Science Center in Baltimore

The boys and I had the BEST time on our latest POLP adventure!  Last Saturday Peyton, Jaxson and I set out for a trip to the Science Center in Baltimore to meet up with a bunch of our friends.   Here’s the infamous group shot (ha, ha, these are always fun!)

Love this photo of Jaxson and Nathan “talking”….

Sweet Simon with the boys!

Parker and Peyton

 

The boys had a great time checking out all the weather stuff, everything from tornados to sand dunes.

After lunch we checked out the Shipwreck exhibits.  Aren’t these two of the cutest pirates you’ve ever seen?!

Peyton and Preston steering the ship!

Poor Jaxson was exhausted after lunch so he missed most of the Shipwreck exhibits…….

We also watched a show at the Planetarium where I did not get any pictures.  However, I did take a few pictures of the telescope on the roof which had special lenses so we could look at the sun.  I think the constellations and sun were one of our favorite parts of the day!

After such a great day we decided to walk around the Inner Harbor and find dinner with Kim and Preston & Melissa, Sonya, Zoe and Akela.  It was a perfect way to end our day.

I just love all these girls and their kids,  including those that could not join us today, we missed you all!!!  I can’t believe what amazing friendships I would have missed out on if Jaxson was not here to introduce me to them.

Halloween 2010

Halloween was a little different this year.  We carved our pumpkin the day before Halloween, but neither of the boys seemed very interested.  I think they spent all of about 30 seconds “helping” and then were off to play or just watch Jason finish it.

We did peak Peyton’s interest a little more when we let him use the knife to actually cut out the face. 

The boys had a lot more fun making the “Mr. Potato Head” pumpkins a few weeks ago.  These are really nice as they last a lot longer than the carved ones.  Unfortunately, Peyton was not in the mood to pose for pictures, but I did manage to get one of each of them with our pumpkins (just not together….)

We usually take the boys trick-or-treating around our town each Halloween, but this year we went to Jason’s sisters house and spent the night walking around their neighborhood with a big group of kids.  Peyton had a great time running around with all the older boys, but it was a little more difficult for Jaxson to keep up.  No big deal though, he had plenty of candy and Peyton would always run back down the driveway with a second handful of candy for Jaxson!

Here’s my vampire and black night.  Hope everyone had a great Halloween too!!

The Pumpkin Patch!

Ok, so I’m a little behind.  We actually went to the pumpkin patch weeks ago, but I just haven’t had a chance to write everything down yet. 

Jason, the boys and I joined my sister, brother-in-law and my niece and nephew at a new pumpkin patch this year.    Here’s all the kids(Peyton, Jaxson, Erin & Zach) checking out one of the big pumpkins!

Both of the boys had a great time picking out VERY SPECIFIC pumpkins.  Good grief, they were cute, but I think this process took forever for each of them to finally pick the perfect pumpkin!

Along with picking out our pumpkins there were all kinds of things for the kids to do.  We all took a hay ride and the kids got to play on some rides.  Jaxson just loved driving this train and the bigger kids were nice enough to pose for a picture!!

There was also a nice petting farm with all kinds of animals.

And finally on our way out we stopped at the bathrooms where Peyton made me take a picture of the out house.  He just thought this was the funniest thing ever!

LPA Fall Regional 2010

A couple of weekends ago was our LPA fall regional in Annapolis.  Since we only live about an hour away we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see some of our LPA family.  Peyton had a soccer game that morning so we didn’t make it to the hotel to register until 12:30.  Unfortunately by that time we missed all the meetings and group discussions, but we still had a chance to spend time with everyone and we had decided to go on one of the suggested boat cruises.  Even though we live in the area it was a lot of fun to see the Naval Academy and stadium from the water and just cruise along. 

 

Taylor and I wanted to sit on the top level of the boat and we finally convinced Peyton too!  Here’s Trace, Jaxson and Peyton enjoying the view from the front of the boat.

I think Peyton was pretty happy we sat on the top level too since he got a chance to drive the boat!

Destini helped hold Jaxson steady while he and Trace got a chance to steer.

The kids all got really cool “Captain for A Day” stickers too.

After the boat ride we all went to Quiet Waters Park for dinner.  I know someday we’ll really enjoy the banquets and scheduled dinners that LPA puts together, but this was so much easier with small kids.  It’s difficult to get my kids to “sit down” for a dinner so it was really great to just let them play and be able to actually talk with some of my friends. 

Taylor, Peyton & Trace:

Preston, Peyton & Trace:

Jaxson & Ben:

 

Jaxson & Parker:

I just love these pictures Amanda got.  It was so cute watching the two of them.  Parker was talking the entire time and Jaxson was intently watching him.  I just wish we knew what he was saying!!

Amanda also got a great picture of Peyton and Trace while we were waiting to get on the boat.  I just love this picture!

It was an absolutely beautiful day and I was so glad to spend time with our LPA family.  Love you all!!

SOCCER TIME!!!

