No Cameras Please

Apparently being a well documented toddler has some similarities with being a celebrity. I hope this is where the similarities stop.



This video is from our car ride home after seeing Santa on the train. The boys had about three cameras on them the entire time. I guess Walker had enough.

The Birthday Party

Walker's birthday party was a blast. We all had a great time with family and of course Walker enjoyed being the center of attention.

Walker started things off by unwrapping the presents as they arrived, instead of waiting until the appointed time. As soon as we turned our backs, there he would be opening something just as quick as he could. He learned a lot at Christmas about this whole present thing.




(This is a picture of the most obnoxious toy ever, that Matt and Allyson bought Walker. It sings a song about going to the dump and loving the smell of trash. I will be listening to their two precious little girls and whatever that thing is that the girls want, but mom and dad say no, they can count on Aunt Katy and Uncle Jason to purchase.)

Jason made some wonderful burgers and our great family provided the delicious sides. Walker only ate crackers. There was far to much excitement to eat a balanced meal.



We then moved on to the cake. The theme of the party was Bob The Builder, because Walker loves all things that have to do with construction; dump trucks, excavators, bulldozers and so on. On the cake was a dump truck. As soon as Walker saw it, he wanted it. He became upset when he had to wait for us to sing to him. It was pitiful, but it made for a funny video.

Eli loved the attention as well. He especially loved that the cousins (Hannah and Leah) came over.




Thanks to all the family that attended and brought prizes for Walker, and we missed those of you who couldn't attend.

Walker's Bible Study Lesson

A few nights ago Walker found one of his baby Bibles. He became very interested in it and carried it around all night, "reading" it. I will say that he seems to know that it is special and treats it differently. He turns the pages carefully and keeps it high enough so Eli can get to it, even when he puts it away, in its very own special drawer.

He is also a pretty quick read, because every time he closes it he proclaims, "The End," to signify that he has read the entire book. I mean it takes adults months to get through the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. Of course, Walker is a genius and it typically takes him about 2 minutes to complete his read.

Yesterday, he was "reading" his Bible in his room. When I walked in he told me, "Walker Bible study." My heart just about exploded. Jason and I go to our Bible study on Wednesday nights and Jason's parents (they watch them for us every week, huge thanks) always tell the boys that mommy and daddy are going to Bible Study. I'm so glad that he has figured out, at least on some level, that Bible study isn't a place but an action.





These pictures are from the first night of this discovery, when he also found his sunglasses. He walked around all night, wearing them like they were reading glasses (not that he knows anyone who wears reading glasses). It was hilarious to see a 2 year old caring a Bible, wearing Thomas the Train sunglasses and walking around telling us what he was reading. Perfectly Precious!

Playroom?

When Walker was tiny and only needed a few toys to entertain him, it was no trouble to put everything away at the end of the day. Once he became mobile and had Christmas and a birthday it became clear that we needed a central location to house all of the play stuff. We decided to combine the computer/office area with a playroom area in our family room. Lots of organizing attempts have happen, but it always seems to look the same at the end of the day. I try to keep up with it during the day and make the boys (well mostly Walker) put things up before we get something new out, but alas I have lost control.




I know it appears as though there are nothing but toys in that picture, but I promise Eli is in there amongst the madness. Help!

Big Boy Bed

Last night we gave Walker the choice of his big boy bed or the baby bed. With a little convincing from dad he went into the big boy bed. No problems at all. We put some pillows all around, and it is a good thing we did. This boy is such a heavy sleeper. He slide half off the bed at one point, but Jason was able to shove him back up there without him even waking up. I went in and turned him around 3 times without waking him. I wonder where he gets that from? :) He will have to get used to sleeping the right way on the bed, not horizontal. Then today, I figured the nap would be a problem. Wrong again, he just laid right down, and I haven't heard a peep. He really is the perfect child.

Here are some pictures of him this morning, waking up in his big boy bed. He even waited until I came to get him to get out of bed, at his usual time! Amazing!





(Aunt Ally can see that the stool will be getting lots of use now.)

The Birthday Evening

Jason's parents, "Gammie and Grin," took us all to dinner last night for Walker's birthday. We didn't know if we were going to be able to go, but after nice naps and less runny noses, everyone seemed good to go.

We went to Olive Garden so Walker could get some ravioli, which he loves. Of course last night he would not have a bite of it. Eli was perfect through the whole, long meal. At the end they came and sang to Walker and presented him with a cake. He thought this part was great. He tried to blow out the candle, but never could build up quite enough air. He took good bite of the cake and then went back for more. When he did he got the gooey icing all over his hands, and he was done at that point. Ahh, my neat and tidy boy. I know his momma sure did enjoy the chocolate cake and his brother would have loved to get his hands on a bite. The perfect end to a wonderful day.

Happy Birthday Walker!

