Look Who Joined Us For Dinner Last Night

 Batman

 Spiderman

 Princess

And the Prince

Bring Your Own Big Wheel event

 I signed up the two oldest for the local Bring Your Own Big Wheel event - where kids can race their big wheels on a local indoor track. Jack pedaled, Liam ran.

 Maggie drove the stroller. Matthew was the backseat driver.

 In the past, Jack has been this mellow kid who takes his time. Not Saturday. He drove like a maniac, completing 9 laps in 30 minutes.

 And Liam ran and ran - 5 laps in 30 minutes.

 Matthew enjoyed the ride after he realized that Maggie was an excellent driver like her mom.

 Maggie walked a lap.

 Cute picture. 

Really, it's hard to take a bad picture of Liam. Wait until he's 5 and doesn't cooperate anymore.

Eying the competition.

Sibling Love

Maggie taking care of Liam.

Girls Day Out!

My niece Meaghan has been asking for a girls' day out for months so we decided to go shopping yesterday! Grandma spoiled her girls. There were no complaints.

"I can't pick up a thing with these new rabbit ears."

We let Meaghan pick the spot for lunch - one of our favorite Chinese restaurants.

Maggie liked it too!

My little girl really liked the tea. Then, after some intensive retail therapy, we went out for drinks.

Steak N Shake!

And it was good.

 Maggie was pretty happy with her Oreo shake.

Future Ring Bearer

 Mr. Handsome is going to be a ring bearer for a member of his birth family in a couple of months. This weekend he modeled the jacket Jack wore for his birthmom's wedding.

Fits him pretty good.

Creature Power

 The kiddos received cute animal backpacks from Jack's birth family for Christmas. There's a turtle, ladybug and shark.

 Maggie can also model lip balm.

 Work it girl.

 Molly thinks she's pretty sweet too.

 Turtle Jack swimming in the kitchen amazon.

Nice set of choppers Mr. Shark.

The Music of the Night or Day

Talking to a friend this morning I was reminded of my high school marching band days. I was a member of the Comets Marching Band, a small high school band that specialized in feel-good music. We played Christmas songs with an attitude during holiday parades (Jingle Bells, ja, ja, ja, Jingle Bells) and songs like Gimme Some Lovin' at homecoming parades.

Our rival was the nearby town's Wildcats who specialized in hum-drum music, mainly Phantom of the Opera. Now, I like that musical but what would you rather listen to during a parade? Also, the band wore these scary looking masks. The picture below is one of them that was featured in a St. Louis journal. I had a couple of cousins who were in the band around the same time I was and I love them dearly but their whole get-up gave me the creeps. If I was a small child they would have made me cry.

Creep Out! 

A nearby town's marching band back in the 90's.

Fun Pics with the Kids

 Little Model

 Brotherly Love

 Getting So Big

Snow White

 Future Wrestlers

My Big Goober

Chocolate Lover!

Magic Bandaid

That's the only way I could get Liam to keep his band-aid on after injuring himself last weekend.

10 Months Old!

My White Elephant Gift

 Wait for it...

 Wait for it...

That's what I'm talking about baby. The kids were mighty pleased.

Weekend in Review

We had a busy fun weekend with family. First up, one last holiday party with Jack's birth family. Wow - we always have a great time. This year, I was able to participate in the wine testing. I also ate way too much - so many goodies. I cherish this time with Jack's birth family as I do with Liam's birth family. They make us feel so loved and welcomed. We are so blessed!

 

30 gifts, 30 participants.

The white elephant bonanza! This year, the madness lasted more than two hours! And I love it. It's crazy fun.

Maggie let me wear her crown that she received from one of the members of Jack's birth family.

Mike finally received a beardo or something that resembled one and I helped him get it with a little strategy during the white elephant madness. He owes me big!

We also attended a fun get-together with Mike's family. I was too busy to snap any photos. I hope to steal some from FB and repost them on here.

File this under the weird

This is the pattern that the bottom of my plate made after I washed it at work today. Cool or weird? I think it's a smiley face. Someone else here thinks it's a skull.

Goobers

 Totally Liam 

We made chocolate cake for New Years. The entire thing was yummy and so moist. However, somebody only ate the icing.

The boys said they were going to sleep in their special hideout under Matthew's crib last night. After they flew the coop several times they were forced to sleep in their own beds. Tears.