Touchdown!

Saturday was Matthew's 9th birthday party. He chose to have a football party this year. Being quite an affordable birthday party and one that was held at a local park, he was able to invite more people than we ever could have dreamed having at our home. We had over 20 kids! The kids first went through a training camp where they had to use their fast feet and run through a rope ladder of sorts and be timed, then there was an accuracy throw where you had to throw the football through some hula hoops, then we had a distance throwing contest. It all concluded with a massive football game. The boys all had a blast. Everyone went home with a trophy and a smile. Matthew then had a sleepover with a smaller amount of boys (thank goodness!) and they must have stayed up giggling like little girls for most of the night. And then they were up at 6:30 am, of course. Matthew said it was the best weekend of his life! Mission accomplished.

Here he is opening the present to end all presents: A Patriots jersey. Thanks Grandma!

Of course the day wasn't without it's usual "Maxtastrophe". Max decided to rip open a rather large bag of hot cocoa mix and sprinkle it all over the counter and floor. Sigh.

You can't be too mad at him, he is awfully darn cute...

My cousin Chris and his family came and luckily Chris was awesome enough to help Mike out coaching one side of the team.

Most of the gang

Next morning after the sleepover, bright and early...what do they wake up for?

Video games. Of course.

Steven trying to sneak up on me with the Nerf gun

SURPRISE!

Friday was Mike's 35th birthday and I decided the best way to celebrate it was to throw him a surprise party. I invited a handful of great friends and they all met at the coffee shop and waited with the kids for Mike and I to arrive. Mike absolutely loathes to not know what's going on. I love for him to not know what's going on! It was absolutely exquisite. He was really surprised and genuinely excited. Laurie and I worked on making a cake that only existed in my brain, it turned out fabulous and Mike said it was the best chocolate cake he'd ever eaten. It was a great evening spent with great friends celebrating a great birthday for the greatest man I've ever known (besides my Daddy, that is). Enjoy a few pics from the evening:

He's got gumption, for sure!

This morning, my precious 2-year old had a waffle for breakfast. It was a little while later that he asked me for something else to eat. I told him he would have to wait. (This child would eat all day long and eat you out of house and home, if you let him.) I wasn't in the room with him, but I can imagine him thinking, "Ha, I'll show you, MOM!"
The next thing I know he's walking in to my room saying, "I'm eating my sandwich, Mom." Yup, he made himself a peanut butter sandwich! I ran to the kitchen and found a clean scene. I opened the cabinet (a chair had been pushed over to the counter and left there) and found the bread bag placed on the shelf (although still open) and the peanut butter jar was completely closed. And you and I know just how hard it is sometimes to get those lids back on perfectly. I inspected his sandwich and sure enough, there was plenty of peanut butter on there, it was a perfect sandwich. My little genius even put the knife in the sink!
Commence amazement.

Inspecting his work

Taste test

This was as close to a smile as I could get. He was too hungry to smile, apparently. LOL

Geology Rocks!

Matthew played the part of the "Seashore" in the 3rd grade production of "Geology Rocks" tonight. It was a fabulous play. Matthew kept it a secret that he had a singing solo, and it rocked! The different 3rd grade classes either dressed up as volcanoes, mountains, or ferns. Because Matthew was the Seashore he got to dress up differently than his class (who were volcanoes and so wore red shirts, khaki pants, and spewing lava hats). There were about 10 speaking roles, but all the children sang the songs. Matthew had 2 lines, sang a solo, and then sang a part with 3 other children. I'll soon post some video of it, but for now...you'll have to settle for some pics.

Silly Max

Some of you know why eating this ice cream cone was such a big deal. Others will just have to enjoy the cute pic of a cutie patootie eating a yummy ice cream cone!

The hair! The hair! He has legendary locks, for sure. And no, he does not have a cone head. I've checked under those curls just to make sure.

His Zoolander look