Jamesy is Growing Up

Over the course of the last year I have been labeling James's posts under "Sweet Baby James". Now that he's a year old I'll be labeling them as "James". Here he is giggling and feeling the wind rush through his hair in the swing he got for his birthday.

Star Wars Fanatics

Just a few more picture of us dressed up in our themed Halloween costumes. Okay- I know there was no witch in Star Wars, but Madison woulc not consent to dressing up like anything from Star Wars. And I made plenty of great suggestions... a wookie, C3PO, Amidala, Leia, Clone Trooper. Nope. Well, I tried. And I sewed. So here are more pictures.

A Whole Year Old!

James has been with us for a whole year, although it seems like he's been a part of our family forever. We are having so much fun having a little person in our family again. James is bursting with love, curiosity, and goodness. I hope he's enjoying being in our family as much as we love him being in it. He sure enjoyed ripping the paper off his presents, but was worried about the lighted candle on his cake. Jeremy had to help James blow out his birthday candle.

Happy First Birthday Sweet Baby James!

Killer Kleats

There were 18 girls on Madison's soccer team this year. Only 11 can play on the field at a time. It seems much busier on the field during her games as opposed to Carter's. He can only have 6 players on the field at a time. Madison is a fast runner and would keep moving around in any position she was put in. Her favorite position to play is forward. She loves trying to drive the ball to the goal. This season she got to play two of her games this season on AstroTurf. What an amazing concept to make a synthetic field. The ball seemed to roll forever on that surface. It was dry, but horrible if you crashed to the ground because the little bits of "turf" would embed into the skin surface. I noticed the girls trying really hard not to fall down during the AstroTurf games.

Mad Hatter Escapades

Carter enjoyed a harvest tea today with his classmates and their reading buddies. Their class also won a contest at school and the prize was getting to spray their principle with silly string. I must say I admire the principle even more for offering herself up as bait, but thought it was pretty funny when I heard her muttering under her breath that she would have to think of a different prize next year.

Spooky Jacks

The Jack with fangs was carved by Madison. Grant carved the bat with some help from his Dad. And Carter's Jack is pictured here without his barf.

Carving Time!

We carve some pumpkins every year (messy traditions are fun for all). This year Carter wanted to save some of the glop and make his jack-o-lantern a barfing pumpkin. I wanted to roast some pumpkin seeds and burnt them instead. Jamesy wanted to eat the pumpkin slime and may have actually succeeded in eating a couple of seeds . The things we want and the things that are good for us don't always align.

The kids weren't afraid to dig right in to the gloopy glop of the pumpkins guts. I hardly had to help hollow out the pumpkins at all this year. Each year they get better and better at being independent human beings.

Fall Festival

When I was in elementary school we got to wear our Halloween costumes to school and have a party/parade for the last hour of the day. My kids aren't allowed to go to school in their costumes. Instead they can dress up and go to a "Fall Festival" for an evening at their school. None of my kids wanted to go through the haunted hall, but they all enjoyed some sugar and games. Yoda was a big hit. Everyone wanted to talk to him and bask in the light of his saber.

Walkin' Like He's Big Stuff

Jamesy loves being free to roam on his own. He is perfecting his walking skills and already beginning to put on some speed. All of our kids have walked early. Probably to escape the constant barrage of kisses and snuggles we slather on them (read snugglefest post).

Dressed Up & Real Smiley

Here we are dressed up and in a hurry to go somewhere. Is that always how it is with big families? Once everyone is looking nice we have to hustle because it probably won't last long! Actually we were on our way to a happy event- Carter's baptism.

Snugglefest

Grandma Leann and Amber were able to come up for Carter's baptism. They made Carter a snugly, soft, warm blanket that he immediately fell in love with. He has slept with it ever since.

In our family Carter is the "Snuggle Bun", Madison is the "Snuggle Loaf", Grant is the "Snuggle Muffin", James is the "Snuggle Bean", and Jeremy and I are the "Snuggle Pa & Snuggle Ma". We are that serious about snuggling.

Baby Tricks

James has to find a balance in life. Between helping me with all the chores, learning new baby skills, and playing with Dad, I sometimes wonder whether or not James is taking enough personal time during his day to reflect on his blessings. I guess that's something that comes with age. Along with the knowledge that socks are not food.