3.

Y'all know how when you're a kid and you see someone for the first time in awhile they're all, "Man you're getting so big!" and you kind of roll your eyes like yep? I found myself being one of those people at Deuce's 3rd birthday party last weekend. Standing back and looking at him and his buddies made me happy, sentimental and sad all at the same time. They used to be so small and cuddly and sweet. Now they're potty trained and big and stubborn and opinionated and wild. But their smiles and their laughter resonate with me just the same as it did when they were babies.

excuse the cheese puffs in the teeth....

We had Deuce's birthday party at the Children's Museum of Alamance County. It was awesome! It just opened last fall and is right off of Hwy 87 in Graham. If you haven't taken your kid you should. $5 is all it costs and there is endless fun. We set up the big party room and had snacks and cupcakes. Then we released them to the wild to let them play. I know they all had a blast and hopefully slept good, despite all of the sugar I gave them.

Thank you to everyone that came out to help our little guy celebrate being 3. He had a wonderful time.

Zoë's 1st Birthday

Quick post today!  It's Cinco de Mayo and I have to head over to Annie's house to celebrate!  Like I am being drug by the hair on my head to go eat Mexican food.  yeah right.  I love Méxicano food!  for realz.  With Sunday being Mother's Day, Annie asked me to help her be crafty with some gifts for the grandma's from Aja.  Yea!!  So tonight's the perfect night.  Mexican food & Crafts.  LOVE.

Sunday, Annie & I took the babes over to Raleigh for the other trio's 1st birthday.  Are you counting?  That's 3 1st birthday parties, 3 weekends in a row!  Wowzas.  Zoë was 1 on April 26th.  They had a cookout at her Aunt Jennifer's house and the kids had a great time!  Deuce loves playing in the dirt and he loves sticks and pine cones.  The backyard was kind of hill-y and he and Aja had a good time trying to walk up and down the hills (or rolling down them too).

New development: we have 3 teeth!  Sort of.  The top right tooth has made it's appearance and is making its transition downwards.  Yeah for teeth!

Lastly, check out this video that my mom sent to me.  It is a music video of the students at her school (Frank Porter Graham Elementary in Chapel Hill) literally rapping & dancing to a track written by a fellow teacher, spelling out the importance of RESPECT.  It is a GREAT video!

Super Bowl Party

Sunday was a big day.  A day in which two big games took place.  First was the all important match up between Carolina & FSU.  The first game without Larry Drew II.  The first game where Kendall Marshall would have to step up to the plate and lead what is now "his" team.  I believe he did just fine don't 'cha think?  Anyway, we skipped our usual Sunday post church meal to rush home to catch the basketball game.  After a delightful beat-down we headed down to Graham to a Super Bowl Party at Ashwon & Annie's house.  They are such great hosts!  They always have tons of food, yummy adult drinks & so many toys for the kiddos.

I have mentioned before that Aja is 3 days older than Deuce, who is 4 days older than Zoe.  So they were all born within the same week.  We love getting together with them to let the kids play together.  I believe that Annie has every toy under the sun at her house so there is no lack of entertainment for the babies.  When we first arrived, Deuce did nothing but cry.  He has never done that before but there was a lot of commotion and new faces.  Every time somebody just talked to him, he cried.  He had just woke up from the car ride so I fed him and then he was fine.  After 2 seconds of playing with toys he wasn't bothered by the shouting and laughing.

We all went to high school together so having babies together has made things really fun.  The boys (Ed, Ashwon & Corey) all graduated in '97 and me & Annie graduated in '99.  Annie's entire family are huge Steelers fans so this game was really important to them.  Aja had on an adorable tutu that Annie had made for her!  She was so cute!  Annie's mom spent a good bit of time with Deuce.  She has a grandson that lives up north that she doesn't see as often as Aja so I think she was getting in her "boy" time.  Deuce made his way to the basketball goal, of course.

We left right after the game was over (but not before Annie's dad - who was VERY upset scurried out)! I think the kids had a blast at their first super bowl party.  Can you tell which one is the party animal?

First Date Night...

...for Deuce, that is.  Or maybe it's his 2nd date because we already went to the zoo?  We went over to Annie & Ashwon's house after the game on Saturday for a pig pickin'.  Annie had been cooking all day and Ashwon cooked the pig all night.  The food was great, complete with a campfire outside and a cornhole competition.

Aja knocked out early which left time for Deuce and Zoe to hang (with TJ supervising of course)....

But he got his few moments with Aja later on...

paci's?

who needs them?

Then he decided he wanted to spend time with both of them....

Man it's hard being a baby boy...

I think I can handle more date nights as long as they all go like this.
Do you think they'll let me, Annie & Jessica hang out with them when they are 16???