Its been a while...

Our sweet little Marshall turned 1 1/2 on April 26 (yep...I am a little late posting this)  As tradition, we had cinnamon rolls when everyone woke up...here they are getting ready to dig in....

His famous scrunched up smile...

 At 1 1/2---Marshall only gained 1 ounce since 15 months (guess he might be a skinnier guy like his daddy).  So he weighs almost 25 pounds (62%) and is 32 1/2 inches (53%)---so if you are keeping tabs, Marshall is quite a bit smaller than Brayden was at this age (so this whole reusing clothes is getting tricker)

Here is what he is up to....Marshall is SUPER SMILEY 99% of the time...he is just a happy, go-lucky little man and is pretty easy going.  He LOVES watching animals...he tries to talk to/catch birds and squirrels.  His fine motor skills are unbelievable....he can stack just about anything and build.  He can climb onto and off of anything he can reach.  He loves playing independently, he is always in the toy room playing with the choo-choo table.  He is obsessed with school buses and fire trucks.  He loves being in the sandbox---really he loves being outside.  

He still eats just about anything...and sometimes, instead of picking out the veggies to toss, he picks them out to eat.  He loves being read to and cuddled (when he is not too busy)  He only has about 15 words or so---mama, dada, bro (sorta), BUS, dog, whoo-whoo (firetruck), more, good, bye-bye, night night----even with the lack of words coming out, he sure does understand everything we say....he does some sign language and tries to talk with his finger...so I am sure that it is only a matter of time...before all the words come :)   He has the white-ist blonde hair and HUGE blue eyes.  He is a total flirt and totally know how to flaunt that scrunched up smile.  He has a mouth full of teeth...and is getting the bottom pointy one currently.  He wants to do everything that Brayden does...and really can come close to keeping up with him physically.  He is really just a RAY of sunshine!

 Marshall's godparents and Lisa were in town a while back...and Erin brought cupcakes to celebrate Mike's birthday...now that I am posting all these, it looks like we have had a lot of sweets lately....OOOPS...or I guess those moments just make for the best photo ops!

 Watching the birds and the squirrels....

 What?!?!?!  Its sunny in here :)

 We headed to Southern Illinois for my good friend Kelly and Jay's wedding...it was a great time.  While we were there we got to celebrate Mother's day and Grandma Ann's birthday with her.  It was so great to see Aunt Beans, Great Papa, Roger and of course Grandma Ann.  We even got to see Clara.  We also went out to my friend Angie's...and the boys had the rides of their lives on tractors!!!!  (Pics to come...they are on my phone...so thats the next post :)

Here is the cake the boys and Great Papa made

 IMOS Pizza

 Miss Clara

 We headed to Dixon for Mothers Day weekend...we were so lucky we got to see GG, Aunt Rhonda, Aunt Rheena, Eric, Megan, and Asher, and of course Meemaw and Papa....here are the kiddos chatting it up at lunch!

2nd Cousins...Asher and Marshall & Brayden...

 Happy Mothers Day!!!

 How many Jefford males does it take to fix a sink (Brayden had just hopped down)

 Last week there was a BIG project going on here...a TREE FORT!!!!!  Grandma and Grandpa Jefford came into town on Tues...they stayed and watched the boys for us....while they were here, Brayden and Papa built this incredible treefort!  It is seriously amazing!  Here are some pics that were captured while the building was going on.  They are SUCH talented, HARD workers.  It only took them 3 days to build this...I am pretty jealous I did not have such a great hideout when I was younger :)

 I was the lucky lady...and had the first kiss on the tree fort...however the builder's got to have the first (and MUCH deserved) lunch in the fort....so adorable!!!!  Brayden is still telling everyone about it!

 Today was Brayden's gymnastic preschool show.  He had SUCH a great time...and did so well!  There must have been over 100 preschoolers (no kidding) and they let them all go in a circuit--summersaults, high beams, cartwheels (well sorta), uneven bars, floor,....  All the kids did great--no pushing, crying....just pure entertainment!  It was too cute :)

 His ribbon for participation

 Brayden's preschool friend, Lyla, was there...here they are after the school striking a pose

Brayden is 3 1/2....and what silly boys I have!

