Turning One

Andrew is definitely the most get into everything baby that I have ever had. He opens up the cupboards and pulls out all of the bowls and pots and loves to drop them all over the floors to make the biggest bangs that he can manage. He has been crawling since he was nine months and cruising shortly there after. Andrew LOVES to eat. He will eat anything even Brussels sprouts. It is a nice change from his older brothers who instead of eating their oatmeal they would rather ware it. Oh, Zachary would smear his breakfast all over himself as if to have a full body experience.

Andrew doesn't stop smiling from the time that he wakes up to the time he goes to sleep. He is a joy and I am so blessed to be his mom. I often think about how I've been blessed with noble and great children of my Heavenly Father to take care of and to bring up in the gospel. They really aren't mine but His and these little ones are just on lone to me to be under my stewardship for a time. I pray everyday that I will bring them up unto God and that they will grow to have their own personal testimonies of Jesus Christ. I witness of their purity everyday and their meek tenderness. They are my often my teacher and reminders of what this life is really about.

Andrew's Birthday was nice. We met up with some friends at a park to play. Pam surprised us with a lil'party. She brought mini cupcakes, treats, and a gift. Andrew was delighted and had a great time enjoying eating his cakes and opening his present. I have such good friends.

We had a family celebration but we got back from the park later than i thought and everything was running late so by the time we got to gifts and cake Andrew was really tired. All he wanted to do was lay with a push toy that he got the day before. Finally he opened a gift and Adam and Zach helped with the others. He got some cars and enjoys playing with them.

Sunday we celebrated with some friends. I made cake pops, cookie cake, and funfetti birthday cake. I went a little over board with the deserts but I had a good time doing it and I wanted to make the 1st birthday special. I hope that is was. We love you Andrew. I feel so blessed to have you as a part of our eternal family. While I was in the hospital holding you for one of the first times I thought to my self Adam taught me love, Zachary brought peace in a time of turbulence, and Andrew adds to us joy. Happy Birthday Andrew, you are so loved.

St. Patrick's Day

I don't' know what got into me this year but I decided to have a good time with St. Patrick's Day. Zachary saw that Valentines day was "red day" and was excited to have a "green day". It was important to him so we made a celebrations out of it. We threw up some decorations and the crafts that the boys did at school. As the day approached Adam talked about leprechauns and gold etc... the night before a leprechaun put some goodies in the boy's shoes, put streamers all over the house, left a treasure hunt for our guys to find. I put out a box of lucky charms with a special note on the box. I have to say i felt like super mom. It was fun to have a special say and treat the boys to some good memories.

That afternoon we took the boys out to Sandy Hook. Adam and Daddy got to climb up into the still operating lighthouse tower. They said that they could see the NYC skyline from there and that it was really cramped up there. Zachary was disappointed that he wasn't big enough to go but we went on our own adventure. We walked around the old base and got to see some old bomb shells from WWII. After the light house we went to a beach on the inside of the bay. They had a good time looking at the rocks, shells, and animals that we found.

Sleep Over!!!

Julie and Philip Nell had planned to go out of town and we offered to take care of the kids so we had a sleep over! We played games, ate pizza, watched a movie (Mirriam went home b/c her parents ended up not going) and slept in the spaceship tent.

It was the funniest thing. All three boys crammed their sleeping gear and bodies in this lil'tent. When I went up to check on them I saw Sam's arms hanging out the tent door and on the other side Adam's feet poking out. They played pretend that there were on the planet icecream and had many adventures. I really enjoy Sam being one of Adam and Zachary's friends. He is so creative and fun and is easy to please.

In the morning we had doughnuts and chocolate milk. Man, I am such a nice mom. :)