Fun at Home & Sports Camp

 Apple snack time with Daddy... it's rare to get a pic of all of us boys together!

 Painting time, Max is starting to get old enough to do a few special projects with Mommy and me!

 My masterpiece - love my purple smock

 Maxy likes to get messy

 Playing golf (which looks like hockey) with snow boots outside in the grass

 I am doing a 6 week sports camp with my friend, Mit.  It's been lots of fun.  The first two weeks were tumbling, the next two are t-ball and then the last 2 are football.

 My Mommy and brother get to come watch me.  Here I am taking a little water break and giving my baby brother a squeeze.

 Mit and I are patiently waiting to go in the big bounce house they put up at the end of class

 On Sunday morning, I asked Mommy if we could make Daddy breakfast in bed.  We made Powercat pancakes (with a Powercat cookie cutter GG gave us - it worked really good!) and sausage.  (By the way, we ate 20 sausage links - the 3 of us boys.  Well, Mommy had a couple.  Mommy is scared to think what the grocery bills will look like when we get even bigger!!)

 Popsicle time - yum!

Max is starting to get into the special treats too - uh oh!

Max's Words

The Storyteller

Yesterday at the park I told Mommy a story about going to the zoo!

Special Person of the Day

Mommy is writing this entry...

On Tuesday, Cole was the "Special Person of the Day" at school.  We had a poster to make to share with the class.  We had pictures of family as well as pictures of things he likes to do.  When we put all the family pictures on, he said, "But what about Murphy?"  I had forgotten to cut out a picture of Murphy, so we did that real quick.  Cole never forgets that Murphy is a part of our family.  For his "likes", we put a picture of him eating a sucker (loves all candy, really), playing the sax (loves all musical instruments), playing baseball (loves sports), with his most special lovie - "baseball pillow", riding his bike and swinging.  There was a place to color his favorite colors.  He chose purple, blue and red (saying blue and red make purple).  And his favorite song - "Love Me Do" by the Beatles.  Under, the "I Can" section, he marked everything and added "eat candy" and "ride my bike". 

I got to go to school to listen to his special person presentation.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but his teacher, Mrs. F had his class sit in their half circle and he went to the front of the room and got to use Mrs. F's special pointer to show the class his poster.  She and I sat at the back of the room.  I was amazed at his poise and confidence in front of the class and how much he liked being in front of an audience at the age of 3 1/2.  He loved every second of being up in front of the class (so unlike his shy Mommy and Daddy at that age.)  He told all about his family and how his dog, Murphy, has 3 legs.  He talked fondly of his "baby brother, Max".  Then when he was about halfway through, Mrs. F and I could tell he had to go to the bathroom.  We didn't say anything, but all of the sudden, he said, "Hold on everybody.  I have to go to the bathroom.  I'll be right back!  Nobody go up there!"  He came right back and resumed sharing about what he likes, mentioning "candy" several times.  He got to bring 3 special things from home to show the class.  He chose his "baby alligator", "baby elephant" and "Albert the alligator."  I got him Albert before he was born and he has slept in his bed ever since he could have stuffed animals in his bed.  The other two little animals are new favorites.  Cole talked about how he likes alligators because his Daddy is from Florida.  When Mrs. F asked if he had ever seen a real alligator, he said no.  She asked if he would like to and he said, "yes!" (He loves "scary" things.)  Mrs. F said she might be scared if she saw a real alligator, I agreed and Cole came over to us and said, "Don't worry, I'll protect you both."  It was so sweet and hilarious.  I was so glad to get to come see him in his element at school.  I was so proud of my baby who is now such a big boy, giving a presentation in front of his class!

Here are some reasons I think you are special, Cole:
You have been smiling since the day you were born, and that's the truth! 
You love your baby brother and always say, "Max, I love you so much." and "Max is sooo cute."
You are so personable, always saying hi to the neighbors and love to have an audience.
You have beautiful curly hair. 
You love music and musical instruments and always have.  Recent favorites are the Beatles, country music - which you call "Poppy music" (Sugarland and Lady Antebellum), Christian Rock (Superstar CD)
You can swing the baseball bat like no other!
You care about others.
You are my first Mommy's boy.
Every time I leave, you give me a big hug and kiss and say, "I love you, Mommy."
Because of you, I am what I've always wanted to be, a mom.

