Kindergartener

My Spring/Summer Bucket

I like making lists.  Because I am motivated by putting something into the world and then holding myself accountable to it.  And, because when I write it down I can't forget!

Here are some things I would like to make happen....
-hike the Salt Lick Trail
-plant and maintain a healthy garden
-complete the c25k program
-go for a run outside
-Chuck E Cheese
-zoo
-help Cole learn to ride his bike
-ride my bike
-finish a book
-give thanks/love more freely
-blog more....

Maxine @ Two

Another year has raced by.  My baby is now two and doesn't want to be a baby.  

She shows more personality and opinion with each passing day!

Max,
Here is what you are up to:

-you make me sing (in my off key, tone-deaf way) to you every night before you go to bed.  your favorites are "Round & Round" (aka the wheels on the bus), the "E, F, G" (aka the abc song), and the Itsy Bitsy Spider (I only know this when you speak and use your hands to show me the spider motion).

-you have lots of opinions....
     -like the clothes and shoes you wear
     -the food you eat (Nutrigrain"bars" only - just like your brother!  you also love all cheese.)
     -the cups you drink out of (soft spout for milk, hard spout for water)
     -the temperature of your milk - 30 seconds in the microwave is perfect.

-you like your brother a ton.....when you like him.  you don't when you don't.  make sense?

-you have learned to tell us "Now!"  we don't care for it much.

-you love to play on the "pah-pad" (aka iPad).  you know your way around it all too well.  thank goodness for passwords!

-your hair is getting so long.  you allow me to fix it in the mornings, but you determine the hair bow that we use, even when I try to trick you.

-you like your new school after a long adjustment period.  just as soon as you got used to it, you turned 2 and had to change classrooms.  Ms. Chris is still your favorite!  she tells me that you stand at the fence and yell to her across the playground....and then you stand on the top of the slide and yell to her.  you call her "Piss."

-on that note, you are so SMART!  you are always watching, and soaking it all in.  you amaze dad & me.

-you are so sweet too!  you give kisses when someone is hurt.   you even kiss your "bee-uck (blanket) when you get your hands on it at bedtime or in the morning when you get out of bed.

-we were anxious to put your brother in a big boy bed at 2 years.  you, however, we are savoring your baby-ness.  you don't mind your crib.  so, we are going to keep you in it until you turn 13, i think.

-you love baby dolls. you keep your giant baby close most of the time. she has even gone out and about with us. you were mad at me when you had to ride in your cars seat-- you felt strongly that she should have been strapped in to it.

There is so much more "to" you.  You are an amazing little lady.  You keep us all entertained every day.  I love your strong will and want you to never change!  You will take wonderful care of yourself!  We are so very lucky to be your family.  Thanks for keeping it lively around here.  

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl.

Get yer motor ruun-nin'....

7 years-my tribute to us!

We celebrated 7 years a few months ago (Okay, so half a year....whatever).  Here's my "gift" to Derek.

7 Years of Us.

Snow Day!

Last week, as we started our four day weekend, the snow started to fall.  I was weepy and decided to blog it.

I started the day drinking coffee from our sweet new big kid *Bunn* coffee pot - we are so excited about it! (Thanks Opa!). While sippin' I took photos from the coziness of the house. Derek did his thing - shoveling the driveway and sidewalks, and clearing potty spots for the dogs. Maxine and Lita watched Daddy.

Then I snuck out for a few more pics as Derek finished his work and came in.

As I came in Derek suggested that we head to the park where the good hills are! Santa brought sleds so we were anxious to get out and use them! The following is the good time that was had.

I was happy that we got this time.  I am love to see Derek and the kids play!  I am thankful for our warm home, healthy kids, and a partner to share the load with.  Unfortunately, this ended up being the only "fun" in our four day weekend.  Max and I had the stomach flu for different parts of the weekend.  Derek had his work cut out for him - L A U N D R Y !!

Cole Hamilton Edward, you are FIVE years old!

My Dear Cole,
Five years old?! What!? Who said you could do that to me?! On one hand, five years feels like forever because I don't even remember life before you. (it all started over for me when you came along). Then again, I remember when you were so small. I can't say enough how very stinking proud I am of you. You have the biggest heart and the best soul of anyone I've ever know. Like, for real.  I love you so bad.

Here's a little recap of your birthday.

After our day of work and Na's, we came home to celebrate your five years.

First, you opened some underwear I got you.  

Stop it!  You are not a teenager yet!  ;-)

Then came a few small toys and the "big" gift, a Nintendo DS.

You were in disbelief.

Dad helped you set it up.

...And you were off!

Part of your gift from us was to pick out a couple of games that you were interested in.  Your sister could NOT believe that she was not the star of the show today.

You chose well, Mario and a racing game.  Mario is by far your (and Daddy's) favorite.

You got to choose where we dined. 

Yup, Burger King.

Your sister ate ketchup via licking it from her french fry over and over.  Yuk.

You killed a happy meal

 and ice cream.

And then we were home to play with the DS and have lots of b-day fun!

You seem like a boy to me now....long gone are days of my baby....toddler years have passed us by...and I don't even think I can call you a "little" boy.  It's going so fast.  I want to treasure every minute of you because I can already cry at the thought of you going off to college.  Stay you, Cole.  You are one of the coolest people on the planet and I love you big time.
All my heart,
Mom

Happy Bird-Day Party to Cole!

Cole's birthday party was all about the birds, Angry Birds!

We had our usual party, with family and a few friends.  Cole wanted pizza, so it was easy for us!  Derek joined me in the cupcake creation!

What a mess!  But so fun!

Daddy pulled through for some super cute cuppy cakes!

I had fun finding all kinds of printables to add to the 'theme'.  Thank you, Pinterest!

Angry Bird "poop" (M&Ms) and Angry Bird "food" (gummy worms) for guests.

All our favorite people got to join us, except Opa.

Ed <3 joshwa="joshwa" span="span">

Jayjay joined the party via Tango.

PRESENTS!

Batman!

She really loves a bottle!

Courtney was kind enough to share her birthday with us!

Max & Carter tearin' it up!

Grandma Sheryl & Uncle Aaron playing the Angry Birds Space game with Cole (and trying to keep Max from eating the pieces).

Thanks to everyone for making Cole's birthday super fun!  

Maxine's birthday pics

A few observations:
-She looks so very different now.  I am SO SLOOOW to blog these days.
-My heart warms when I see pics of her & her daddy and the crazy love between them.
-Tutus and hairbows don't seem to be her thing...but a girl only turns 1 once!
-I love her more every single day.