Play Till We Drop

I haven't been doing so hot these days, so Everett wants to spend more time with Curious George than me.  But I really tried to get out and expand his mind today.  We went to Imagination Avenue, the mall's indoor play area, came home and played, and had a picnic lunch. I then passed out as soon as I put him in his crib.  How long until Nov. 24th???  

While we were doing Play-Doh today, Everett kept repeating the directions I was saying to him in my exact same tone.  He is such a mimic!  He has been saying the funniest things lately.  One of our favorites is, "This happened".  He says this when something happens (ie. a train falls on the floor or he drops something).  He says it so matter-of-factly.  I also enjoy his new word "something".  He will come across the tiniest piece of paper on the floor and run it over to me, saying "I found something".  Or look under the bed and say, "Something's under there".  His "something" sounds like "humfing" so I guess you need to hear it to appreciate it.  He only needs to hear something once and it is in his vocabulary.  We have learned this the hard way.  I guess I should have known when he copied the sound "agoo" at 2 months old.  The boy likes to talk.

Everett did so amazing waiting his turn and weaving around the smaller kids at the mall.

Riding a train

He ACTUALLY posed for me!  He wanted to look at himself on the digital camera, so he allowed this photo.

CORN!

I have never in my life seen anyone get as excited for corn as Everett did last week.  I made corn on the cob and he was screaming for it.  I think he likes it so much because it makes him feel like a big kid eating it off the cob.

Vacation!

So Everett's mama took a little getaway this past weekend.  I went to Chicago with my friend Val.  It was so great to get away!  We stayed in a new "green" hotel called Hotel Felix, shopped, ate fantastic food, went to the spa, and relaxed!  Chicago is an awesome city and I can't wait to go back someday.  

My boys lived it up in a bachelor's paradise.  Everything was smooth sailing with Dada (of course!) and they enjoyed their male bonding.  It was so special to see Everett at the airport running to me when I came through the gate.  He had a big smile on his face and jumped into my arms.  I told Billy how that was so sweet and things went so well, maybe I should go away more often!!

Hotel Felix - 12th floor, corner room

Chicago style pizza at Giordano's

Views from the 95th floor of the John Hancock building

At our hotel

At Millenium Park

Everett's Birthday Party

I bravely had 13 kids ages 3 and under and their moms over for a party last Monday.  A good time was had by all.  We had a "build your own waffle" bar with strawberries, blueberries, bananas, chocolate chips, syrup, and whipped cream.  I put a candle in Everett's waffle so everyone could sing to him.  He LOVED that!  When the crowd started singing, his face lit up and I could tell he was soaking up the attention.  If you've ever been to my house, you will notice that the playroom has never looked like the below picture before!  It took me forever to get everything back in order, but definitely worth it.  Kids that young know how to party!

Playing with the "Feed Thomas" game I made.

Building towers and forts right in front of an exit (super safe idea, huh?)

Best buds Everett & Gabe

Masters of destruction!

Everett is TWO!!

I can't believe my baby boy is two!  Today started out just like Christmas morning.  We went in and sang "Happy Birthday" to Everett in his crib and came downstairs to tons of presents. Everett loved opening his gifts and was happy to see Elmo, new books, Bob the Builder DVDs, puzzles, a softball bat and tee, and then...a new bike!  He looked around for more presents after that and then decided to start playing.  He loved hitting the ball off the tee, but kept calling it golfing.  I guess it's kind of like golfing?  

We went to the water park after breakfast and had a great time in the wave pool.  After a nice nap, we headed out to dinner and then had cake.  I think Everett had a great birthday!  He certainly was fully aware that it was his birthday.  He called himself the "big Birthday boy" and sang to himself all day.  I must say, we kind of went all out for this birthday, but it is his last one as an only child. 

I can't believe this is the same baby boy who we brought home from the hospital two years ago. He is such a special, lively, funny, sweet, and loving boy.  I am excited for another year of adventure and fun with him and our growing family!

What a handsome 2 year old!

Birthday Dinner

We went to Islands for Everett's birthday dinner.  He sang, "Happy Birthday Everett" pretty much the entire time!

Pardon my girth.  I know I'm humongous!!!!!

Time for Cake!

He kept moving it closer and closer to him to blow out the candle.  I was afraid he was going to smash it into his face!

Delicious!

My Helper

Everett was a big help to me today.  I had to do 5 loads of laundry.  Everett loves helping with putting the wet clothes into the dryer and "folding" them.  Then, we gave Zoe a bath.  Everett loves giving Zoe a bath.  She, of course, was humiliated, but Everett did a great job rinsing her.

Picnic Friday

On Friday, Everett and I started a new tradition - Picnic Fridays!  We laid out a blanket and had a picnic lunch in the family room.  Everett loved it!  He liked being able to take a bite and then run around the room.

"Read Cricket Again"

Those are the words I have been hearing non-stop for the last 24 hours.  The book is The Very Quiet Cricket and it is currently his fave because at the end, it has a page that makes the sound of a cricket.  Everett knows what makes the sound (a small black tab on the bottom of the page) and he gets very upset that the tab is on one page, but it doesn't make the noise.  He tells me "This page not working".  But really it is not supposed to work on that page - it's the next one.  He reads it over and over and over, hoping that one of these times, that page will work.  

My Attempts at Some Smiles

We brought the slide back into the house because Everett just needs stuff to climb on.  He is also starting class at The Little Gym next week, so hopefully those two things will help him put his strength, agility, and silliness to good use.

Yep, running down the slide.  It's not enough to go down face first anymore.  The more dangerous the better!

Racing his trains down the slide 

Here's the face that leads to my next two posts....

Take 2

When I turn the camera on, point it at Everett, and tell him to say "Cheese"....this is what I see.

For some strange reason, he thinks this face is smiling.  He does it every time.  He even sat at the top of the slide making the face as he went down.  I couldn't stop laughing and calling him a chooch-a-looch.

Is it just me or does he look about 7 years old in this picture????

Take 3

FINALLY some cute ones.  (The middle one is just some classic Everett!)