A visit with Santa

We got all the boys to sit with Santa today. No tears and everyone told him what they wanted:)

First birthday cupcake

Shane's first birthday and thus his first birthday cupcake. He mostly just tore it apart and played with it but did get some in his mouth:)

The cake

Cupcake Cake for Shane, Jacob, McKenna, and Popo

He's ONE!

That looks good!

Frosting is gone...

That was yummy cupcake!

He's ONE!

His new slide:)

New jammies from mom and dad

Flannel shirt

New book from Grammy and Popo

Camo jammies from Grammy and Popo

One year later

As of yesterday the boys (M and Z) have been with us for a year...and what a year it has been! As I get presents wrapped and under the tree the biggest difference is that we are now mom and dad and not Mark and Heather. We are a family and the boys feel like they are our own children and that they have been with us forever. We have had many challenges this past year but when we take time to look back we realize that we have come a LONG way. Z no longer kicks and screams when strapped into his car seat, M's tantrums are down to a few a month (not a few a day) and they are quick to end, both boys are on ADHD medicine and their attention spans are much longer, and talk of how wonderful tummy mom was is a thing of the past. I think they have adjusted well to being our children and part of a forever family. Each day is still a work in progress but the testing is minimal and each day is more joyous. We look forward to this coming year and another year under our belts as parents. If we've come this far in a year, I am excited to see where we will be this time next year!

Miner family pictures

Grammy and Popo with all of their grandkids

Miner family

Miner family Christmas

The cousins ready to eat

M dressing up with cousins...this will be used against him someday:)

Big brother and littlest brother

Newest toy?!?!

S found an old CVS card and had a hayday with it! Perhaps he thinks he's a dog:)

Bowling

S loved watching everyone bowl

Daddy and the big boys ready to bowl!

M took to it quickly and soon didn't need dad's help

We tried Z without the ball aid but he liked the help

The end of the 2nd game. M beat us all with a 99! Daddy came in last with a 78...not sure what he was doing!

S's First Thanksgiving

The boys with their plates piled high

Mark cooking pumpkin pies

M and Z watching Harry Potter

S looking adorable on his first Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for!!

Oh Christmas Tree

We decorated our Christmas Tree on Thanksgiving with the help of a few boys. It hasn't tipped over yet so we consider that a success! We are already counting down the days until Christmas in our house!

Is this how this works?!

S is everywhere these days! He loves playing under and around his walker

He should be walking soon...

Finally!

It only took S 11 months but he finally got off his belly and learned to crawl on his hands and knees! He also said his first word this weekend...dada. We are currently working on mama!!

S's new ride!

We found his sweet new ride at the Fort Riley Thrift Shop! He loves going for walks in his new car!

Halloween 2010

If you know our kids you know that they each fit their character VERY well!

Out Trick or Treating

He kept his ears on the whole time!

Daddy warming him up at the end of the night

Carving pumpkins

M cleaning out his pumpkin...Z wasn't at all interested in sticking his hand in there!

Mark the pumpkin carver

We finally convinced Z that it was okay

The boys with one of the pumpkins

Both pumpkins that daddy carved!