Lots of New Words

Brady is growing up so quickly and has become quite talkative lately.  His words include:
Mama
Mommy
Dada
Daddy
Papa
doggy
ball - A favorite, he even sings, "ball, ball, ball"
yeah
What?
no
up
bird
baby
cookie
sucker
juice

Happy 1st Birthday, Brady

Brady's 1 already, I just can't believe it.  He didn't stay a baby long at all.  Having 5 year old twin brothers must have been quite a motivation for him because he started walking at 10 1/2 months and hasn't looked back since.  At age 1 Brady has 4 teeth, he isn't saying any words yet but he points and grunts/growls to let us know he wants something.  He is such a cute little guy and very smart, too.  For example, if he isn't supposed to have something, he will grab it and run away from us so we can't catch him.  What a stinker!

We celebrated Brady's birthday party with our family at our church.  His wonderful babysitter, Stephanie, made an awesome John Deere cake for everyone and even a special birthday cake just for Brady.

Brady didn't really understand what he was supposed to do with his cake so Mason & Alex pitched in to show him how it was done.  Even when they were getting messy he just carefully picked at the cake with his fingers.  He definitely doesn't waste food!

 Mason and Alex were even nice enough to help Brady open all of the wonderful birthday gifts.  He's a pretty lucky guy to have brothers who are so willing to pitch in and give him a hand.  :)

Magical Moments

Jaime, Davon, Denise, Jason, Connie, Larry, Mason, Brady, Alex



 Here we are at "The Kingdom" as Alex likes to call it.  We had to bundle up, the highs for the day were only in the mid 40's.  Thankfully the weather has warmed up since then.  We have really enjoyed each park we've visited.  Jason and I were here in 2004 but with 3 little ones, our interests have really changed.  Mason and Alex are really into meeting the characters and getting their autographs.  Brady has taken a lot of long naps in his stroller but he likes meeting them too when he's awake.



Alex, Jake the Pirate, Mason, Brady, Connie

 This is Jake the Pirate.  Mason & Alex knew who he was but the rest of us were clueless.  The lines have been fairly short to meet the characters.  We've walked right in to meet some and up to 30 minutes for others.  I'd guess the average wait is about 15 minutes but it is so worth it.  They really spend time with the boys, lots of hugs & high 5's.  We never feel like they're rushing us.

We couldn't pass up the chance to go on the Aerosmith Rockin' Rollercoaster.  It's by far Jason's favorite ride and he was super excited when we got to ride in the very front car!  We got a fast pass so we didn't have to wait in line so long & then Jason & Davon went on it for a second time.

Let the Fun Begin!

Just a quick post to let everyone know we arrived safely.  Alex wasn"t feeling well last night on the plane ride.  He slept the whole way and was looking a  little green when we landed.  I'm glad I grabed an airsick bag from the plane before we got off because he had to use it on the way to our house.  He's back to normal now, coloring and giving Mason a hard time.

Speaking of our house, this place is GREAT!!!  We love the extra room we have to spread out and the pool is wonderful.  I figured when they said it was a heated pool that meant it was just above the air temp.  Nope!  It is like a warm bath, the thermometer said it was 90 degrees.  We had a lot of fun splashing around in it after lunch and plan to be in there a lot.  Brady is getting along like a little trooper.  He's short on napping but he's having a good time and behaving so I can't complain.  Mason is having a good time as well.  He really enjoys the extra time he's getting to spend with cousin Davon..  Jason is wishing we had a pool like this one in our backyard. 

The plans for today are to take it easy, check out the facilities at the clubhouse (playground, etc.) and get everything ready for the big day tomorrow.  Look out, Magic Kingdom, here we come!!

The Cake

I couldn't post about their birthday party without adding a picture of the cake.  Mason & Alex's former & Brady's current babysitter made an awesome cake for them this year.  It was a chocolate and white marble cake with delicious "grass" frosting.  The boys were excited to see their cars used as cake toppers.  We had some leftovers & it was still fresh 4 days later when we finished it off.  (Jason was deer hunting over the weekend, otherwise it would never have lasted that long!)  I told Stephanie to save a spot on her calendar for next year, this cake was fantastic.  Plus, the "icing on the cake" is that we know this one was made with love.  Thanks, Steph!!!

