Christmas Eve

This year Christmas Eve was held at my Aunt Susie's and Uncles Tim's House. After the hour and a half drive over we get there and Aunt Susie tells me we can't use the toilets or sinks. Eeeek! Me without a bathroom, what was I going to do, but they had someone come out and fix the plumbing. Here is a photo of Grandpa M, GG, Liam, and Mommy...and Aunt Kelly, after the chaos.

Now here is a photo of Grandpa M, Grandma M, GG, Liam, Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma Mar'ney. Look at us good Catholics with the cross in the background for Christmas. Good call Mar'n.Liam playing with the puppy he got from GG and Grandma Mar'ney. He loved walking the dog all evening. That and all the sugar his Aunt and Great Aunts were filling him up with. He was so good last night. He skipped his nap that afternoon, so when we got to the McCormicks he was very crabby, but we laid him down at 5pm and woke him up at 8pm to do presents. What a difference a nap can make. Merry Christmas everyone.

He Did It!

Liam always runs and hides when he has to poop. So like clockwork Liam hide behind the door yesterday afternoon. I scooped him up and sat him on the toilet were he pooped. Yeah Liam! Therefore today we went to Target and got him a smaller potty. Here he is checking it out.

Dear Santa

Today Kayla and I took the babies to play on the playground in the mall, where it is warm. After three days of being all couped up in the house, Kayla and I have taken all we can take. After Penelope and Liam were able to burn off some steam, we walked around the mall. At Macy's Liam "wrote" his letter to Santa.

Here's Liam mailing his letter to the North Pole. So glad I carry my camera in my purse. How cute is this.

Christmas Card

This year Clay and I decided that we just don't have the money to do Christmas Cards. It's not so much the cards, but the postage. Therefore, this is what I would have done if we could afford the cards. Merry Christmas!

Making Music

Papa Jack gave Liam a harmonica over Thanksgiving. He just started playing and tapping his foot all on his own. We were cracking up. Where does he get this stuff?

Setting Up Christmas Lights

This week we started placing our Christmas lights. Liam's new word of the week is deer, followed by mooooo. Not quite buddy, but good try. He loves the deer. He will sit on the couch in the evening and just watch it in awe.

Here's Liam having a whole conversation to a Santa cookie.

And of course we had to help Daddy with the ladder and lights.

Here is a view of the front of the house. We still aren't done with the yard though.

Guess I'm Getting a New Toaster Oven

Last night I wanted to toast some coconut for a snack. I put it in the toaster oven with a timer on and went back to my computer to upload some more photos. Suddenly I heard a crackling sound in the kitchen so I went to go see what it was. The coconut had caught on fire. I quickly unplugged the toaster oven when the flames had already reached about 6 inches in height. I then opened the toaster oven, why I don't know. Opening the door caused the flames to ignite, now they where shooting out the front and back of the toaster oven and reached 18 inches catching my kitchen cabinets on fire. Staying eerily calm I went to the pantry and got the fire extinguisher, pulled the pin, then read the directions, and aimed. Went out like a charm. After I went and pulled the batteries out of the smoke detectors, which woke Liam up, open all the windows to a balmy 55, and as the shock wore off the panic kicked in while I called Clay.

It took 3hrs last night to clean up after using the fire extinguisher. Then today 1hr to sand my cabinets down and 1hr to repaint them. As for the toaster oven it is melted, charred, and in the trash.

18mth Checkup

Yesterday was Liam's 18mth checkup. He now has a new doctor, Dr. Mas. She is really nice and I like her, but I really loved Dr. Lockhart. Dr. Mas is very soft spoken and comes off shy, the total opposite of Dr. Lockhart, who is very energetic and outgoing. While we were there we had to go over Liam's chart since he was a new patient and I had to explain some things like his head injury he got when he was 4mths old.

Liam now weights..? Well we aren't 100% sure but its somewhere between 26lbs 9oz and 28lbs 2oz. He was a basket case at the doctors office. In fact, when Dr. Mas came in his chart said vitals-screaming. I had to laugh, he's never that bad. His head is and even 18inches which makes him at 5% which is up from the 3% from last time. His height we were better able to get. He is now 34-3/4inches tall making him the 99%. He meet all his milestones which includes walking backwards, 8 words, knows 3 body parts, point at objects on a page, feeding himself with spoon and fork, and following simple instructions. When she asked if he knew 8 words I laughed and said yes. The nurse then had me list off the words he knew...please, thank you, welcome, up, snack, dog, milk, water, car, air plane, tree, ...."ok, you can stop now". He didn't let them look at his ears or teeth, and refused to let them listen to his heart. Then there was the shots. Oh Goodness, what a day.

Thanksgiving

This year Thanksgiving was held at my parents house and dessert at the Gilmore's. Here's Liam and Grandma M cleaning the back porch.MMM...dinner

Daddy had so much food he took his nap at the table.

Papa Jack, Grandma Gil, Aunt Dee, and Gma Sue sitting outside watching Liam running around at full speed. Why does food give kids energy and makes adults sleepy? Uncle Mitchell and Liam "playing" video games after dinner.

More fun filled Thanksgiving Photos

Jay & Jess's Wedding

We had an awesome time in Massachusetts with family and friends for Jay and Jess's wedding. Here are only a few of the pics I took (there was 205 in all). Liam loved playing in the leaves outside. The first thing he said getting off the plane was "cold mommy". I did put on his hat and gloves after I took this photo.The bride, the groom, the best man, and little man.

Jay and Jess cutting the cake.

Uncle Jimmy, Liam and I after the wedding.

Only cool people know about the pink shirt.

More fun filled photos of the whole trip.

