The piece of the Birthday pics

These are all in random order but.... still enjoyable.

Clapping about blowing out the candles.

Blowing out the candles! Singing Happy Birthday..... to himself!!! Finally realized about halfway through that we were singing to him. Then he thought it was hilarious! Grandma and Grandpa got Isaac a "bike." He was so excited! (Now maybe we can leave daycare without a massive meltdown) Malachi wanted his mom to know how cool this bike is.... "Hey Mom - I want one too....with the HORN!!!"

Malachi and Z got Isaac a cool truck.....

That deserves a hug!

Annie got him a baseball set (and some golf clubs....weapons or toys???)

That deserves a kiss!!!

Funny Story on that last picture.

Isaac was totally engrossed in opening presents. He opened the ball set from Annie, said thanks and moved on. At one point though, I had told him that he should give her a kiss and hug. So in the middle of the next present, it registered. So he got up, looked around and said "oh Annie, a hug and kiss." Then he ran over to her and gave her the cutest lovin' ever!

Shape book from brothers

Waiting for the balloons to come back up

Playing with Balloons on the stairs.

Z with her party hat

Birthday boy and his buddy Malachi

Aunt Annie and the Birthday boy who refused to smile!

Thanks again for all the help Mom and Annie! I couldn't have done it without you!!!

The Birthday Cake

Hand-made with love by 3 generations

(the frosting recipe is from Great Grandma Marilyn and a tradition that has been going on for quite some time - Grandma used to make my birthday cake each year with this special whipped frosting. Now - my mom, Isaac's grandma Carol, made it for the construction cake this year.)

Didn't it turn out cute?

For my first cake EVER... I thought so!

Thanks Aunt Annie and Grandma Carol for the help!

AGE 2

So... first things first.... I took my camera with me so I could snap a few pics of Isaac at daycare today. I then took it out of my car so that it would not be reason for anyone to break into my car.... and I left the camera tucked in my cubby at work. GRRRR!!! so the pictures will have to wait but I can do the other updates now and add pictures later. Here goes nothing.... I am sure I will forget something but at least it is a start to describing our 2 year old.

* Spells his name (to the tune of B-i-n-g-o song)

* Says his ABC's ( with a jumble at the LMNOP section)

* Counts to 20 (skipping a few of the teens.... I think it is 14, 15, 16)

* Talks non-stop with about 80% of it being intelligible

* Speaks in 3-5 word sentences

* Labels colors - Red and Blue consistently

* Labels so many items in his environment I can't even begin to list them.

* Describes everything on the way to "school" each day - "Oh wook (look), I see a 'cool (school) bus" "Momma, I see a gog (dog)" "A hairpain (airplane)" "A dumptuck (truck)"

* Loves shapes - labels triangle, circle and star consistently

* Is getting his 2 year molars (Blech!)

* Sleeps 8 p.m. - 7 a.m. most days

* Takes one 2 - 3 hour nap each day (12:30 - 3ish)

* Eats pretty well.... especially fruit! (Mom has gotten pretty good at sneaking in the veggies though!)

* Knows people in his everyday environment by name (Mom, Dad, Brothers, Grandparents, Aunt/Uncle, Friends (Brayden & Brayden, Shannon, Jackie, Eddie, Egon, Claire... and his BFF Malachi & Z)

* Is all boy! Top of his head to the tips of his toes!

* Sings songs... Itsy Bitsy Spider, This Little light of mine, You are my sunshine, Make me a servant, Twinkle Twinkle, Jesus loves me, ABC's, Beehive song, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and right now is singing Bob the Builder (Thanks for the card Grandma and Grandpa!)

* Loves Books!

* Is still just the sweetest munchkin ever! (ya know... 'cept for those precious 2 year old moments spent tantruming on the floor!)

Dear Isaac - You are just the sweetest little boy. We are so loving raising you. Thanks for bringing joy to our life and letting us share your life with you. I love rocking you and reading to you before bed. Our bedtime routine is to read 3 books, say prayers and sing some songs. It is the best time of day. You sing along with me and snuggle in close. You give the sweetest little kisses and the nicest hugs. Daddy and I can't believe how big you are and how fast you are growing up.

We love you!

love Mommy and Daddy

Turning...

Tomorrow....

He's....

Turning 2!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

***

I will post more birthday pictures and 2 year updates tomorrow.

***

Go Away Snow....

And Bring Back Spring!

We HAD been enjoying the spring weather, until we woke up today with snow on the ground again.

Here's a few pics from our taste of Spring.

A boy after my own heart! Golfling already... at the ripe age of 23 months.
Love how he took a racket and used it as a golf club.

Getting a few pointers from dad and some encouragement.

Teaching him the ropes.

We had a few great nights of memory making. I love that we all spent time together outside. These are the times we (& the kids) will remember in the coming years. It's especially nice when I remember that the big boys are exactly that...Big! Chris is almost done with 7th grade. He only has one more year before High School. Crazy! I cannot believe that he was only 6 when I met Chad and now he is on the downhill slope to 14!

While Isaac played golf with daddy and Shawn ran around the neighborhood with his friends, Chris and I got a rousing game of catch going. Funny how toys become cool again each year when they resurface!

This was my best effort at snapping an action shot. If I wasn't careful, he'd hit me in the head with the wiffle ball. (oh wait... He did!)

Then Chris and Isaac played some catch.

I cannot say enough about what a great big brother this young man has turned out to be. These boys all love each other so much!

Mini Me - Tagging along when the boys were working/playing with RC cars. Checking it out with Dad and heading back to safety when brothers were ready to run.

Finally a shot of Shawn!

The tides have totally turned in our house which explains why this middle son is the hardest to snap a shot of. He is always outside playing or running off to a friend's house. Our little homebody is rarely hanging in the house much these days. So glad that he has had a few friendships blossom beyond the neighborhood.


A blast from the past... This picture was taken last year and I just came across it. It made me laugh so I thought I'd include it. (taken in August 2010)

Isaac taking his turn at the RC car driving.

A trip to the park to enjoy the weather.

Here's to wishing Spring would come back soon! Word has it that it won't be tonight!

A visit from Grandparents

Last weekend Grandma and Grandpa came for a long(er) visit. They got here early so that we could see Chris play in the Jazz Band Festival. Chris had a solo and did a great job!

We spent a lot of quality time just hanging out together. It was so relaxing and enjoyable to not have somewhere to rush to. The only downfall was the decrease in sleep. Daylight savings time kinda stinks!

Isaac loves his shapes puzzle.

(We are thinking his birthday will be a shapes party...I don't really know.... )

Puzzles Puzzles Everywhere

Me and my not so little boy

Dad and his (really not so little) boy

On a side note to this picture, the next one I took was a quick slip into a wrestling match.

Chad wrapped Chris up and the battle was on.

Funny how one picture tells one story and then if you could see the next it would be something totally different!

Grandpa reading Isaac some books.

Lots of time was spent in the kitchen cooking

Chris learned how to make scotcharoos....

More Reading with Grandma and Grandpa

A better picture of the band man...

Far right side with the bari-saxiphone

Yeah.... Just trying to get in the action.
Isaac for some reason felt that they both needed him to hold on to them.

Cheese ball





Look at what Grandma is teaching him.....

Wanna Bite?

I didn't think you did.....

and that's a good thing, cuz I didn't really wanna share