5th Birthday Party

We had a great family party with a special guest, Santa!  Mason & Alex were happily eating their birthday cake when in walked Santa!  The just sat in their chairs and stared at him, then Mason covered up his face.  I thought it was because he had been naughty & didn't want Santa to see him, but later he told us he had "stage fright".  Geez, the things Mason comes up with!

Our Family - Jason, Denise, Brady, Mason & Alex

 

Nathan, Alex, Mason & Alex

Larry, Connie, Brady, Davon, Alex & Mason

Jim, Jason, Denise, Brady, Connie, Sharon, Alex, Mason & Great Grandma

Thank you to all of our friends and family who helped us celebrate Mason & Alex's special day.  They loved every one of their gifts, but most of all they had a wonderful evening spending time with people they love.

A Sneak Peek

I was going through some computer files to organize some of my pictures and came across a few in a Misc. file that really touched me.  Seeing how far Mason & Alex have come in the last 5 years is amazing.  I thank God for bringing them into our family and letting us be their parents.  So for today's post I'm giving you a sneak peek of the joy they've brought to our hearts.

Alex - 1 month

Mason - 1 month

 The first few months were rough.  We had no idea how much work it would be to take care of a preemie baby.  Preemie twins definitely made for two very exhausted parents!  We were so thankful for all of the support from our families to help get us through the rough patches.

Alex & Mason - 1 yr

 My what a difference a 11 months can make!  Mason & Alex were delightful toddlers.  They took great naps & slept through the night.  Plus, you can't get much cuter than this!

Jason, Denise, Mason & Alex - Adoption Day!

 This is without question one of the top 3 best days of my life.  Right up there with marrying Jason & Brady's birth day.  All the worries and fears that things may turn out the way we hoped were finally put to rest.  But this day also opened up a new door, one where we were solely responsible for these two precious little boys.  It was quite a transition for me, a slight sense of loss as the wonderful social workers & service providers we'd gotten to know over the last 11 months were phased out of our lives.

Mason - 2 yrs

Jason & Alex - 2 yrs

 Terrible 2s?  Not in this house!  Mason & Alex were a blast to have in our home.  Everything was exciting to them and they did everything at 100%.  They were so snuggly and lovable.  I miss my 2 year olds.

Alex - 3 yrs

Mason - 3 yrs

 Now age 3 is quite a different story.  They were still so snuggly and loving, but something had changed.  Gone were the days of Mommy & Daddy knowing best.  These two figured out how to team up against us and had minds all their own.  They learned how to challenge us and really gave us hard time.  I was assured that age 4 would be much better.

Mason - 4 yrs

Alex - 4 yrs

 So we toughed it out & eventually they turned 4.  The improvement I hoped would come overnight didn't happen!  They're still naughty, but there was a little bit of maturity that came along too.  They were an absolute joy to have individually.  I realized I have got some of the neatest kids I've ever met.  They can be little tyrants when they're together, teasing, arguing, fighting.  But there's also a love, a bond that is very strong.  They look out for eachother and if one is wronged, the other one has his back. 

Alex - Almost 5 yrs!

Mason - Almost 5 yrs!

Here we are, at almost 5 years old.  Their naughty streak has really gotten under control.  They still like to torment each other, but what siblings don't?  Mason and Alex have really blossomed at preschool and are learning new things all the time.  They love their little brother and haven't given a thought at being jealous of the attention he gets.

Mason and Alex, I am so thankful and proud to be your mom.

5x7 Folded Card

Bright Merry Cheer Christmas Card

This season, send Christmas cards personalized with family photos.

View the entire collection of cards.

First Pictures Under the Tree

It's a family tradition to put the tree up on the day after Thanksgiving.  Brady was all over the ornaments when Mason, Alex and I were going through the box but he could care less about the tree or what's on it. 

We took time (48 seconds was all he could spare) for a quick photo shoot on Saturday and got a few good ones.  Seriously, does this kid look 9 months old???

I LOVE BLACK FRIDAY!

 I absolutely love Black Friday.  Apparently Brady wasn't very impressed with the sales at Norby's!

 New towels...need I say more?  

