C is for Cookie

 After a little coaxing and some major distraction, 

we had a content Cookie Monster

for our friends' annual

Halloween celebration.

 

 Cookie and his cool parents :: Elmo & a construction worker

 Cutie with two cardboard cookies

 2nd Place :: Kid's Costumes 

{and eating part of a cookie cake}

Cooperation pays off!

 Cookie Monster crafting.

When Cookie Monster Attacks

 

No toddlers were actually harmed in the making/taking of these photographs.  In the same breath, no "super mom" points were earned on my behalf.  I tried to do a trial run of Alekzander as "Cookie Monster," but failed miserably.  Lots of "No, Mama!" followed by a wrestling match that lead to tears and a full out tantrum on the floor.  Alekzander LOVES Cookie Monster and thought it was funny when I put the costume on my head, but fought me tooth and nail when I dressed him and tried to take pictures.  I couldn't help but laugh at his silly, pitiful shenanigans.   Happy {almost} Halloween!

Twenty-Three Months

 Sweet {big} boy,

You are such a great listener,

and you are becoming quite the conversationalist.

You amaze us every day with your growing vocabulary.

You are so, so smart.

And so sweet.

You take good care of your "babies"

and love your big lion and Pooh Bear.

You say "please" and "thank you" without prompting.

You remind us to pray at dinner and say "Ah-men" on your own.

{Oh, how sweet your little heart is.}

We love you.

We love your "hougs."

Your curiosity.

Your silliness.

Your energy. 

 

Imagine the biggest pumpkin, and our love is infinitely bigger.

Always and forever,

Mama and Dada

Oh, The Places You'll Go - LC Edition

Hopwood Hall

  \

 The Dell

Shellenberger Field

The Chapel

Hornet Born

　

Alekzander took a break from the men's soccer game to do a little work in Hopwood.

Earlier in the day, he met a new stuffed friend "Elsie" at the Campus Bookstore. 

She is now his favorite "bug-bug."

Guess its time to teach him the fight song...

I’m a Hornet born,

I’m a Hornet bred,

And when I die, I’ll be a Hornet dead.

Rah, rah, O Hornet, Hornet;

Rah, rah, O Hornet, Hornet!

Lynchburg Leaves

Alekzander became acquainted with the Dell today

at Lynchburg College.

From the mulch in the flowerbeds

to the leaves that blanketed the ground,

this little boy was in his element.

App Trail

 

2 eager hikers.

1 great  {26 lb.} sport.

4.5 miles.

$2,000 + of camera equipment.

Hundreds of pictures.

The best family day ever.

  

 Pine Mountain Summit (we think)
{near Mt. Rogers, VA with NC in the background}

Hiking for Horses

Hiking and hoping to find some "neighs".

Finding one horse would have been a success, 

but we saw more "neighs" than Alekzander could count!

 

 

Grayson Highland State Park

October 9, 2011

Buffalo Painting

Praying.

Pretending {to paint Mama}.

Progress.

Proud {and precious}.

Presenting ... a practically perfect buffalo painting for our "Grupalo".

Oktoberfest

 Heading to CW Oktoberfest :: empty stein and silly boy

 Love :: family time

 Big boy :: future athlete

Playing games :: "feeding" Blue

Best Seat

Seat 1.  Cam Yards.

At dusk ::  Oktoberfest 2011.