Peyton and TJ have birthdays four days apart, so on January 14th we had their joint birthday party.  This is a picture of our dining room table.  I was going for a John Deere tractor motif, with a  side of old fashioned at home parties.  The party was at home, and family only.  I succeeded. 

I made the birthday cake.  My mom helped me by making the chocolate buttercream icing.  I used  green frosting in an aerosol can for the grass, and the tractors were courtesy of Jake.

TJ did not like all the attention he was receiving.  He was especially frustrated that so many people were invading his house.  If you remember, TJ hid during presents at my parents house.  He may not be as outgoing as his brother. 

Jake and I even took a picture, even though he REALLY did not want to. 

. 

Peyton, as always, fully enjoyed all the attention he received and the gifts. 

Special thanks to Amanda Iles for rushing our t-shirt order. 

Christmas post

Taylor and Tyler opening their game.

All of the pictures I am posting today are from Christmas Eve at my Mom and Daddy's.

TJ did not like being in the living room because of the noise.  He secluded himself to the guest room, specifically beside the toys.  After just a minute, Peyton missed his brother and joined him. 

Ginger after receiving her gift.

Ginger opened her gift first and completely stole the show.

Just Pictures

TJ's nap on opening day- 9/3/11, at Meme's

Last lunch at Robert's

so handsome

it's a bucket on his head

PB & J in his hair

he should  have been in bed

TJ did not know I had the camera

AW, my baby getting ready for bed

I will read in brother's room before bed

No, I'll crawl away and let brother take over

Wordy Wednesday

My heart is full of joy these days.  My boys are wonderful, but they keep me busy!  I think I'll post through captions today.

Tuesday: Peyton is a hard worker. 

Tuesday: If we had a playhouse, the AC would be it!

Tuesday: This man luh-uh-ves his trucks!

Tuesday: TJ is not a fan of my camera.

 Peyton has really blossomed in the last eight months.  Don't misunderstand, his tantrums are worse than ever, but by far less frequent.  He is such a caring little fella, always concerned about his Mommy. 

Wednesday: Peyton built a house for Mommy.

Wednesday: TJ came to find us.

 I was semi-glad that TJ never took a paci.  We spent countless hours searching for one of Peyton's pacis to make him happy.  I remember telling Jake "I hope our next child sucks his thumb, that way we always know where it is."  WELL I GOT IT! Now we are concerned with getting him to stop sucking his thumb...

Wednesday: TJ loves his thumb and his hair whenever he is changed or mad.

Wednesday: Following directions!

 Since TJ will not voluntarily smile for the camera, I have started fake-bribing him.  I feel bad though if what I have promised really isn't a possibility.  Case in point- they shared a banana for snack today and TJ wanted another.  I used this knowledge to capture the shot below, then I gave him a banana.  Wouldn't it have just been WRONG for me to say banana and not have given him one, or worse, not HAD any?

Wednesday: I said 'banana' so he would smile at me.

Wednesday night: Jake reading the book Peyton checked out at the church library during Mission Friends.

21 Days

I would like to have that outfit, Kate's outfit

I follow a Kate blog, click here, but she has been woefully unsighted lately.  When she returned I saw this greatness.  My mother-in-law told me that Kate and William moved into the palace recently, sad.  After seeing this picture, should my next shoe purchase be riding boots, as shown here, or closed toe pumps, that we all know she wears constantly. 

I considered several titles for today's post, one of which was 'Blood Poisoning.'  The Keys recently dropped off grid to check on my mom and attend to other business.  Mother had a very serious case of blood poisoning caused by a run of the mill infection.  And our other business will remain private for right now, but no new Keys are in the works (cause I know that is what you think.)


'Craps' was another title I considered.  Part of Peyton's schoolwork is crafts, or craps as he says.   Today we finished last weeks stuff.  Bluberry pie and a bublebee.    And you know I took pictures.

Combining circles and the color blue: blueberry pie!

TJ was painting...kind of

TJ working hard on his bumblebee

Peyton working on his bee, notice the owie

Supper tonight will be cornflaked pork chops and sweet potatoes of some kind.   I'm going to pound the pork chops thin too...  :) 

Switched

It's been a switch-y kind of day.  If I have grabbed my switch once, I've grabbed it lots.

Under my car

threatened with the switch

We lock them in the gate

Gettin' the switch!

I got switched!

 

Stunna

This week started out just spify.  I went to see "The Help" Sunday, I enjoyed the movie.  Unfortunately, I can't recommend the movie because of language.  Not just the n-word, no the unmentionable Lord's name in vain.  I should have walked out, but I didn't. 

My lovely backyard

another angle

Peyton learned about circles this morning; we searched our house for our first shape.

Peyton pointing to a circle!

Take your hand off the wiper!

I took this video to share.

After nap, the boys went back outside because today was GLORIOUS!

 can you see the scratch by his eye? 

I bought new sunglasses at Charming Charlie's.  Jessica doesn't like them, Leslie does.  What do you think?

???

I had to move the grill outside the fence.

Maybe a fence will keep the boys out

I took pictures when we were in the swing.

It was a wonderful day.

A Door in the Ditch

Disney Princesses was our theme, young women's purity was our purpose.  Jessica, Leslie, and I worked second shift at the youth girls' lock-in.  While I did not get any pictures, I will assure you we had more fun than the girls.

Saturday,  I asked Jake what this was about...

A Door in the Ditch

Speculation?

Working on the 4-wheeler

As I was mixing molasses and brown sugar for the baked beans, Peyton came inside and said, "Daddy needs a telephony scruicedriver."  I had to ask Daddy what he wanted (wouldn't you?)  Turns out he needed a phillipshead screwdriver to work on the 4-wheeler.

TJ runs from cameras, this is the best I could get

oh well!

Fall.  You remember that I am patiently waiting for cooler weather right?  This afternoon a large windstorm swept some hot air out of Demopolis.  Tomorrow will probably be unbearable again, but we had momentary relief.  And I liked it!