Little gingerbread houses for Hoo and me

Knowing it might be a few weeks until we gather with our besties again, we invited the gang over to make some faux gingerbread houses.

You know, the kind I put together using hot glue and Publix brand graham crackers.

Then we slathered them with some Duncan Hines icing and let the kiddos go at it.



Resulting in a cute little village where gummy bears call graham cracker houses home and Cookie Monster is always outside your front door to greet you when you arrive.

This might have been one of the best bestie days in a long time - for the kiddos at least.
Because we've got a few babes who enjoy eating candy.

Candy filled kids equals wild kids, which was nice for getting a cute group shot.

But not so nice when these two decided to be a little bit naughty.








John Oscar's house, which has very little candy on the outside and a whole lot stored inside. I guess he's saving up for a big storm.

Hello two

Good bye booster seat.

A deer, mama

If I could have bottled up this boy's excitement last night, I would have. Then, I would have sent it to all you. That way, you could hear how happy he was when he spotted one of his favorite animals, strike that, favorite things, in the whole world in his own yard.

As I was preparing dinner, the short hair began whining. I figured she spotted the chipmunk that lives in our front yard. A few seconds later, Lane informed me, "A deer, mama."

"A deer," I asked him. "No baby, that's just the neighbor's dog." Wrong.

He was right. There in our side yard was a big deer watching Lane and Elly Mae as they watched him.

"A deer, mama," he kept telling me.

"You are right, babe. That is a deer," I told him.

That's when the excitement began. We watched that deer for a few minutes as he hung out in our yard. Lane giggled with excitement. The short hair whined with desire to get outside and get that deer.

We followed him to the front yard, where we spotted two more deer.


"Three deer, mama," Lane informed me.

We watched as they crossed our yard into the driveway until we couldn't find a window in our house that gave us a view of our friends any more.

"Let's go tell papa what we saw Lane," I told him, as to keep him from crying now that the deer were out of sight.

Up the stairs he went as fast as his little body would take him.

"Deer papa," he yelled. "I saw deer, papa. Three deer."

And we've been talking about those deer all day long.

Slowly

I guess I didn't do much posting last week.

It's hard to explain how I'm feeling right now.

My best attempt is to say that time is moving very quickly while I spend my days (quite literally) moving very slow.

One step at a time with my big boy by my side.

At 37 weeks, I'm running out of room for our newest babe and running low on energy.

I feel the need to get things accomplished. At the same time, my body reminds me to take it easy and rest. My heart tells me to spend as much one-on-one time with Lane as possible.

So, that's what I have done. I've learned to go to bed with dishes in the sink, cars on the floor and clean laundry in a basket waiting to be folded and put away.

Eventually, everything gets done.

For now, I've got just a few more weeks to enjoy life with just Lane.

Last week, we read books. Snuggled in bed. Played cars. Visited with friends. Talked a lot about what the future holds for our family.

And at times, took baby steps in preparation for our newest family member.

This time, I know that all a baby needs upon his arrival home is a few warm pieces of clothing, a small spot to sleep, plenty of time to nurse and an abundance of love.

I know we can provide all of that for him.

The rest will come when the time is right.

Even his name.

Hoo Turns Two

He is worthy of a celebration every day.
On Saturday, it was all about him.
So, we celebrated with a small, owl themed party featuring all of his favorite things.

We had cupcakes with cute little owls for each of the kiddos.

And all of his favorite snacks.
Suckers, Krispy treats, Gummies and Grapes.

And olive pizza for lunch.

His four favorite girls were there.
Lilly, Madelyn, Andrea and Lizzie Mae.
All of them came dressed in outfits adorned with owls - just for our Hoo Bird.

His four best buddies were there too.
Damian, John Oscar, Preston and Drew.

The rest of his family joined him to celebrate.
Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents and Family Friends.

We sang happy birthday and ate our cupcakes.

He hung out and played with his friends and family.

We let the kiddos pull the strings on an owl pinata and
they went nuts when some of Lane's favorite treats fell out.
Sesame Street stickers, Curious George and Snoopy snacks, and Smarties.

Each kiddo grabbed their little gift bag, which was decorated with a Hootie Owl Bird and came complete with more of Hoo's favorite treats, and filled it with the pinata goods.
A Krispy Treat, Bubbles, Matchbox Car and Suckers.

And we played the day away.

Lane with his gang.
Damian, who is behind the door; Andrea; John Oscar; Lilly; Lane; Lizzie Mae; Drew and Madelyn.

It was a special day with our special babe.
And we will do it all again next year.

Twomorrow

Dear Lane,

I've begged and pleaded and tried to figure out how to put an end to this whole thing. However, no matter what I do it appears as if you have other plans.

Plans that include turning two.

So, I'll do my best to help you celebrate tomorrow. We'll have a party. Invite your family and best friends.

We will celebrate all that you are and all that you've given us over these last two years. I'll probably cry. Not because I'm sad. More because I'm so happy to have you as my own.

If I'm being honest, I have to say that as much as I miss that little tiny baby I brought home two years ago, I love this big boy toddler so, so much.

I guess I could keep denying the fact that I can't freeze time, but, truthfully, I enjoy this whole growing up into your own unique self.

I love the little boy you've become.

Hearing you speak in sentences, "Squirrel eat acorn, Mama," you told me as you watched out this window.

Listening to you boss around your papa, "No, Papa. No, nap. Play cars, Papa." Your the only person I know who can tell your papa what to do - and he actually listens.

Teaching you how to count, "Two, Three, Four, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten." Who needs One or Five. Certainly not you.

Recalling memories of times with friends. "I pick apples with Drew," you tell me at least once a week.

Seeing at two the type of man you will be 20 years from now.

How you methodically line up your cars - a game we play at least a dozen times a day - before racing each one of them across the playroom floor.

How routine is so very important to you.

Papa must give you a bubble tubbie. Books must be read before bed. White socks must be worn with pajamas - not the comfy slippers I purchased for you earlier this week.

"No, mama. No. No comky socks. White socks," you told me.

Watching you with your short hair. How you love her so much.

"Hi Mae Mae," you tell her each morning when you wake.

"I copy Mae Mae," you tell me as you chase her around the house mimicking her moves: from grring to sitting to shaking your papa's hand.

"Mae Mae play backyard," you insist every day. And she does. She follows you outside and plays along with you in the afternoon.

Because there's no where else you would rather be than outside playing: throwing a football, digging in the dirt, running the length of the yard or messing around in the fir trees.

You show us the moon each night. Point out birds in the sky. Know how to call squirrels and turkeys. Sit patiently and watch the deer graze in the field by Papa's office.

Before you were born, Papa and I decided we would promote a love of the outdoors in our child.

We didn't know it would come so naturally.

Tomorrow, we will leave one behind and say hello to two.

I guess I'll give you that.

After all, you've given us so much more than we could have ever wanted or asked for. You are the boy who turned James and Lana into Papa and Mama.

No matter how old you get and how much time goes by that will stay the same. We will always be your parents.

Our life will forever be better because of Lane.

Happy birthday Lane Thomas.

We love you.

Mama and Papa

Six O' Clock Snack

Yep, I let him eat green olives as a snack one night last week.
He asked for them.

Then, we fed him a smoothie for dinner.