October Photo Dump

Get ready...this is a BIG picture drop....October has been fun-filled....lots of birthday activities and Fall fun!

Soccer....Brayden started off not too sure about the sport, but now is sad it is over...he really started loving it!

 Arlington Heights Open House at the FireStation...they LOVED it!!!  Just so happened this was on the weekend that Aunt Beans, Grandma Ann and Great Grandpa visited so they came too!

 Loved the weather

 Yep, that is right....he can ride without training wheels and has very few falls!

 While the family was in town we celebrated the boys's brithdays early and headed to Legoland!  It was a HUGE hit!!!!!  We went on rides, saw the 4D movie, raced lego cars we made, and went into the lego factory

 Later that day the boys got to open their gifts and have cake!

 

October 14....Brayden turned 5!!!!!!!!!!!  Here he is that morning having cinnamon rolls!!!!!

 

He celebrated at school and then when we got home too!

 That Friday night we had a big pumpkin decorating night at St Peters....we headed out to dinner first with some friends and then had fun decorating our pumpkins!

 Saturday October 18th....Brayden had his BIG first preschool BOYS only, drop off party!  That is right folks, we had 13 boys over 4-5 years old and only 3 moms stayed! The party was Awesome and all the kiddos had a blast.  We made special creations, had a lego tower building contest, made mini-figures and did spoon lego races!

 

 

 And this little girl slept through the whole thing and when she woke up, she was all smiles!

 We headed to Lamb Farm with some great friends the kiddos loves seeing and feeding all the animals, the went on the merry-go-round and tried a little putt-putt golf!

 This cracks me up...Anna and Brayden were pulling on the utters....thinking it was super funny!

 Haddie on her first carousal ride

 My skeletons and little pumpkin

 This Friday we headed to Trunk or Treat since Aaron and I will be out of town on Halloween....since he will be running the NYC marathon!  So here are our SUPER heros!

 Saturday we had a birthday party for Ellen and we could not have had better weather for a hayride!

 

When we got home, I craved a pumpkin (I say I because even though it looks like I have helpers, no one else will touch the goo on the inside!)

 Today....Marshall turned 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Here he is in all his glory....cinnamon rolls in the morning , a party at the FireZone and then opening gifts!  Needless to say all the kiddos were out by 7 tonight!

 

We sure do LOVE October....but we are busy!  

Marshall is 3!

Dear Marshall aka Marshy (which you informed us you would like to be called),
Happy Birthday little man!!!!!!!  The big 3!  It seems like just yesterday we brought you home from the hospital and we're struggling to get through all the crying and screaming....man colic was a bear....but we did it....and I am pretty sure that you got it ALL out then....because you are a pretty happy, go lucky little guy these days!  Even though you are stubborn at times and quite the dennis the menace, you are a pretty easy going kiddo.
Your big, blue eyes are as big as your heart....and they are always smiling or up to trouble! You have a heart of gold and boy, is it huge!  You are the first to tell us if your brother or sister needs something and you always jump in and offer to give them things or help when needed....you give the biggest hugs and kisses and cuddles....you are great at knuckles, fists and cut the pickle.  You no longer stick out your lip...but for a while there, you really tried to work that pouty lip, and we would say...Marshall put your lip away...and you would!  You love love love Brayden and want to do EVERYTHING that he does and you are so sweet with Haddie (unless of course she takes something of yours, or has something you want).  You love to be outside....and you have become a rockstar scooter rider lately.  You seem to be into sports...although, I do not think that soccer is your favorite activity at the moment, but you really seemed to love martial arts.
You love to eat.....and will eat pretty much anything...you love cheese, guacamole, broccoli....tonight you told me for your birthday dinner you would like noodles with cheese and guac....sounds terrible...we will see what we come up with tomorrow.  And man on man...do you love milk!!!
You love playing in the sandbox with your trucks and diggers...you LOVE big trucks---and you love watching Mighty Machines.  Firetrucks, garbage trucks, diggers....if it is big and has wheels you are all about it!  And of course, you still love Thomas!
Back to being Dennis the Menace...your daddy's nickname was the piss-cutter....and boy can you be one at times!  We will tell you not to do something, you will look at us with those big blue eyes and do it....and have no regrets.  At bedtime, you are in and out of bed, yelling and turning on the lights....you stay awake for a least an hour creating chaos while Brayden is sawing logs.  You also are quite the destroyer and toy dumper...you love to knock over and break Brayden's legos and hear him scream.  You love to dump bins and bins of toys all over the house with no intention of playing with them or cleaning them up.  You are like a little tornado!
But when it comes to one word to best describe you Marshall it would be compassionate.....that is what you are....you are our little lover who loves to snuggle, and be loved on.  You love to hug and be close.  Even though you and Brayden fight like enemies...you are best friends, who love one another so much and I cannot wait to see that friendship grow and unfold as time goes on.  You know what to say to me, when you can tell I'm upset or you want your way.....and when you tell me I am pretty or look like a princess it works almost 99% of the time!  You always want to comfort those who need it and you are good at it.  You are good at sharing and maybe is because you know no different, but I also think that is just engrained in you.  You are going to be quite the ladies man...I already know....and I am sure that we will have our hands full with you and all your girl friends as well as all your class clown antics!  The teachers at school just LOVE you....as do all your babysitters...they just fall in love with your sweet loving personality and the eyes get them every time! Thanks for being such a loving sweet happy boy and always keeping us on our toes!  I love you Marshall!!!!!!  Can't wait to celebrate three with you tomorrow!!!!  Love, Mom

