HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLEY MONSTER!

I cannot believe my "baby" is 2 years old today. He's such a blessing and such a joy in our lives. He can be a little pistol at times, but can change instantly to an angel with just a simple smile. Today our big guy weighed in at 28.5 pounds (55%) and 34 inches tall (35%) and still reigns in the big head dept. at 71%. We got the wonderful news that his ears are PERFECT. We wanted to dance a little jig when we heard that, but we know that could be totally different tomorrow. So we pray that he makes it ear infection/rupture free for the rest of the fall and winter seasons. Last year at 1.

On this day TWO years ago.

So here's to another wonderful year. May you be blessed with all His goodness and glory. We love you, Mommy, Daddy, and Parker

A bit of randomness from the last week.

Cole snuggled up with Parker ready for bed. It didn't last once I walked out of the room. P fell asleep right away. And Cole well he escaped...the reason he is still in a crib. Our track we built in the living room while watching a Thoms movie. My boys, well Parker, has to play with the toys that go with whatever movie he's watching.

Our campfire we had in the backyard Saturday night. It was a chilly night and perfect for a fire and roasting marshmallows. We also burned quite a bit of our pile of twigs too. Not bad.

Trunk or treating with the Moms Club Saturday. Parker has no manners whatsoever and proceeded to throw a fit at every car when someone would give him candy. I don't like candy. Put it back. Took everything I had not to PUT HIM BACK. Geesh. I kept explaining that he

didn't have to eat it and that he could give it to Coley to eat. That was NOT working. Thank goodness some gave out the bags of pretzels. I think at one stop he even grabbed a couple extra bags. Probably the only kid that did. I would rather have a Snickers than a bag of pretzels. lol Of course P isn't this picture because he refused to have his picture taken and was probably in the middle of a fit.

Look what P did today?

So my big little guy has been really interested in writing and reading since school started. I'm not exactly what his teacher does different than we do, but he is interested now. I think maybe it's we don't force him, but at school he HAS to do them. No choice. So earlier he wrote Mom and Dad on his white board and I asked him if he would write it on a piece of paper...for me to scrapbook of course. :) He did this with NO help whatsoever. All on his own. We didn't even have to write them down for him to look at. He just did it. Yay....he's getting so big.

Silly Boys!

Another costume...this is Cole's that Gramma Patty sent yesterday but it fits Parker. Hmm! I see alterations in my near future. Always a poser. Tonight I made pancakes for dinner. I get the boys' already and set them down. Without skipping a beat Parker says, "Mom we gotta say prayers!" So I go sit down with them and fold my hands. I normally say the prayer, but tonight Parker said he wanted to. This is how it went and it just melts my heart.
Father, thank you for all the good things to eat, thank you for my doggie, and thank you for Coley. Amen.
This is the first prayer he's actually said on his own and I didn't even help him one single bit. It was AWESOME and just makes me tear up thinking about it.

Another funny from tonight. I was reading or trying to read Cole his bedtime stories. Well Parker always sits with us too. Those two have been something else tonight together. I start reading and Cole starts mumbling as well. So I stop. He stops. I start and he starts. I finally caught on that he was "reading" the book with me. Parker and I laughed and laughed for the longest time as he kept "reading." He loves to be funny and he was most definitely getting the
laughs he wanted from us.

Our "hike" today for leaves!

This morning Parker wanted to do something "fun." So I came up with the idea of heading to Rotary Park to hike on the trails in search of leaves. Leaves for what you ask? Well for animal art of course. The boys loved the hike and our search for the best leaves to collect. We even had time for some creek stompin and rock throwing.
My poser. He turned around and bent down after I told Parker to turn around and look at me.

Looking for a walking stick like his brother's of course.
Parker announced we were taking a rest here.

Afraid the water was deep enough to go in his boots.

We had fun on our hike today, but we didn't get a chance to do our animal pictures yet. Maybe tomorrow. We have a lot of leaves to choose from thanks to our handy dandy leaf pickers.

Coley is not tolerating this new antibiotic-Augmentin. This morning he threw up twice from it and then had diarrhea this afternoon several times. It hurt/burned so bad that he would walk to me in a straddle postition after he went. He hiney is RED. I'll be calling the doctor in the

morning. All that after only 3 doses. I didn't give him a second dose today. Poor thing.

