CRACKIN' GOOD TIME!

So here are the pictures from Harrison's birthday. They have been slow to come because I'm having a hard time admitting that he's eight. He had a small party this year with three friends, crab legs and a sleep-over. Now for the pics...

I have a feeling this will not be the last time I see these four bellied up to a bar. They were just looking at the goldfish. Alex getting ready for the crab cracking...
Alexander went for the chicken fingers instead, but the others put away a serious amount of food... I can't imagine when they are teenagers... ok I can... I really need to stop that...

Sassy made the cupcakes and they were great... as usual. We had a lot of family at the other end of the table. Grandpa, Sassy, Pop-Pop, Lolly, Rere, Rylee, Talon, Jessica, Aunt Beck, and Grandmother all helped us celebrate.

Then we came back home to open more presents and play, play, play... We set the tent up in the living room and got at least four hours sleep. I wasn't expecting much more...

The next morning-
nothing says fun like four boys with no sleep playing a racing game that totally wears you out...

but Macy-Mace didn't have any problem sleeping in...

it really was a great party. :)
thanks everyone!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN

a bunch of men are responsible (and I use that term loosely) for entertaining a couple hundred boys...

you have grown men and women being slung around a fellowship hall in laundry baskets being pulled by dozens of frantic children. Sully and I usually sit out the den meetings, but I had to see this. You use the term "absolute chaos" a lot when you have children, but this truly was. I drew a red arrow pointing to Harrison. He loved it and only had a couple of injuries. Plus his den won and that is all that matters to an eight year-old.

Go Wolf Den 3!

THE MY PUNKIN PIES TRIBUTE...

TO A PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER

HALF WAY TO 16...

Harrison turned eight today at 5:03 pm. I decided to take a look back. In an effort to not waste too much time or get too depressed, I limited my searching to January and picked only one photo for each year. Here are the last nine Januaries...

2009 2008
2007
2006
2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

happy birthday.

DIVIDE AND CONQUER

We used to do one-on-ones with the kids until we realized that they didn't need time alone with each parent, but rather needed to be with us together. But we have started doing things separately again as the boys' needs seem to be so different these days. Harrison and I have had a couple of cool "dates" lately. Thought I would share some pictures..

Harrison has wanted an ipod shuffle for some time and has been saving his money. As Christmas approached, he started wondering out loud, "wouldn't it be cool if santa surprised me with an ipod shuffle." I'm sure Santa really wanted you to reach your goal since you had worked for it, but was torn because you are such an awesome kid. Much to Santa's relief, he got some Christmas money from Aunt Betty and it put him over the top. He didn't want to buy it at Target. He wanted to go to the Apple Store. So we did. It was amusing how unprepared they were to deal with cash. That ancient form of paper currency that packed Harrison's pockets really threw them for a loop...

Next we went to Panera to get the Chicken Noodle Soup. Harrison was a little ticked that they gave him a really hard roll and not the chunk of french bread. He said they needed to change the name to Panera Roll Company if they were not going to give you bread...

We also went to the see the Falcons vs. the Vikings...It was awesome!

We let Lolly and Pop-Pop join us since they had the tickets. :) Harrison liked it, but wants to go to a game that doesn't have a roof. It was really loud in the dome. I'm all for a road trip to Lambeau Field...

Harrison also got a bonus lesson on how to park in the 'hood and return to an intact car. Just give it that already ransacked look...

Sully has had some dates, too. They usually involve sugar and endless (I MEAN ENDLESS) tales of Alexandra and his family.

RESTING ON OUR RUMPITOS...

we spotted a friend of Skippito Friskito in the clouditos.

it is Poquito Tito, the smallest of the small ones...

NEW SEA KITTENS ON THE BLOCK

Sully's Fish: Sucker Speedy

Harrison's Fish: The Green Stripe Amigos
Long John, Baby Boy, Ice Fish, L.L. Cool Fish,
and two yet to by named. He claims that he's seen their personality,
but just can't quite pin a name on them yet.

DANCIN' TO THE SOUNDS OF THE HYDROGEN ROCKET...

yep- lots of ticking, but no blasting...

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER...

Does it apply to mom's that just
don't want the punkins to go back to school?

Maybe my kids are weird, but they like hanging out with me. Or maybe I'm weird because I like hanging out with them until about 5 pm when it starts to go downhill. Over the break, they went to the nail salon and watched me get my eyebrows waxed. It was so exciting that Harrison had to take pictures. She then gave him the used wax strip to investigate. They were very impressed. He also photographed it, but I'll spare you. And, YES- I made them throw it away and not incorporate it into an art project. I'm sure it would have been something Chewbacca inspired..

oh well... it was fun while it lasted...
I honestly think I hate homework more than they do...
maybe I'll install one of those full spectrum lights
on the steering wheel since we will be in the car so much...
how many days until spring break??

I LOVE THESE MOMENTS...

When Harrison is being such a good big brother
and Sully is letting him...
Playing the bells is serious business and Harrison was helping him start and stop. Sometimes they are just so sweet...

IF MACE COULD TALK...

"Moooommmm. Sully is hogging the sun again."