And just like that....my baby is five!

5 years...one hand...half a decade!  My little man (who is not so little anymore) is FIVE!!!!!!!!

Tonight we looked through old pictures on the blog and watched a few videos....and Brayden thought it was so cool to see how much he has changed.  He went from a little tiny baby, to crawling and then a walking little Elmo lover, to a train and digger fan, to a Star Wars junkie to now a LEGO lover.  And along the way not only have his interests changed and of course his size, but my oh my how he has grown and matured!  Without further delay my letter to my little buddy....pictures to come soon!

Dear Brayden,
As I sit here I cannot believe that we first held you five years ago.  You were seemed so tiny and we were instantly in love with you! From the beginning we knew you were a special little man and we have loved watching you change and grow these last five years.  There are some moments that I of course miss---you snuggling on my chest, pulling you into bed in the early morning hours, going to mom's group, and stroller strides but there are so many new moments and memories that I love.  I love hearing you tell me about your day at school and watching your eyes light up with excitement as you tell me about the new things that you are learning----you sure do LOVE school.  You tell me everyday, how much you love going FIVE days!  You are so smart and soak up all that you hear, learn and do---you can write your name, know almost all your letters and know far more Bible stories that I do.  Your memory is unbelievable.
I love hearing you talk to Marshall and Haddie about how you will always be there for them and you will always help them since you are the big brother. I love watching you encourage and help Marshall (even though the fights between you two are big in number---I know that you truly love one another).  You already give him great advice "Be nice to other kids", "If kids are not nice, don't do it back, just tell the teacher" "Don't cry Marshall, mommy always comes and gets us after school".  I can sometimes hear my words in your voice.  I love watching you make baby faces and googely eyes at Haddie---you can see your love for her....and I know she loves you so much too.  You love to help me and I love that.  You have grown into such a great helper!!!
Some big accomplishments you have done this year include joining the zipper club, dressing yourself head to toe, helping yourself more with tasks instead of whining and saying that you cannot do it and RIDING your bike without training wheels----you just hopped on and took off!!!  You want to be quite the trickster on your scooter and now you want to move onto a skateboard!  At one time, you seemed a little shy.....but no way, no how these days. You are Mister Social.  Every morning and afternoon at school, more kids say hello to you and stop to chat than I can count.  Each morning as the before care walks by at least 15 kids say hello to you.  And after school, you say bye to a ton of kids, teachers and their parents----you love other people and love to be social.  Your first discipline note came home...you lost a star....remember why??? Talking!!!!!  Even though I told you I was upset...inside, I was of course a little upset since you did not listen to the teacher....but I am glad that you have so many friends and love talking to them :)
Your loves-----LEGOS....you are a master builder...its amazing to watch you build--today, you took a book and legos and without any help you build an orange mixel all on your own.  WOW!!!  You still love Star Wars---you have seen 3 of the movies and still love it.  You love going to the library---books are your things!  You love swimming and are now getting into soccer....that is awesome!  You like to snuggle on the couch and watch shows....the lego documentary is up there on the list, along with clone wars and Lego videos.  When given the chance...you like to do the ipad and can figure it out by your self which is impressive :)  You are quite the funny character....just tonight you told us that we should write a letter to the beans that we were eating :)  HEHEE.  You are feeling less embarrassed about tooting, dancing and being silly....but you are still on the reserved side there.  You are compassionate and know that you should do the right thing----and almost always are the rule follower.  At school the teacher always says you listen and help---and you always go back and tell last years teachers hello which shows your kind nature. You are still a tender heart, your feelings do get hurt easily and when family leaves that has been visiting, you tear up and cry....I am so glad you love them that much, but it hurts the heart to see you cry.  You love eating pizza and love talking about the lego movie!  You are such a fun kid....as sad as I get each year watching you get older and older....I also must say that I love getting to know you more and see you grow into a little person.  I love hanging out with you and I love that we have some special time just me and you in the morning at school before the doors open.  I love you Brayden! I love watching you grow and change....and if this much has happened in 5 years, I can only begin to imagine how much will happen in the next 5!!!!  I love you!!!!!!!!  Happy birthday!!!!
Love, Mom

