8 years of glory

8 years ago Nate and I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into...

I'd do it all over again in an instant.

Happy anniversary! I love you, Natey!

McGoo Craft Corner

The boys and I expressed our inner craftiness tonight by making a turkey roll holder.

(Max wanted to make placemats like he did in school but given that I don't have a laminator here at the house I went online and found something else we could make.)

Everyone lent a helpful (or in Jack's case, not-at-all-helpful) hand.

Grandma has no idea what is about to land on her table amongst the fine china. I hope it fits.

Max's Field Journal

Max volunteered to take pictures early on. Here is the safari from his perspective.

Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari

The actual day of Max's birthday we celebrated by going to the Safari in Gentry with some friends and family. It was the first time through for many of the people with us which added some extra fun.

Drew kept going back and forth from window to window throwing out whole pieces of bread. He was not afraid of the big, slobbery animals.

Benjamin was mesmerized the entire time.

On the look out. (That black trash bag is full of loaves of bread)

Jack got to sit up front and center with Leah.

David, up close and personal with his new buffalo friend.

It doesn't get much better than throwing stale bread to wild animals from the open windows of the redneck limosine.

Six

A week ago today Max turned 6 years old.

(I'm just a little behind in the blogging world but I'm even further behind in the scrapbook world; there he is only 6 weeks old).

Soldier Celebration

Max turned 6 years old so we decided to send him to boot camp.

We turned our backyard into Fort McGooden. The kids checked in when they arrived and received their gear when they were ready to join the Army. Then they searched for soldiers MIA, threw paratroopers onto the landing pad, ran an obstacle course, threw grenades at (plastic) soldiers then finished off their training by bombing the general.

Meet the general.

Soldiers waiting patiently for basic training.

The tank cake. Nate wanted it to be a grenade that would explode blowing out little army men but we "settled" for a camo tank. Thank you, Kathy! You are amazing!

Military family and friends.

I don't know where Max learned this army move but he insisted it was one.

Happy Birthday, Max-o!

Cousins

Bekah and Ava came to visit Friday since they couldn't come to Max's party. Grant asked when Ava was going to come live with us. We love that baby!

Of course, everyone had to hold her.

This was the best cousin picture we got. Pathetic, I know.

Bekah and Ava, come back soon!
(I think we wore the poor little thing out.)

El Guapo

Nate finally posted some pictures of his costume. Brace yourselves.

Trick-or-Treat

I hate to say it, but I am so glad Halloween is over. Holidays were a lot more fun as a kid. I had no idea how much work a little, meaningless holiday could be. When I was little, we just told my mom what we wanted to be, went about our business of playing with barbies and My Little Ponies and presto, on Halloween night all 4 of us were in our homemade costumes and on the way to the school carnival and trick-or-treating. (disclaimer: we did have the standard black cat and ballerina which all of us wore. Maybe not Adam but as the 4th child who knows.) Now, as an aged, old mother I know the searching, sweat and perhaps cursing involved with making it all come about. And I sure don't even attempt to make my own. Mom, I'm sorry I didn't appreciate your "magic"!

Now, let me step down from my soap box and show you my dear little ones...

After running by CG for pizza and communion where Grant punched a kid in the face, we made our way to the Kelleys for trick-or-treating. Spiderman Max, Duckling Benjamin, Drew Bear, JACK-o-lantern and Cowpoke Parker were in jovial spirits. Grant was in true form as the snake (aka. slithering serpent) that night. It's tough to be stuck in the middle... at least that's what I'm telling myself about his personality/ attitude struggles at the moment.

It really doesn't get much cuter than one-year-olds walking around in their costumes. Jack's caused him a little trouble when he ran. I guess he's not used to carring so much baggage around the middle.

I think Halloween is great for little kids. I am a little nervous about having bigger boys and what they are going to want to be.... so for now, we'll enjoy our little pumpkins, ducks and superheroes.

We're all glad the snake made it through the night. He felt better after slithering through the grass on his belly.

Nate made me promise not to post pictures of him in his costume so you'll have to go to his blog and see it. He hasn't posted yet but I'll add the link when he does. I'd say it's a once in a lifetime treat to experience but he and the boys are already planning their costumes for next year so I may have to be finding costumes for ALL my boys for years to come.

Character Parade

Lee Elementary has a character parade each Halloween in lieu of "real" costumes. Max decided (thanks to his Memaw's creativity and ability to find a cool costume) to be Peter from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

I went up to the school for the festivities. I have to say that I didn't realize there were so many books about Spiderman, Ninjas, random princesses and Power Rangers.

Max's classmate Clayton was Peter, too. They were a cute... I mean, tough duo.

Never Long Enough

Nana came last Wednesday night and left Monday morning. Despite the expressions in the picture, the boys really love having her here. We shopped and ate and unfortunately, watched the entire world series while she was here. Thanks for coming, Nana!