Alexander Salamander Turned ONE!

Cookie!

Whenever Andrew uses the potty, Alex chases after him, climbs on the stool, and watches himself in the mirror

enjoying some steak and watermelon 

licking that plate clean!

Alex had a good birthday.  At least I think he did.  He liked the cake so that means it was a success, right?  We invited some friends over to eat cupcakes and ice cream cones.  Two of our friends with kids Andrew's age ended up not being able to come because their kids were sick so Andrew moped around about wanting his "frens to come to azander's party" :(  It was actually pretty pitiful!  But the cupcakes and ice cream cheered him right up!  Alex wasn't too sure about everyone looking at him and singing but he dug right into his cake and ice cream.  Andrew helped him blow out his candle and open presents.  Andrew kept telling me that day that Alex wanted to share his birthday with him.  He was also so excited about the party that he couldn't fall asleep for a nap.  Funny kid.  Alex got a new cell phone, camera, car keys, and a car.  I think we set a pretty high standard for his 16th birthday!  Andrew picked out some finger puppets to give to him as well and was really excited to give them to him.  I also finally printed off some of his scrapbook pages and put together his book.  We had fun looking through it and realizing how quickly his first year went by.  Xander Mander is such a fun kid to have around.  He's starting to figure out walking and holding his own with Andrew.  Their personalities are so different but they love to play together, and fight, then play, then wrestle.  I'm sure there's lots more of that to come!

Andrew being the life of the party

and not holding still for a picture!

the cutest cake covered kid ever!

Joy School/All About Andrew

We are three weeks into our Joy School adventure and so far so good!  All Andrew thinks about during the week is if it is a school day or not.  We are only doing it on Tuesday and Thursday so 3/5 days during the week he is disappointed :)  We try to go to library story time, the park, a friend's house, etc on the other days of the week.  Andrew sure isn't a homebody!  One day we even spent a total of FIVE combined hours at THREE different parks!  We went to the park by our house from 8am to 10:30am, another park in our subdivision while I had a meeting from 3:30 to 5:30 pm, and then as soon as dad got home from work we walked to the school playground across the street from 6:30 to 7pm.  And I think that 75% of his time at the park was spent swinging.  Man that kid loves to swing!

With his new BFF Hunter on their first day of school.  I teach one week then the other mom teaches the next week at her house.  I think I have just as much fun preparing and teaching the lessons as the boys do participating in them.  Favorites so far have been finger painting with chocolate pudding, singing Joy School songs at the top of their lungs, and visits from "Joy Boy" (a very hideous looking hand puppet that I made).

Whenever we play at the elementary school playground he tells me that he and Hunter are going to that school when they get big.  He absolutely loves going to Hunter's house too.  He has a trampoline and a sand box.  What more could two little boys ask for?  

My work of art.  Well, more like Sandee, Mollie, and Avery's....they did all the work :)  When the boys are ready to listen and learn they get to "open" their window by turning it around to show their picture.  Hunter's mom took it to their house after school on Thursday (because we are going to their house next week) and Andrew has been missing his school house.  He keeps asking if we can run to Hunter's house real quick and get it back.  Today he told me that if I would drive him there, then he would just run in real fast, grab the house and come back out and they won't care because they are probably sleeping.  haha

We went to one of Robert's mission companion's wedding reception a couple weeks ago in Denver.  Andrew loaded his pockets with M&Ms then we went to the theater to see "Planes."  I brought a t shirt for him so he didn't have to go to the movies all dressed up.  Robert had free tickets and a voucher for popcorn and drinks.  Andrew was in hog heaven watching the movie and eating popcorn.  All Alex wanted to do was climb the stairs so I spent most of the time out in the lobby.  Good thing it was free!

Riding his "space port" aka rocket ship bike.  He's getting pretty speedy!

Mommy, take a picture of me!

We were at the library and he went over to the kid computers while Robert and I were talking to a friend.  When he sat down I saw that there was a Dora and Diego game on the screen and when I looked back at him a minute later he had pulled up an excel spreadsheet.  Like father like son!

A cookie and a car at King Soopers

And a ride on the horse.  Grocery store trips are much more fun with dad- he pushes the bulky car cart and stops at the ponies :)

Robert flew to Provo last week for a PwC event at BYU and brought home some BYU stuff.

I got a cheap set of croquet at....you guessed it!  Goodwill!  We've had fun playing in the evenings.  The last time we played Andrew set up the wickets for us all over the lawn.  It ended up being really fun!

What would we do without our spunky, chatty, energetic Andrew?  Things sure would be dull around here without him!

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Finally uploaded pictures from the camera.  It's been fun to look through them but sometimes I wish time would slow down and the boys would stop growing up :)

Andrew teaching Alex to sword fight with kitchen utensils.  Alex can hold his own.

Hanging out with Grandpa, Gran, and Uncle Bubba

Justin filled Andrew's pocket with some change and now he's the coolest person on the planet.  He used it to ride the pony at the grocery store and stashed the rest for who knows what else.  Motor home, maybe?

It's fun to watch his little imagination.  He told me he was fishing.

And then there's this little squirt!

He got to where he could be halfway up the stairs and standing on the landing in two seconds flat.

Then I would wonder where he went and say "Alex?"

And that cute little face would pop around the corner, all grins.  

We ruined his life and put a gate at the bottom of the stairs.  I can now turn my back for two seconds without losing track of him.  He stood at the bottom of the stairs shrieking and shaking the gate.  Poor kid.

Showing off his reward for "taking care of business"

Robert has gone to "Pencil-bania" a couple times and Alex has been so happy whenever he comes home.

Driving "Lightening McQeen"

I think they were having a chocolate chip party

zonked

not zonked

I don't know if it's the fact that Andrew started Preschool/Joyschool today or what but man have I been feeling sentimental about him growing up.  First day of kindergarten will sure be rough.....for me!  He is such a smart kid and loved singing songs and reading books today at "school."  He walked around for the rest of the day like he was the most grown up kid on the planet and so proud of himself for getting to start school.  He sure is a good kid!

And Alex turns one next week.  Can someone please push the pause button?