Parks and Bikes

Lots of outside time this weekend- it was perfect out!

When not eating chalk- he scribbles..

He was on his bike ALL WEEKEND

Took the bike to the park and he rode around on the path

Yes- I've been eating dirt. 

No fear- he just goes.

 

The Birthday Weekend Extravaganza - More pics

WHAT?! Chuggington! 

Birthday pancakes

With the expansion from Carol and Ed added! Quite the set!

Playing so nicely

That face...he's eating  pancake on the couch.
I would never have let Justin do this. I still wouldn't.
I'm not sure why I let him do these things..

Fun at the park

Picnic - once that bike helmet is on it stays on for awhile..

Grilling dinner

Birthday Party

We went to Chuck E. Cheese for Justin's 4th Birthday. As much as we loving having people to the house - I thought it might be easier to go somewhere. Though the kids had fun - I probably would have enjoyed a party at the house where I could hang out with the parents a bit more..and let's get real..the party isn't all about the kids.. :)

Justin was all over Chuck the mouse. It surprised me since he still won't sit on Santa's lap.

These are co-workers - one works with me and one with Dave.
They are BFF's and recent college grads.
They came to chase Kyle around. It was awesome. 

Sweet Charlotte

Chaos

One of his best friends :) 

He even HUGGED the mouse..

Happy 4th Birthday Buddy

Happy 4th birthday to my sweet, sweet Justin!

Justin you continue to make us laugh daily. It's often not on purpose but when you realize we think it's funny you get this big grin on your face and then you want to say whatever it is that made us laugh over and over in hopes of getting us to laugh again. You do enjoy entertaining us.

You still get SO excited about tractors, trucks, trains etc. I will be really sad if this phase ever ends. Whenever you aren't in the car with me and I see some cool construction equipment- I'm sad you aren't there to see it! I love it when somebody asks you about a tractor and you inform them that it's the 4020 or the 4440 or the Old A. And god forbid somebody call a piece of construction equipment by the wrong name.

You are awesome with your directions. You know where you are and you pay attention to your surroundings. If we went on a road once, six months ago, you remember it when we go on it again and remind me of why we took it the last time. After you go on a field trip for school - you'll point out the roads you took when we drive by them.

You are a good big brother. Yes, you get frustrated with little brother sometimes, but for the most part you just want to love on him. You share your cookies, you want to give him a hug and a kiss before bed or when he wakes up in the morning. You love chasing each other around the house and it's been such a joy to watch the both of you together this past year. You especially love making Kyle laugh. Once you realize he thinks something funny you do it a MILLION times over.

You are a lover and not a fighter. This is something I cherish about you. It's been hard to balance that with teaching you to stand up for yourself; but I think you've managed to figure it out thus far. I think, just like your mommy, you'll have a younger sibling ready to step up to the plate for you when needed. Just give him another year.

When I was pregnant with you, I met a lady at a wedding who had two little boys. She was SO excited for me. She told me how wonderful little boys were. How they have such a special bond with their mother and she also told me how she loved the smell of her boys. I know it sounds crazy- but you do have this wonderful little boy smell. It's something like sweat, candy, sunshine and dirt. At some point after you moved to the big boy bed, I tucked you in and all of a sudden I noticed it. I hadn't thought twice about her comment at that wedding until that moment. Now I sniff you all the time when I put you to bed - that's not weird, right?

Some of your favorite things right now:

• Tractors, trucks, trains, construction equipment 
• Riding your bike
• Dance parties - right now you ask me for the Jill song (Cowboy Mouth). Other favorites are Firetruck, Deep in the Heart of Texas, Jenny Says
• Favorite shows - Chuggington, Sheriff Callie's Wild West Adventures, Tractor videos on the ipad, Planes, Toy Story, Bob the Builder, Doc McStuffins
• Going to the store
• Food: Chicken Nuggets, Pizza, Ice Cream, Mac and Cheese
• Reading books 

Favorite sayings:

• "Oh, David"  - you do this whenever you would think a person would say "Oh, man" or "dang-it" - if you drop something or knock something over you say "Oh, David".  We have no idea where this came from- which makes it more amusing. 
• Oopsie Spaghettios
• You know that?
• About it (I have no idea..but you say it a lot - and emphatically)

Happy birthday sweet boy. We love you!

3rd, 2nd, 1st birthday posts!

Happy Valentine's Day

Justin- be glad your 4th birthday post is pretty much written and I already said nice things. You took a huge shit all over the bathroom tonight and I may hold a grudge for awhile. That's right. All over the bathroom. I am pretty sure I will remind you of this when you give your first girlfriend a Valentine. I will tell the story of the most awesome valentine you ever gave your mother. Seriously. I won't forget this one.

Kyle's First Haircut!

We took Kyle for his first haircut today. His party in the back was getting to be a bit much. He was great- barely flinched through the whole thing.

Oh how different my boys are..We didn't even bother to take any video of Kyle cause it was so easy..

Before -working on his mullet

Justin copes through haircuts by eating dum-dums - one in each hand. 

After!

Kyle - 15 months!

Kyle had his 15 month appointment this week - along with a pulmonologist check-up. He's finally on track in the weight category and generally all is well - other than the ear infection and teeth still working their way in.

Stats:
Weight: 20lbs 6oz (15%)
Height: 30 3/4 (20%)
Head: 18 1/4 (27%)

He's still a mad-man - entertaining him in the doctor's office while we waited two mornings in a row was a chore!

He's starting to use more words - and is working on animal sounds. Looking forward to hearing him chattering even more in the next few months!

Justin at 15 months: