Grayson does indeed live here....

However from my July photo folder you would never know it. Perhaps it is because he is to busy to be "bothered" with pictures, or perhaps because he prefers to be behind the camera rather than in front of it, or perhaps it is just because his Mama is bad about pictures. There is no shortage of Radlee pictures however....

The neigbors hate us!

Dusty's passion for wheeling and dealing lands some awfully random things in our garage from time to time. Last week he acquired a Honda 70 dirt bike that he was going to sell, but not before testing it out of course. This is the boys last weekend in the back yard, even Radlee and I got in on the fun. The results this time were much more successful than my previous (and first) time on a bike - no bloodshed and no bruises! I will not be the only one sad to see this little bike go!

In Full Bloom

It is no secret that Radlee has been a challenge for me from the day he was born. He is sweet and cuddly but he wants all mama all the time. People told me that when he started walking life would get easier, I hoped this would be the case but doubted it, knowing Roo's personality.

However, I am thrilled to announce that finally at 15 months he is walking, no make that running. He could have walked at 11 months but chose to spend those last 4 months being carried by yours truly, my back is as thankful for his first steps and I am. And to add to the excitement, everyone was right - this boy is completely different now that he has his own set of "wheels." He is so much more independent, he actually played in the toy room by himself the other day he has mastered the stairs, up and down and even knows the safe way to do it! Along with his new found Independence his personality is in full bloom, he chatters on endlessly (often without opening his mouth). He loves to play dress up and holds daily "treasure hunts" in the house where he finds one obscure item to be his object of affection for the day, anything from a spatula to an extra binkie, he carries it with him all day and incorporates it into whatever else he is playing with. He is communicating more and more, throwing kisses and showing me what he wants, he says "thank you" and yells "Grayson" he calls me Mama and Dusty Dada and tells me when he is done eating.

It is amazing and heartbreaking to me that my baby turned to a toddler literally overnight, I am sad that I no longer have a baby but so excited for this next stage!

Here is a little video of those precious first steps!

My secret ingredient

On Sunday mornings I try to depart from the usual breakfast of scrambled eggs, kix and bananas and make something different. On this particular Sunday morning Grayson requested Pancakes, as I was fixing his I asked what he wanted on them, he responded "love". My response was that all of my food was made with love, he ran in the kitchen and handed me the bottle of ice cream sprinkles and said, "no, this love". And so, pancakes with love were born.

Grayson's new "Friend"

Recently I have noticed Grayson walking around the house talking on one of his toy cell phones, his conversations are often with someone he refers to as "Dude." He brings Dude up in conversation from time to time but never gives me any details on him, until tonight. This was our dinnertime conversation this evening:

Me - When did you see Dude?
G - On Saturday
Me - Oh really, who took you to his house?
G - Um, I did - I took myself
Me - I see, how did you get there?
G - In my truck (he acts almost irritated as I am asking these questions, as if I should already know the answers)
Me - Does Dude have a Mama?
G - Yeah, her name is Annie
Me - Dude's Mama's name is Annie too? How crazy is it that both of your Mama's are named Annie?
G - I know, pretty crazy.
Me - Does he have brothers and sisters?
G - Yeah, one brother and one sister
Me - Little or big?
G - His sister is little, she is a baby, her name is Jackson.
Me - And his brother?
G - he is big, like.... (I was sure he was going to compare Dude's brother to Sage) the Jonas Brothers.
Me - What is his name?
G - Ummm Telephone (said with a silly grin - then he popped back into the story) I don't know if that is his name, but that is what Dude calls him.
Me - Where does Dude live?
G - In Idaho.
Me - What does he have in his room?
G - ummm Decorations, and Monster Trucks, and Cars, and rocket ships and airplanes and, Oh, I painted a remote control for him, I painted it black.
Me - That was nice of you, did Dude's Mama help you paint it?
G - No I did it all by myself, I put it on a napkin when I was done.

This pretty much sums up Dude, the whole time he was talking I was wishing I was recording the conversation, he didn't hesitate on any of the answers and filled me in on all the details of his "friend".