Pumpkin Patch

So yesterday amidst all the moodiness between our boys we managed to make it to the pumpkin patch. Parker looks like a tourist that just flew in from Cali (that lost his tan on the way). He INSISTED on wearing shorts during this brisk day. And the bag, it's his camera...he also INSISTED on wearing it so he could take pictures. And this would be the perfect child, wearing the perfect clothes for pumpkin picking, choosing the perfect pumpkin, looking at his Mommy with a PERFECT smile to record this glorious brisk fall day. This is the "perfect" look he gave me. To me it totally screams I am 4 and willing to do whatever it takes to ruffle my parents feathers...and maybe get few laughs too. Love him. A better touristy shot. I talked him out of the green pumpkin. ;)
And sweet Coley holding his pumpkin...that we didn't get. He held onto this pumpkin forever and then all of a sudden put it down to search and keep on searching for another one. We think
he grabbed it because it was the perfect size of a football. If you know Coley at all he LOVES balls.
He was so giddy and just dancing around all the pumpkins saying, "punkin, punkin" over and over again. Notice his shirt it says "Little Monster" which is totally fitting for him.

Before we headed to the patch we had to make an unexpected visit to see the doc again. Coley's ears are no better. He's on another round of antibiotics. This time I asked for chewables so I could crush them and put them in yogurt, applesauce, or oatmeal. Well this morning it worked in yogurt, but this afternoon it somewhat worked in applesauce...he only ate half of the applesauce. He is strong willed just like his older brother. Next time, I may just have to ask for the shot. Even if we do have to pay for it out of pocket.

This evening we went to our church bonfire/hayride. We had a good time and the boys loved the inflatables. The best part was I have someone that may be able to bring a pony to Coley's party on the 1st. So excited about that.

God is good! Yay God!

A glimpse of our visit at Disney!

Parker was all SMILES as you can see to see Lightening McQueen. At Typhoon Lagoon...the weather was good just long enought to get our fill of the water park.
P's favorite at the water park.
Coley doesn't look like he liked it here, but he really did.

He wanted to swim in the lake so bad. Yuck and thankfully there was no swimming allowed.

Our COZY cabin at Fort Wilderness.

Lol, parents night out. I actually rode the roller coasters at Magic Kingdom. Not bad and TONS of fun. This was probaly taken about midnight, hence, the curly hair and sweated off make-up.
On the safari at Animal Kingdom. So cool.

Minnie before she gave P a kiss.

Lol, Coley didn't have a clue Mickey was behind us. If he did he would have jumped across the table to Daddy who took this picture.
The Goof troop...looking so HAPPY to be at Disney World.
Us. A favorite for sure.

My favorite photo...love some Buzz Lightyear!
Notice our bright colors...this was Friday our "Just Be" filming day for the show.
Grammy and Papa got the kids hats...love it and so did P.



We had such an enjoyable time. Naps were missed, way too much food was eaten, humidity is NOT good for my hair, and lots of bus rides and boat trips were taken. And for those that didn't know we were filmed for a segment on the Rachael Ray Show called Hey, Can You Cook? It'll air on Monday, November 3. It was a TON of fun. I'll post another reminder as it gets closer.

Disney here we come!

So I've been crazy busy lately! We are headed to Disney and between packing and shopping for clothes to wear for filming, and finishing up some photography orders I've been drowning. Yikes! I think I finally got my head out of the water tonight. It's midnight right now and I'm up, but finished with all my orders, yay! That's exciting. Doing something I love and making a little extra cash flow is even more exciting. Woohoo! I'm saving for a new camera. :) Thank goodness for school tomorrow. I have about 7 things I have to do on my way back home to pack after I drop them off. Yikes. I'm gonna forget something I know it. Oh well, we'll pass about 100 Walmarts I'm sure as we head to FL. Not sure where to go from here, but we'll see ya when we get back. Chow. :)

Little C man

I had the pleasure of photographing this little handsome guy this morning. He's turning one in about a week. He was so funny and thoroughly enjoyed his first cake.