Mommy's Barbershop

Alex's hair has been growing like crazy lately.  It seems like we go get a haircut one week and by the next it is super long again!

I got the bright idea to cut Alex's hair myself.  Our neighbors have some clippers, so I borrowed them thinking it should be fairly simple to cut his hair.  I definitely should have put a little more thought into the whole process!

Alex did pretty well (for a 2.5 year old).  He was a little curious about watching himself in the mirror, so I would have to remind him that he needed to sit still.  As long as he was still it was easy, however never having cut hair before I wasn't quite sure what length to cut it to and what guard to use.

Here is the result:

From July 4, 2010

All in all, it is a bit shorter than I would have liked, but it is a great summer cut for him.  And the more I get to looking at it, the cuter it really does look on him!  I think he look so much older with it though and I'm not quite sure how I feel about that!!

Not too bad for my first time :)

It's Good to be Alex...

...laying on the couch, watching a few cartoons, cuddled in a few blankets and loving life!

I love this kid :)

Hurricane Alex

Hurricane Alex has hit Owens Cross Roads, Alabama:

Out of the Mouth of Alex...

We use this blog to document our family life and also let our friends and family know what is going on with us.  I decided to go ahead and document some of the things that Alex has been saying lately.  I want to write this down, so when we are having a bad day, I can look back to see what he has been saying and how much joy he brings to my life.  I also think he will love seeing things that he said when he grows up!  I'm going to just add to this list as we go...I'm sure it will be updated frequently! 

He has been cracking me up and saying such incredibly unexpected and funny things.  Here is a sample of some of the things that he comes up with:

Sarah:  What letter is that?

Alex:  A

Sarah:  No, I think that is an S.

Alex: Well, yeah Mama!

(I love that he is so matter-of-fact with me)

Loudly in Target yelling "bum wipes, Mama" - he was talking about the adult Cottonelle wipes.

"Look Mama, garbage truck!" - He was talking about a Hummer in the parking lot of Target.  Apparently he was not impressed with it :)

Larry's Birthday Party

Here are some pictures of Larry's birthday party:

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I promise to write more about it later :)

Happy Father's Day!

Not only is today Larry's birthday, but it is also Father's Day as well!  He gets double the fun today :)

We want to wish all of the fathers in our lives (both here and in heaven) a VERY Happy Father's Day!  We love you all!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Today is Larry's 28th birthday!    Yep a birthday on Father's Day...he thinks he is getting the short end of the stick with celebrating both on one day, but Alex and I are trying to make each as special as we can!

Alex and I are so blessed to have Larry in our lives.  He is a wonderful man, father and husband.  We love him more than he will ever know.

Happy Birthday, Larry!  Thank you for being you :)

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Happy Birthday, Grandpa Jim!

Just know that your life had a meaning.

Every life has a meaning,

whether it lasts one hundred years

or one hundred seconds.

Every life and every death

changes the world in its own way.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Jim!
Or Happy Birthday, "Pa Jim" as Alex says it!


These days are always difficult.  Important days that should be celebrated.  And instead of celebrating with a nice dinner, cake, ice cream and the guest of honor, I am remembering birthdays in the past, sending up balloons to heaven and eating a cupcake in his honor.

On days like this it hurts knowing that he won't be here for any future birthdays.  It takes my breath away to know that he will forever be 48, never getting to welcome his 50's (or beyond).  A huge part of me left on October 22, 2005 and days like today remind me just how big that part is.  I am sad today and missing him so very much.  

I miss my dad.  I miss everything he was and everything he could be. My dad was an incredible man.  He was patient and kind.  Determined and intelligent.  Compassionate and loving.  A wonderful husband and amazing father.  He was not perfect, but he could do no wrong in my eyes and I was his princess.  I miss him with everything in me! 

I am blessed to be his daughter and everyday I try to make him proud.  Today, I will remember him with loving memories  We will remember him not for the man that we lost, but for the man that we were lucky enough to know.  I will show Alex pictures and tell my son about "Pa Jim" (the same son that has his Grandpa's icky feet and terrible cowlick on the crown of his head).  

Alex and I got 2 balloons to send up to my dad.  I think he will like at our choices - Mickey Mouse from Alex (one of Alex's favorite cartoon characters) and a "Happy Birthday" one from me.  Alex, Larry and I are going to have a Publix cupcake and sing him "Happy Birthday" - something that he would have definitely enjoyed.  I like having these traditions - I would trade anything to have them here, but for now celebrating with balloons, cupcakes and memories will have to do!

Happy Birthday, Dad!  You are loved, missed and thought about everyday!  Celebrate in heaven and know that we are celebrating you on Earth.  Hug Mom for me and remind her how much I miss her, too!  Thank you for being MY dad.  I love you so much!

Child Labor

Last night, Larry cleaned out the garage so we could fit my car in it.  After moving the boxes to one side, he decided to sweep out the garage.  Of course, Alex and the other kids were VERY interested in sweeping.  Before too long, Larry had the kids sweeping out the garage and doing his work for him!

He snapped this great picture of Kayla, Joel, Noah (on the bike) and Alex:

Working Hard

Taking time of out his busy morning schedule of eating breakfast and playing to check his e-mails...

