Halloween 2011

Ok, I'm back dating this in hopes it shows up at the right time. I'm finally catching up on some blogging and posting pics of this is a must! Will was a train conductor for Halloween! What else would he be, right? He hates wearing weird things and I knew he wouldn't wear a traditional costume. This has to be the least costumey costume, right? Well, he still didn't want to wear it! Ha! Finally got it on him and out the door to our annual neighborhood block party. Very fun! I didn't charge my battery and it died shortly after this, so I have very few pics! :( Super sad! Bad mommy! But I got this one - it is the best I got of the full outfit. Here we are with our neighborhood friends that we love! Ms. Paula and Bryce!
Before the trick or treating the kids all played and Will zeroed in on a ball and held on tight - surprising, right? :)

The actual trick or treating itself - was a blast! I wish I had video of it. Will was so well behaved the whole time and was so sweet! His sweet little voice when he would say trick or treat and thank you was so cute! I loved every minute of it! We just went back down our street home from the party, but it was such a fun memory. Sweet boy loved it!

Fall Fun!

As I’ve said before – I love fall! There’s so much to love about it. I’m working less, the smells, football, the weather, AND fall festivities! Saturday we had a fun day. We started off at a classmate’s birthday party (where Will rocked the massive blow up slide & bounce house). Then we went to a fall festival at the school Will will attend one day and then a hockey game! Here is a cute pic of my cute little man! He is in the petting zoo section. He was all about petting the animals. Dylan went, too! Miles and Mimi had fun checking everything out This is a cute series of pics of Dylan. He is super pumped about getting into this blow-up ball thingy. He was so cute! I believe he had fun! Man do I love these boys!!! So much to be thankful for! Will’s friend, Bryce, joined us at the hockey game. The boys were all so well behaved at the game! I couldn’t believe it. They loved it! How cute are they? They would cheer and clap and were way into it! This is a random picture, but several suites down from us were some of the Rangers! C.J. is bending down signing stuff that the people below were throwing him. Napoli is the guy in the white hat/grey sweatshirt. Holland was in there, too, but he isn’t visible in the pic. Kind of cool! We still love you Rangers! Even though our hearts were broken. :( Fun, fun weekend! Lots of fun to be had tomorrow night at our neighborhood party and then trick or treating!!

Recent Happenings

I’ve been really bad lately at blogging and taking pictures. I need to step it up. For now, here are a few random pics. Kevin and I went to an event recently that allowed us to wear our boots. It was quite fun! Here’s a cute pic of this crazy little fellow! He is a hoot and a half! I believe here is his hiding in the hall then popping out saying Boo! And we have to pretend he scared us or he gets very frustrated. But if we act scared, he thinks it is the funniest thing he’s ever seen! Little tooter! He’s very up and down these days. He’s either the cutest, sweetest, most loving little boy you’ve ever met – or he’s throwing the most impressive melt-down you’ve ever seen. And you want to run for the hills. He’s intense at times. And that is challenging. But – he’s passionate. Like his father. :) His teacher says he’s “strong-willed.” She said this in my response to calling him hard-headed. She said no, no – here we call that strong-willed. Well at least he’s living up to his name! He’s 2. So some of it is just what it is. He’s testing boundaries and while intelligent enough to know what he wants, he’s not mature enough to rationalize why he’s sometimes told no. It is tough being 2. And tough figuring out how to parent a 2 year old. Especially the sharing thing. He’s aggressive when he wants something and dramatic when he doesn’t get it. That can be embarrassing when you’re on a play date! But everything I read says it is normal. Some kids are just more aggressive. I was not. Still am not. So I have a hard time understanding this temperament. I’m a people pleaser and always have been. As I’ve been told by his teachers – he’ll be a leader someday. That part makes me happy. I don’t want him to be a passive softie like me. I don’t want him to be too fearful to try things or do things. So, some of this will serve him well. Though it may cause some grey hairs for his mommy. The scariest part of all of this – every woman I have ever met says that three years are so much more challenging than 2 year olds. Seriously?!?I do love this boy to the moon and back! Here he is playing with daddy. They are too fun together. He’s so fun right now (when not melting down). And he his now counting up to 15. I seriously think the absolutely sweetest part of being a mom is driving in the car and hearing him sing his little 2 year old heart out. This kid loves to sing. And thankfully, it seems he got his music talent from Kevin’s side of the family. This girl can’t sing. He can and it is sweet, sweet music. He also LOVES a good dance party! He frequently asks us to put the music on because he needs to dance! So we bust out the toddler tunes – and dance away. He’s got some impressive moves, too! He got a ton of books for his birthday thanks to his cousin Zach. We got a new bookshelf to hold them all and he loves picking out books. He now sometimes likes to “read” them himself. I love that. (Not sure where his pants are – but who needs pants anyway, right?)

Fall = Football!

In this house when fall rolls around that means lots of football watching! And luckily right now – also baseball watching! Here are some fun pics of one of the first FSU game days. I gotta get this kid some more Red Raider attire!! We are the ones that beat OU!! :)

Grandparents Day

Today was Grandparent’s Day at Will’s school! Can I tell you how much I love Will’s school? Love it! They put on a little program for everyone and had snacks in their room afterwards. Will, of course invited all his grandparents! He is one special boy because he was well represented at grandparents day! The kids did several songs. Here is Will’s group of the 2’s. His class is on the very bottom row and you can see him 4th from the left. How did he do? Welll…he started off okay. See below. Then he spotted his family! First he started crying…G.J. and then the whole rest of the songs he cried….Daddy!! Oh geez. It was sad. It was sort of cute, too. I mean he’s barely 2 and to expect that he would march up in front of a room full of people and sing is probably a little much to ask. But he did stay put. He did not leave his spot (like one of the other girls did!). So – all in all – it wasn’t so bad. It could have been worse! And at least he wasn’t the only one crying! Here are all of Will’s peeps! His fan club! I am so thankful to Mimi, Ally, G.J., and Neille for taking the time to come to Will’s program. It meant the world to Kevin and me. And someday it will mean the world to Will. He is loved. I have no doubt and it makes me so happy to know that. He doesn’t understand it, but I do. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being such awesome grandparents! Checking out his room and having some post performance snacks. Spoiled much?

Below are the grandmas supporting their little guy! What a fun experience! It makes me so happy to be a mom. Even though it is extremely trying (more on that in a separate post) it is incredibly rewarding. I am so proud of Will. He’s such a smart boy and is just learning so much. Though he didn’t sing them on stage, he can sing every word to so many songs! He can sing his abc’s, itsy bitsy spider, muffin man, baa baa black sheep, etc.,etc.! He knows so many! He can count to 12 on his own. He knows who is a girl and who is a boy. He knows his colors. He knows his last name. He knows about money and where to find it (in mommy’s wallet!). He’s just been thriving. Yes, I’m one proud momma!

Happy Birthday Mom/Mimi!

Happy Birthday mom! Thank you for being such a good mom and Mimi! We have loved having you in Dallas! I hope you had a wonderful day and know how much we love you! Hoping this year is extra special!

P.S. This pic was taken about 5 min before sweet Dylan got sick.

:( Aaaaand...Mimi stepped in and did her awesome mom/Mimi duty. She's soooo much better at it than I am. Here's hoping the crazy stomach bug died along with the insane amounts of lysol I sprayed! It hit the rest of the family...are we lucky enough to escape it? We shall see!

We love you Mom!!!