Our towels are 8+ years old & I've been thinking about replacing them for a while.  Every time I'd shop at Kohl's I'd have to stop and touch a certain set.  When I saw them on sale in the Black Friday ad, I couldn't resist.  It looks like I'm not the only one who was thrilled by new towels!  Alex helped me pull off all the tags and then he & Brady played in them for quite a while.  When it was time for a nap, both Alex and Mason had to take a bath towel with them to bed.  Too funny!

Riley had a great holiday as well!

First Friend Birthday Party!

Mason and Alex were invited to their first friend's birthday party this month.  They were so excited to go!!  I bought some My Little Ponies for them to give as a gift.  Mason told me he wanted me to get one of them for him for his birthday.  We'll see if he forgets about that idea.  They had a great time helping me wrap the presents and picked out all different colors of ribbon to put on top.  They also made special printouts on the computer and colored and wrote on cards for the birthday girl.  The party was held at an "inflatable park" (lots of bouncy castles).  They had so much fun and were completely exhausted when it was time to go.  Needless to say, they weren't the only ones dragging at preschool the next day!

Alex & Mason

Don't they look so grown up?

An Interview With Alex

Alex is definitely a special kid.  He always keeps me on my toes, I never know what's going to come out of his mouth.  He loves playing the computer and he is definitely an artist.  This summer he got1st place in a coloring contest and won a gift card to Target and a blue ribbon.  He's really into spelling and writing out words right now.  Sometimes I think he's too smart for his own good.


Who is your best friend? Aiden, Mason, Sophia, Olivia & Nicholas
What is your favorite color?  Rainbow & Yellow  (Jason was thrilled with that answer!)
What is your favorite restaurant?  Burger King (Odd because he'd never been there before!!) & McDonalds
What do you want to do for a job when you grow up?  Play music & hair stylist
Are you going to get married?  Yeah, I'm gonna marry Grandma & Papa D.
How many kids do you think you'll have?  Tons of 'em.  (Oh my goodness!)
What's your favorite movie?  The Wiggles Space Dancing
What is your favorite toy?  My Wiggle dolls.
What is your favorite cartoon?  The Wiggles
What do you love about Mom?  Hugs & kisses, backfire at you!!!  (We're not going there!) 
What do you love about Dad?  Play Transformers.
What do you love about Brady?  Touching his hair.

Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween!  

Our church put on the 2nd annual Trunk or Treat and we had a blast!!  Alex was Papa Smurf and he got a ton of compliments.  The blue makeup came off his face pretty well, just a little bit of a blue hue after we washed it all off.  Brady was The Incredible Hulk and he played the part very well.  It's a little hard to tell in the picture but the thing he has on his head is supposed to be The Hulk's forhead & it has the cutest little green ears sticking out on the side.  Mason was super excited to be Optimus Prime.  The costume has a mask but it was a little big so he just carried it or went without for most of the afternoon.

We all had a wonderful afternoon and it the event was put on perfectly by our church.  Plenty of "trunks" to visit, Mr. Nick the balloon guy made plenty of balloon animals, there was a firetruck & even a tow truck.  Plus the weather was great.  You can't complain when you can go without a jacket at Halloween!  We are looking forward to the Trunk or Treat next year!

An Interview With Mason

I thought it would be interesting to "interview" Mason & Alex as a way to catch a little of their interests and personalities for the blog.  I couldn't believe some of the answers I got, they were hilarious!  At the time of the interview Mason was 4 1/2 years old.

Best Friends at Daycare: Olivia, Sophia, Emily, Alex & Nicholas
Favorite Color: Red, Yellow, Purple (can't just pick one!)
Favorite Food: "I don't like sprouts." Where did that come from???  The rest of his answer is root beer and tootsie rolls.
Favorite Restaurant: Buffalo Wild Wings
Future Job: "Two things, I'm gonna scoop up dirt and be a police."
Are you going to get married?: "Yeah, I'm gonna marry you, Mommy."  Aww, isn't he sweet?!?!
Are you going to have kids: 5
Favorite Movie: Cars 2 and Megamind
Favorite Toy: "All of them."
Favorite Cartoon: "Every one, Rescue Heroes."
Something about Mommy: Love, backfire (do not ask!), hugs & kisses.
Something about Brady: "I love him so much."
Something about Daddy: play super heroes "and all of that".

Talk about a personality!  When Mason was little, he didn't talk nearly as much as Alex.  I thought he was going to be the quiet one but boy was I wrong!  He says the funniest things and often catches me completely off guard.  I am definitely going to have to do another interview again, it was so much fun!