I hope that over the years when you look at and read your blog that you will know how loved you are.  I love you unconditionally and always will!

My First Pony Ride!

I got to ride a pony today at Deanna Rose!  It was my first pony ride ever.  My horse's name was Cowboy.  You can hear Max giving a shout out in the background - "Hi Puppy!"  He calls most animals puppies.  We also got to pet the baby goats while we were there and Max was calling them puppies too.

Easter

 We started off on Good Friday by making some "bird nest" treats.  I loved licking the bowl the best.

 Max came over to get in on the action too.

 Yummy - nothing is better than peanut butter and chocolate and butterscotch chips!

 Putting the "eggs" on the nests.

 Friday night, Mommy and Daddy got to go on a triple date night with GG, Poppy, Auntie and Uncle.  They went to dinner on the Plaza and then went to the Lady Antebellum concert.  The next morning when I woke up and came in their room bright and early, I said, "Was the concert fun?  What did it look like inside?  I had a good time with Carey.  She told a REALLY good story about a black bird that ate my hair, my fingernails and my toenails!"  (Background - before bed every night, I like Mommy and Daddy to tell me a "scary" story.  Carey, my babysitter, fills in when Mommy and Daddy aren't home.)

 Saturday morning we headed to Topeka.  Dying Easter eggs with Poppy.

 We made our own dye with food coloring instead of the usual kit and they turned out really pretty.

 Look at my pretty eggs!

Maxy swinging outside with silly Daddy

 Playing ladderball with my GG.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to play ladderball!  It's my special game with GG!

 I helped Poppy plant these bushes.  I worked really hard.  I love to be a big boy helper!

 Opening Easter baskets from GG and Poppy

You know I love CANDY!

 Easter morning - Max looking for his eggs, he was a little confused about what he was supposed to do.

 What is in these eggs anyway?

 The Easter Bunny brought us giant stuffed animals - this is my bear - "George"

 Max got a giant puppy - imagine that!  Here he is with his favorite puppy and his new big puppy.  He was in heaven!

 Playing some Easter tunes with my baby brother - always a favorite at GG and Poppy's

 And of course, swinging! 

 Max was trying to feed Poppy some food

 Our family

 My G and My Pop!

I love you so much, GG and Poppy!  I love having "overnights" at your house in Topeka.  I am already asking when the next one can be.  "I like your house better than my house."  Thanks for a fun Easter!

Egg Hunt at Preschool

 On Tuesday, I got to have an Easter Egg Hunt and party at school.  Here we are lining up to start.

 Go for it!

 Sitting on the steps with our Easter baskets.

 My whole 3 year old class!

My whole class with our teacher, Mrs. Furman.  I'm so glad she is my first teacher.  She has taught me so much.  I also like holding her hand when we are in a line.  Every time Mommy and Daddy come to school and see us walking inside or outside in a line, I am holding Mrs. Furman's hand.

Auntie Sarah Teaches Max a New Word!

Maxy hi!

Easter Egg Hunt at Leawood Park

Let the Easter festivities begin!  We had so much fun at the Easter egg hunt at Leawood City Park today!  We had to wait a long time before the egg hunt, so we got to play at the park first.  Max and I had fun going down the slides together.

 There were balloon artists and face painters.  I told the balloon guy I wanted a K-State Wildcat.  He said how about a purple and white hat instead.  It turned out pretty neat!

 Then I got my face painted, I asked for a "scary snake".

 What do you think?  Do you like it?

 Max got a "puppy" balloon - so perfect for my puppy-loving baby brother.

 Max was kind of scard of the Easter bunny.  I had just found a caterpillar right before sitting in his lap, so I was trying to make sure I didn't drop the caterpillar I was holding.

 We ran into my buddy, Mit, who was at the egg hunt too! 

 Don't worry, brother, I'll help you find some eggs.

 Egg time!  There were SO many eggs, I filled my bucket full!

 Little Maxy got quite a few too!

 Checking out my bucket of eggs...

 Max is looking to see if there are any left.

Our family sure loves each other!