Party Pics

Looooong overdue pictures from my Grandmother's 85th bday party. The party was at a little cafe on Main Street in my hometown. We had half the restaurant for the party and it was so nice! I know my grandmother loves having all of her family together at one time...not an easy feat now that she has eight great-grandkids. It seems like there is always one or two missing - usually one of the grandsons due to work. Of course, no one could have kept any of us away from this great milestone!!!!

Our immediate family (and some honorary family members).

Don't listen to anything the girl in the white says...hehehe!

The birthday girl with her two daughters. An interesting fact - my mom had the cake made by the same place that made my wedding cake. It was beautiful AND delicious!

The GRANDchildren (lol) and spouses. I love that my Grandmother considers all of our spouses her own grandchildren. She cares and loves them just the same as she loves us (even the one in the burnt orange!!! ;)

Her pride and joy - five great-grandsons and three great-granddaughters. Of course, we rarely get a picture of them all smiling and looking the same direction...but isn't it cool that Cousin Syd is old enough (and strong enough) to hold my chunky monkey?

Speaking of - by the time the party was over, it was past his nap time and he was delirious. I have video of him trying to eat his pacifier!

Are You My Conscience?

J was in a camp all this week at the church where he goes to preschool. It was a Bible/Sports camp. Twenty five Pre-K through 1st Graders attended and each day, they were taught the basics of one sport, then had play time on a water slide, followed by Bible story time.

I continue to be amazed at how much J retains after hearing a story. He came home each day and repeated in exact sequence what he learned that day. Most of the week the kids learned all about Paul, and each day, he was most excited about telling me about the story he heard. On the last day, in addition to the Bible story, they read a story about a little boy who went to the store with his mommy. While his mommy wasn't looking, the little boy took a candy bar. J told me all about the story, how the little boy was scared he would have to go to jail, and how stealing was wrong. We talked a bit about it, then moved on to other conversation. I was teasing him about when we got home he could have BIG fun helping mommy clean. He laughed and said no thank you, he wanted to play his wii. As we continued chatting, he got very thoughtful and said, "So if you asked me to go to my room and clean up, but instead I went up to my room and started playing with my banshee, my conchish (aka conscience, but that's how he pronounced it first) would tell me that I should really be cleaning, not playing. Right mommy?" Then he goes on to say, "And isn't that what Dory asked Marlin? (In Finding Nemo.) Are you my conscience? But really, it was in her head."

Needless to say, he impressed his mom (& dad) yesterday. We joke that he reminds us of a friend from when we lived in SA - our friend was a great teacher of our Bible class there and he once told us when he was little, he would line up his stuffed animals and preach to them! Hmmm, now that I think about it, that's not a bad idea. I love hearing him recount all of the details, but after the 2nd or 3rd time, maybe I should encourage him to share his story with his stuffed friends... ;)

He said WHAT?

I was reminded of something funny that happened a few weeks ago when the boys and I met a friend for lunch. My oldest boy, J, is always saying funny things. After lunch, my friend bought a couple of those multicolored bouncy balls for J from a machine at the front of the restaurant. He was having so much fun bouncing them and being silly. We headed to the restrooms before leaving the restaurant. I took the boys in the biggest stall, and while J was using the potty, I was holding his new toys. Still being super silly, with a big smile on his face, but ever so innocently, he said, "Mommy, are you eating my balls?" Very loudly. Then he proceeded to say, "Don't put my balls in your mouth mommy!"

I heard my friend and another woman trying not to laugh. I am sure I was 10 shades of red as we walked out of that stall.


Just one of his MANY tooty moments...

What a Difference a Year Makes

I couldn't resist. I remembered how many pictures we were taking of J and his new baby brother this time last year so I had to try. Look at the picture from a year ago, then the one I took yesterday. Some comparison, huh? :)



Poor J desperately wants to still "hold" his baby brother. It just isn't as easy anymore!!! lol

Holy Birthday Nana!

Today is my sweet mother-in-law's (Nana's) birthday. For one of the first times in a while, we actually got her birthday present to her BEFORE her birthday! YAY! Her oldest grandchild, J, helped us pick out a great present - and one just from he and his baby brother. He is so sweet and thoughtful and loves helping me pick out presents. I hope this continues as he gets older - his daddy sets a good example of thoughtful giving so it is a possibility. ;)

Anyway, while on the phone with Nana today, J had to share his excitement about his new toy. He typically doesn't get things like this "just because" but he caught mommy on a good day! lol Plus, it was on sale!!!

So here you go Nana...as promised, a couple of pictures sure to bring a smile to your face and end your birthday on a high note! WE LOVE YOU!

I AM...BATMAN!!!

Happy 85th Birthday Grandma!

Today is my sweet Grandma's birthday. And it's a big one - she is 85 years young today! We called her earlier and after a sweet rendition of "Happy Birthday" sung by J, we had a nice chat. She told me some things I never knew about her childhood and we both agreed that the perfect way to spend a birthday is to take it slow, lounge around the house and enjoy the phone calls from all of your family and friends. She had just hung up with another well wisher (my sis I think) and got one call while we were on the phone, and then I hung up with her as she was answering another! To say that a lot of people love this lady is a major understatement.

