Cousins

Our blog has taken a backseat as of late. A huge work deadline and two sweet boys have been keeping me busy.

 

I still need to get some pictures up of our Maui trip but decided to post about our cousins first.

 

We love our cousins near and far. Friends with a family twist.

 

 

AND I love that my boys have a new cousin on the way!!! Nick and Angie are having a baby girl in July and we are so over the moon about this news. They are going to be awesome parents and we are going to love on that baby girl like no other.

And since I am in love with the word love in this post I would also like to add that I love my sister-in-laws. They all rock! Ok enough of the lovey dovey stuff. Babies do that to me.

 

 

Cousins Keegan and Cormic (and my brother and Em too) came for a quick visit in January. Of course we spent our time together up at Grandma and Papa's.

 

Cousin time with these guys is loud and lots of fun. These boys are kind of like a pack of wolves. Wrestling, howling, peeing on all the trees...

 

The baby of the pack is of course still sweet and cuddly. This was the first time everyone meet Max and they were immediately smitten with his calm little spirit too.

 

One of the best parts of your kids getting older is being able to let them go outside without you.

 

 

I mean you still have to check on them occasionally because they could be tying each other up with ropes. See prior mention of pack of wolves.

When their little wolf spirits need the warmth of their den the basement serves as a good playground too!

Have you noticed my kid is whackty whack?!?! Love that kid.

and of course we must feed the pack...Grandma always has good snacks. Mason and Cormic finished off the guacamole. Partly because their hands were all up in it and the adults were not willing to tread in that germ pool:-) That was ok because my Mom let Cade request the dinner being made and the meal we were about to consume was some serious down home yumminess.

 

Fried Chicken, Mashers and gravy, biscuits and corn and homemade yellow cake with hot fudge sauce. Still burning off that meal.

The kids were even in food comatose. At my parents house the counter is the "kid table" many a meal I have sat there. Its a right of passage in a way. Aren't all kid's tables?

 

After we rolled ourselves away from the table we snuggled in for some movie time

and with them calm enough a quick picture of the four of them was successful.

 

Anytime they want to move home to Colorado would be just fine by us!!!

Max's First Christmas

Max we know your First Christmas will not be something you remember but this past Christmas was a relaxing, family filled, snowy kind of Christmas.

Max at 3 months, such a happy little guy.

 

A quick snapshot before Mason's Preschool Christmas recital.

 

Meeting up with the "Big Guy"

                                                  

Homemade ornaments (Mason's Santa Hand and Max's Mistletoe's) for Grandma and Papa. Thank you pinterest.  

Grandma's Christmas goodies.

 

Christmas fluffy bears always keeping an eye out.

Getting suited up for some winter wonderland walks.

 

 Wearing Big brother's handy downs. 

Snuggled up for a Winter's stroll...to burn off Grandma Cathy's goodie tray.

 

 

A White Christmas. 

 

Building and decorating a Mason sized "gingerbread" house 

 

Cousins discussing the gifts they hoped Santa would bring. 

 

Papa cuddling you by the fire.

Big Brothers in their snorkel gear and Spidey Jammies.

Grandparents who spoil their grandson's with fun things to play on

 

And Christmas morning family pictures...were looking a little rough:-)

but for me I will remember the Christmas Eve excitement as we all snuggled in bed waiting for Santa to come while you nursed away oblivious to how much fun next year and all the years to come will be. Merry first Christmas my sweet boy.

Calling all Superheros....4th birthday letter



Dearest Mason,

Its hard to believe my favorite superhero is another year older. I tried to write this sooner but that is one thing this year has brought me, not a whole of time to do those kind of things. The reason for that is the ball of drool and smiles who has stolen all our hearts. I can no longer imagine our lives with out Max but I must tell you that those years when it was just the three of us will always be locked away in a special compartment in my heart.

 

This past year has been full of change and color. From your first Disney trip to welcoming your baby brother you have shown us that you are not a tottering tot anymore. Overnight you went from being my baby to an inquisitive little boy. You are a great traveler and an even better big brother. You are kind to your friends and a little bossy.  You are a rule follower when you are with others and a limit pusher when you are with us. You love numbers, letters, and science. You love to climb. You are a story teller, sometime going on for an hour about all the adventures you had when you were "a kid" You love card games and puzzles and are even learning how to loose with grace. You are a negotiator and argumentative at times. You love to giggle.

