The PARTY!

This was the first year we actually threw a big party for Grayson the weekend after his actual birthday. He begged for a party at "gymnastics" I think because he had gone to a gymnastics party for a friend last year and had a blast. So we invited the whole class and a few other friends and, of course, the cousins. We had a crew of about 20 kids!

The cousins and my Mom came a bit early and we opened some presents!

Once at the gymnastics place, the pros took over. They had a meeting first and the kids were remarkably into it.

Then they were set free and, of course, the 20 foot inflatable slide was the first thing the kids hit!
Grayson did alright on the rope swing...just like a real pirate!
Everyone lining up for jumping into the foam pit. Grayson couldn't wait and fortunately he got to be first since he was the birthday boy!
Yay!
Cameron got to show off his back flip.Addie was less inclined.

Mom and Kim enjoyed the show!

In the party room we had cake and snacks!

His pirate cake, by request.

Happy Birthday to you, Grayson!

October 19, 2011 - Five Years Old!

Wow! Five years old already. It really is hard to believe. On most days. Grayson has certainly presented parenting challenges that we never quite anticipated, but I expect most parents can say the same. He is one of a kind and I wouldn't trade him for anything. My beautiful 6 lb. 14 oz. bundle of joy has grown into a 41 lb. adorable ball of fun, though I acknowledge I may be biased. He continues to be a leader and is fiercely competitive. He's smart (as all parents say) and inquisitive. He is very proud that he can now legibly write his name, even being a lefty. He enjoys trains, planes, rockets, boats, being outside, and his bike. He loves to be read to but does not seem overly anxious to learn to read himself. He would entertain hours of bedtime stories and if there were enough hours in the day I would indulge him as I find that story time is one of my all time favorite parts of being a mother. He enjoys poems and seems to memorize things quickly. He loves to rhyme and make up his own rhymes. He does not like loud noises, the movie theater, or sleep. And despite green being his favorite color really detests eating anything green. Thus far he seems to be one of these kids who is very coordinated and good at pretty much any sport we introduce so it will be interesting to see where his interests take him. (And where we allow those interests to develop seeing that we don't want to spend every Saturday in our foreseeable future on a ball field.) He has extraordinary balance for a five year old and is, honestly, quite impressive on his bike. We're thinking mountain biking might be a good sport to encourage! He still loves watching TV so we have to really limit his TV time each day. Right now Jake and the Neverland Pirates is his favorite show. He enjoys music, but really only children's music. His musical taste is, well, underdeveloped. He currently requests "Pufferbellies" on a routine basis. I know one day I'll miss those songs but I'm secretly looking forward to the days when I can begin my mornings with a little XM on the way to work again. An artist he is not. He loves to build and create three dimensionally, but the crayons and paint we own will likely dry up before it is used. He's growing up. He has real conversations now. He asks about feelings, Heaven, dying, space, etc. Two of my favorite conversations from this past week:

(Luke, who was a wreck, was very upset because it was going to be Grayson's turn to ride in the front of the stroller so Grayson decided to console Luke...note he did NOT say he would give up his front seat.)
Grayson: It's alright Luke, do you want me to snuggle with you on the sofa? (This is what I often offer to make either of them feel better.)
Luke: Yes. Will you get me Elle? (Luke's favorite stuffed animal.)
Grayson: I don't know where Elle is.
Luke: Can I use Bunny (Grayson's favorite stuffed animal.)
Grayson: Not if you're going to wipe that snot all over it.

AND

(Luke was making a joke of prayers before dinner.)
Grayson: Luke, you're not going to Heaven if you do that.
Luke: What's in Heaven?
Grayson: Mom, are all my toys going up to Heaven.
Me: Probably not. We don't really know what's up there, but it's good. You'll get to see people who died before you. Like I'll get to see my Dad.
Grayson: But you have a Dad here.
Me: No, my Daddy is in Heaven.
Grayson: What about Steve?
Me: Grayson, that's my husband, not my Daddy.
Grayson: Oh. So you don't have a Daddy here.
Me: No, my Daddy died a long time ago and is in Heaven.
Grayson: Oh, well then you should go to the store and buy a new one.