Love how the bowl of cereal is turned over on the table - good thing he doesn't eat it with milk yet :)

Noah's Birthday Party

Our friend across the street, Noah (or "No" as Alex calls him) turned 2 this past week.  To celebrate his birthday, Jessica had a small birthday party for him.  It was farm/tractor themed and so cute.  As always, Jessica made awesome food...it was so good!  She made banana cupcakes with Cool Whip for dessert - the kids (and adults) loved them.  After hanging out at their house for a little while, we made our way to the neighborhood pool.

We are so lucky to have such great neighbors and we love spending time with them.  It is nice that the kids get along, for the most part and enjoying playing with each other.  I love having someone that I can relate to and someone to talk to...it makes the days of staying home with Alex not feel quite so long!

I took a few cute pictures of the kids.  Enjoy!

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First Trip to the ER

Today was our first trip to the ER.  I'm sure with a daredevil for a child, this is only the first of many!

Alex and I were playing in the playroom upstairs, throwing a ball back and forth.  I threw the ball to him, he stumbled backwards and hit the side of his head on a chair.  Normally, if Alex falls down or gets hurt he cries a little and then stops and continues to do whatever he was doing.  This time, he let out an ear piercing scream and clung to me harder than he ever has.  He was crying so hard and holding on to me, that he wouldn't let me look at him to see what was wrong.  I took him into his room and saw that he was bleeding, both on me and on himself.  In one of my not-so-bright mom moments, I wiped off the cut behind his ear with a baby wipe, hoping to clean some of it off and to be able to get a better look.  He screamed louder!  After that I decided to call our neighbor Jess to take a look at his ear.  Since it was in the crease behind his ear, I made the decision to take him into the ER.

Larry (and Sheena since she was working at the hospital) met us at the ER.  He was so calm in the nurse triage area and the waiting room (completely unlike Alex).  He let the doctor look at his ear and told her "ear hurts".  It was so pitiful!  

Once the doctor looked at it, she told us that it wasn't as bad as it seemed and told us they would put a little numbing medicine on it, clean it up and put some skin glue on it.  About 5 minutes after they put the numbing medicine on it, he was back to normal and telling me that he was "hungy".  He fell 15 minutes before lunch, so we left the house without eating...the poor kid was starving!  I gave him a few snacks, some juice and waited for the doctor to come in a clean up his ear.  After cleaning it up, they put a little skin glue on his cut and we were out of the ER.  

All in all, we had a pretty good scare, we were at the ER for about 2 hours and we probably spent $100 on a bottle of super glue!  Not the best way to spend a Tuesday afternoon, but I am so glad that it was nothing more serious and hope that any future ER visits go this smoothly :)

Here is a picture of our little trooper all bandaged up:

Anniversary Date

Larry and I went out to celebrate our Anniversary last night (Friday).  We went to Connor's, a place that we had never been before.  It was so yummy...definitely a good choice for our date!  

After dinner we walked around Bridge Street, the shopping complex that Connor's is in.  We went into a few stores and got a few chocolate covered apples...afterall, it is our anniversary, calories don't count!

We had gotten a babysitter and told her that we would be out until 10 or so.  After dinner and walking around, we couldn't think of anything to do.  We were home by 8:30....I know, so lame!

We did end the night sitting outside and talking with our neighbors around the fire pit.  

It was a great date and it was so nice to spend some time with just Larry and reminiscing about our wedding day.

Here are a few pictures that I took with my cell phone:

The flowers that Larry brought home and surprised me with:

Me...before we left for the night:

My amazing date and I:

My dress :)  I'm not a dress person, but I really liked this one:

Larry:

Larry and I...again:

6 Years

To have and to hold

From Wedding/Reception

from this day forward,

From Wedding/Reception

for better or worse,

From Wedding/Reception

for richer, for poorer,

From Wedding/Reception

in sickness and in health,

From Wedding/Reception

to love and to cherish,

From Wedding/Reception

until death do us part.

From Wedding/Reception

Happy Birthday, Katelyn!

Today is our favorite Baby Girl's 2nd birthday!

I can't believe that our sweet Katelyn is 2 - it just doesn't seem possible!  We wish we could be in Colorado celebrating with Katelyn, Nonna, Jenny, Kyle, Joshua, Matt and everyone else.  We are sending lots of love and lots of birthday hugs!

Happy Birthday, Katelyn!  Know just how much you are loved and cared about!  Thank you for being the sweet girl in our bunch of boys...we need you :)

Here is a cute video of Alex wishing his special Baby Girl a Happy Birthday:

Very Important Kid

After eating breakfast this morning, Alex decided to he wanted to play with my computer.  I told him no and then he decided to tell me that he "had to check his me-mo (email)"!  

Luckily I was able to get a video of him!  He cracks me up!  I had no idea that he was so important and had an email account...next up, he will tell me he has Facebook!

Silly Kid

Today, while we were at McDonald's having lunch with our neighbors, Alex decided to put his Happy Meal box on his head.  Don't all the cool kids wear boxes as hats?!

In his defense, a month or so ago they had Happy Meal boxes that turned into hats when you popped out a few pieces and turned it over.  Apparently, he thinks they are all hats now :)