Calvin's 1st Birthday Oct 29, 2012

Happy First Birthday To Calvin

 

 

 

Who was more interested in Calvin's Birthday presents?

Calvin might have been a little confused on what he was to do with his birthday cupcake but he quickly figured it out and made short work of the frosting!

Roc knew exactly what to do with the cup cake, even if he could barely open his mouth wide enough.

Emma always happy to celebrate family birthdays.

Porter did not want to get his hands dirty so he attacked the cup cake using only his tongue and mouth.

We had Calvin's First Birthday.  We celebrated in our usual fashion with a family dinner chosen by the birthday child (in this case I believe that it was chosen by the rest of the kids who are more than willing to speak for Calvin).  The dinner is followed by cup cakes.  It seemed like Calvin had an enjoyable time.  He is an easy going child and seems to be happy with what ever we are doing.

Porter and Calvin Playing Oct 2012

Calvin feeling pretty good about himself as he poses for the camera.  This is what he looks like all the time now that he has figured how to get his clothes off.

 

Everyone always asks "how did Roc get so good at tackling?" and I always tell them they haven't seen anything yet.

Our continous fight to keep Porter on regular ground, I have never seen a kid climb so much!


On a Saturday morning we thought we would take a few pictures of the kids (Porter and Calvin) in action just to give everyone some idea of what Stacie has to chase around everyday.
This is just a few pictures taken over about a ten minute time frame, so you can imagine what it is like for a whole day.

Pumpkin Patch, October 2012

 

 

Ryan's favorite site, a pumpkin shooter that can launch a pumpkin over 500 yards!

Targets of the pumpkin shooter.

 

Ryan's only rule: you have to be able to carry the pumpkin that you want.

Porter kept getting confused and forgetting that the large round thing in his arms is a pumpkin not a basketball as he throws it and watches it bounce.

 

Finally a use for the basket below the stroller.

Brian helping the kids find the perfect pumpkin.

 

I don't know how Roc knew it but you can tell by his smile that he knows that he is buying the most expensive pumpkin!

Now that the perfect pumpkins have been selected we wait in line to pay for them.

 

This is the first time that I can ever remember all of the kids being focused on one thing for that amount of time, once we said that the kids could get cotton candy the stood just as they are pictured and did not take their eyes off the lady making the sugary goodness.

Calvin's first taste of cotton candy, shame on you mom!

One scary moment at the pumpkin patch came when the kids where playing on some hay bales and eating their cotton candy.  In a matter of seconds Porter had disappeared, as we started scanning the crowd looking for a little person that did not belong I noticed in the far off distance an old tractor and sure enough that is where he had went (for those of you that can't remember Porter is notorious for playing on any kind of vehicles).

 

 

 

Roc's Football Season 2012 (Mighty Mites)

For those of you who have trouble picking out Roc, he is #66 on the green and black team and he is the only player with yellow sleeves.  We had to buy him something to make it so Stacie could pick him out during the game!

 

Notice Roc is looking at the refs feet to make sure he in the right position rather than watching the other team.

Roc making the tackle!

Roc chasing the quarterback out of the pocket.

Roc was closing in on the quarter back forcing him to throw the ball (you will see the ball in the air if you look closely)

Roc and his teammates making a tackle.

 

For those of you that are not football enthusiasts I will explain why this is such a great photo.  If you look closely in the middle of the picture (just to the right of the ref) you will notice a kid in the blue being pushed by the green team, if you look closely you will notice that there are a second set of legs (you guessed it, that's Roc) pushing that other poor kid  down the field with the ball so far down the field that it is no longer in the camera's view.  Now in football you are supposed to block until the whistle blows and that is a picture perfect example of Roc and Big "E" making a great sustained block!

 

Roc's first year of tackle football.  Roc played offensive tackle and middle linebacker on defense.  It gave the family something to do every Saturday for several months.  When Roc was asked about his favorite moment he said "I really liked it when we played the White Eagles and I made all those tackles!"  Ryan's favorite moment takes a little explaining.  To help you understand Ryan's favorite moment you need to know that the only time an offensive lineman is not moving down field to block is when they knock someone on the ground.  As an offensive lineman when you knock someone down you stand over them and every time they try to get up you knock them over again.  Now to Ryan's favorite moment.  It was a sweep play to the left that went for 60 yards and a touchdown, the entire team slowly followed the runner to try and pick up more blocks and as the team dispersed it exposed Roc pushing a poor kid into the ground and he continued to push the kid in the ground until the whistle blew.  This year was a learning year with only 3 kids who had ever played tackle football before.  Each game everyone got better and better with the kids playing their best game at the end of the season with a 31-13 blowout at the end of the season jamboree!
Don't feel bad if you don't get what was explained, Ryan wrote it and after I read it it still seemed too technical to me.

Calvin and Porter with Hamlet Oct 2012

What do you think Calvin is thinking?

 

Besides getting a chance to have Brian and Nicole come visit us we also got a chance to meet Hamlet.  For Calvin and Porter this is as close as they have ever been to a dog.  I am not sure who was more afraid Calvin or Hamlet, as far as Porter goes he warmed up to Hamlet quickly!