Shaving at 4

Maddox received a very cool shaving kit from Grandma and Grandpa Dorn this year for Christmas. He uses it every night...and he smells goooood when he's done. He also received some tattoos from Rylan through his gift exchange at school...note all the tattoos on his head, arms, legs, etc... I let him put them on all by himself.

"Mom, did I spread it good enough?" shaving cream, razor, mirror...all set!

Cookie Monsters Inc.

As we were baking cookies a couple weeks ago for St. Joe's Annual Cookie Walk, Gavin and Maddox decided they'd start a cookie company now that I have this mixer fit for a "professional". Gavin decided that they'd charge $1 per cookie...and immediately started taking orders, with my help. Maddox likes to help for about 5 minutes, then he's done...he's not worried about the profit...Gavin is! So, needless to say the little moneymaker has come home with quite a chunk for his piggy bank. It's all good fun...except for the clean-up...we could do without that part, but it's all worth it in the end.



Gavin labeling baggies he made for each of the kids in his class and his teacher.

Our taste-tester hard at work!

Meet Santa and his elf....

Sarah Silverballs...

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is.....hmmmm!
Just had to share a couple of photos from an entertaining Christmas party last night. Thanks for all the laughs!

Oh the Joy of Snow...

Maddox was the first to notice the first snow of the season! He pulled the blinds up out in the living room. The rest of us were back in the bedrooms getting ready...he yelled..."It's Christmas!" then made sure we all came out to the living room to see. He doesn't get excited about much, but obviously snow tops his list! The boys both insisted on wearing their snowboots to school...can you say "dorks", but it was a battle I wasn't willing to fight this morning. Besides, it was the first snow and they were soooo excited.

Maddox finally realized that the snow was gone after he made it home from pre-school. His bottom lip hung down as he said "Mom, Christmas is gone...." I just thought it was funny that he related snow with Christmas SO much...cute, regardless!

Mallory is 1!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl...we're so lucky to have you!

My how you've grown...


Hope you had the best-est birthday ever!

Forrest Gump

Gavin writes in his journal at school almost every day. I am amazed at what he writes at this point. He always has some good stories to tell. This one made us laugh a lot! Our kids are always doing inappropriate things...it may be because they see inappropriate things or hear them too...from their Dad, of course. About a month ago we watched Forrest Gump with the boys. We skipped through the "bad" parts!(At least the really bad ones) This is Gavin's journal just as he wrote it.

November 9, 2009

Movie

The movie my family watched is Forest Gump and he was in the army and he went to Bootcamp. The man taught him to learn what it is like in the army. When he was in the army he had a friend named BuBu and Bubu got shot and Forest got shot in the bottom. His leader stepped on a bomb. His leader had two little nubs sticking out. His great grandpa died in the army. His dad died in the army. His other grandpa died in the army. He was mad that Forest would not let him die at first. But in the end he was happy that Forest helped him.

Gavin's teacher wrote...I have not watched Forrest Gump- but I think you did a great job retelling it. I wonder what she was thinking when she read it!

One more...he's going to have to take his journal back to school with him in the morning, so I wanted to share this one too.


November 23, 2009

Hunting

I went hunting on the weekend with my Grandpa but we did not get any deer. But we did see thirteen deer. and I shot at one but missed and my gun is not powrfol anuf to kill a deer. I shot a bullet at a leff (leaf) and I shot my gun at a tree and the bullet came flying back at me. I allmost got hit with the bullet. I like deer hunting too but I am mad because we did not get ane(any) deer. But I am happy. I got to go deer hunting with my Grandpa and I am happy I got time to spend with him. I like my Grandpa because he takes me hunting.

His teacher wrote...You do have a good Grandpa. I hope he takes you again---I'm waiting for deer meat.

There are many more...I completely enjoy reading his journal...how can you not!

My Daddy is a Verizon Man

On Monday morning Larry visited Maddox's pre-school class. He read them a book that we made a couple years ago when he came into Gavin's class. I think they liked it!

Party vans and missed milestones

This weekend was one I'll never forget...thanks to my girls. I got some Christmas shopping done and had many laughs in Nashville, TN. Thanks for the laughs...we had good luck...shopping...and getting EVERYTHING into the van.



When I made it home around 10pm tonight...Larry tells me that I missed a milestone...I knew immediately that Gavin had lost a tooth. I wasn't sure which one, but I was supposed to wake him up so he could tell me. The boys were in our bed since I was gone...that's our deal. If one of us is gone they can sleep in our bed (usually). I tried to wake him, but he was OUT. I did get to see which tooth it was. I'm sure he'll tell me all about it in the morning. AND because he didn't sleep in his own bed, the tooth fairy will have to wait until tomorrow night to visit...she has some planning to do before then.



