MRE Client Appreciation Day in North Pole

This year Madden Real Estate held their annual client appreciation day down at the North Pole office and one of the perks about working in North Pole is having Santa as your neighbor.  They boys were ecstatic to see him and give him a heads up on what they want for Christmas this year.

We Are in Trouble

If Bo & Sam can devour an entire large cheese pizza by themselves at the ages of 7 and 5, what the hell are we going to do when they are teenagers?!  Bye bye savings account, hello buying in bulk.  

The Best Fall Day Ever

We had the most gorgeous day the other day.  The leaves were falling, the air was crisp and the sun was shining bright.  I thought for a minute I could hear it saying, "F you Winter darkness.  It is still my turn!"  And then as if that was not enough, the boys were laughing and playing and having a great time together.  It was by far, a top 10 day.

I title this one, "The Chandler Smiles"

Max at 4

He has catch phrases:  "That's the spirit", "That's what I'm talking about", "Now we're talking", "Sweet!", "Thank you good sir"

He calls me "pretty mama"

Has been binky free for a month

Loves chocolate milk, apple juice, chicken nuggets with ranch, apples, corndogs, raspberries, blueberries, grapes, brisket and all types of chocolate

Still has bad eczema on his feet, lower legs, and wrists.  Birch seems to be the biggest trigger.

Is a cuddler and a total mamma's boy

Wears size 12 shoes

Still says words that end with an "r" with an "n" instead.  Fourn (four), cahn (car)

Hates to share his toys and gets really mean about it.  Really mean.

Throws things when he's mad

Has the biggest, cutest smile

Flips, spins, ninja kicks, straddle jumps and cartwheels all around the house.  The boy never sits still

Loves to have dance parties and jam

Is the first to tell me that I look pretty or notice my new earings

Talks and talks and talks and talks and talks and talks and talks

Goes to bed between 8-8:30 and sleeps until 7ish.  He still wakes up 1-2 times a week and comes crawl into our bed.

Wears a pull-up to bed but wakes up dry most mornings.  (update - stopped wearing a pull-up the last week of October and has not had an accident yet)

He puts his finger to his chin when he thinks

Loves Transformers, Power Rangers, Spongebob & Tom & Jerry

Not a big eater

Likes to play dress up - any superhero with a weapon

He's a go-getter and not afraid to hang with the older kids

Happy Birthday Max!

My little Maxy is 4.  How did that happen?! 

 

We celebrated at home with Grandma & Grandpa and all of his favorites.  Brisket, ice cream cake and a dance party. 

He got a big box full of dress up clothes from Opa & Nana, and a cool helicopter Lego set and clothes from Grandma & Grandpa.  Daddy & I gave him a SpongeBob Book, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Book, some pajamas and another Lego set. 

Here's Sam & Max all dressed up. 

I so wish I had pictures of the dance party but they were insistent on having all the lights out so picture taking was not ideal.  But Sam & Max were hil-arious!  Absolutely hilarious!!  Cartwheels, scissor kicks, fast knees, floor spins, spaztastic movements to the beat.  They had all the moves and wore us all out just watching them.  It was awesome.

Moose Camp

Wes did not get a moose this year (sniff sniff) but he did camp with guns for a week up in the White Mountains with his dad.  They had a moose camp set up but once the season was over, it all had to be packed out.  So Sunday afternoon we loaded up the boys and went with him to help.  Well, "help" may not be the right word, but we did go with him.

It was a beautiful day to be outside.  I just wish I had taken more pictures.

 Bo & Sam (and no, Bo did not drive.  He's just posing)

 Wes & Sam picking blueberries

 Sam's loot

 Mmmmmmm....

Where camp once was

Dirt Bike Boys

Bo & Devon love to ride dirt bikes and we finally arranged for them to ride together.  We met up at the Birch Hill parking lot and turned them loose.  They had a blast.

Bo on the left, Devon on the right

Max's First Day of Preschool

It's hard to believe but #3 started school today.  He is going to the same preschool Bo & Sam went to, Bright Beginnings, and I still love everything about it.  I love that he will have the same teacher, be in the same room, and do all the same things as his brothers.  I find peace in that and it's so neat to hear Bo & Sam talking to him about their experiences and what they remember.  This morning at breakfast they were getting him all excited about the gym and the castle and the Legos.  It melted my heart. 

Unfortunately the excitement wore off by the time we got to school and he realized that I wasn't staying the entire time.  He joined the class well while I was still in the building filling out paper work and such but when I went to tell him I was leaving, the flood gates opened.  He was borderline hysterical.  It wasn't that he didn't want to stay, he just didn't want me to go.  He's always been my little buddy and he wanted so badly to go with me.  I knew he would be fine and on the count of 3 I handed him over to Mrs. Dupont and walked away. 

I took a deep breath and after putingt my heart back in my chest, I went shopping. 

When I picked him up, he was all smiles.  Mrs. Dupont said he took about 10 minutes to join the group once I left.  They were in the gym.  Max was watching while all the kids were getting chased by the aide when Mrs. Dupont heard him mumble under his breath, "she can't catch me". So she told the aide while looking at Max that someone thinks he can't be caught and he instantly lit up with an ear to ear grin and took off running.   That was that.  He then had a little trouble with the transition from the gym to snack time (screamed at the teacher that he WAS NOT EATING and DID NOT WANT TO EAT SNACK) but after that, he was great!

Here are a few pics from when I picked him up.  He was not in the mood when I dropped him off. 

 up in the castle