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Saturday, January 15, 2011

Dillan's too big Chuck E Cheese Party!


Today Dillan had a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. It was insane, and fun. We had 32 kids come, and their parents. We had a great time. Here are some pictures!

Derrick was content to just eat his candy and enjoy the party!


Joe was there being awesome! He was so great and helpful.


Danny and Lexi having a great time chowing on pizza and eating cupcakes.


Look how excited they are to be at Chuck E Cheese!


Dillan loved his big foil balloon.


The cute neighborhood kids!



My great mom and sister Sara, helping with the parties.


Dillan with Sara!


 Jackson, my awesome nephew.


Paige!


Ben and Caroline, some friend's kids!


Birthday crown with tokens in it!


Birthday crown!


He got an honorary birthday medal.


The kids dancing with Chuck E Cheese


The Joseph Simmons kids.


More cute neighbor kids.


Dillan got to go into the ticket blaster, and he had 34 seconds to collect as many tickets as he could, as they blow all around. So, he put on the goggles and went in. He had great fun, and got 112 tickets. 

Trying to get tickets.


Wearing his awesome birthday crown!


Dillan wanted to pick Chuck E Cheese's nose, apparently.


He had a great time opening presents!



It was pretty awesome!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Can you really be that terrible two?

Are the terrible two's really that terrible? Can someone be such a stinker that you want to toss them out with the bathwater? Wow, where to start. The term terrible two's is all too apt for my toddler. It is like someone flipped a switch and turned my darling, loving, happy boy into a total terror. I can't leave him alone for two seconds without disaster striking.

This is a picture of the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash that I had in travel containers for when we go to the pool, now dumped all over my bathroom floor and rug. Seriously. In the few minutes it took to get my other terrible two buckled in the car, Derrick managed to find, and empty all 4 bottles, all over the floor. It is not easy to clean up soap.


Look at that mischievous face. He has been nothing but trouble today. And, while I love him. I am not sure how much more I can take. While I was asleep this morning,  he climbed up on my bed, and took his poopy diaper off, and let me know that he was poopy by dropping it on my head. Wonderful way to start a day.

This is Lexi's room, which was clean 10 minutes before. Derrick decided to empty all the drawers of clothes, and fill them with cereal. AHHH. And he was supposed to be napping so I could at least get showered today. Did not happen.


These are the plates that ended up on the floor when he emptied out virtually every cupboard in my kitchen. Pans, pots, dishes, silverware, EVERYWHERE. Then, because he was hungry, and recently discovered he could open the freezer, he pulled a chair over to the oven, turned it on to broil, filled one of these little plastic plates with tater tots, and stuck it in. Needless to say I am grateful I discovered it quickly, although I did burn my thumb trying to retrieve it.


I grabbed him, stuck him on the couch with a show while I went in the kitchen to try and clean up the mess. Next thing I know, I walk out and he is brandishing a knife. Yes, a knife. He was trying to cut a hole in my leather couch. (The knife came from one of the drawers he emptied in the kitchen. Picture sharp and non-butter).

As I type this I hear the clanking of more pots and pans, the arguing of two older children, and the little voice in the back of my head reminding me of everything I STILL have to do today. It is not yet 5, I guess we will have to see if the day gets any better or any worse, but let's hope for the first.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

I can't believe my baby is two!

Because Derrick is now two we told him no more bottles. Well, being human, we always want what we can't have. he cried, and cried, and cried some more. After a few hours, we felt so bad that we were making him cry on his birthday, so we gave in and let him have one. Look how content he looks to just lay by his daddy and drink his bottle!


We had a birthday party for him, because that is what we do. We made the meat, and had everyone bring some sides, and then we provided desserts. We got his favorite dessert, fruit tarts, and then a selection of other goodies. We ended up with cheesecake, little coconut cream pies, fruit tarts, a grasshopper pie, caramel macadamia tarts, and some cookies, etc. It was yummy! Here are some pictures.





We put candles in the fruit tart because that is what he likes the best. He is just getting so big. I love him!


Later we opened presents. We ended up in the corner of the room with all of the kids crowded around. It was crazy. Derrick was great, opening every gift and taking a moment or two to enjoy them before moving on to the next gift. He even said "Thank you" to each person, and attempted their name. He says it in such a deep little voice and it is just so cute.

 This is all the kids crowded around to see what Derrick got.

He certainly enjoyed himself.



A little bit about Derrick:

Derrick is just as sweet as can be. He has his opinions, and knows what he wants, but he is very sensitive to other people's feelings. He gives kisses and hugs generously, always says "thank you", sometimes says "please". He sleeps well, naps still but only once a day. He loves playing with his sister Lexi, and on occasion will get along with Dillan. He loves "mancakes" for breakfast. He likes going potty on the toilet because he likes to flush. He has no interest in television or movies, and could care less about video games. What he loves is his bottle, his mom, his dad, his aunt Betsy and aunt Wendi. He is just starting to get into blocks and cars. He enjoys stuff that makes noise, and likes stuffed animals. He is fascinated with money, and likes to put it in my old wallet. He always wants to go, but never knows where, he just likes to drive. He loves his blanket, and won't sleep without it if he can help it (a first for us). His hair is still white blonde, his eyes bright blue. He has most of his teeth. He is talking a lot, can say a lot of full sentences, but still gets shy when other people are around. Derrick loves babies. He always wants to hold them, hug them, kiss them, etc. We sure love him. He is such as great kid.

Santa Clause Came to Town

Today I am playing catch up on the blog. I posted about Christmas and how wonderful it was, and how much we enjoyed it. Now I am just sticking up some of the pictures from the day. 

Dillan's Santa stuff (too bad he already lost his iPod, sure wish we could find it).


Alexis' Santa stuff. She loves the Storybook dress up!


Derrick's Santa stuff!


Mom and Dad stuff. We never know what to get.



 He did not want to open the stocking, just carry it around


Brett!


Derrick singing and playing!


Alexis showing Grandpa her princess barbies.

She is a girl through and through, loved getting a Christmas dress!

Yerkes Fam Christmas Party

Every year we go to Brett's parents for Christmas Eve. I know I already blogged about it, but here are a few pictures from that night. 

Alexis was so excited to have a snow white doll, and a ballerina Barbie. She could barely contain her excitement.


Derrick was loving his favorite Aunt Betsy, as always!


Kurtis showing off his present. A picture he did himself, that Grandpa framed for him. So awesome.

 Kristian, thinking how lucky he was going to be since he would be leaving the snow for Hawaii a few days later.


Kathy, not forgetting a picture of her, since I did at the Christmas dinner.


Cynthia, posing with her mouth full. ooops, sorry Cynth!


Brett with his signature cheese for the camera!

 Uncle Jeff and Paige!

It was a fun night, with great company!

Living a Childhood dream- Snow Fort

Right after that first big snow storm of winter this year, I got an itch to live out one of my childhood fantasies. I wanted to build a HUGE snow fort. So, I enlisted the help of my brother, and two of the neighboring families. We worked on it for several hours, and had a blast. We did not quite finish it, and the rain ruined it, but these are the pictures from the beginning of it. Oh how fun it was. 

Derrick did not have fun. His hands were cold, but he would not let me put gloves on him!


Dillan got sick of it after a while and just wanted to make hot chocolate and watch a movie, which we did after.


Look how big it is getting!




The other neighborhood moms, facing the hold to build the awesomest of awesome snow forts.




Everyone pitching in. I think there were 14 of us total!