Stationery Card

Every Amazing Month Boy Birthday Invitation

Create funny birthday cards at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Birthday Bash (x2)

 

So, March has become a VERY busy month for us.  Kinley's birthday is the 8th, and exactly 1 week later is the boys' on the 15th - whew! 

 

Our boys have hit that huge milestone - they are 1!! I can't believe how slow and hard many days were, but how fast this year has flown by.  We decided on a balloon theme for the boys, and they loved it.  Tucker walked around the entire party with a balloon tied to his wrist.  Max got into a wrestling match with a big green balloon that bounced him off and rolled him away.  I truly wish I had caught that one of film:)

We are so thankful that so many of our friends and family came to celebrate with us and hope everyone had a great time - we certainly did.

 

 

Our St. Patrick's Day/birthday picture (Tucker's staring up at his balloon)

Tucker got a bit tangled up in some balloons.  He walked around and played with this bunch stuck on him for quite a while, and was so confused when I fished him out.

 

Lots of boys hiding out in a balloon pile in the corner.  Max loving playing with the big boys:)

 

They got a cute riding/bouncing toy.  I had Max on helping him bounce when Tucker thought he would be a great help. 

 

Tucker giving the cutest monkey with huge eyes a big ole kiss!

 

Max kinda liked his cake.  He would use one finger to lick some icing, let me give him a bite of cake, and only took a total of 5 bites. (This momma was a bit disappointed there was no grabbing and cake throwing)

 

Tucker was a little more interested in his cake, but only to climb on the table with it.  He liked when Tom fed him bites, but only fed himself a couple.

 

The shirt got some icing love, but still no grabbing or digging or throwing:(

 

They weren't too excited about being sung to, but they both liked the candle.  I still had hope here they would dig in.

Ok, switching gears...Kinley decided on a tea party theme this year.  She wanted to have it at Grami's house and even picked out tea cups from the thrift shop for each of her guests - this might have been her favorite part.
For a couple years now Kinley has loved playing any type of pin the whatever on the whatever.  So of course we had pin the spout on the tea pot.  I've never seen a group of girls with worse directions!  I even ended up with one spout on me!

Everyone sitting down with their cupcakes they decorated singing Happy Birthday.  They couldn't wait to dig in to the mountains of frosting they piled on their little cup cakes.

Kinley's favorite singer is Taylor Swift and got her new CD from her siblings.  Those silly girls had to put it on, listen to "We are never ever getting back together" and play freeze dance.  It was hilarious!! They were all dancing around with tissue paper capes, scarves and ribbons.  Tucker was mesmerized by all the silliness, but Max...he was a dancing fool!

 Crazy kids!

 

On Kinley's actual birthday, there just happened to be a father/daughter dance.  Tom decided to take both girls out to dinner and to the dance for a fun evening.  The girls were SO excited.  We did their nails, fixed hair special and wore their best dress.

 

Kendall posing with her dress that "spins"

Do I really need to say anything?!

Good looking crew!

 

Happy 7th Birthday Kinley 

Kendall and Daddy

 

The girls and Tom both had a great time.  They went with some friends to a pizza place for dinner and said it wasn't good.  Kinley told me it was "really buttery - like you could see it".  I think it must have been greasy.  The dance was fun, and they each decorated a little bird house and got to bring it home.  They shared some hot chocolate - I guess Kendall had a harder time sharing than Kinley.  Tom said Kendall was falling asleep on him toward the end and Kinley would just cling onto his leg when they were slow dancing.  Most importantly, those girls thought their daddy was the coolest!

 

 



Tucker Walks!

 

Big news in our house...Tucker has taken off!  He took his first steps on his 10 month birthday, and he's gotten more and more brave. 

 

Here are some of his first:)

 

 

 

Max is getting closer, but not quite there yet.  He will occasionally let go while he's standing up, and he loves walking if you're holding his hands, but he's a little less sturdy than Tucker.  Don't feel bad for Max though, he thinks it real fun to crawl right into Tucker while he's standing and push him over.  They have had a few wrestling matches over various toys, balls and a blackie.  Tom and I even stopped a movie to watch the rumble - it was too funny!  We're loving seeing these two grow and develop daily.

