Happy 2nd Birthday, Ava!

He looks so serious, but I think that's just because juice is involved.
Brady wants a cupcake, that's why his mom is restraining him!

Sam plays in the remnants of birthday cake.

Ava blows out her TWO candles!

It's so hard to believe Ava is two! She was born just two weeks before we moved into the house next door. She's not just the neighbor girl, she's like the daughter we get to enjoy and then tell to go home;) One of my favorite things about Ava is how lovey she is; she's always looking to cuddle. She also calls Sam "Ham," which is what Jack called Sam as a newborn. Recently, it has turned into "Hammy," which I think is adorable. Love you, Ava!

Artwork for Dad

Somebody had some fun here!

Our mural for Dad.

Color choice is crucial.

Creating a masterpiece is messy!

Look! At what I have created!

One morning, the boys and I decided we weren't going anywhere! We turned down offers to go out with friends, and we turned off the phone for a fun, crafty morning with no agenda--except to get our creative juices flowing. We colored, stamped, played with play-doh, painted, and had an absolute blast! Here are some photos from our morning of creative fun.

Neighborhood Soccer

The boys are having a great time in the neighborhood soccer program started by some innovative and motivated parents (innovative for coming up with such a cool idea, and motivated to not pay the $100+ price of area soccer programs for pre-schoolers). They practice every Saturday morning, and they're getting really good!

Sam takes a break...thanks, Dad, for the steady hand.

Jack and Katherine hike through the gate, over the bridge, up the hill to the practice field.

Run, Jack, run!

Ouch!

Those are stitches (2) in Jack's upper lip! We had been having one of those mornings, you know, the kind that makes you think that you're losing your child--he's finally gone over to the dark side. I'm joking of course, but we did experience a monumental battle on this particular Wednesday morning: Rick and I (and warm-weather clothing) vs. a 3-year-old fashion-conscious warrior who was "warm in my pajamas." So, we ganged up on him and...sent him to time-out in his room. When Rick opened Jack's door to fish him out of lock-up, he did not know--how could he?--Jack was waiting for him, standing within inches of the door on the other side. Jack's lip stopped the door, and when I heard the crying, I just thought it was phase II of the battle. Instead of heading to school that morning, Jack went to urgent care for stitches...wearing his clothes (not the way we prefer to win a battle, but we'll take one in the win column any way we can get it).

Halloween 2009

Soon after Sam's firefighter costume arrived at our house (courtesy of my neighbor and her generous "hand-me-down" spirit), Jack had a burning desire to be a firefighter, too. We quickly swapped out the Dale Jr. racecar driver uniform he had been planning to wear with his dress-up firefighter coat and hat. A quick trip to Old Navy yielded (amazingly enough) matching bright red sweatpants. No sweat, we had ourselves two firefighters...oh, except for the sweat. Did I mention it was 80 degrees and rainy/misty/humid on Halloween evening? And my boys were dressed in head-to-toe fleece? Miserable!

We did, however, have a lot of fun at our church's Fall Festival. The kids played games, bounced, took a hayride, and trunk-or-treated.

Rick took the boys for some neighborhood treat-seeking, before we put them to bed for the night. Then we had our 2nd annual cul-de-sac Halloween bonfire and chili dinner--minus the bonfire (that rain was a real bummer). All in all, it was a Halloween to remember.

Jack and Sam stop at a trunk for a treat.

Sam was really excited about this hayride...until he realized it was taking him away:(

The firefighter, Cinderella, and the postman lived it up as only princesses and civil servants can!

The official Halloween 2009 photo with original costuming (sigh).

Happy Birthday, Nanee!

Photo courtesy: Jack Wilcox

Happy Birthday, Nanee! Wish we could've celebrated with you!
Love, Jack & Sam

Choosing the Perfect Pumpkin

Night at the Pumpkin Farm

This is our second year going to a local pumpkin farm with our friends and neighbors. They added a child-sized haybale maze, which the kids loved. The experience includes a tractor-pulled wagon ride to a petting farm on the property. There's so much to do, we'll be back again next year!

Sam wanted to swim in the pumpkins!

That's a big tractor, farmer Jack!

Really, there was a maze, a petting farm, and lots more to do--they just really liked the tractors!

The family photo after dusk, sans flash:(


Local Pumpkin Shopping

This is the local pumpkin lot just around the corner. The boys each chose their very own pumpkin. Jack's was painted with the John Deere symbol. Sam's was one of those miniature pumpkins. Rick's were the two largest pumpkins on the lot...boys will be boys:)

Sam contemplates the age old question: Is bigger really better?

Jack's on a mission to find the perfect gourd.