Outside fun

As the days have finally warmed up we are spending a lot of time outside. The back door is usually open and the boys come in and out as they please. Grayson has free reign of the backyard and Radlee will not venture off of the patio because he HATES the grass. The other day I was cleaning up breakfast and Radlee disappeared from his usual post at my ankles. I looked outside and he had ventured out and crawled on to the pedal go-cart on the patio, he was so proud of himself for getting up there all by himself.

The new favorite toy

I do not mind doing laundry, I love having clean clothes and empty hampers. What I don't like is putting the clean laundry away, clothes are often left folded on the couch or washing machine for a day or two before they make it upstairs to their respecive closets. It is really an awful habit that I am trying to brake - enter the laundry basket - I thought that maybe, just maybe I would be more apt to actually put the clothes away if they were all packed up and I could take them upstairs in one easy trip. That was excellent logic until the boys found my laundry basket. I am a little perplexed at why we have bought any toys at all over the past 3.5 years; this basket has provided more hours of entertainment than anything else in our house, ever! AND the special bonus is it is something both Grayson and Radlee enjoy playing with and better yet - they play with it together! They pretend they are in a cage and the other one has to save them, they pretend they are in a boat, and sit in it together, they flip it over and sit on top of it on its side and it is a space ship - the options are endless. Now while I no longer have a laundry basket to haul clothes in at least they are preoccupied for 5 minutes so I can acutally carry the clothes up to put them away, it is a win-win!

While I am bad about posting - I am even worse about taking pictures lately! It seems like everytime we are out I have an "Ahhhg - where's the camera??" moment.
On Mother's Day the boys and Dusty took me all over! First we drove up to Banks and played on a little river beach for a while - there were so many missed photo ops! Grayson playing in the sand and building sand castles, Radlee clinging to his Daddy or me and the way he pulled his feet as high as they could go to avoid touching the sand. From Banks we went to Grandma DeeDee's to wish her a happy Mother's Day and then on to the playground (I did pick up the camera from home before the playground!) When I looked at these pictures I remembered that some of my favorite pictures of G are from trips to the playground, there is something about the colors and the excitement in their little eyes that make for adorable pictures!

A Kiss (or picture) will make it all better....

Conversation while comparing owies...

G - My Bandaid has Lightning McQueen on it, what does yours have on it Mama?
Me - Nothing, it is just plain.
G - Oh, we should put a picture of me on it.
Me - Yeah we should, that would make my owie feel much better!
G - Yeah because it would be full of love.

My sweet and sensitive boy.... don't ever change.

Easter

Easter Day was just as it should be - Sunny and bright! Grayson and I dyed easter eggs on Saturday and the Easter Bunny spoiled the boys terribly on Easter Morning! We had brunch that morning at Cottonwood (63rd annual Gray family Brunch), naps that afternoon, and tacos that evening! The boys were troopers and G even got to go fishing with Pappy! We continued to have Easter egg hunts for the rest of the week, and each one was more fun than the one before.

Grayson took charge of taking pictures at breakfast - I think we have a budding photographer on our hands!

April Sun (and Fun!)

So I didn't like that last look too well... I actually had forgotten about it and when I clicked over I was like "ewww - what is this mess??" So here is another look for us to try out - we will see how long it is before I go back to basic white!

I don't feel like we have done anything this past month, but it has gone by so quickly!! The weather has finally turned and we are spending LOTS of time outside, riding bikes, jumping in the bouncy house, just enjoying the sun - FINALLY!! We started our garden, only onions and cauliflower are planted now but stay tuned for MUCH more to come! Radlee is still not walking (he can (kinda) but he won't) - he prefers to be carried and at nearly 30 lbs my back cannot wait for the day he decides to walk, heck I would welcome running at this point!

Radlee LOVES the Bouncy House!The boys had a huge treat this month when Sage came home - Grayson idolizes his "brover Shage" and was like a little shadow the whole time he was here! Radlee finally got to meet him and he definitely thought Sage lived up to Grayson's musings! We miss him already and hope he hurries back!

SO Grumpy that playtime was interupted for pictures!

Who wants a Surprise??