Mason milking a pretend cow at Hudson Days

Slumber Party

Grandma & Papa D. bought Mason & Alex tents. Once in a while we'll get them out when the boys have had really good behavior. They were so excited to get to sleep in them. I think Brady is a little jealous but he was happy to pose for a picture too.

Getting a Little Big for the Swing

I think Brady's just about done with his swing. He can only go in it if he's sleeping or else I worry he's going to tear it apart. Too bad he's only been able to use it 7 1/2 months.

Toot Toot Chugga Chugga

The day of The Wiggles concert finally arrived! We stayed at Clayton Hills Campground in Garnavillo on Saturday night & we left bright & early on Sunday morning to go to The Wiggles concert in Wisconsin Dells. The van ride there was quite an adventure. We stopped at a garage sale twice, drove through Batman's (pretend) hometown of Gotham, got Happy Meals from McDonalds & then Alex got a little carsick, I think from all of the excitement.

Alex, Mason & Mommy standing outside the Crystal Grand Theater in Wisconsin Dells. Alex is holding a rose to give to Dorothy the Dinosaur (she eats roses).

All our Wiggles gear! I bought each of the boys a t-shirt and let them spend $50 of their own money. Alex picked out a Henry the Octopus leg costume, a book and a light up spinner. Mason picked out a plush guitar, a plush Big Red Car and a light up spinner. The $ ran out quick but they each knew exactly what they wanted and didn't mind when they hit their spending limit. The spinners were special, they were supposed to use them during the concert when The Wiggles sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.Mason, Grandma S. and Alex are waiting for the concert to begin! While we sat in our seats they had projectors running on the walls showing clips of The Wiggles. It was a great way to keep everyone's attention and to get us even more excited for the concert to start.

Finally, the moment we've been waiting for!!! The Wiggles put on a great show. They gave 110% the whole time and that was pretty impressive considering this concert was in celebration of their 20th "birthday". Unfortunately Jeff wasn't able to make it, he had surgery to put in a pacemaker. The Wiggles introduced Brad, who would be helping out in Jeff's place. I wasn't sure how that would go over but the boys loved him & talked about him quite a bit after the concert. They have plenty of room in their hearts to love all of The Wiggles, Greg, Murray, Anthony, Jeff, Sam & Brad, plus all of their supporting cast.

I finally understood why Alex was so adament that he had to have a rose for Dorothy. The Wiggles came around and collected roses from all of the kids. Anthony stopped by us and the boys got to talk to him for a quick minute. He asked their names and Mason reached out to touch his arm. It was one of the sweetest things I've ever seen!

You would think after all of that excitement that we would have had a quiet, peaceful carride home. Nope! We managed to turn a 3 1/2 hour trip into a 5 1/2 hour trip between stopping to eat, tour an old airplane (that will be a different post) and at least 5 bathroom breaks. Nobody even came close to taking a nap in the van. After such an exciting day, we were all glad to be home.

Homemade Sweet Peas

My 1st attempt at making baby food was a success! I made 13 servings of sweet peas for $1.00, what a deal. After I steamed the peas, I pureed them in the food processor, then I separated the mixture into an ice cube tray to put in the freezer. After they're frozen they'll go into freezer bags. Then when Brady's ready for his next meal we'll just thaw a cube, add in some milk to get it to the right consistency & then "lunch is served"!

My happy boy likes peas!!! Brady was so happy to try something new, he enjoyed every bite!

An Exciting Update!

Brady has been able to roll over from tummy to back for quite a while now. Last night (7/12/11) he rolled from back to tummy for the first time & the whole family was there to see it!

When Alex Offers to Help...

Happy 4th of July!

After coming home from a long weekend of camping, Alex woke up from his nap and found me going through Brady's clothes to put away what he'd outgrown. He thought we needed to have a little dress up time. The outfit Brady is wearing is one that Mason and Alex wore when they were little, along with the super cool sunglasses. The Spider Man shoes are all Brady's. This is the first and last time he'll get to wear him. After squeezing his fat little feet into them, I decided they're just too small.

Of course we have two pairs of sunglasses!!! Alex was more than happy to pose for a silly picture with his baby brother.