Picture Day

Last Friday was picture day at Max's school.  

He has gotten so big and gets cuter by the minute.  I got him all dressed and out the door to the bus stop and while I watched him till the bus came, I couldn't resist taking a picture of my own.  Max just looked so great out there...happy and adorable.  I wish I could bottle him up right now, cause he's on the verge of not being that little boy anymore:(.

I also realized while putting this post together, that I never put up pictures of Max's first day of school!  So here are a couple from a month ago.  I think Max is having a great year so far...much better than last year...so excited for him and how much he is learning!  Here's to first grade!

Can't decide

I've done a few posts like this before...I periodically like to find photos of all my kids around the same age to figure out who looks like who?!!?  I often can't decide...what's your opinion?

Seth

Bryce

Jake

Max

Growing Like Weeds

Look who's three months old today...it's Bryce!  Bryce has really transformed into a delightful baby.  It was a little touch and go there those first few weeks, he gave me quite a run for my money.  Now he is so happy and content.  He is 14 lbs and 13 oz.  He loves to smile, talk, take naps, and sit in his bumbo and bouncy seat.  So happy to have my little Bry Guy around.  The boys are really enjoying him and love to help me when he cries...thanks boys!

Bryce isn't the only boy growing like a weed around here.  Jake has grown to love finding and playing with little critters around the yard.  You can see here, Jake has found a worm and in the picture below a three legged frog.  He also enjoys chasing rabbits and birds in the back yard.  He has really become aware of the world around him...everything is new and exciting for him!

Look who's learned how to ride without training wheels...that's right, Seth!  He is such a great bike rider, I knew it wouldn't take long for him to figure it out, thanks to his determination and a great daddy!  He rides that bike everyday.

 And my first little weed, Max.  I was so sad to hear he had a loose tooth.  I think I was more upset about him loosing his first tooth than him going off to kindergarten last year.  Loosing teeth really changes a kids look for good...it's all over after that...in my opinion anyway.  He was thrilled and thrilled that I was sad about it.  He was practicing his piano and suddenly stopped and shouted out that his tooth fell out.  That boy has really grown up this summer!

The good thing about little ones growing up is that you can enjoy spending time and talking with them.  We spent the evening catching fire flies the other night...it was fun watching him catch his own.

 I'm trying to enjoy all these stages in my little boys' lives.  It's so easy to forget how fast it's all going by!  Wish I could put my four boys in a mason jar like those fire flies in Max's hand and keep them small forever.

They Do Look Alike

Everyone that has seen my new little one (Bryce) within that first week of his birth, said something to the effect, "He looks so different from the rest."  I truly think they all look similar from day 1.  I think it throws everyone to see one of my boys with dark hair and a head full....they all started out that way and then grew their golden locks.  Here's a newborn shot of each one....I think it makes it easier to compare, what do you think, can you tell which is which? My goodness they grow so fast!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Max brings home some pretty cool art projects from Kindergarten. Today he hopped off the bus with this great creation, we had fun playing with it and taking pictures of our little leprechauns. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Birthday, Birthday, Birthday!

Our family has a cluster of Birthdays around the end and beginning of each year. I kick things off on December 28th, then Ben on January 3rd, and then our big boy Max on January 24th. So here is a photo journal of our celebrations!

Here's me and Jake on my birthday enjoying some Brazilian food at Trolly Square in UT.

I call this picture, "Tiny Tim." He had a thing for my mother-in-laws cane. Lucky for him it was adjustable, so we set it to the smallest setting and let him walk around with it a little. It was the funniest thing.

Me and my cake the boys and grandma made for me...I loved it, white with PINK sprinkles. I must say it's fun to be the girl in this group.

Now onto Ben's birthday. He turned 35 this year and yes, we put 35 candles on that cake.

Someone call the fire department!

Max turned 6 yesterday! I can't believe how big and grown up he is getting. I'm starting to get nervous for him to loose his first tooth. His little look will change so much, his smile and baby teeth are the only thing keeping him looking like a little boy :(. He loves to eat at Red Robin, so we had our family dinner there last night. I'm not sure if it's the balloons or the spaghetti he likes the most.

I think he reminded our server it was his birthday like 5 times, no lie....he wanted that Birthday ice cream sunday and fun song they sing!

Pure satisfaction!

Luckily, he was kind and shared it with his brothers.

We came home and met some friends for some cake and ice cream. We are totally into star wars and legos around here.

The winning present this year was the Webkinz! I'm sure as soon as he gets off the bus this afternoon, he will be glued to the computer setting up his Webkinz account!

Happy Birthday my 6 year old. I sure love you. You are so responsible and thoughtful. I can still remember the beautiful snowy morning of your birth!

I know right?!??!

So here are pictures from the first day of school....yes, school started when your kids school started...I'm way behind on posting...I know right?!?!? So here is big Max going off to Kindergarten. It's everyday, half day. I love having him home for lunch! I wanted to drive him to school, but he didn't want any part of that. "I want to ride the bus because it is really long, it has lots of seats and has its own stop sign!" The swagger wagon can't compete with that.

This was also Seth's first year of Preschool. He was so excited and totally ready. After taking Max the previous two years, Seth has already become aquatinted with the school and the teachers. It was like Cheers! Everyone knew his name!

And of course our little fella, Jake. He doesn't miss a beat! He loves to help me watch for the bus and get those boys off to school. He is my little shadow. I love our time just the two of us!

I guess next school year I'll have two shadows, one to follow and one to carry!

Safety Town

Our area of the world has a great program for all up coming Kindergarteners called, safety town. It's a week long event where they learn a different sort of "safety" each day. One day it's fire safety and the fireman comes and shows off his rig, one day it's bus safety and they ride the kids around to all the elementary schools in our city, another day it's water safety, so on and so forth. They also learn their address and phone number as well as getting their picture and finger prints for an id card. It's pretty cool and the kids love it. In every city where Safety Town is held, they have a Safety Town...hence the name. Below are some pictures of our city's Safety Town, fully equipped with traffic signs and lights, roads, houses and buildings, and little cars for the kids to drive around in.



These pictures were taken at the beginning of June...as you can tell by Max's eye, he totally was suffering from seasonal allergies:-(. Max starts school on the 26th of this month, we've got less than two weeks till we start this new chapter in our lives.

The Beginning of the End

Maxton's last day of preschool was Thursday. On his last day, the school has an olympic day and picnic and each kid can bring one parent. I was thrilled when Max picked me over Ben to attend...it rare that the boys pick me over Ben. Here are a few pictures of us at Olympic Day.

Max with his teacher this year, Miss Kelly. He has really enjoyed her class this year!

That same night, was his Preschool Graduation. Ben thinks it's silly that there should be any graduations besides for High School and College, but I thinks it's great to celebrate these milestones in their little lives. It was such a special night, and he looked so grown up. I didn't cry, I think because he is so ready and excited to move on...I'm happy for him. He was able to walk in the Flag as you can see here.

Here's Miss Carroll giving Max his certificate.

What a doll you are Max. I love you! You've grown so much. All that stands between me being a mom of little ones that stay home and a mom that has school age kids is three short months. I pray we enjoy every minute before that bus shows up.