Maycee - 4 year pictures...2 months late

Hide and Seek

Yesterday Maycee and Cooper were playing hide and seek while I was making dinner.  I'm pretty sure that Maycee taught Cooper everything he knows.  Because Maycee cheats.  And Cooper lets her.

While Maycee was counting, Cooper ran and hid in the pantry.  As soon as she finished counting, Maycee began her search.  I could hear Cooper jumping up and down, and giggling in the pantry.  Maycee wasn't being very observant and so couldn't hear all of Cooper's noise.  After a few minutes of looking, Maycee gave up.

"Cooper!!  Where are you?" She asked.

...

"Um. I'm in the pantwee."  Came Cooper's reply.

Maycee, who was upstairs, came flying downstairs, ran past the kitchen and towards the garage.  The entire while talking to herself, "Where is the pantry?  Where is the pantry?"

I love that Cooper knew where he was hiding and Maycee had no clue.  I have a smart little 2 year old on my hands.

Maycee eventually found Cooper.

He just kept jumping and giggling.

"The Park"

Well.

Here is 'The Park'.

I know.

You're jealous.

Here is Ollie 'jumping' on the tramp.  It's really funny to watch him bounce on his bottom.

And Maycee photo bombing.

...But she's so darn cute!

All of the above pictures I took yesterday.  Well.  Today I felt accomplished enough in my house to work on the outside.  Check this out.  No.  More.  Thistles.

BAM!

The Boys

The kids do new things so quickly that I can't even keep it all straight.

I love it!

Oliver perfected the art of 'scooting' on his 11 month birthday.  He has such a way of army crawling mixed with the pushing of his toes.  It is quite hilarious to see.  Right now he is getting into the true crawling position, rocking, then getting on his belly and scooting like mad.  And he is fast.

It took Cooper a week to get that Strider figured out and balancing like a mad man.  Seriously.  He's crazy.  Last night we all went on a bike ride and Cooper learned what square curbs are.  It was funny.  Up until now he has easily glided up and down the rounded curbs without difficulty.  Last night he tried to 'glide' and crashed on his face.

New fun

We are renting a house in Middleton for about a year.  The house that we are renting has THE coolest back yard.  These kids are in hog heaven.  Just outside the back door is a huge patio that the kids ride their bikes and toys on.  On the side of the house is a huge play ground.  They call it The Park.  It has swings, a slide, monkey bars, a climbing wall, and plastic fire hoses to hook up to our garden hose.

Here are the kiddos playing on the patio.

Oliver is 1!

Ollie has finally had his birthday.  I thought, that since he shared a birthday with my dad, that it was only fitting for them to celebrate together.

So.

Off to the farm we went.

To celebrate Oliver and Dad's birthdays together.

Harvest was supposed to be happening, but a big, fat, huge rainstorm stopped those plans.  The last time we were on the farm during harvest was right after Maycee turned 1.  Cooper has not experienced that yet!  I know!!  Anyway, we had fun without the big trucks and the potatoes.  Dad gave us a fancy, schmancy tour of the new cellar anyway.

This picture is really cool.  You can't even tell what it is!  AND you definitely couldn't see the moisture in the air until I took this picture.  This is a long hallway in between the two cellars.  Water was circulating through the center.  I tried to get a picture of how long it was, but didn't realize all the moisture in that air.

 
Dad made this amazingly level pile of potatoes with his own two hands.  Oh, and the conveyor belts.

I love this picture.

Sunday was the big day.  I'd been preparing for this for a LONG time.  I'm pretty sure I got one of Ollie's presents in June.  Kory and Charisse and Boston and Bridger came along to celebrate.

Dad's current favorite dessert is white sheet cake topped with a cream cheese concoction then strawberry Danish Dessert drizzled on top.  Ollie's first cake was made like Dads.

Dad was pitching a fit the entire time we were putting on the 54 candles.  Light them, we still did.

Dad and Ollie dug in even before the candles were lit.  AND before the birthday song!

Dad almost blew the candles out all by himself.  I was impressed.  Cooper really wanted to help.  Don't tell, but I'm pretty sure Cooper's blowing of the candles consisted of a lot of saliva.

I took SO many pictures of Ollie and his cake.

I have to tell you about the awesomeness that I am learning to create!

Cake pops.  I am getting really good.

For Ollie and Dad's birthday I made three kinds.  Pink Lemonade, Funfetti, and Chocolate with toffee pieces.  THEY WERE SO GOOD!!!

Keep coming back to Ollie...

Ollie got a bath right after this picture was taken.

Maycee was a big help with Oliver's presents.

Yep.  Got this in June.

Here's Dad's present!  He is so proud of himself.

Thanks for the fun party, guys!