The girls are also doing great.  We're finally (hopefully) over all the sickness and ready for warm weather - unfortunately we have a few more months to wait.  Kinley is still loving gymnastics and Kendall has started preschool. 

2012 - In quick review

 

Well, 2012 was a busy year for us. That might be an understatement:) Since it would take me forever to play catch-up, I've done a little review of the big moments for us.  Hope y'all enjoy!

Proudly introducing Tucker and Max! 

 

Our precious boys arrived on March 15 (6 weeks early).  Max Emerson was born at 7:51am followed quickly by Tucker Elias at 7:52. 

 

Here is Tom holding his firstborn son, Max.  Max was 3 pounds 1 ounce and 15.75 inches long.  He spent 15 days in the NICU and came home just under 4 pounds.  He is an amazing little man - so adventureous, happy and loving.



Tucker was 5 pounds 9 ounces and 18.5 inches long.  He spent 8 days in the NICU and came and visited his big brother the other 7 days Max was there without him.  Tucker is so treasured - happy, a kisser and a bit of a momma's boy.



 

This is Tom holding both boys at the same time for the first time.  They were 5 days old and doing great! 



 

 About a week after the boys were born, Tom and his brother officially opened their CrossFit gym.  We have really loved getting to know our members and continue to grow every day.

 

 

A quick peek inside the gym at the end of a class.

 

On April 8 my older sister married the love of her life and her best friend, Patrick Mann.  Not only did she get an amazing husband, but another daughter (Elizabeth) to join the "fun".  Can you imagine 4 teenage girls?!

 

 Kinley and Kendall Easter morning.

 

On April 14 we had a huge scare from our little Kendall.  Apparently she is severly allergic to some tree nuts - especially cashews.  I came home to Kendall gagging in the sink after she ate half a cashew.  When she looked at me her face was hugely swollen and her voice didn't sound right.  I grabbed her, told Tom we were going to the ER, left my mom with the other 3 kids and jumped in the car.  I was sitting on top one of the boy's carseat bases holding Kendall.  I don't even know how fast Tom was driving, but I don't think it was legal.  Kendall kept answering me when I would ask her questions, and about 3 miles from the hospital she threw up all over me - of course.  I jumped out of the car at the ER doors telling them she was having an allergic reaction.  Thankfully a nurse was standing there and took us immediately back to a bed.  It was less than 3 minutes when there were 2 doctors and 4 nurses working on Kendall.  Long story short...we almost lost her.  She ended up staying in the hospital over night with Tom for monitoring.  She stayed swollen for almost a week from the reaction, fluids and steroids.  After allergy tesing, she's allergic to most tree nuts except pecans and almonds.  Ironically, Kinley had been having little reactions for a while.  After she threw up at PF Chang's, I also had her tested and she is allergic to the same nuts.  Very strange and scary!

 

It took almost 4 months, but here is the first picture of all 4 kiddos.

 

 Here's my "little squirt" Max and "big guy" Tucker at 2 months old.

In late May, the girls got to compete in their first track meet.  Perfectly, it was held on Tom's high school track.  Kinley did amazing!  She placed top 3 in every event she entered.  I'd have to say her highlight was running the 400.  She sprinted out to a huge lead at 200 meters.  I thought for sure she was going to tie up and limp in, but she just kept her little legs going.  Tom was down on the infield for the last 75meters.  She looked over to him at one point with the most pathetic look ever on her little face.  I wish we had it on video - Tom and I still laugh about that look.

Kendall ran a great 50 meters, but we really need to work on her reaction time at the start:)

At the beginning of June our BFFs from Kansas came out to visit us!  We had so much fun and hated to see them go.  I miss that Kinley doesn't have a friend like Bryleigh here.  I don't know if she'll ever find another person she loves so much - I know I won't find another Nicole:)

 

We went up to Enchanted Forest.  Its a great little amusement park with a nursery rhyme theme to everything.  The weather was perfect and I think the kids liked it as much as Nicole and I did.

 

Bryleigh, Kinley, Kendall and Paxton beside Humpty Dumpty.



 

Kinley and Kendall riding a little candy train.

