Poncho

This picture was taken last time we were in Idaho, in February. We call the horse Poncho.

Today Alex asked if he could have a cracker, so I went to the cupboard and got him a Saltine. He ate it and then asked for another one. After giving him another one I went about my business. A few minutes later I looked over at Alex and he was trying to give Poncho a bite of his Saltine.

Happy Birthday

Alex turned 2 today. It is hard to believe it is already time for that. We had a party at my parent's house. Paige helped him prep for blowing out the candles so after we sang Happy Birthday to him he only had to try once to get both of the candles out. He was very excited that his practice paid off.




photos by Mindy McNabb

Mark

Mark is leaving for his mission on June 8th. He is going to Guatemala. I am very happy for him. He and Jacob brought the horses by the house for Alex to see. He loved them and was so excited to get on one, he couldn't stop laughing.

Austin and Amy

My sister Amy got married to Austin Corry today in the Logan, Utah temple. She looked beautiful and the day was wonderful.








photos by Bev McNabb

Bees

Paige just got two bee boxes. Alex was so fascinated and wanted to reach down and grab one. "Bees" is his new word.

Bedtime

We have been staying at Paige's since we got to Idaho. Paige started a new routine for Alex that he loves. He takes a bath before he goes to bed.



But instead of drying off with a towel and putting on his pajamas, Paige lets him get in her bed and turns on Curious George for him to watch while he air dries under the covers. I skipped this new step last night due to time and Alex had to be talked down.

The Egg Process

Alex loves being in charge of the eggs. First he collects them. Currently the chickens are laying them in three different locations, in the coop, in the back of a trailer,

and next to a rabbit cage between two bales of straw.



Then he brings them inside to wash them.

He gets his stool, puts it up to the sink, and scrubs the eggs clean with a scratchy pad.

Next he dries them and puts them in the cartons.



And finally he either stows them in the fridge or delivers them to Papa and Nana.

Grandma Sims

We celebrated my Grandma Sims' 83rd birthday today. She loves to be involved and knowing what is going on with all her grandchildren. She and my grandpa have 2 daughters, 15 grandchildren, 8 great-granchildren with 2 more on the way. They used to live in Arizona where my grandma retired from teaching High School English. She is very smart, happy, and friendly. She loves to shop for new clothes for everyone, is a wonderful cook, and enjoys being apart of organizing projects (weddings, parties, Amy's classroom, Relief Society, etc.) My grandparents now live in Pocatello and they are always fun and pleasant to be around. I miss living close to them.

"Chores"

Alex assisted Anna with "chores" this morning. They had to check on the pigs up in the old barn to make sure they had food, water, and straw. They then checked on the sheep in the new barn.

Alex was skeptical about touching the pigs



But he had no problem grabbing hold of the sheep. He loved their ears.

Back in Idaho

Alex and I are back in Idaho. When we were here in February, "Bapa" was the only name he knew and could say. We have been practicing names in Boston in preparation for this trip so we will have to see how it goes. When we walked into my parents' house todayAlex ran straight to my dad and said "Bapa," like he had been waiting to see him for months.

More Words

Alex's vocabulary is continuing to grow but you still need a little time with him to understand what he is talking about. Here are a few more frequently used words.

bip = chip (emphasis on the "p")
bope = grape
bup = up (emphasis on the "p")
butch = stuck (emphasis on the "b")
ee-gee-gee = strawberries
geek = sink
gees = cheese
i-thoo = water (a couple weeks ago he was saying "nano")
nana = banana
poach = poke/ouch
yis = yes
no = phone
no = more
no = no

He misses Dain

About a month ago Alex started becoming obsessed with airplanes. He could hear them when we were at home, in the car, or out jogging. This morning Alex was running around the living room and down the hall with his arms stretched out and making airplane sounds. Dain played airplane with him while he was here and Alex was trying to relive it today. Alex misses his new found friend.

The Ride

Adam rode in the brain tumor ride this weekend. Our friend Ellen gets a group together every year and she invited Adam to join in this year. Click here and here to see more about Ellen's ride history.



While Alex and I waited for Adam to finish his 25 mile ride with the group he met a new friend named Paris, one of Ellen's relatives visiting for the weekend. She is 5 years old and has a spunky personality. While we waited Alex some how found a fiberglass fence pole laying on the grass that was split and cracking. He picked it up and quickly dropped it. He ran over to me and was saying "poach" over and over again while showing me his chubby right pointer finger. Paris announced that he had picked up the fence pole and sure enough he had small fiberglass slivers. Paris immediately took Alex under her wing, kissed his finger, and started to perform surgery on his finger. Alex just kept saying "poach" in a worried voice. The only thing I can think of is that he was saying a mix between "poke" and "ouch".

Dain and Annie

View from the Mt. Auburn Cemetery Tower.

Dain and Annie came to visit us this past weekend. Alex loved having new people around. For the first couple of nights they stayed in Boston at a hotel that had a perfect closeup view of the Logan Airport. Alex and I went to visit them there and Alex went crazy over the airplanes. He stood on the window sill pointing and raising his arm in the air like a plane flying while making an airplane sound. Dain then held Alex's body while flying him around the room like an airplane. Alex kept asking and signing for more.



Some of the highlights for us were exploring the freedom trail, eating at Chacarero's and Regina's Pizzeria, walking along the Charles, talking late into the night, and just having some of our favorite people around.

Web Chat

Lately we have been web chatting with Paige about every Sunday. We say the words "web chat" and Alex runs over to the desk, climbs on the chair and then crawls up on the desk, crosses his legs and sits right in front of the computer. The minute Paige pops up on the screen Alex starts his demands.

First he says Mammi (Ang-ee). Then he starts signing and saying doggy (goggy). Paige takes the computer to the dog, Bruno, to let Alex see him. Then Alex starts waving his arm around so Paige will turn the computer a little bit to get a better view of Bruno's tail rapidly waving back and forth. Then he wants Paige to get Bruno some bread to eat piece by piece like a duck. Next he wants to see the truck (guk). Once that is all taken care of Paige sits down in the kitchen. Alex starts balking like a chicken and if Randy is around he will sometimes go out to the chicken coop, catch a chicken, and bring it inside to show Alex. Next he starts signing and saying baby (beebee). Paige brings out her black, baby doll and Alex signs passey so that Paige will put the doll's pacifier in it's mouth. The passey sign is done by making a sound with his throat while smacking his fist against his mouth. Then finally Alex crawls off the desk and runs to get his bucket of animals to bring back to the desk. Paige asks him about each animal. If Paige leaves the screen for a minute Alex puts his face close to the screen like he is trying to look around the corner looking for Paige.

This is pretty much the routine every time we web chat with Paige. She is so good to put up with this monotony.