pushing the wagon as we go on our ritual pre-dinner walk.

Stopping to check out a bug.

Tired legs.

Happy boy and beautiful sunset. There isn't anything quite like a Botswana sunset.

Pointing at airplanes. He learned to point a few months ago just so he could point at planes, Jon is proud. :)

Practicing scooping and pouring in his sandbox.

The neighborhood kids over doing an art project. The kids are sweet but challenging because they don't speak ANY English beyond 'hellohowareyoouuu?'

The kids get so excited by the old calendars my Aunt Ingrid sent over that they literally squeal and jump up and down when I bring them out to use in projects.

Prescott at 12 months...

Masimo's friends loving the handmade blocks from Grandpa Steve

Curious

He loves this pot - There are broken pieces of pottery inside and he loves taking them all out and then dropping them back in again.

Exploring some of the 'sculptures' in our yard.

Echo-echo-echo

Sand play - He loves shoveling but hasn't figured out how to get it off the shovel nicely yet. He either shakes the shovel to make a sand shower or holds his arm up in the air which dumps the contents over his head.

Pretty fall leaves

Watching airplanes