Fossil Rim...

 

 I have wanted to take the boys to Fossil Rim in Glen Rose for quite some time.  A few weeks ago, Mike surprised me by taking us on a "Sunday Fun Day".  Here we are,  family of five.  I think if I could physically manage to hold them all they would prefer that (and so would I - ha).

 

Of course we choose a blistering August Day.  All of us were sweating the ENTIRE Sunday...

 

This is often my view as the boys want to hold hands with mom and dad...

 

Boys, boys, boys - please Jesus more boys...

 

I convinced babies don't get any sweeter, calmer or cuter than Cooper Seth...

 

Everyone ready to see the animals in the car...

 

Graham insisted that this one was a goat...he would say "hey, goat - back up a little bit, please".  So well mannered...

 

We shortly realized that in car seats was not going to be effective for the full feel of the place.  Each boy took turns driving with dad...

 

 

But in reality, they spent most of their time with mama... 

 

Ready to see the giraffes... 

 

All and all it was a great day of family fun.  However, it was hot hot hot and if you have toddlers the whole Fossil Rim experience needs to be an hour to an hour and a half shorter.  At some point the various species of "deer" get old.

 

Lets Hear it for 114 Degrees

 

This face...

Like any responsible mama I took the time to schedule this man a haircut before his 2nd birthday.  This is no easy task, as I have two other little dudes to care for.  I made all the arrangements and prepared my bribes (kels and an iPad) and off the the club we went.  My boys are chic and apparently Mike feels strongly about getting their hair cut with scissors as opposed to shears???  Thankfully, we have an upscale salon at the club (health club not unce unce unce club) where I work.  I mean what a better setting for a child's haircut than an upscale salon, right?

 

 

Anyway, we made it on time, he sat in the chair, kels and the iPad entertained him beautifully.  In fact, he only melted once over the plastic cover thing they put over you.  So we scrapped it and used his blankie...genius. 

 

Giant success. 

 

Walk outside (me and kels walking...track running per usual) to return to other said boys at home and in a matter of seconds he was somehow eating the concrete but still walking while scraping his whole face for what seems like at least 60 seconds.

 

 

I will always be able to look at his 2nd birthday pics and remember how old he is.  It is also fitting for this boy. 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet child, sweet face, scratched or not.

 

Lets Hear it for Trying

Track is TWO TWO TWO...

My spunky Trackers turned two a few weeks ago.  We had a great birthday party, but I wanted to make the actual day special for him also.  We started off the morning with a balloon trail and a room "full" of balloons.  Do you realize how many balloons it takes to fill up a room?  I obviously petered out at half full, but there was no love lost.  Also, notice my cute BIRTYDAY sign?  Come on Target...you forgot the H.  Oh well, maybe we will think it is funny every year?

 

 

Good morning birthday boy...

 

We had to wake him up at 9am and he was NOT feeling it...no shock here...he is not much of a morning guy...

 

Once we finally got him out of bed it was down the hall with blankies and monkey monkey to see the balloons... 

 

 

 

 

I asked Mike to put two balloons on his breakfast chair...look at how he tied them, guys are funny... 

 

Breakfast of Hummel boys...eggs, toast and grapes... 

 

Grandparents came over to wish the sweet boy Happy Birthday... 

 

Then when Mike got home and everyone woke up from naps we let Track pick his birthday dinner...so to every boys favorite restaurant we went...Panera Bread.

 

 

Track said the blessing for his birthday, which is probably an etiquette no no, but it doesn't get any more precious then the jibbering of a toddler prayer.

 

Below is how every meal ends up with Track at this age...ON. THE. TABLE.  I would say that it annoys me, but most of the time I love it.  This phase will pass and I will eventually wish they were small again to finish their meal ON the table...I'm sure of it.

 

Next out to the fountain to play... 

 

 

 

We got home a little late and Trackers was worn out... 

 

This is what Track does when you ask him to "be sweet" to Coop.  