Packing

Today Liam and I ran a whole bunch of errands to get ready to leave for Jay's wedding. I am so excited that my little brother is getting married on Saturday. Unfortunately Clay has to work, so it will just be me and Liam this time. We leave bright and squirrelly. Massachusetts here we come!

Surf Contest

On Saturday, Liam and I went to see my friend Shannon in a surf contest. Last year she qualified to regionals and this year she's hoping she gets a sponsorship. The waves on Saturday were 12+ and the rip current was really strong. They even gave the surfer an extra 5 minutes to paddle out since the waves were so rough. Shannon did great and took second place. Next contect is in December. Shannon waxing her board before her first heat.

Today

This morning I took Liam to the playground. Unfortunately it was still wet from the dew, so when we got home we both had to change our clothes. Liam is such a dare devil. He didn't want to go on any of the smaller slides, and he certainly didn't want his mommy helping him. Here he goes flying around the bend.

Liam
really isn't a big meat eater, but when he saw that I made corned beef for dinner, he ate seconds. I guess with a name like Liam, your bound to like corned beef and potatoes.

Thing of the Week

Liam's now ask for a snack when he's hungry. I love the way he says it. He uses his whole face.

Lunch with Gramps

Today Liam and I got to see Gramps for lunch. It was a quick visit (literally...like 30 minutes), but we were sure glad to see him. We were having a hard time getting LJ to sit still for a picture, notice how tight Gramps is holding him. But at least we got one.

Air Show

This weekend we were visiting Clay's parents up in Cocoa Beach, who rent a time share every year over Clay's birthday. We had no idea that this weekend was also the Air Show. They couldn't have picked a better hotel or room. We were front row and center. Here is Liam watching the planes and helicopters from the balcony.

More Air Show/Beach Photos

Trick or Treat

Fall Pumpkin Patch

Today we decided that we should all go to the pumpkin patch that was near the house. We had so much fun. They had music, food, hay rides, and of course pumpkins. They even gave all the little kids noise makers and had a little kid parade, which Liam loved walking around and ringing his bells. We came home with not one, not two, not three, but four pumpkins. Can't wait to take him next year.

Liam as baby Frankenstein. I love the face and the fact you can see Clay holding him up.

Daddy and Liam on the hay ride. LJ was so excited about the tractor.

Mommy and Liam on the hay ride. Poor Liam's tylenol was starting to wear off (he is cutting more teeth).

We were having so much fun we called the Dernier's to come join us. Here's Liam and Penelope having fun in the wagon.

More fun filled photos.

Drums

Wedding in Naples

This weekend we drove to Bradenton to drop Liam off at the grandparents so that we could go to Kohl's wedding in Naples. It was the first time we have ever left Liam over night. We had an awesome time being baby free for one night. Liam also did great but yesterday afternoon he was extra clingy.

We also celebrated Mitchell's 14th birthday on Sunday. Mom had made steak, kielbasa, beans, twice baked potatoes, and biscuits. Yummy. Of course there was cake, which Mitchell had decided he wanted marshmallows in the batter. Funny thing is no one knew which cake had marshmallows and which one didn't.

Here's Liam on the way back to Melbourne eating nuggets from Wendy's.

Liam New Playground

One of the ladies at church was getting rid of some of the things that her kids have out grown. She had a jungle gym that looked like it was hardly ever used. It isn't even sun faded. Score.

Oh Liam

So here's a little story about Liam. Yesterday I was changing his diaper in his room and then the phone rang. I quickly jumped up and went to the kitchen where my phone was charging. I saw the number and thought to myself, I'll call them back in a minute. I then proceeded back to Liam's room. He wasn't there. He had wondered into the bathroom, opened the cabinet, pulled out ALL the towels and had started shoving them into the toilet. He looked up at me with a huge grin saying ut-oh. Afterwards he pointed to one of the towels that had already been in the toilet replying ewwwwwww. That's right Liam, ewwwww.

Funny, But Gross

You know your dog cleans his feet a lot when....

Cooler Weather

With the cooler weather, I've been leaving the doors open. Liam thinks its funny to keep closing them.

Stretching

Liam is a little copy cat and mimics everything we do. Here's an example, Liam was copying me stretching this morning.

Breakfast

Yesterday I was making breakfast for Clay and Liam. I pulled the bagel from the toaster oven and dropped it on the counter because it was so hot. Liam started cracking up, so of course I kept doing it to make Liam laugh and so Clay could get it on film. Who knew breakfast could be so funny.

Cookies

Today I decided to make cookies. The moment I turned on the mixers, Liam and Jager both came running into the kitchen, sat down, and waiting for a beater. Ummm cookie dough.

Trip Home

Mitchell had his first flag football game on Dad's birthday.

Aunt Shannie in the pool with Liam, in his new spring suit that Uncle Jimmy bought. Look at him go.
Shannon Bananan at Target while we were supposed to get plates for Dad's party.

Hit and run at Best Buy. Beep! Beep! here he comes.

More fun filled photos.

Dad's 50th

For Dad's 50th Birthday all the kids came home, including Jimmy who just got back from Iraq. Dad is always wanting to go to an Irish pub but Mom hates the food so we never go. So that's where we went. We had a great time; food was good, live music and our waiter was hilarious.



Dad also kinda planned his own birthday party for Saturday. He thrives on the chaos, and believe me, when the whole family is there it is pure chaos. Here is my cousin Kara holding Liam who had a really bad cold and just wanted to go to bed.



Shannon's present to dad was the shred sled and boy was it a hit.

The welcome home/ happy birthday cake. Yummy Publix marble strawberry filled butter cream icing cake. I made dad carrot cake for his actually birthday on Thursday.