It's about that time again....

And we are off to find new adventures, practice thankfulness, make new memories and spend a week with our favorite people in the whole wide world.

Unimaginable

When I see these handsome faces, it is unimaginable that I could ever have lived without them...

Class Pics - 2011 - Maverick, 3 years ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Radley 2 years

11-11-11

It seemed as good a day as any to attempt to resurrect my non-existent blog lately. I have had so many adventures with fabulous stories, but at the end of every day, so much is still left undone that blogging seems a bit of a luxury with so much still to do on the "to do" list.

But I write for my boys. I write for them to know the stories of when they were little and how much of a blessing they are in my life. And there is always time to tell someone how important they are. So I will attempt to start documenting again. I realize how much I have missed in the last 6 months that is forgotten from memory, that I wish I had kept a record of here.

And so, on my birthday 11-11-11...here we go again. Happy Birthday to ME!


We got the cheesiest supermarket cake we could with as many toys piled on the top as we could fit...and Maverick declared it "the best cake ever!" But he is a little free with his "best _____ ever!" compliments lately, so you can take it for what it is worth until he finds the next best thing ever...


I remember being a kid an thinking of they day that seemed impossibly far away of 11-11-11 and how cool it would be to have a birthday on that date and I remember thinking I would be "so old!"(44)...lol. And I may have the years under my belt, but my brain still thinks I am 26. 26 was a very good year...

But 26 is past. I embrace 44. 26 did not have the best and most important people in my world...ever (as Maverick would say). And though it does not look at all like I thought as a child, 44 rocks! I spent the day with my best guys doing things that make them happy for seeing the joy in their faces is the best gift of all.


So where to begin with the last 6 months?....

Our awesome trip to Disney World with our favorite people on the planet?



How Maverick was finally tall enough for ONE of the big kid rides at 38"...still chasing the elusive 40" requirement today...but he is oh so close! He pride was only exceeded by the width of his smile...


Our amazing trip to the awsome Santa Barbara Zoo located literally across the street from the ocean! Gorgeous weather! Loving the sea breezes! Feeding giraffes! Such an amazing time...



Our endless summer adventures?



Our Maverick/Mommy trip to see Cars 2 & play in the fun zone?




How about our jet ski adventure when we fell in the lake?



And then we had a bit of a photo hiatus. Mama was in a funk. I had 3 miscarriages this year trying for 1 more precious gift. It was at about this "funk" time, that I was dealing with the fact that this was not meant to be. I can only look back now and see that is what it was. After a funk, I found my appreication for what I have right now...not 10 minutes ago and not what might be...but live in the moment...to focus on these two little balls of energy and enthusiasm...that help me to forget temporarily the grown up things. And I am sure they don't know what a wonderful service they provide for us supposed adults who are supposed to be doing the take care of, not the other way around.

So I picked my camera back up in October and used my muses to get back in the groove. As such, I will recap October on its own in the next post.

As always hundreds of photos that will never make it to this blog here!

And PS...I am totally going to "cheat" and back post specific ones I can remember. I really love having this documentation of our life together...it is worth trying to "go back" when I can...

Sweet Sixteen...

I remember the day you were born...well actually the day you were born after the day you were supposed to be born. After an early induction on Nov 3...you nestled down and refused to come out! I had to mark out Bailey Born!!! on Nov 3 on that years calendar and rewrite on Nov 4. We love you bunches! And although not perfect, this is the best 2 toddlers and an aunt who think you pretty much hung the moon could do...

Halloween Weekend Breakfast!

Complete with "chocolate juice" from Aunt Jen's Halloween Care Package...also where you got those cute plates! And I love that you call it "chocolate juice" and I love that it only comes from your Aunt Jen.

Without?

"There are lives I can imagine without children but none of them have the same laughter & noise."
— Brian Andreas

Farm Party

We had the pleasure of attending a super-adorable Farm Birthday party at our October haunt, pun intended (Underwood Farms, again!)

They had just the cutest cake/cupcakes. I had to share. If I was going to do a farm party, this cake and cupcake combo is right up there on a great idea!...



Oh the cake moment of a party...that is their favorite...For them, the cake is just the vehicle for the frosting. Lick it off, and get back to playing. Except Radley, he can power down a cupcake or three. And aside from cake, which would be their first priority, we had a whole lot of fun!

They had unlimited open fields to pull a wagon as long as they wanted to...


Go on Wagon Rides through the fields...



Play in the hay...have I mentioned how much Maverick likes hay?



Re-explore tractors! (of which they never tire...I usually have to use some sort of lure to get them moving along...like the train)




And then we get stuck at the giant wooden train for an interminable amount of time...


Because truth be told, they love trains a hair more than tractors...but they are neck and neck...

And as is usually common, my boys find a way to push the limits of what was "intended"...and in this instance, it was ok... Brother exploring "under"...


So we scurry...


And we climb...


And we run...

...another Saturday away...

Yet, who knew that the most fascinating thing of the day would be the recycle bin full of bees and empty soda cans...


...and I thought the train and the tractors were patience builders...