 

Graham, of course, cant give up the lime light...so he needed to be sweet to the baby also.  Seriously, everyone loves Coop. 

 

Graham and I made some cupcakes for Track while he was napping...the way he is eating it captures the essence of Track Noah... 

 

 

 

 It was a fun birth DAY.  On this day two years ago we squealed into the hospital in full on labor in the most pain I have ever experienced to have this energetic guy join our family.  Now two years later this child has turned the corner and has suddenly gotten easier to raise.  He some how went from saying 5 words to what seems like hundreds.  Now he TELLS me what he wants, no more guessing...so much easier.  He is playing with his brother more and more, which I can only ascribe to fierce prayer.  Thank you Jesus for hearing me.  I'm not sure I believed this day would come.  In so many ways he has a personality I have longed to have.  He is funny and risky, but not complicated.  What I wouldn't give to be uncomplicated.  I bet I will learn the most from this guy.

 

He also has taken a turn on the "attached to mama" train.  He has always been a passenger but now he wants to just live on the train.  I don't mind...I love being with this boy.

 

I think 2 years old is my favorite age.  Its like you cross from "baby hard" to "toddler fun".

 

I'm looking forward to many more years of refinement from this guy.

 

Let's Hear it for Two Year old Track

Trackers 2nd Berfday Par Tay...

Trackers had his 2nd birthday party this past Saturday.  My hope with birthday parties is that I always do something that my kids really like at their current stage.  What's better for Track then a jump house place???  It's not much for decorating...I mean I was working with a giant purple party room.

 

 

I love to decorate with pictures so I can see how much he has grown and add a few intentional things to remember what he liked at this stage.  I often ask myself why...because he will probably never look at these and then when I die someone will throw them all away...morbid I know, but so true.  I just want him to know I tried to make it special...just for him.

 

 

 

Ah, the party favors.  Mike was in charge here...so everyone go a slap bracelet.  I pushed back a little at first, but then I saw that my kids love them and Mike is known for being more "fun" than I am.  So I overlooked that they said "I love bacon" and out they went.

 

 

 

Don't buy into the cool Tie Dye balloons...in reality they almost all turn out white.  Word to the wise.  Oh, also note to self...paper straws so cute, but not tall enough for water bottles.  However, I did buy a helium tank this year and it make decorating super easy.  I mean balloons at my house...no ordering them or going to pick them up...efficient.

 

 

 

Brother with miss-matched socks.  Always something when I let Mike them bring them alone so I can decorate.  Last year Mike cut Track's sleeves off before he got to his pool party - not good.

 

 

Brother Bears... 

 

My dad with the two newest babies...two weeks a part.  She is petite and Coop is ready for high school football...

 

Giant slide...big hit for toddlers - very unforgiving for adults.  I felt all jammed up the next day and every adult bold enough to "play" had slide burns. 

 

Linda and Tommy made the carrot cake for us...it was the best I have ever tasted.  Their daughter is just about the most beautiful little thing I have ever seen...bailey bailey grace as my G calls her.

 

Track LOVES the happy birthday song... 

 

 

 

Classic Kelsey face... 

 

 

The guy in the back right is Tyler, my 16 year old "attendant" who faithfully stood awkwardly in our party room the whole time...poor thing. 

 

Of course, I did a terrible job at recording our friends...but here is Scott and EK.  I wanted to document this picture because I have pictures of Scott and Mike when they turned 5 at a "backwards" party which are hilarious... 

 

Sweet Lauren and her husband...Miss Lauren watches the boys while I work during the week.

 

Grand Mom and Grand Dad... 

 

In all seriousness, I could not pull off birthday parties without Kelsey's help.  Her hair is cray cray... as usual.

 

Track upset with Kel-Key. 

 

Opening presents late that evening...dump truck was the BIG winner... 

 

Wow, I just re-read this post and my captions really got weaker and weaker. 

 

Too. Many. Pictures.

 

Lets Hear it for an Easy Party with a Cute Boy and a Scratched Face