Bedtime

This picture is almost a year old but I love it! Our bedtime routine begins by reading 5 verses from the Book of Mormon and then having family prayer. Jonah doesn't always stay on the couch the entire time we read but he's getting better. Last night during our prayer he wanted to hold our hands for the first time. (Daddy and I always hold hands.) Jonah then gives Daddy a goodnight kiss and we go to his room to read stories. I let him choose a few books (usually 4-5) and then we sit on the couch and read. After that we turn out the light and I rock him with his head on my shoulder for a minute or two and then lay him in his crib. And even though it's not ideal, I will often give him his sippy cup with milk if he wants it. Then I say goodnight and slip out. Last night after we turned out the light and I had just started rocking him he pointed to his crib and said, "bed." So I put him in his bed. Then he said, "milk" so I gave him his milk. And then he said, "bye bye." It made me laugh. Maybe it's me who just loves to cuddle before I lay him down. :) He is becoming quite the independent toddler! Here is a more recent photo taken before church two weeks ago. He konked out on the floor about 15 minutes before we needed to leave so I dressed him and did his hair while he was asleep and just had to take a picture:

Halloween!

We had been told before that Jonah looked like a hobbit so that inspired our decision for this year's costume. Ryan actually wanted Jonah to be Gandolf the Great and for us to be hobbits but we knew Jonah would not tolerate the beard and hair necessary to pull it off. So Jonah went as Frodo. We used the fabric from an old vest that Grandma Jill had lying around to make Jonah's cape and lined it with green felt. It felt good to be behind a sewing machine and it made me wonder if I could actually get into sewing! We also took a denim vest and painted it with fabric pens to look more hobbitesque. Jill found a leaf shaped clip-on earing that we used as his vest clasp and then we bought a small chain to hold the ring, tights, and some fuzzy yarn for his hairy feet. We weren't hard core enough to die and curl his hair to really make him Frodo (I hope you know we would never do that) but we were still pleased with our adorable little hobbit. I thought of him more as Sam. Sam held the ring for a short time, right?

Here is our very happy hobbit:

We had to sew the cape and the necklace directly to the vest. He just wouldn't wear it otherwise. Here are some pictures from our trunk or treat in Castro Valley:

The cousins didn't seem that excited to see each other but I was very happy to see Merilee and Ashilene!

Look at Ashilene, the cutest Raiders cheerleader!

They did have fun in the ball pit.

There were a lot of fun games.

But Jonah just kept pointing to the ball pit.

He had a huge cup of jello.

And went back to the ball pit.

He took a short candy break.

And where did he go? Back to the ball pit!

We may have to get him a ball pit. It was a very successful event. Jonah couldn't have had more fun. But I must end with this picture. There's just something about it that cracks me up!