Growing

We had the boys' 2 year checkup on Saturday and here are their most recent stats:

Brett
Height: 32 1/4 inches
Weight: 19.6 lbs

Jackson
Height: 33 inches
Weight: 25 lbs

Peyton
Height: 33 1/4
Weight: 25.6 lbs

Peyton was our smallest at birth (4 lbs 2 oz) and is leading in height and pounds but only by a bit! We are really working hard to get Brett to 20 lbs so looks like more Cheeto Puffs are in order!

We also saw the GI specialist and he thinks all 3 boys are outgrowing their food sensitivities. We still have to be careful, but hopefully we can continue to add new foods!

Summer in the Sandbox

When I was a girl we had a sandbox in our backyard. We didn't live in walking distance of a park so we spent a lot of time in the sandbox. Some of my favorite memories involve our sandbox. We didn't go to the toy store very often but I remember getting to pick out a new sand toy (maybe it wasn't every year, but that's how I remember it). We also had our sand delivered by a truck so you can imagine the excitement as a dump truck of sand pulled up and dumped off a bunch of sand for us! If you talk to any of my family members they will tell you about the Smurf village I made in the sandbox one summer. I literally spent all day on it and made an entire village and used the little Smurf figurines.

So, when the boys were baptised at 4 months old my parents gave them a sandbox that my dad built and my sisters painted for them. They were too little to enjoy it until this year. Auntie Nancy gave the boys sand for their birthday and they really enjoy playing in there (although I still haven't exactly figured out how to keep the sand in the box and not in the washing machine! I can't wait for nice enough weather for shorts and a hose :) We also have a really nice cover Auntie Amy, Uncle Jackie, Caroline & Sophie got us for Christmas. It fits perfect and keeps the water and animals out.


Tate doing some of the heavy lifting - we have three great foreman too.

Not only did Auntie Nancy buy the sand she really did the work hauling the sand and filling the box - thanks Auntie Nancy!



They all love knocking down anything you build in the sand and Brett loves having his feet buried!

Golden birthday

The boys are officially 2! They had the most wonderful birthday. The weather was beautiful so the kids were all able to play outside for awhile. The boys had a ball and Tate and I ended the day feeling so grateful to be blessed with such wonderful family - we consider everyone who was here part of our family and to have everyone surrounding the boys on their special day was awesome.
It was their Golden Birthday - for those who aren't familiar with this it is when the date of your birth matches your age. We decorated with gold stars and threw in some Elmo for good measure.
Here are some pictures of their special day:

Isn't this the most amazing cake? My friend since first grade Gina and her husband Dan made it for the boys. I thought they would just draw Elmo on a sheet cake but WOW! The boys were so excited when they saw it and it got a lot of oohs and aahs from everyone! Not to mention it tasted amazing!

Singing Happy Birthday - one of my favorite moments was after we sang Happy Birthday to Brett and Jackson - Peyton pointed to himself and said Peyton? I think he was afraid he was going to be left out!

Blowing out their candles - Auntie Kiki made the special "golden" crowns and they kept them on!

Maddy entertains Peyton

Opening gifts and assembling toys was so much fun!

Auntie Amy gives Brett a go in the car

Jackson and Abbie climbing and sliding

The aftermath. Grammy's gold tinsel was a big hit and very festive! Plus she cleaned all of it up at the end of the party!!!

Brett tries on the goggles they got as part of a tool set (thank you Auntie Rhonda!) The birthday was a whirlwind and we spent the next day playing with one toy at a time and having so much fun!

The boys got these cool motorcycles (Thank you Aunt Maureen & Uncle David!) You probably can't see the details, but they customized them with their names and included an orange T for University of Tennessee! Every day the boys take their tools down to their motorcycles and "fix" them!