2?!? Really?!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, she is 2!!! (I know, I'm a week behind)

At 2 years old:

*knows more words and phrases than we can count

*can speak in full sentences, though there are still words that are somewhat unintelligible

*can name and recognize most shapes and several letters

*can count easily to 10 and some numbers past

*is starting to say her own prayers

*loves her baby brother and is learning how to whisper when he is asleep

*sleeps 12 hours a night, 1-2 during the day

*has a crush on the kid from our ward that mows our lawn

*is more strong willed, but still a total sweetheart and easy child

*favorite part of her Mormon Tabernacle Choir dvd that she watches is when Walter Cronkite is on. She asks for him by name.

*can name most musical instruments and uses various items as a microphone, trumpet, drum, or saxophone.

*loves to give random hug and kisses and asks if she can give other things "big hugs" or "big kisses"

*will proudly announce when she is messing her diaper. Potty training this winter?

*is very concerned when people are sad or when babies cry. She gives me this worried face and asks "What's wrong? Sad? Crying? It's ok!"

*loves her "preschool" group that we do with a couple other families

*still does not know what a princess is or who Dora is (or any other tv character for that matter). I'd like to keep it that way : )

*is so much fun!!

On the big slide at the Fall-O-Ween festival:

A couple of our friends from church decided to start a home preschool group. It's perfect for Josie. It's just a couple other kids just older than her and we rotate houses. They mostly just play but we do a mini lesson where they learn about letters, colors, and other things. It's been nice for her to be around other kids where it's not overwhelming. Anyway, one of the other kids has the same birthday as her and it was on a preschool day. We decided it would be fun to take the kids to a pumpkin patch to celebrate.

We took a hay ride out to the farm:

Then we went through a corn maze to find the pumpkin patch.

Josie picked out one just her size

They had a snack...

.....and went to the petting zoo!

It was so much fun!!!!!

We opted not to have a big party for her in part because we are crappy parents and didn't get a chance to plan one, and in part because it make absolutely no difference to her and we would mostly be doing it for our benefit, not hers. If we had family here it would probably be different. We decided instead to take her to every kids favorite place. (Well, kids that have crappy parents that can't give them a real party) Chuck E Cheese!!! It's just as ghetto as I remember it! We totally thought she would love it. Not so much.

We did get her to go on a few rides.

But she was more interested in organizing the salt and pepper shakers.

Kev and I had lots of fun spending her tokens for her. She did love the pizza, though!

Donny had fun too, as you can see, lol.

Our little rock star!! (I think those glasses were like 50 tickets which probably cost several bucks in tokens. Oh well. )
We did get her some fun new toys and yummy treats, so her birthday was pretty good for her. She doesn't even know what a birthday is yet. She was just happy to have cupcakes!

And to end the post, a bunch of pics from the last month.

These were take conference weekend at a local park.

Her hair is getting so long!! And it's so blonde!!

Oh, that tongue.....

My little baby is growing up so fast! Happy birthday, my little sunshine!