My sweet Maddox turned 5!  All of a sudden he seems so old and even doesn't look like such a little boy anymore.  We had planned on a weekend and party at Roaring River but it flooded and was freezing cold so the party moved to his Grammy's.  I think Isaac was more disappointed.  He had hoped to try out the camper.  Maddox was just excited about a party and his Cat in the Hat cake. 

I am excited.... time to plant the garden this weekend.  I am always excited at planting time, but by mid summer I am fed up with the weeds, bugs, heat, and possibility of snakes due to my lack of weeding.   I really researched gardens when we built it several years ago.  It is a 12 x 20 raised bed (and another 2x6 one for lettuce and spinach) made with 1/3 of each- topsoil, builder's sand, and compost.  The problem I think was the compost wasn't finished composting when we picked it up so there were a ton of weeds.  I think it continued to break down however and that has made the soil very healthy.  I seem a little closer to conquering the weeds every season. I keep saying weeds, but it is more like brush. Some of them are huge stalks.  In my mind I always have intentions of a beautiful garden, but it is the ugliest thing I have ever seen.   I don't even water it after midsummer.  Ugly, but productive.  Isaac braved the jungle last year to harvest some tomatoes and brought in 38 off of 3 plants.  I am hoping with the planter's paper I bought this year I can keep things under control.  Maddox and I picked out 3 varieties of tomato plants, a cherry tomato, and a mild jalapeno.  We also will plant squash, zucchini, cucumber, and cantaloupe from seed.  Maddox's little garden already has spinach, lettuce, and peas in it and they seem to have survived the frost we had a few days ago. 

Today was Samuel's first trip to the library.  He rode in the snugli so he did fine.  Max and I had only been once since Samuel was born.  We used to go every Tuesday so I feel a little guilty.  My little scientist found a book on water experiments which was perfect.  If left unsupervised you can usually find him mixing water with something- juice, food, or playdoh usually.  We have done two experiments already, well one is still in the freezer.

Isaac's birthday went great.  I was a little concerned when I had ordered 100 tenders and a few people called on our way there and said they couldn't make it, but a few extra people showed up so it was fine.  Isaac was in his element...socializing with friends and family.  Most guys wouldn't care much about a party, but he is down in the dumps if he doesn't have one.  He even said any special guests would be appreciated. He cracks me up. 

Max is definitely in Christmas mode... I think we have watched the Grinch every day for a week now.  He seems a little less scared each time he watches it.  Isaac insisted on buying a prelit tree this year and now that it is up I love it.  Isaac's parents came over Saturday and worked all afternoon and long after I went to bed on decorating the outside for Maddox.  They went to Lowe's and bought way too much stuff even replacing our old clear lights with blue ones because that's his favorite color. Max loves having the inflatable Grinch outside his window. 

Here is a photo of Samuel watching the dogs.  I am not sure I should have started this with winter here.  He cries when you walk inside or away from the window.

My boys-

I haven't checked in a long while.  Samuel is growing and growing.  Sleep has gotten worse since he expects to nurse to get back to sleep.  Maddox is doing better at sleeping in his own room since we have a sleepover on the weekends usually. 

Samuel still has reflux troubles and I think it is much worse and projectile when I have dairy the day before.  It is too bad it took 4 months to notice.  He is starting to be a lot of fun...grabbing and kissing on faces and laughing. Maddox is still so helpful and sweet. 

With the help of my friend Pearl I finally finished Maddox's curtain for his window.  It is blindingly bright in the winter once the leaves no longer block the sun so I am glad to have them up.  It has already helped him to sleep later.  I started them a few days before Samuel arrived unexpectedly so after almost 5 months they are up!

Mmmm.....piggies.

Also here is my big boy making dinner.  He didn't want any help and said it was Maxey's recipe.  He painstakingly placed each olive in the perfect place.  I can't seem to turn the photo.