It’s that time of year again, soccer time!!  Peyton started his third year of soccer and although our schedules are really hectic with his practice and games, I prefer soccer over baseball any day!  Fall is my favorite time of year and I love getting to spend my Saturday mornings watching him play.

Peyton is now six and is playing in the 5-6 year old group.  It’s amazing what a difference a year has made for him!  His team has been practicing for the past month or so and he’s now played three games and done extremely well in each game.  Our biggest problem has been getting him to sit on the side lines watching his team mates play when its their turn rather than playing with his brother!

Good luck Peyton!  We hope you have a great time in soccer this year!!

Elmo Live

We’ve taken Peyton to see Disney on Ice a couple of times, but never got the chance to see Elmo Live when he went thru his “Elmo is the Greatest Thing Ever” phase.  I wanted to do something special for Jaxson’s 2nd birthday and since he’s now going thru this same phase I started looking into taking him to Sesame Place in Pennsylvania.  The more I looked the more I realized this park reminded me of Disney World, including the price.  Wow, it’s expensive!!  So, when I saw an Elmo Live show was coming to Baltimore I thought it would be really cool to go see this show instead.

Last weekend Jaxson and I met with Andrea & Ben, Amanda & Parker and Melissa & Nathan to see Elmo’s Healthy Heroes live on stage.  We met at a coffee shop first and had just a little time to sit and chat while the kids enjoyed a snack before we had to get going to the show. 

Jaxson was a little reserved when the show first started.  When the lights went out he sat down in my lap and pulled my arms around him to hold on.  He didn’t cry, but was very quiet and just watched the show.  Nice for me, I could get a couple of pictures…..

Half way thru the show they took a small “intermission”.  This was a nice excuse to bring out $10 Elmo balloons for all of the kids to ask for.  We were lucky enough to escape without any major meltdowns for a balloon and did not have to buy any.

Just as the second half of the show was about to start Amanda guessed there was at least $50 - $100 on the ceiling of the theater (just imagine how many crying children there were and annoyed parents that their $10 balloon was now on the ceiling and out of reach!)

The second half of the show was much more fun for us.  Jaxson stood in my lap jumping, dancing and clapping thru this part of the show.  All in all it seemed like the kids had a really good time.  We had amazing seats and loved the show!! 

We have a TODDLER!!

Jaxson celebrated his 2nd birthday on Friday!!  He’s definitely become more independent and wants to do things on his own as most toddlers do.  I cherish the moments he lets me cuddle him because they are getting fewer and farther between as he is no longer a baby.  Elmo and tractors are his passions right now (as you’ll see in the pictures………)

He got to celebrate his birthday a little early this year with a couple of presents.  My mom got him the cube chairs that Amelia and her mom, Kasia, turned us on to.  (Thanks Amelia!!!)  Jaxson loves his chairs so much that he refused to get out of them to take a nap on the day they arrived!

These really are GREAT chairs.  He loves sitting in them, but now he can also have a little table to put his cereal or snack on too.

Since Peyton is such a Ravens fan and loves wearing his jersey he thought it would be a good idea to give Jaxson a jersey of his own so they could match during football games on Sundays this year.  Jason, Peyton and I also gave Jaxson a new toy to ride outside while Peyton’s riding his bike or in his jeep.  He LOVES his new Harley Davidson!!

His face just lit up when he realized he could drive it on his own.  His steering skills need a little work, but I’m sure it won’t take long since we can hardly manage to get him off the bike!

Thursday evening I needed to bake his cake.  Peyton loves helping me cook so both the boys decided to help bake the cake.  I honestly thing they had an alternative reason as here they after the cake was put into the oven……..

I usually let the boys stay home from school or daycare on their birthdays and we do something together for fun.  This year I found an Elmo Live show that I bought tickets for which is next weekend so we decided to just have a small birthday party with my family on the evening of his birthday.  Besides Jaxson was completely spoiled at his daycare with a present including an Elmo outfit and firetruck along with cupcakes for everyone that his daycare provider made.

I took off a couple of hours early from work and decided to finish the cake before the boys came home.

 

Peyton came home from school and we picked up Jaxson from daycare.  I was in the middle of changing his clothes for the party when he found his cake on the kitchen table.  I’m glad he was so excited about the cake, but here’s what happened when I told him he couldn’t eat it right away and had to wait for the party.

Needless to say, he won…………..

Well it was his birthday after all so he got the first piece of cake, even if it was 2 hours before the party started!

He did love his cake and tried really hard to blow out the candles this year.

It took a little effort to get him to open his presents this year as he was too busy playing with his cousins, but once we got him started he had a great time.

 

He got lots of great Elmo stuff and a really cool tractor hat from Mom-Mom.

What a great birthday!  Although I may miss certain moments of him being a baby, I absolutely LOVE having my little man now.  There’s nothing better than hearing him say “love you mommy” in the sweetest voice you could ever imagine!

Happy Birthday Jaxson!  I love you!!!!!!!!