One of my friends did this on her blog, and I was one of the 5 to get in on it- so now it's my turn to pass it on.
Here is the deal: The first five people to comment on this post will get something made by me.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. (but I will try hard to make something you will like)
2- What I make will be just for you.
3- It will be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be.
5- I reserve the right to do whatever I want!

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your own blog (if you have one) and offer the same deal to 5 of your own lucky blog readers. Even if you don't think you are "crafty", here's a chance to try some new things, and 5 projects in 7 months, not a big deal. Anything is fair game - doesn't have to necessarily be "crafty". So, the first 5 people to leave a comment telling me they are in, get an exciting handmade creation made by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you receive when you get it. Be sure to read all of the comments before you assume that all 5 spots are taken.

Let the games begin!

Comment Quick and GOOD LUCK!

Birfday Party

We had Radlee's "Birfday" (as Grayson calls it) party yesterday, and what a party it was! All of his favorite people were here for some yummy snacks, presents and of course, cup-cakes!

Radlee & Auntie M getting ready to party

He caught right on to the idea of opening presents, however he couldn't belive we were letting him do it. He kept looking at us like "when are you going to tell me No-No??"

Trying to model the new jammies GiGi and Papa got him

I made him a super-cute birthday crown and shirt to wear

mmmmmm, cookies, the cookie was a bigger hit than the cupcake.

Time Flies

Radlee,

Yesterday you turned 1 year old, I can hardly wrap my head around the fact that you have been here for an entire year. I remember when we were in the hospital after you were born and I would hardly let them take you to the nursery, how when the nurses would bring you to me for your early, early morning feeding I would make a little nest next to me for you to sleep in for the rest of the morning snuggled up with me, I remember being fascinated with your perfectly formed lips "kissable lips" as Pretty Mom calls them. I remember after we brought you home standing for hours with you laying on your side in my arms, swaying back and forth, back and forth, to keep you calm. I remember the pride your big brother took in showing you off, taking care of you and introducing you. It makes me so sad that your first year is over - I feel like it went too quickly, like I didn't take the time to cherish every little moment, like I didn't take enough pictures, like I didn't write down every little thing you did. Maybe you know this and that is why you still snuggle into a "nest" on my lap, why you crawl all over the house to find me if I leave your sight, why you love to be swayed on you side when you are cranky and how I am still in awe of the curve of your lips; maybe you remind me daily that you still are and always will be my baby.

For as dependant as you are you are fiercely independent as well. You want to do things on your own and it only takes once or twice of showing you something that you can do it all by yourself. You love alone time, where you have undivided attention, this is when you bloom - you chatter and dance and perform. I cannot wait to see what this year brings and watch you grow and learn - you truly are a joy in my life and I feel so blessed each and everyday that you are here.

Thank you Radlee for making my life more complete.

I love you the most,

Mama

And a couple more....

Since I can only post 5 pictures at a time, here are a few more from Valentines day - and the very special birthday cake Grayson picked out just for me!

Chef Grayson - Getting ready to make Pink Valentine Cupcakes (with Sprinkles, of course!)

Look at the concentration frosting cupcakes takes!

Taste Testing

Little Chef Radlee

Have I trained him well or what? He insisted I have a "Princess Birfday Cake"

Our new look...

I decided that since I have been HORRIBLE about posting maybe a new look would inspire me... What do you think?? I will be better, I promise (haven't I said that before??)

The boys are great, Grayson is quite the little performer (as always) and rarely stops moving, his favorite activity of late is riding his Spiderman Scooter - in the house. Radlee is finding his sea legs and going to take off walking any day now! Birthday party plans are in the works for Radlee's big day next week - I cannot believe it has been a year since he joined us!

We have all been sick off and on since November - I can hardly remember the last day I haven't had to wipe a runny nose, remind someone to cover their mouth or not played pharmacist to at least one member of this family! I will be so relieved when this (way too) long winter will be over and we can air the house out of all the hidden germs!

Here are a few pictures of what I have failed to post over the past 3 months.... Watch for more to come!

Spiderman made an appearance at our house Christmas Morning!

Is that smile infectious or what??

Bathing Brothers

The best Christmas "Gift"

Sleepy eyed Radlee on Christmas Morning