So though there is so much more to Grayson than I could possibly write I have to say that he is one of the absolute delights of my life. It's been an incredible five years and I can't wait to see what he will be five years from now. (Actually I can wait. I don't want these years to go by too quickly!)

Five big ones!

Being a good big brother and letting Luke help open.

Just a little cake with the family on the actual birthday.

Incidentally the cake was really more for me so I could say I made him his birthday cake. He doesn't eat cake. Weird kid. But I wasn't about to stick five candles in an apple or a chicken nugget.

CDCLR Fieldtrip to Sinkland

Each year the boys' school, the CDCLR, takes a field trip to our local pumpkin farm. This year I chaperoned the boys and had a lovely morning with all of the other parents and kids, despite the overcast skies and sprinkles.

The tractor ride out to the pumpkin patch is arguably the kids' favorite part of the day!

They had a "special" kids patch with small pie pumpkins so the kids can actually carry the pumpkin they pick!

The maze was a pretty big hit this year. I think we spent most of the time in the maze lost, but we finally all made it back out! Grayson enjoyed pretending to be able to read the map they provided.

Just a few friends...

Luke's class attempting a class photo. Good luck. Note Luke and his buddy Thomas on the right.

Grayson and his teacher Dinah.

Indiana Fall Festival

We were way overdue a trip to see Steve's extended family in Indiana so we decided to brave the long drive and head in for Evansville's Fall Festival in early October. Jolene rode with us which made the trip MUCH better. I really can't complain with how the boys did on the drive. They were troopers. We went straight to the festival when we got to town.

Luke immediately wanted to ride some of the rides in the kids section. Grayson would have none of that. Grayson, who wanted to ride everything in sight at Busch Gardens, seemed to share my fear of rides that arrive on-site via truck and are installed by people lacking most of their teeth. Grayson preferred the games, the competitor that he is. Anything to win. And win he did....lots of small neon stuffed animals.


Steve and Luke on the helicopter!Luke with his cousin Lily. I think he was smitten.

By Day Two at the carnival Grayson was a bit more adventurous. He ended up riding everything he could and we practically had to drag both of them away.

Whoah! This one was a little rough!

We took Steve's 90 year old Grandma with us. We practically had to drag her away, too. I think she was having so much fun watching her great grandchildren on the rides!

Jolene's sister Jackie enjoyed the carnival with us and she even rode some of the rides with the kids!
Back at Great Grandma Rawlings' house the boys always like to try to hide in her cabinet. This year Grayson didn't fit.

Luke could barely squeeze in there.

What a great picture of Grandma Rawlings and her boys!

This year we decided the boys were old enough to enjoy a football game and we got root for Mater Dei where all the kids in the family attended (or will attend) school. Though just a high school, these folks take tailgating about as seriously as the Hokies!

Cornhole - toddler style.

If tackling doesn't work there's always the Dora the Explorere inflatable bat. Watch out Jordyn!

Grayson taking a break from football for a rare treat - a Sprite! Shhh....don't tell his Daddy!

Jordyn is old enough now to watch the kids and fortunately for us she enjoys it and is very good with the boys. They were in heaven. Jolene's entire side of the family made it over to Ron and Sandy's house where we were staying for a fabulous lowcounty boil. It was great to catch up with everyone, even if just for an evening.

And we got to meet two of the newest additions to the family. The last time we were in Indiana was for Hunter's Mommy and Daddy's wedding! My how time flies!

And Skyler is Rachel and Blaise's newest addition. Skyler and big sister Lily will have the same age difference as Grayson and Luke. Good luck this year, Rachel!

And though I didn't get pictures of everything we also squeezed in a trip to see Steve's aunt and uncle Linda and Billy at their place. The boys had a blast there as it's truly a haven for big boys and their toys.

Whew! That was a whirlwind of a trip. I think I'll catch some zzzz's on the way home!