Really??

I was in the house when I decided to go check on the boys. I walked past the window and this is what I saw!!! I can't say it was thrilling for me to see this as Im not a huge fan of getting in the mud, but I figured they are already dirty and they might as well finish...because I plan to tell them tonight...that playing in the mud is off limits. ( I know, Im no fun!!)

HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY!!

Happy Birthday to my sweet growing up Elijah!! Somedays I just look at you and think, how is it possible to have a boy who is done with 2nd grade, turning 8 and interested in things like reading, driving(yes he said he was excited to drive), and playing a guitar?? You are a sweet boy Elijah with a tender heart for others and willing to help on the drop of a hat. You are super smart like your daddy and did awesome in school with pretty much all A's on your report card. You sure can spell too....getting an A+ the entire year!!! (he never missed a single word:)). You make your mommy and daddy proud. We love you so much and look forward to watching you grow into a young man(which by golly gee...is going to happen way sooner than we want it to).
We had the combined birthday with both sides of the family as it seems to work great!! Elijah chose a camafloug themed party this year. We served Chili with toppings and each couple brought a salad to join the chili. Yummy food like fruit salad, slaw, broccoi salad and pasta salad and carrots and cucumbers were a great side to the chili. Thanks everyone for what you brought.

Of course my MIL made the birthday cake since she is the one with the talent(wish I had it though). She did an awesome job as usual and it was so moist and yummy. The deer antler...well, elijah and caden were out playing on Friday and found it!! Pretty awesome if you ask me. I told them it would be a miracle if you ever found another one. They sure are hoping for on so they can mount them on their bedroom wall:).

Didn't want to bore you with opening gifts so here is just one picture. Elijah got some great stuff. He got Odyssey Tapes, Money, PixO's, Playmobil, Clothes, Kite and a Guitar.

Elijah blowing out his "trick" candles. It was so funny and he still has NO IDEA they were trick!! So I plan to use them again next year:). He keeps telling me "mom, I just had to keep blowing them, they would stop burning and then they would relite again!!" I of course just play along:).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG GUY!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!


Here is Liam enjoying the party....Elijah got this awesome card....and Liam played with it most of the time!!

A Trip to the Emergency Room

****UPDATE AT BOTTOM OF POST*****
Needless to say today was an action packed day!! I sat liam in his booster seat for lunch and snapped on the tray. Fed him and got up to get a washcloth. BOOM....WAAAAHHHH!!! I turn around to see liam on the ground with blood from his mouth. I race over and grab some papertowel and hold it over his mouth as best as I could(he was wiggly and in lots of pain im sure). Quickly called mom(not home), then Raquel(had to do something) and so then I tried Steph!! Thank the lord she was home and thank the lord she was so willing to drop what she was doing to race to my house. She drove my van and Caden, Liam and I sat in the back. Liam's lip had this slab of skin hanging from his lip(which I didn't know if needed stitches) and his teeth/gums looked weird. Got all signed in and waited around to see a doc. PLEASE tell me why when you go to the emergency room it literally takes 45 minutes for a doctor to see you??? (the halls were empty and noone seemed to be around). Anyway, doctor said no stitches were needed, but asked me if I thought his teeth looked funny or his gum area. I said "yes". He thought maybe the gum was stuck up into his teeth, so i held down the poor little guy and the doctor tugged for 30 seconds trying to release the lip from his gum and teeth. No luck and the doctor said he had done enough torchering him:(. He then figured that what happend was possibly his teeth got jammed up into his gums. So he called the Oral Surgeon and tomorrow morning we head to lafayette to see a pediatric oral surgeon. Im praying nothing serious and Im praying it will correct itself and that he didn't break any roots from his gum so that his little teeth don't die and turn black. I felt so terrible!! He looks like he is in alot of pain, but he sure doesn't act like it now that he is home.
Please pray his teeth are ok and that he can heal naturally. THANKS!!
A HUGE thank you to Steph for being there for me today!! I REALLY appreciate it!!
These pictures were taken after he had a good healthy dose of meds and a nap:)

Get better my sweet little Liam!! Mommy's sorry and I love you so much!!!

****So the oral surgeon said NOTHING I didn't already know from ER doctor. Personally I think it was a waste of 50$ and my trip to lafayette. Basically no xray was taken and from here we play the "waiting game". Since he is such alittle guy and we aren't certain his tooth broke away from the gum, there is no need for an xray. (I guess little people's gums are still soft and more pliable unlike adults gums who's are more like a bone and when hit can easily chip or break within the gum). So rigth now I am to watch to see if the tooth(his top right front tooth) turns a different color(red, brown, black) and if so then I am to take him to a Ped dentist and they will then go ahead and xray his tooth and go from there. So I ask for prayers on Liam's little tooth that it is indeed still intact and that it being loose is NOT a sign of it possibly being broke off under his gums which would result in a dead tooth. THANKS!!!****

Indiana Beach

So last Saturday morning, even though it was bitter cold out and overcast, we headed to Indiana Beach from 11am-2pm. Elijah worked very hard this year in reading books to win a free pass for two guests and 1/2 priced passes for up to 4 guests to Indiana Beach. He accomplished his goal and won his pass. The down side to this is that they give you TWO weekends(saturday and sunday) to use it otherwise it expires. The first weekend we were not around and the second weekend we were busy as well and it was COLD, but we went ahead and squeezed it in since Elijah was so excited to go. The boys got to ride all the rides they wanted to at least once and then they each got to pick their favorite and ride it again. As we were standing in line for the Cornball Express Rollercoaster(Caden's favorite) the Indiana Beach Mascot came up to us. Caden was super excited and kept touching him and rubbing him. It was pretty funny. Here is a picture of the two boys with the Mascot.
While we waited in line for the huge ride that drops you(forget the name), they have this little frog hopper ride next to it. Anyone can ride it as long as they can sit up alone. So on we all went(minus nick) to see how Liam adjusted to his first ride. He wasn't so sure about it as the bar came down, but as we went up in the air and then it dropped us he had the biggest open smile he could have. No TEARS, just excitment. I was so glad he enjoyed his first "big" ride. If you notice...I barely fit....tight squeeze for sure. Here is Liam getting buckled into the ride...a bit unsure of it:).

Im sure we will go to Indiana Beach many more times here this year since we live 15 minutes from there. They boys sure do love it, but man, it doesn't compare in ANY way to what we are use to and that is Dollywood and Splash Country in Knoxville, TN!!! (I miss that place:))

Videos

Here are a few video's from the last couple days. Liam enjoyed his first ride in the jeep driven by Caden and also Liam is definitely a walker now:). He is probably walking about 75% of the time. Its a lot of fun!!