Today my precious baby boy turns 2. It is hard to put into words how fast the time has flown by. He is such a little boy now; all signs of my baby have faded.

He is our little politician, who always has something to say. His favorite phrases lately are: "How 'bout _____ (some cookies, a waffle, go shoppin, etc.)" "I sure did." "He's all done (to take a toy away from Eli)" "I wonder where _____ (Walker, Eli, my shoes, etc.) is" and many, many more.

He had his two year check up this morning and everything went great. Then we headed to Target to let him pick out a prize. He is so good at putting stuff back before we leave a store and not demanding anything, that he kept putting back the items he had picked up. He doesn't even know how to pick out toy to take home. He did finally settle on a set of trucks. It is probably the last thing we need around here, but hey, it is his birthday.

We came home and got the cupcakes going. When he woke up from his nap he "helped" to ice the cupcakes and add the sprinkles. There was some taste testing as well.




He is playing with his new trucks and on his new big boy bed. That is his really present from us, all the bedding on his new bed. My wonderful grandparents Brown gave us two twin beds to use for the boys and we set Walker's up last night. He climbed right up and laid down, but he still hasn't actually slept in it. We will see if we can make progress on that this week.





Tonight we will head out for some Italian for dinner; Walker loves just about anything Italian. We will have the big family party this weekend and repeat the whole cake and presents experience.

Happy Birthday to my wonderful little boy, who is growing up way to fast!

Snow Video

Here is a little video of Walker in his first snow.

First Snow!

Starting on Wednesday the forecast of possible snow for our area this weekend began to emerge. Now, Jason is a bit of a weather buff and loves the snow, and he was cautiously optimistic at the reports he was hearing. We all hoped that when we woke up on Saturday morning the boys' first snow would be all around.

We had to wait until a little later in the morning, but it did come. We ended up with about a half and inch of wet snow that started melting as soon as it stopped falling, but it was enough for Walker to see and touch. He kept saying it was cold ice and eventually got the whole snow thing (I think mostly from associating it with tv shows he had seen).

At first he was very concerned that this stuff was all over daddy's car and wanted to clean it (whose child is this anyway), but when he saw the neighbors having snowball fight he decided the snow thing could be fun. About that time the mommy in me decided everyone was too cold and we returned to the warmth. Eli enjoyed the snow from this side of the window (he is still fighting a cold), but was genuinely surprised to see all the white stuff when he woke up from his nap. I took him to the window and he got a huge smile on his face and kept reaching around to see from every angle.

I know they will not remember this as their first snow, but it was pretty special to Jason and I.





**I would appreciate it if all of my northern friends would keep their laughter to a dull roar. :)

Grandma Hermie and Some Football

On Friday, January 11, my grandparents were able to come and spend the day with the boys. It had been a little while since they had been able to spend time with both of them, so they took the day and came to see us. The boys had a blast and I think Grandma and Grandpa did also. Now, my grandparents have never been the type of grandparents to sit by and knit while the children play, and they still aren't. They get right down and play with the boys. Grandma even got Walker into playing with some new Christmas footballs he had been neglecting. It is so wonderful that my boys are able to have the same experiences with these wonderful people that I had with them as a child. Now we will just see if they take them to the water park this summer. :)



Grandma Hermie with the Boys from jason.mccay on Vimeo.


Walker starts to sing "Jesus Loves Me" in this video and it just melts my heart every time.

Welcome Baby Isaac

Our dear friends have just welcomed their first child. We are so excited and can't wait for our boys to meet their new "honorary cousin". Walker is sending this message until then. Eli wanted to say something, but couldn't quite find the words. :) Congratulations Ben and Sara!

Tips for the Future Brides

Walker doesn't mind eating a burned grilled cheese sandwich. He eats it as if it is the way it should be. And before one of my loving brothers make a mean comment, I don't always burn them so he does know how they are supposed to taste.

Eli will eat anything dipped in sweet potatoes, just make sure the ratio of sweet potato to other stuff is in favor of the sweet potatoes. I am hoping he outgrows the need to rub it in his hair, but I'm not making any promises.

Basically pretty easy to please, I say!

Cool, Like All the Other Kids...er, Parents

So, for Jason's 30th his parents and brother and sister-in-law totally splurged and got Jason an XBOX (a video game system). Just what you would expect for a husband, father, and businessman to get for his 30th birthday. I initially was not for this idea, because in the past he just has not really played video games. Well, so far he has proven me wrong. He has made the time to use it, especially to play Guitar Hero. This is the cool game that all the parents I know are playing (I guess kids play it too, but I am out of touch with the teenagers). My extreme lack of musical skill has held back my interest thus far, but maybe I will get it soon enough. After a few days of, "no touch, that makes daddy sad." Walker and Eli have decided to leave it alone. Walker like to watch daddy play and before too long I'm sure he will be playing it himself.

I apologize for the dark pictures. I was trying to be sneaky.