Making Cookies for Daddy

Last weekend Jen and I decided that it was about time Marion received a care package, and what better way to do that than to send him homemade cookies made by none other than Mr. Michael himself.

First have Mommy and Auntie collect all the ingredients...


You always have to make sure you wash your hands before playing in cookie dough


Start with a little bit of butter


Wait! Don't eat the butter!


Next comes the sugar.


Mix it all together. Even if you aren't so sure about this whole food processor thing.


Then you have to roll out the dough and cut out the cookies


Once Mommy and Auntie have taken care of the baking part, it's time to decorate!


And last but not least, you always have to try your handi-work to make sure it's good enough for Daddy!

Ear Infections ≠ Smiles....

but we got what we could! Poor little guy... he was fighting an ear infection this past weekend, which made for lots of cuddle time and a cranky boy. However, every once in a while the Tylenol would kick in just long enough for us to play around with him.

Counting down the days 'til Christmas!


This kid seriously makes some of the goofiest faces


And then he turns around and gets all cute again




One thing is for sure, when he's not feeling good, he likes to read lots of books. Lots. Right now.




So mischievious looking...


Michael woke up from his Sunday nap to find himself with a new toy! Now we just have to teach him how to not hit things with it.


One thing's for certain, Michael wants to wish everyone a Happy Holiday!

Oh Marion!

Michael would like you to know that he's sending you something in the mail! He made it just for you!

Baby not included

Playground Fun

This past weekend Adam and I decided to drive down to Jen's to keep her and Michael company for the first weekend Marion was away. We took Michael to a couple different playgrounds and Adam was a trooper on Saturday and babysat Michael while Jen and I ran errands. Of course, as it would turn out, we came home to a fussy little boy with a nice temperature to go with it. Poor Adam -- he thought Michael was just being fussy for him. Well, on to the better highlights of the trip...

Michael found himself with a new toy truck from Auntie and Uncle (that Mommy had to keep putting back together).




Michael looooves making Adam read him the same 4 books over and over.




Whew! Climbing up all these steps is tough work!


But the fun slide down is worth it!










Get ready for some more bumps and bruises mom, Uncle was teaching Michael how to jump




At playground #2. Michael loves his trains.




"I'm not so sure about this whole swing thing..."


Still not so sure, even when swinging with Uncle.


There we go! Pushing people on the swing is much more fun!


Sneak attack by Mommy!


Bubble boy!

Halloween!

And now on to the good stuff! Earlier in October the rest of my family had a chance to go visit my grandparents up north (thanks to my last minute decision to go back to school we couldn't go). Lo and behold, one of my aunts still had my cousin's costume my grandma had made for him when he was two and it actually fit Michael! So the costume choice was an easy one for my sister. We had a little tiger running around the house for a day!

Pre-trick-or-treating at a church's Trunk-or-Treat.


A view of our beautiful handiwork from the night before.


And squeezing in one more bath-time pic. Just because he is so stinkin' cute.

Hanging out with the Boys in Kentucky

A couple weeks before Halloween we found out that Marion was going to be heading to Louisiana the second week of November for 3 months before getting shipped off to Afghanistan. :( That made our decision to go down to my parents to hang out with them and Jen and Marion much easier. (Plus we got to see little man all dressed up for Halloween which was definitely an added bonus. Don't worry, those pictures will come!)

We got down to my parents a little bit before dinner, and my dad already had Marion out mowing the lawn. Well, little man didn't like being cooped up inside with the girls, so we let him run around outside with the boys for a while.

Hey! Let me out there!


One of my favorite pictures ever!


Grandpa getting his work-out in for the day.


The mixed look of terror and excitement while going for a ride after Daddy was done mowing the lawn.



Uncle getting in on the action


I want to be just like Daddy!








Dirty boys eventually have to get washed up


Maybe he should have been the Tin Man for Halloween