8 months, sick and Fall!

Still loves legos!!!!!!!!!!

 So fun!!!

Haddie and her brothers...this is the night she turned 8 months old....as you can tell this month we have gone from shorts to sweaters to shorts and back to sweaters!

Marshall helping out his sister!

Better late than never right?!?!?  So Haddie is 8 months 28 inches and 19.?? pounds---both in the 77%....(in 2 days she will be 9 months....but who is keeping track!!?!?!)  At 8 months she is super healthy minus the one illness we will get to in a minute.  At 8 months she is crawling (she still keeps her belly on the ground but is getting closer to popping it up) even so...she is FAST!  This little lady know how to move!  She gets to where she wants...she really prefers to get close to outlets and cords, so we have to keep a super close eye on her!  She is still SO smiley and happy...and has the biggest and best giggles!  She LOVES to eat....she likes her purees but she also likes to eat what we are eating---however even though she tries hard, I am not sure how much she gets in her mouth....tonight after we got her out of her highchair, it looked as if she was storing all the noodles and peas we had fed her!  2 nights ago, she popped her first tooth!  Bottom left :)

So, back to the illness...you would not know from this picture...but our poor baby got hand foot mouth----oh the WORST virus of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!  And of course it struck when Aaron was out of town.  Thursday night I put her down after giving her some tylenol (I had noticed she had a fever....but I thought maybe it was teeth).  She feel asleep and about 11pm she woke up and screamed and cried until 4:30 am.....I never once put her down during this time.  She had a temp of 102 and just was in SO MUCH pain.....fast forward to morning...I was supposed to go to be up by 5:30 am to get ready for work however with no sleep, a sick baby and a husband who was gone I called in.  Marshall and Brayden went to sitter/school and Haddie and I to the DR where it was confirmed.  The poor girl had a throat full of sores....so it was motrin and tylenol every 3 hours for about 2 days.  Aaron made it home Friday night after quite the fiasco at the airport....and thank goodness because 24 hours with 3 kids, no help and no sleep....I was ready to lose my mind.  All in all...we made it....and somehow, this picture here...is when she was sick!

 Hanging out after school one night....crawling

 smiling

 and being silly!!!

 The other night the boys begged me to let them take a bath with Haddie, Aaron said it was a terrible idea....but hey they won't be able to do it for long...so I said yes!  So here are 3 Jeffords in a tub....rub a dub dub!

 SHE LOVES the bath...I cannot get her clothes off fast enough and if we let her (and she could do it) she would hop in the tub.  When the water starts, her little legs just go and go!  Tonight she was so excited she peed all over the rug!

 This past weekend Grandma and Grandpa Jefford came to visit.  They wanted to see Brayden's soccer game, but due to bad weather it was canceled.  We still had fun hanging out though, and the boys got to open their birthday gifts early---just the beginning of all the festivities!

 Both boys got awesome puma outfits.  Brayden got a cool Lego Movie lego structure---the think tank

 Marshall got a helicopter

 Then what a great way to end the weekend....we headed to Stade Farm and had a blast.  The kids saw tractors, flying pumpkins, and a petting farm.  They went on fun slides, a train, rides, and a jumpy pillow.  We could have stayed all day!  It was awesome!!!!

 Brayden shocked us...usually he is a little hesitant with animals...not this time, he wanted to pet and feed everything!

 Took my eyes off him for a second and here he is!

 We also went on a hayride and got the biggest pumpkin we have ever picked!

 They were pooped!  So back on the ride with kettle corn in hand and to the car!  What a great fall day!!!