Another Birthday Party.

My very own Little People!!!! This is great!

Wow, wrapping paper is fun!!!!!!

Let me at it!!! I want the cake!!!!

All of this? For me!?!
This Birthday Cake is good! Thanks Daddy for a great cake!

Where has the time gone?

Happy Birthday, Maddox Carl!!! One year ago, you changed our family and we love you for it.

Family, family everywhere.

Uncle Clint trying to capture Batman (a.k.a. Nelson)
Aunt Sheila and Maddox, so excited to see eachother again.

The boys showing Grandma how to play Gameboy.

Evan loving Tallie.

The boys (and Toby) hanging out with Uncle Eric and Uncle Karl. Maybe next yr. Cooper and Nelson will be old enough for cigars.

Cake and Presents, oh my!

Blowing out candles on the yummy Portillio's Chocolate cake.
Enjoying his yummy bithday cupcake.

Showing off his new winter hat from Great Grandma.

Tearing into wrapping paper, his favorite part of the presents.

Family time!

The Birthday Boys with their grandparents.
The Ferris Family with Travis's mom and younger (taller) brother, the infamous Uncle Tim.

The Birthday Boys with their proud mommies.

Lessons I've learned

You can't get mad at your dog for searching for "high ground' away from flying Diet Coke cans and a rather mobile almost 1 yr old.
I had a tear in my eye when I saw this. I never knew I could be so proud of someone. Maddox has learned the importance of proper hydration. (Yes, that's a Diet Coke can)

A holiday for EVERYTHING!

Travis walked into the door last night talking like a pirate, when I turned around to question what he had eaten on his way home, he was in a patch and earing. Apparently it was National Talk Like a Pirate Day. Enterprise, being the all inclusive place it is, celebrated it. The boys were so excited to see the "costume" they had to try it on too.

The small things...

Yesterday morning, we left the house early. Maddox was fussy, I know, that's a shock to some of you (eye roll), I needed gas, Sarge was begging for a shower, and Maddox also was in desperate need of diapers. I got to the gas station and the car wash was out of order, oh well, I was still in desperate need of gas. I filled up, got a cup of coffee, loaded with caffine (we only stock decaf at home), and was on my merry way to the next stop. When we got to Kmart I reminded the older 2 boys we were only there for diapers. We were not looking at toys, halloween costumes, or anything else. They weren't allowed to ask me for anything! Cooper being the wise one that he is, asks what is on our list (we are HUGE list shoppers) I told him only diapers. We get the diapers and are in the checkout. I look over all the candy and antisipate what they are going to start asking for, when my eyes freeze.... Staring back at me is a Snickers, but not just any Snickers, DARK Snickers!!!!! I pick it up, pet it, and go to put it back when my stomach starts SCREAMING for it... Not just a quite moan, a scream that could wake the dead. I slide it on the belt and instruct the older 2 to go sit at the end of the lane. Cooper all of a sudden pipes up, "Mommy, that candy isn't on the list" Dang it, I've been caught, hurry up, think fast. I can't think fast, I'm too hungry and too fixated on the dark Snickers. I tell him the truth, Mommy didn't eat breakfast and is starving. I need to try this new candy bar and tell Erin and Grandpa if it's good.
I get the diapers and the candy and get in the car. I can barely think straight to buckle Maddox into his seat. I get the car started, the bar open and I bite into what might be the closest thing to heaven. IT WAS AMAZING! I start heading to Nelson's school, and pick up my phone, first I call my dad who agreed to pass the infomation onto my sister in law, Melissa, another dark chocolate lover, and then I call Erin.
Writing this all down makes me think, the boys and I might have to go on a little field trip this morning to find another one for breakfast...

Injury report for Friday...

Maddox, is blury, but I think you can still see the swollen upper lip. He forgets that he can't let go of things when he stands up. He let go of the fridge this morning and reached for Coop. He met the floor, hard!
I was cleaning up in the laundry room, and came into close contact with the attatchment for the utility tubs we don't have.

Eventful week for Maddox

Maddox finally figured out how to go all the way up the stairs. In the past he will go up 3 or 4 and then pound on them and yell for someone to come get him. This past week, he goes all the way up, and FAST! I was working on laundry and he was playing with toys in the hall. About 10 minutes later, Travis walked into the room with him. I asked Travis if he got him from the hall or bathroom (2 of Maddox's favorite hangouts). He said no, he got him from the back of the library. Maddox had crawled up the stairs, thru the kitchen, into the library, over the boys and straight to the bookcase to play with Mr. Potato Head. I guess it's time to get the baby gate out and start blocking the stairs.

He showed an interest in utensils. He does much better with plastic versus the regular ones.

Like father, like son...

Maddox has to be in the same room as us, lately. Usually he has to be touching things he's not supposed to be touching. Travis was working on our church's computer and Maddox crawled into the office, up on one of the PCs amd started pounding on the keyboard. It was too cute not to document. Now if only he would learn to leave folded clothes folded I would fall in love with him all over.

A girlfriend, ALREADY?!?!?

Cooper skipped off the bus today in an exceptionally good mood. He handed me an envelope with his name on it. I went to open it, and he says, "mom, it has my name on it. That's kind of private." Well buddy, if it's so private, don't hand it to me. Inside was a pink balloon, a back scratcher, a top and 4 "notes". One was a picture of a house, a few lines, and another house. Turns out to be a map to his girlfriend's house! She drew it so he would know how to get to her house tomrrow since it's Sat. and there won't be school. (That picture isn't shown, he wouldn't let me see it, he doesn't want to lose it. The kid really thinks he's going to go to her house tomorrow.) There is a picture with "yes" and "no" boxes. She asked him questions and he answered them. I pressed, I wanted to know what kind of questions he was answering. 1. Do you like me? (he said yes) 2. Do you think I'm pretty? (he said yes) 3. Are you my boysfriend? (he said yes) HOLY CRAP!!!! He's 5 yrs old, I didn't have my first serious boyfriend until 3rd grade.(and you can all guess how long that lasted and how "serious" it was.) This kid needs to slow down. He dropped a huge bomb on me on the way home from the library... He says, "Mom, I have to tell you something. Jannelle held my hand a little bit on the way home. We sat in the same seat. I liked it."
I'm now going to go to Home Depot and buy supplies to make him a cage. He's getting locked in it until I determine he's old enough to date.

Maddox showing off his new skill...

Slip and Slide fun, Monday afternoon.

Picnic at Queeny Park

The dogs were more concerned about us with horses less than 20 feet away, than looking at Traivs.

Maddox did surprisingly well for being out of a high chair and in the middle of nowhere.