::sandy is two::

I can hardly believe he's already two. It's crazy how fast time passes--I know everybody always says that but it's true! We celebrated Sandy's birthday on Sunday evening since work/school days are pretty chaotic around here right now. He doesn't care if it's his true and real birthday or not. All he cares about is GAKE! Bifday GAKE.

Clapping for GAKE.

He used to cry when people sang happy birthday--back when he was only a couple of months old. It was always really funny--he was so distressed. But he was all happy this time. He knew the fuss was all about him.

He was especially excited about the cake I made because of the "Num Nums" on it. I knew he'd love the num nums.
And his reaction to the cake snarfing?



As always he was a neat and tidy small person, using his fork and never smearing the cake all over himself. His most favorite present was the football that I bought for Kris to give him. His next favorite was the little truck I bought for Max to give him. Sensing a pattern here? Yeah. He liked my stuff too, but assigned out the best stuff. When he opened the football he was yelling with glee. "FOOTBALL MY!!!" He loves footballs. So funny since Max never could've cared a shred about balls. Today, which was his real birthday he got all fussed over at work. One of the staff members made him a chocolate cake and he was so happy to eat it that I think it made her week.

Um yeah, he's cute. Who can say no to this little face when it says, "GAKE!! GAKE MY!" So glad he's been our little guy for two years. He's such a blessing in our lives and such a cheerful little darling boy. LOVE YOU SAND! HAPPY TWO!

::::

To keep the posting rolling along, here's a gem from July when my parents were here visiting. We had just finished getting the courtyard all fixed up and were seriously enjoying it.

::cookie monster::

I wish I could explain to you how much our Sandy loves cookies. But I can't. It's just too deep and all abiding a love for me to really describe it. He calls them "Gee-Go" Well, actually I think he's actually started calling them cookies now, sadly. But gee-go was the word for the last while.

If we go someplace for lunch and he even sees a cookie for sale, it's bad news. If he's someplace he remembers us buying him a cookie before it's bad news. If you give in and buy him a cookie for after lunch, he refuses to eat anything until you give him the cookie. He's obsessed.

Sometimes he wakes up talking about gee-gos. One of my favorite games to play with him is the one where he pretends that one of us is a gee-go and needs to be eaten. You want to make fast friends with Sandy? Next time you come over, bring him a big gee-go. It'll work, I promise.

::halloween 2012::

Our family was on a trip until tuesday night, so Halloween was somewhat scrapped together. Poor Max was very bummed when I broke it to him that there would be no pumpkin carving. We did however do a lot of other important traditional things. It was no small feat, but I made sure we got some of the good stuff done.
Cookies, of course, were one of our priorities. Not only are they stinking delicious, but Max and I have made cookies every year since he was about three.

We've been collecting fun cookie cutters each year and perfecting our recipes.

Finished products?

Professor Doofensmirtz made sure that no cookie was undersprinkled.


This one has an m&m mustache and beard.

I love this one's eyebrows.
Sandy was a great appreciator of the cookies, naturally, since they're his favorite food. I have a couple of cute photos of him eating them that I'll post later.
Next we made sure that everyone was costumed. Well, except me this time because we missed the ward Halloween party. I like to dress us all up for that. But since we missed it I gave myself the year off.
Kris and Max were both "evil" professor Doofensmirtz from The Phineas & Ferb cartoon. Max had his stuffed Perry in a trap to round out his costume. I have a photo of the two doctors, but it's stuck in my phone. Later.

Sandy was Mickey Mouse.

Max had no official school, but he did have a Halloween party, and we made it to some of that. Here is Max and his teacher the wolf.


Yipes! They played and ate and read some scary stories.



Max's art teacher--double yikes!
After the party we dropped by work to see how fancy everybody looked. The two ladies at the front desk coordinated as "pink ladies".

These two are some of Sandy's favorite people, but he was totally freaked out by the wigs. He didn't want to look at or talk to either of them. NO WAY.

That's the face he kept making.
More Halloweeny looking folks.

Dad could hold him but not Judy or Jessie!

Kris mostly just looks like a crazy insane dentist. He wouldn't be working on my teeth looking like that!!
At the end of the day Max's friend Emily and family came over and we went to trick or treat the one street in our neighborhood where everybody goes. Here are the pre trick or treating poses for you.





Since it was a school night we didn't go out for too long, but just enough to get a good amount of treats. And Sandy had a blast! Every time he would get some candy he'd say "MO" (More). He wouldn't really say trick or treat, but he would say thank you. ("Nay Noo"). When we were done and heading to the car he cried.
It was a fun day. Thanks for tuning in!

::1,000::

Post 1,000 on our little blog! Can you believe it? That's cause for celebration, and of course another interruption of our Leadville story (I bet I can draw it out for the next two months.) In celebration I'm going to post a few of my favorite photos from a family shoot we had with Josh Solar, one of my favorite photographers. He does such a good job capturing families and feelings. He and his family were on a roadtrip through the west, so I snagged him and I'm so glad I did. I love these pictures!








YAY!!

::leadville part who knows what::

I think my biggest blog problem right now is just that I've got a Leadville mental block. It was such an intense weekend and there are a lot of pictures. And I've been so busy. It's all combining to make my blogging stink. So I've got to get 'em done. Here are pictures I missed when I did the last post. These are from the evening before the race. We got into Leadville mid-afternoon and it was like a huge party. Tons of people, crowds, bikes. So many people that using the phone was tough. Cell towers overloaded. Anyway, here are a few fun photos.


Boys playing with little toys Grandma got to try to entertain them. It worked pretty well.


Max will be big enough to ride this huge bike too soon.

Kris is hopeful and excited.



If only we could've left Max there overnight to reserve us a great seat.

Here's Max with his special souvenir,GOLD! What better to get from Leadville? Max was delighted with it.

And we headed back to the hotel to try and get some sleep.