Happy Birthday Macky-Mac

Yep, today is my little Maxwell's birthday. It is crazy how quickly a year goes by. Especially the first year of life. He has gone from this little lump of a baby to nearly walking, and getting into everything.

I think Mac had a good first birthday. Owen and Tal helped me make a monster cake, and help Tom put together Max's birthday present.

Grandma and Grandpa decided this morning to drive up and visit for the day. When they decided to come, my sister and her family desided to tag along. Because they came, my little brother Cuyler, who lives in Logan desided to drop in. Tom's parents also came over, so we had a very impromptu birthday party. It was so much fun. I am sorry that I did not get the word out to more people, I would hate for anyone to feel left out.

Here are some fun pictures from the day:

Our first Aggie Outing

A couple of weeks ago was USU's Homecoming. Due to our student government and spirit squad involvement we land enough free tickets for us all to go!

This was my boys first football game ever, and they were so excited to go. It happened to be a white out game, so we dawned all the white Aggie gear we could find and were off to the game!

Although I was the first Aggie in the family, I am proud to say that two of my dear brothers have followed suite. And we all happen to be at the game. Who knows the next time this might happen, so I has to take a picture.

Maxwell mad friends with the people in front of us, and insisted on sitting on their laps for most of the first half of the game.

This is then vantage point my brother had of the game.

That is the marching band during half time. Don't they look good? No really, I am particularly proud of how they look. Their uniforms are about 6 years old. While I was serving in ASUSU, I was able to help secure funding for those fancy threads, and boy, let me tell you it was a lot of work. But they look good now.

Bythe way, AGGIES WON!!!!  This year is shaping up quite nicely.

GO AGGIES!!!!

Making bats.

Today we decided to make some bats to decorate the front porch for Halloween.

I found totally copied the idea from Martha Stewart. Here is the link.

I cut out the bats from card stock, put my boys in art smocks, gave them paint and brushes, and let them go to town painting their bats.

Now, typically, when my kids have wet paint with in the tips of their fingers, I I believe in strict supervision. However, today my work phone rang right as they start to paint, and well, it is not the most professional thing to have the sweet noise of children in the background of a business call, so I stepped into the other room.

Not sure if that was the best judgement call, because this is what I found when I came back into the room.

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day

Today is Talk Like A Pirate Day. This is one of those little-known-holidays that my mother has always celebrate, so naturally, I too celebrate it with my family.

Beyond talking and dressing like a pirate, it is great fun to inform others about this little-known-holiday. We call this "Pirating." We dress up like pirates, and deliver a yummy pirate snack ( usually Chips AHOY, or PIRATE-Os) to some unsuspecting neighbors. My boys love it; the neighbors think it is great; this is definitely one of the best little-known-holidays!

I love to see the Temple

On Tuesday, the boys and I had the opportunity to go to the Brigham City Temple Open house with my sister and her family. Wow it was neat. The boys thought it was super neat to be able to go inside the temple, and I loved being able to take them. Unfortunately, Tim had to work, so Grammy came with us instead.

Kids say the darnedest things

I love the way kids brains work. They are great at making sense out of the little pieces of information they get, which will usually bring a guaranteed smile to your face.

For example, today Talmage went to the potty all by himself (which is kinda a big deal around here). When he was finished he calls from the toilet, "Daddy, I am all done. And it's a big one, like you! I did a Daddy sized poop!"

Tom was not quit sure if he should be proud or concerned.

Owen also had his own moment today. The boys were eating oatmeal for breakfast this morning. While the boys were eating, Tom told me that once his Dad had him eat oatmeal with ketchup in it. Little Mr. Owen leans over to Tal and says, "Talmage don't ever put ketchup in your oat-milk. Dad's dad did that once, and then he DIED."

Oh my goodness, I could not not stop laughing. I mean, it is true, the sequence of events is accurate. Tom's dad did make him eat ketchup oatmeal, and he did pass away prematurely, but not due to eating discussing oatmeal. It was due to a pulmonary embolism. But I think I am ok with him believing that eating oatmeal with ketchup in it is hazardous for you health. In fact I think it just may be.

Eggs!

Our hens are about 5 months old now. We have the coop almost done, just need to paint one side. And the birds are HUGE! We have known they are close to start laying, it is just a matter of time. Well this morning when I went to check on the ladies, I saw this in the nesting box:

Our first egg ever! (that white one is just a golf ball)

Hurray! One of them has started to lay! I am not sure, but I think it was my Little Buttercup, our Buff Orprington. she was singing last night as she was roaming the yard. Not wanting random eggs around the yard I put her back in the coop. And now we have had our first egg!

Yeah!

This is Pepper, not Buttercup.