 

Two beautiful girls waiting for root beer floats. 

 

 

We took a trip to the Heceta Lighthouse.  Unfortunately it was being restored so it looked like a big heap of scaffolding.  We played a little down by the beach before we hiked up to see the lighthouse and amazing view.

 

In Newport, we spent some time on the beach and in the water. Let me just say how FREEZING the water was.  I stayed back on the beach with the boys, but I wouldn't even put my feet in.  Those crazy kids were all in the water!  We did have to strip them down and wrap them in towels and blankets and whisk them into a heated up car for them to thaw out, but they say they loved it - like I said CRAZY!

 

We went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium and saw some of the biggest starfish I've ever seen!

 

On our last day together, we went to the Portland zoo.  I really liked how natural feeling it was.  Kinley and Bryleigh took every opportunity to pose for me.  I really can't telly you how many pictures I have like this.

 

Some of my most favorite people looking at a bear I think.

 

 

 Just a couple days after our friends left, my parents came up to visit us on their great northwest road trip.

Grandlis loving on Tucker and Opa bonding with Max.



Happy 4th of July!

Yep, this is the first picture of all 6 of us.  (Its a lot of work to get everyone together)





 

In July Tom was inducted into the AHEPA sports hall of fame.  Throughout Tom's career, AHEPA has been very supportive of him and it was a huge honor for him to be included into this organization's hall of fame.

 

Tom and Kinley looking amazing at the banquet.

The girls.





The boys got all dressed up, but we ended up having Tom's cousin and his wife and beautiful daugher hang out with them while we went to the banquet with the girls.

Don't they look handsome?

 

Here's Max sitting poolside with his drink:)

 

In August we got more visitors from Texas.  My little sister and her 2 boys came to see the boys of the family.  We went down to play at the pool one day and had an absolutely amazing time.

 The 4 big cousins.

 

 Kinley showing how brave she's getting jumping off the bridge.

 

Tom compted in his first CrossFit competition in Bend.  He and Nic, a member of our gym, were a team.  They did great finishing 3rd.  Billy competed as an individual and finished 2nd.  Our female team did great as first-time cometitiors.  It was great getting to watch Tom compete again, but a big adjustment from the track days.

 

Tom and Nic finishing the first workout

Tom with Nic waiting his turn

 

So, the picture on the right is Kendall cheering on Tom during the Bend competition.. the picture on the left is Kinely during the 2008 Olympic Trials.  Too close for me to not show - ironically, I didn't take either of these.

 

Kinley's first day of 1st grade.  Her new favorite color is turquois:) 



                                                            Tucker and Max snug in thier car seats





 

 

 A funny fall picture of the kiddos after church.

 

Tucker and Max loving the pumpkins.

Halloween party down and the big house.  Kendall didn't want to dresss up, so she settled on bunny ears.  Kinley was too cold to just wear her hula girl outfit, and I was sporting my kitty ears for fun.

 

So, most of these kids are related in some way.  Some are siblings, cousins and second cousins, but that all confuses me, so we just call them family. About 28 - I think.

 

The girls and Daddy carving their pumpkin for the contest.

 

We took the family to a corn maze.  The girls loved running down the rows.  They were all for it for about the first half hour, then they started to drag.  Tom and I had a great time and agreed it would be great to come back one year without the kids and go to the haunted one at night.

 

Getting ready to trick-or-treat!

 

One last picture before we headed out the door to trick-or-treat with our friends Sara and Calvin.

 

We lost my great friend Jackie way too soon:(

 

                          Kendall's 3rd birthday                                      Kendall trying gymnastics

            So precious kids                                                                                 Our crazy kids

               Family Christmas Picture

 

Beautiful girls

 

                   Adventureous Max                                                Bruiser Tucker                       

 

And now they're mobile!

 

I know this was long and yet brief, but my time is precious right now.  Getting 10 minutes to do anything at one time is rare.  We had a great 2012.  It was crazy, blessed, tiring and amazing.  I have to say I'm glad the boys are getting older, but I also feel like I've missed so much just being busy and tired.  My goal for 2013 is to post at least once a month - hopefully more:)