Congratulations to you Gavin...this is only the beginning...and it could be interesting...especially if you take after your Dad.

Oh, and thanks for decorating your room while I was gone...I love it!

Harvesting Buds...

Gavin is all about combining or anything that has to do with farming...he takes after me so much...Ha Ha! He could ride and ride all day...Maddox, not so much. He likes it for a while, then is ready to move on to something else. He definitely wants his turn though! Thanks to Uncle John for the ride...it's funny...neither of the boys came home saying the F word like they do when they're with Uncle Steve...hmmmm!

Hunting season ought to be interesting this year!

What are your thoughts after seeing THIS photo?

Larry and the boys helped Grandpa Dorn put up this deer stand made for Grandpa + 2!

Hmmm...do you think any deer will come near! Good luck to them next weekend!

Thanks Grandpa for always giving the boys such opportunities! We are very lucky...even his teacher writes in his school journal how his weekends are so full of awesome adventures!

Donuts with Dad

This morning the boys had donuts with Larry at school..

To all Veterans...

We salute you!




Today and Always!

Arghhh...matey!

Gavin's face describes my feelings toward Halloween this year...I just wasn't into it. All that matters is that the boys had fun...and they did. We didn't even make it to see any of my family except for Kurt. Sorry, maybe next weekend...or maybe pictures will have to do this year.

I asked Gavin to give me a serious face...this is it.







Headed out to trick or treat with Aunt Kay and the Richardson family

Grandparents...

with their grandkids on Halloween!




The kids were so excited when they opened their treat bags at Grandma and Grandpa's this year. They all 3 got candy "cigs" as Gavin calls them along with lots of other good stuff. The funny thing is that as soon as they saw them they popped them in their mouths like they were pros. It was funny...they are very aware of the fact that they are NOT good for them and know what "cigs" do to their bodies, so I'm hoping that those facts outweigh how "cool" they look in these photos a few years down the road. Gavin really gave Aunt Vicki a hard time this summer while we were vacationing.

Almost 11 months...and look at this girl...looks rough and tough, doesn't she?

Back to Work...

...for a while anyway. I am filling in for the Language Arts teacher at the boys' school while she's on maternity leave. Today we were all in our blue and white and thought we needed to take a picture. So far, it's going really well. I really do have a super group of kids to work with. I'm exhausted, but we've had at least two or three things going on every night this week. I'm hoping things slow down a little next week!

Just a story...no photos

Tuesday night Maddox came into our room and snuggled up next me...and in my sound sleep I didn't even know he was there until Gavin came in around 5am. I realized I had two boys in the spot that Gavin normally squeezes into. I rolled Maddox over between Larry and I and went back to sleep. First thing in the morning...Maddox wakes up all smiles and says "Mom, did you hear me whisper in your ear last night?" I said "No, I didn't, what did you tell me?" Maddox says, "Don't tell Dad that I'm snuggling with you...because he'll take me to my own bed. It worked!" See Maddox usually comes in and crawls over Larry and inbetween us. This time he didn't want to get moved out so he stayed away from Dad. The only time Larry actually moves Maddox is on Thursday nights when he goes bowling and Larry comes home and decides he doesn't want to have a backache in the morning. He never moves him out if he comes in the middle of the night...actually he probably never even realizes he's in there til morning. I just thought it was cute...he was one proud little boy! I wish I had video of him telling it...whispering...I wander how long our bed will be so popular?

Fall Festival Parade

My Dad drove one of his antique tractors in the parade this year and his grandkids wanted to walk/ride with him. Gavin was the most excited about it...he told me that morning that this was the most exciting day of his life! He really wanted to throw candy...and I guess he threw some that he had gathered as he was waiting to start the parade route. I guess we need to work on tossing it to the edge of the street rather than throwing directly at the parade-goers! We didn't know if Maddox would make it to the end...he did...and was still raring to go!

Taylor and Kiley


The crew


On the parade route...toward the end. I hardly had enough time to get a photo. They were moving pretty quick at this point.


Gavin hauling his wagon...and tunes...International Harvester...which we couldn't hear as they passed us. It was a last minute type of thing...ah well!

Rhett trying out his tractor...looks like his legs are getting a tad too long!

The crew...they made it!

The Prince...and his Princess!

I was attempting to actually update the blog tonight...after a couple reminders that it has been a LONG time. I'm having trouble...and I'm tired...so I'll leave you with this photo taken at The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, IL on Sunday.

Maddox asked Grandpa if his seat was the "girl" seat. Grandpa said no...there they sat...eating their ice cream!