My mom and I recently were looking through pictures from when my Grandma and Popi were first engaged and married. Some of them I had never seen before. It was so much fun to see and one of the family pictures we liked the best is here --

It may not be the best picture of my aunt (but we all know how hard it is to get kids to smile) but she is still a cutie, and my mom, well she was so little that even though she isn't smiling she still is one adorable baby. But my grandparents - they look so happy. And my Grandmother had on some of the most beautiful dresses in these pictures. She looked like she had been styled for the era - beautiful, every hair in place...even after two kids. Of course, I think she is still beautiful and one of the most amazing ladies ever.

This picture was taken at our wedding. It was one of my favorite pictures from the whole day back then, and I still love it as much 11 years later.

Grandma told me today that she has been so blessed in her life. Family has always been the most important thing to her, and I know that she loves having so many great-grandchildren fill her house with laughter and love (well, she mostly loves it...except when they get TOO loud!!! HA!) But what I say, and I know ALL of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would say too, is that WE are the one's that have been blessed. More than I can put into words...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!!! WE LOVE YOU & CAN'T WAIT TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU ON SATURDAY!

LJM Weighs In

We took our sweet baby boy for his one year well check yesterday. After stripping him down to his birthday suit, the hubby and I placed bets on how much he would weigh. Can you believe I lost??? I was sure he was over 25 lbs. Not so. The hubby was only off by 3 ounces. Here are his stats --

• Weight - 24 lbs 6 ozs = 75%
• Height - 29 7/8 inches (could they really not just have said 30?) = 50%
  Head - 49 cm...STILL in the >97%, but following the outside of the growth chart curve, so the doc's not worried

So here we were, thinking our little guy was still just behind his big brother on his weigh in. Well just now, I went to retrieve J's stats from his 12 month visit and guess what? L is BIGGER! O.k., so only 2 ounces heavier, but still. I had in my head that J weighed 26 lbs at a year, and he actually only weighed 24.4. Hmmmm, guess he went through a growth spurt right after and was then up to 26 lbs. Regardless, I am so surprised that L has now surpassed his big bro. He is still about 1/4 of inch shorter than J was, but both his head (tee-hee) and his weight have J beat. Now I'm totally confused as to who will be the bigger boy....

In other news, the doc said that for the next round of shots at 15 months, we'll probably have to trek down to the pedi-allergist to get those as one of the shots contains eggs. I think I may postpone that one until his 18 month mark. Just not eager to hold my breath and wait to see if he has a reaction. Of course, there would be no better place to be...right?

Dr. H was very impressed with all that L is eating, and with his words. L even answered Dr. H with a shake of his head, saying "no." Yay, GREAT that he can do that, isn't it? At least he's cute!

L's 1st Birthday Party

What a great time we had on Friday. After a quiet "actual" birthday on Thursday, Friday saw the arrival of our closest friends and family for a small (yet somehow crazy) birthday celebration. Thanks to everyone who came, pitched in and made it such a memorable day.

The party - a safari theme - included two amazing cakes. One, just for L, made with love by Grammy with no eggs or dairy. :) The second, a work of art, made by a special friend, Ms. Mary. It was both beautiful and yummy. Daddy and Uncle Trav grilled up some delicious burgers and hotdogs for lunch, and to keep the older kids entertained, we rented a moonwalk for the backyard. Despite the awful July heat, the kids had a great time bouncing and big brother J bounced so much that day, he still has a sore lower back!

Here is a snapshot of that fun day - from first thing in the morning, when the boys and I tried out the bouncy house before any of our guests arrived, to the end of the party and opening gifts. What a wonderful celebration of our sweet baby boy!

And finally, the next day, here is L helping daddy put together all of his new toys. What a blessed little boy. And he has played with them ALL! I don't think he has a favorite - he just goes from one to another - and giggles all the way!

Happy 1st Birthday L!

Today is L's birthday - in fact he was born just about this time of day! I asked the hubby last night as we were eating dinner if he remembered what time L arrived. His response? "I don't know. During the day?" I'm SURE he would remember if it was HIM having to push the baby out!!! Finally he guessed and he was close, after a little hinting from me. Oh well, as long as he remembers his birthday, that's all that matters. ;)

My sweet lovebug is doing new things every single day. He is pulling up on everything, and even though he is not walking yet, he is trying to climb onto the couch. Sigh. His big brother was not a climber...I guess I was due to have a billy goat this time around. He has started dancing, and it is obvious he has mommy's rhythm. He will eat just about anything we put in front of him, and I know he is going to LOVE the birthday cake his Grammy is making for him. She found an egg and dairy free recipe, and after making one earlier this week for a taste-test, she found it actually tastes pretty good! Of course, I reminded her that he won't know any different, since he's never had any cake before.

We go in for our one year well check on Monday, so I'll be back with stats. We think he weighs around 25 lbs. Until then, here is one of my favorite pictures from July 2, 2008. I just love and am still amazed at how alert L was and how he just stared at us - especially his big brother. :)