That California Trip!

Well it has definitely been too long since we have posted pictures!! Man, time is just flying by!! We are enjoying our summer, hot and humid though it is here in Arkansas. Joshua and I (Marianne), took a trip to California to see his Oma and Opa. It was a great time. He is such a GREAT little traveler! (Just another way we see how God chose him for us). The weather was beautiful and Joshua had such a wonderful time with his cousins, Jacob and Michaela. Oma was in heaven having us there at the house and Opa was just amazed and thinks Joshua will be an engineer. He told me he could tell by the way he saw Joshua process things and figure out stuff! I guess he would know, since he is a brilliant engineer, himself! :-) All in all, it was a sweet time with my family and I am so thankful for the opportunity to be with them again! Here are some of the fun pictures we took of our time there.

Joshua could not get enough of the airplanes and trucks at the airport in Dallas.

Sipping and spitting water back and forth between cups was apparently a hoot and Oma and Opa were entertained too.

A kiss for Opa to help him along with his exercises.

Joshua's first In-n-Out Burger! He LOVED it!! (The chocolate shake too!)

Opa likes to play Joshua's favorite game too, Cars.


Wow, Oma reads books really well!!

At the Monterey Bay Aquarium with the cousins.

The Jellies at the aquarium.

Michaela points and explains the cool sea life, since she is the expert.

Jacob and Joshua checking out the sharks. Jacob knew all the names of the critters!


Okay, trying to get a "cousin" pic was not so easy!!

The beach was the coolest of all!!

Contemplating the waves.

Ready for the road home.

The new pool was too cool.


Trying to drink from the sprinkly things on the pool.

Jacob shows Joshua the ropes when it comes to the wiggly bridge.

Michaela and Joshua master the stairs.

Three on the teeter totter.

Such a serious face with that crazy static in his hair!

Watching Animal Planet, I think.

A Visit With Bob and Larry!

Today we went to Charley's work, LifeWay Christian Store, and met Bob and Larry from the Veggie Tales. Joshua was very excited to view them from the stroller. He squealed with delight. But when we suggested he shake hands with them, he was not so sure. It took about 30 minutes for him to warm up to them, but after that, there was no turning back. He followed them all over the store and in the end even hugged them! It was so much fun!! But first, a pic of our favorite little fluff muffin!

Mr. Cool!!!

Here they are, Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato!

Joshua clings for dear life to Charley!



Hugs for Larry.....

...and Bob too!

Pools, Mud and Haircuts!!

Well, June is busting out all over!! Okay, maybe not busting out literally, but the little tune just came to me! We are having lots of summer fun. Joshua went to the birthday party of his 2nd cousin, Madison, where he rode the tricycle, played in the pool and met his first baby kitten. He is enjoying his sand box and we have gone to the local lake. He is growing and changing so much, it is amazing to watch! He had his first haircut by our friend Mary and it seems to make him look even bigger!! What a joy we have been blessed with in this little man!

Riding the tricycle.

Sweet little kitten.

The water was FREEZING, but it did not phase Joshua!

He just played like crazy, pouring the water over himself and squealing with delight.

Helping make the pancakes for papa.

At Lake Wright Pattman, here in Texarkana.

Checking out the water traffic and loving the noise of the jet-skis.

Posing with Papa at the lake.

Helping with the laundry.

A pensive moment between forays in the sand box and the mud pile.

Check out this mud after a good Arkansas rain!!

Nice!!

Can you say "Mrs. Kravitz"?

Angus overseeing the whole outdoor area, making sure we are "squirrel-free"!!

Preparing for the first haircut.

Sitting ever so still for Miss Mary!

Such a big boy!

That kind of tickles!

So very handsome!!

Such a sweet little angel boy! Sound asleep with his "Pandy" and his "silky".

Life with Joshua!

Well, we have moved to a new apartment for the summer. Life is good. Charley is working and Joshua is enjoying life and the exploration thereof, to the utmost! Speech therapy is going wonderfully and we are so blessed with Joshua's therapist. He just loves Miss Darla. Bob the Builder is a new and enduring passion for Joshua and today, he saw a real life digger in our backyard. Too cool!

Hey Mama, look what I found in the bathroom!

Speech therapy with Miss Darla.

Miss Darla is the greatest!!

Aunt Judy came for a visit.

Playing with my cousin Devra and my second cousin Logan.

My dream has come true!! A real live "digger" in the back yard!



This excitement is too much!!


Oh WOW!!



The workers were so patient, letting Joshua "supervise".


Wow, they left this cool pile of clay and dirt.



Emporer of the hill.