A stone of remembrance

Here in Arlington Cemetery, Mommy explains to Joshua who is remembered on this stone: Captain Milton Fleischer, very brave soldier. His passing 8 years ago (to the day we visited) precluded him from knowing Joshua as great-grandson. May all future generations remember him with honor.

Cousin Par

Accompanying us to DC was Maria's cousin Par, who visited us from Sweden for the weekend. Our whole family greatly enjoyed having him around. Now, a week later, Joshua continues to say, "Peh, Peh," as if asking if Par is coming again soon. We hope he will.

How to eat rigatoni

Hello, my name is Joshua Kinsinger, and I would love to share with you how I've learned to eat rigatoni.

First, you place the small tube on your finger.














Isn't it amazing that it just fits so snugly!












Of course, sometimes you may have trouble getting it off.

If that turns out to be the case, simply eat it directly off your finger.


It tastes so good, don't you see!












Continue in this manner until 'Voila`' the rigatoni disappears.

New Room Decor

Joshua recently got a redone pad complete with an eye-level border (for him) displaying a number of classic vehicles. While this first major decorating project cost no small amount of toil and sleep, it was well worth it when Joshua first entered his new digs. He immediately ran up to a train and shouted "CHOOOO!" Then he advanced two feet and found another one, "CHOOOOO!" He continues to point out the trains on occasion, as if to keeping saying thank you.

Signs of affection

Joshua loves his brother. He has recently taken to offering light kisses to his kid brother throughout the day. Mommy recently received her first kiss from her firstborn. Such a sweetie-pie!

David's new container

Hey Joshua! Check out my new jump swing!

Kickin' back

Park swings

David now spices up his outdoor strolls with some swinging. What a life!

Football

Hut, Hut, Hike!

One of David's favorite pasttimes is blowing bubbles. Wait till he's old enough to have gum!

More than Milk

David

is now eating oatmeal. (Well, he's trying, anyway!)

"Eee!"

Aunt Renee also set up an Easter egg hunt for Joshua in the basement. "Eee!" he would exclaim delightedly when he spotted them.

All Dressed Up

Here are David and Joshua in their Easter best.

A True Train Lover

Joshua loves trains so much that he started lining up every vehicle he could find. Then he would push the one in the back and get very frustrated when the front vehicles would get out of line. So...

for Easter...

we gave him a real train!

A Word about "Wires"

The word "wires" has been added to Joshua's vocab list. "In what context?", you may ask. Recently, Mom and Josh and David were in Fairfax at Joshua's arrhythmia doctor so that he could get his Holter monitor put on again. "We're going to get your wires put on today, dear. Then you get to wear your special backpack!" Mommy had told Joshua earlier in the day. (Joshua carries his monitor around on his back. Good practice for those school days coming all too soon....) So there we were in the waiting room, and finally tiring of pushing beads along curvy tracks and looking at pictures in Highlights, Joshua took station at the door from the waiting room to the area where they see patients. "Wa!" he exclaimed repeatedly, pointing at the door. "Water? Do you want some water?" Clearly, "no," with a shake of his head. Push the sippy cup away. "Wa!" Mom was baffled. What did "wa" mean in this context? Only when we did get to go back and the nurse put his monitor on did I realize what Joshua was asking for, or at the least, expecting. After he was all hooked up, he touched his wires, looked at Mom, and earnestly said again, "Wa!" Aha!

It's beginning to look a lot like springtime

And with a yard, spring is doubly delightful. The previous owners did a wonderful job growing a wide assortment of bushes and flowers...

Even purple ones

There it is!

Grandpa and Joshua went out to pick up sticks and trash in the yard. Joshua has become quite adept at spotting the tiniest scraps of paper buried beneath the grass. In this shot, he's just spotted something.