What's in a Name?

Good idea/bad idea?!

Use Trader Joe's Alphabet Cookies to teach a 4 year old

 to spell and write his name

Brilliant because there are instant, yummy rewards ...

write a letter, eat a letter!

Bad because Alekzander's name has ten letters ...

which means ten letter cookies were consumed before nap!

Tracing the letter with a wooden skewer before writing

Ready to write :: serious business 

Pure concentration

9 letters down :: 1 to go

Boots Aren't Made for Walking

Silly boy wearing {and loving} 

Mama's new {obnoxious!} rainboots.

Race Day Juxtaposed

Running :: One foot in front of the other 

... repeated 10,000 times.

A hypnotizing cadence peppered by belabored breathing.

Step, step, step, step, breathe.

For any race, one can expect the same nervous anticipation, 

impending pain and sweat equity, encouraging onlookers,

and finish lines that evoke feelings of pride and accomplishment.

Andrew and I each 'raced' on Saturday,

but had very different experiences.

Pure Religion 5K 2014

Charlotte Spartan Sprint 2014

Ran alongside these little running warriors

{in their chariot driven by Daddy}

 Ran through these Gladiator type warriors

Post Race :: Sharing a sno-cone with my little love!

Post Race :: Finisher's Medal + Mud Cakes

Alekzander sound bites ::

"Mommy, I think you are winning!" 

{though clearly dozens of people are in front of me}

"Daddy, you're as messy as a dirty hog!"

Future Doctor?

Future Doctor

...or Aveeno posterchild?

Green Day 2014

Silliness is a staple in this household :: usually spearheaded by the 4 year old 

{and/or the 34 year old}.

We could not pass up these green mustaches 

from the dollar bin at Target over a month ago.  

At least twice a week, Alekzander would ask to open/wear them.

I hid them so he would stop asking and

would have completely forgotten about them

if my steel-trap minded son had not remembered.

Obviously on "Green Day" we had to wear our green mustaches

after we ate green {spinach} eggs and bacon,

green apples, and drank a green smoothie to start the day!

Anderson was not a big fan of the 'stache, 

but Alekzander rocked it!

Silly boy!

Lucky Family

So lucky to be able to love {and be loved by} these goofballs!

Eight Months

Cute even when he's crying!

Though most of the time, this babe is chill and happy.

Anderson at eight months ::

Still favors being held to being left alone.

Loves watching Alekzander.

Eats green veggies, lentils, and applesauce.

Says "babababa" and "ahhhh-a!"

Pulls up to standing.

Entertains himself with his treehouse toy.

Crawls bear-style.

Laughs heartily.

Loved mightily.