 

You are obsessed with superheros.

We tried to keep your 4th birthday simple, just family.

BUT you my dear, are very opinionated.

You spent a lot of time looking at pictures to find this specific birthday cake that was to be strawberry cake with blue frosting.

It was to include all your favorite Avengers with the exception of Batman (he's on the Justice league) and he was to be included because really Batman should be an Avenger. Which leads me to the simple topic of superheros, I have learned more about superheros than I ever thought possible.  I also have to thank you for deciding I can be Cat woman even though I wouldn't wear the costume for Halloween. That was in my wild college days which maybe when your thirty I will tell you about.

The days of firetrucks and garbage trucks seemed to have vanished before our eyes, replacing your toys and pictures with superheros and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I know this too will be a phase but as your mom its a bittersweet adventure.

Your personality intrigues me.

You are very particular and have a routine for most things. You seldom stop moving or asking questions. You are a real life energizer bunny and some days you exhaust me.

The best part of this birthday was the visitor you and I wrote a special invitation to back in October....

The Incredible Spiderman took time out of his busy crime fighting schedule to stop by your birthday!

 Your reaction was priceless.You instantly assumed your Spidey position ready for a web duel while trying to decide if Peter Parker would revel himself or if you would be webbed.

I think you were relieved to find out it was really your Uncle Nick. He holds a very dear spot in your heart and between you and me I think he really enjoys wearing that costume .

The past six months we have spent a lot time arguing about which clothes you will wear.

You would wear this spiderman costume everyday if we would let you. Its kind of funny because when you are being difficult we "ground" you from superhero. Works like a charm.

Grandma and Papa decided another costume was needed, that's their prerogative now that they are grandparents. I guess one part of it is getting back at me from my childhood and the other is there pure love for spoiling you. Either way we will get to do the same for you someday:-)

I know a lot of my time has been occupied by your baby brother and I want to thank you for being so awesome about that. We love being a family and we know you love Max and he adores you. These past months have been tiring and some of the best of our life.

The ten minutes you and I have alone every night before you drift off to dreamland are a little slice of heaven. We sing "our" songs (that we sometimes add superheros or our green dragons in to), we give thanks for things in our day, and we say our little prayers. You say or ask about serious or funny things...these moments will be with me always.

Happy 4th Birthday kiddo. 

 

Love Always,

Your Momma

 

Is it really December?

Its hard to believe Max is 12 weeks today! He is smiling and cooing and SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT!!! Holy batman its awesome even if he reverts back to waking at 6 months because he is teething or going through a growth spurt. Santa came early for this mama and I get to be one of those god awful mom's who brags about how easy her baby is...trust me I now the other end of the spectrum too!

he truly is the sweetest little guy!

In the past few months we have been a little busy, not sure why!?!? Good thing I have some photos to remind me what we did because I have a horrific case of Mom brain!

 We carved pumpkins

attended the Halloween parade at school and trick or treated

We celebrated my 33rd birthday with family (my cousin Kate and David were visiting so it was extra special) and I didn't take any photos!

We went to a Broncos game without the kids and my boobs almost exploded!

We practiced our ninja moves

attempted a family photo

but a pouty four year old refused (we wouldn't let him wear superhero)

so he ran away! I offered to pack a bag for him but he told me "NO and that he didn't need a shirt where he was going!" We wished him good luck and told him we loved him!

the dogs waited

and we took some weird pics of a baby and a turkey!

and than low and behold our sweet Mason returned, cold and hungry, and just in time for a turkey feast with his shirt on! Power of the wills....I win!

a quick family photo

 his very own turkey leg and a "may I please be excused"

turned him back into our very own crime fighter

All the while Max did this

and than he did this

and I did this

hoping that a superhero birthday bash the following weekend would give Mason enough of a fix he would cold Turkey quit superheros! More to come on that by 2013!