Silly little boys....

 On April 14th (actually the 15th, since we were gone), we celebrated Brayden's 1/2 birthday...I CANNOT believe that he is 3 1/2....time really is flying.  I can say that 3 crept in...and was pretty smooth sailing....but wheew...approaching 3 1/2 has had it challenges.  He is testing us more and more....dinner/eating in general is a big one....but as with anything we have our ups and downs (luckily lately things are on the up and up with that these days).  He also has been going through a phase of wanting to sleep in a t-shirt...no pjs...and only in the spare bedroom...but this folks, this is a battle I will not pick.  As long as he goes to sleep...I don't really care where he sleeps or what he wears.  Brayden also has developed a LOVE for Stars Wars...he has never seen the movie (neither have I), but when Grandma Ann sent him a Darth Vader this week...he could not have BEAMED anymore!!!!  He is more and more into playing with action figures...it is so cute!  (Takes me back to my barbie days...well sorta...with the exception of there is more fighting than dresses/shoes...and the hair is painted on, instead of long and flowy barbie hair...none the less..I am liking the action figure stage)  Brayden is super excited, he and marshall both got light sabers over the weekend, after successful trip to the dentist....and they are protecting the galatic galaxy with them---so fear not.  Brayden is doing great at preschool....even his teacher mentioned to me how much he has grown this year.  It is more and more fun to have little conversations with him...he has so much to say....but we have to be aware of what we say because he repeats!  He is also growing into such a GREAT big brother...he is more and more willing to help Marshall and even share with him...I know BIG deal.  Just tonight we were driving home...and Marshall was having a MELT DOWN...and Brayden said Marshall its okay, I am here for you...and Darth Vader is your friend :)  Too cute!!!!  Last but not least....poor little guy...had to get allergy tested today...but he was such a trooper....he did great...but he has to have more done...but what was done did come back was he has allergies to maple trees, pollen, grass trimmings, and rag weed :(

 Just showing off my belly....

Brayden being silly....he was playing some sort of super hero/star wars game....

Sunday afternoon, we had over 2 families from Brayden's preschool.  It was such a great time...we BBQed and the kiddos played so well....here are all 6 of them sitting and eating...quite a feat!

By the way...I am not sure if we shared or not...but we got a pet!  His name is Hootie...Brayden wanted to name him Cootie....but we decided Hootie was a better fit--I know he is hard to see in the bowl...since Captain America is so HUGE!!!!!  But you know....fish and superheros just go together :) Marshall is IN LOVE with him...he reminds us every night to feed him at dinner.  If he could...he would jump in and swim with him...

Happy Easter!

On the eve of Easter...2 little boys put out their baskets hoping for a BIG surprise....

They left carrots and lettuce...and you know what that bunny left them...JELLY BEAN poop...and of course Easter goodies!

 For those of you who have not seen HOP...the Easter Bunny (EB) poops out jelly beans...and Brayden thinks that is the FUNNIEST thing ever...so of course...he enjoyed the beans but would NOT eat a single one :)

The bunny brought some new books, shades, hats, sidewalk chalk and spring outfits (not STYLISH!)  

 Marshall in his new hat....this lasted for about a second...he wants nothing to do with hats...

 The boys in their mustache bunny shirts....it was like WW3 getting Brayden in his...and there was NO cooperation in getting the boys to sit by one another....

 More goodies from grandma and grandpa....

 Then we headed outside....and the boys hurtled, jumped and AVOIDED every egg in the yard....and headed straight for the sandbox....the did not pick one egg up!!!  They are way too busy for that!

 We celebrated Easter with Grandma and Grandpa Jefford and the Hinshaw family....here are the kiddos at the table...and really folks...they did sit and eat....

 Brayden reading Anna his new book...this was adorable!

 No holiday is complete without a little pintrest :)

Hope you and yours had a Happy Easter too!!!

Stay Tuned....

More pictures to come this week from spring break...I need to upload from multiple cameras and phones