Stroud's Preserve Photo Shoot

Around the beginning of November Max needed to bring a family photo of a fall activity to school.  Well, we didn't even really have a family photo let alone one of us doing something together in the fall, so we staged it!  We went on an "adventure" at a nearby trail and asked some random stranger to snap some photos of us.  I think they turned out pretty good!

We staged the photo, but not the activity itself.  Paul is always taking the boys on a "nature adventure" and this trail is close enough to us that we go there whenever we need a nice place to explore.  It doesn't hurt that no matter what time of year it is, it so pretty here that it makes for a nice background to any photo.  However, when snapping pictures of such adorable subjects as my three sweet boys, I don't think it would matter a bit what the background scenery is...

Max Turns 5!

Where did the last 5 years go?  I can't believe my little Max turned five...

As is the tradition at our house the last couple of years--the birthday person gets to celebrate for practically the entire week of their birthday.  We had to make cupcakes to take to preschool a couple of days before Max's big day--so why not add a candle and sing?

Max is really into Super Mario Bros right now and wanted a "Mario" birthday.  These were the treats he took to school...

Then he got an ice cream cake a couple of nights later on his actual birthday...

But the coolest cake of all was the one I ordered for his party.  This was the template...

And the actual cake...

We held Max's party at the same place as last year--United Sports Training Center.  They do a really good job there, the kids love it, and it is so EASY!!  All we have to do is show up with our cake and credit card...

The party coordinators there play a lot of fun little games with the kiddos...

...While the moms hang out on the sidelines...

Jack was not to be left out at this party.  He wanted to sit at the big table with all of the other big kids and eat pizza.  It was so cute and so sad--my baby is getting too big...

The slice of cake Max chose to eat was the one of himself!!

Mimi came down to help us celebrate his big birthday, which always makes it more special!  

Max is really a good boy.  He is such a pleaser, and will always try and do the right thing to make everyone happy.  He is very willing to help out when asked, and is really an awesome big brother.  Max loves his cousins, pizza, and staying up late.  He is really good at riding his bike, and is very independent which makes getting ready in the morning and getting out of the house a lot easier.  We ask a lot of him--being the oldest, and he is such a great example to his younger brothers.  He is super cute with Jack, and Sam idolizes him.  I am so proud of this wonderful, sweet boy of ours--my heart is swelling when I think of how big he is now and how quickly the time has gone by already.  He still likes to snuggle at bedtime, and he still promises me that he will cuddle with me even when he is old.  I am going to hold him to that!

The Rest of October

Yes, it is officially midnight on December 1st and I am posting a blog about October.  That is just the way it goes...  But, there are just a few more pictures I wanted to include before my brain would let me post about more recent events. 

October.  It seems like such a long time ago yet at the same time it feels like we just did all of this:

Playing  in the yard without our winter coats (we did a lot of this in October)...

 Now Jack even gets to help daddy mow the lawn (which we still did in October and in November)...

When not outside enjoying the beautiful fall weather, the boys are most likely doing this (playing on mommy's iPad or mommy's iPhone): 

Jack got his first "official" hair cut right before Halloween.  He really is growing up so fast, and with his new "do" looks like a little boy now--no more "baby-ness" to my baby Jack (sniff, sniff)...  :( 

Big shocker for me--I have taken up running!  This is a picture of Sara, Heather, me and Christine at the "Deca Dash"--my first 5K.  I ran another one in November with Heather, and three of us are doing the "Reindeer Romp" (a 5K to benefit cancer research) next weekend.  Our goal is to do one a month, and work up from there.  As of now, the longest I have ran is 5 miles, but I hope to run a "tough mudder" (10 miles with obstacles) this summer. I will keep you posted!