Evan is a Teenager!

It's official now.  We have a teenager.  I have kind of considered him a teen for a while now because he is very mature for his age, but I have noticed a few changes in him in the last few months.  He is definitely wanting to hang out with his parents and younger siblings less and less.  He will often sit with his earbuds in his ears whether or not he is listening to music.  I don't know if that is because he thinks it looks cool or just to tune us all out.  Haha!  He gives us the teenager stink eye glare a lot more too.  The teen attitude has definitely made its appearance.  How long will this last?  Of course, I am also growing a bit sad thinking we only have about five more years with him at home.  He has big dreams to accomplish and will likely not be at home much after he graduates from high school.  Sigh.  We still wanted to celebrate this special day with our still precious big baby boy.  I have especially hated this pandemic for him because he is definitely our more social child who craves interactions with friends.  He is lucky to have a best friend neighbor across the road, but he misses school and sports.  I hate that he missed his final days at his old school with his friends, but I can't wait to get him established in his new school, sports, and church activities.  I know he will thrive and be successful wherever he goes. 

I made my big teenager a chocolate soccer ball cake.  Soccer is still his favorite sport, and I hope he will be on a good team when we move. 

He is wearing his favorite Adidas soccer shirt.  Yes, he prefers athletic wear all the time. 

So grown up and handsome.  Where is my little baby?  

He's still there and will always be mama's baby. 

I think this was doughnuts for breakfast time.  Grayson is probably Evan's favorite little brother right now.  They both love to wrestle and play rough.  They gang up on poor Brody and Mattox. 

For his birthday supper, we were able to go to his favorite wing restaurant, Wild Wing Cafe.  They stayed open longer than most establishments and implemented stricter seating policies and other measures for their staff.  We all felt very safe, and Evan got his favorite meal. 

Baby sister Maggie looks the most like baby Evan so it is nice to have her to remind me.  

Mommy and Mattox and Brody enjoyed celebrating too.

We love you to the moon and back, Evan!  Keep making us proud in all you do!

Riverbanks Zoo {March 2020}

Eddie started his new job as the State Forester for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service in Columbia, SC the beginning of March.  He worked for about two weeks before they were all ordered to work from home because of the pandemic.  It has been hard on Eddie who needs to be able to meet and visit with the District Conservationists in his state so he can help them implement forest management practices and help get landowners the services they need.  Instead, he is meeting everyone online and writing new procedural guidelines for them to follow.  This event actually worked out for the best for our family though because, otherwise, he would have been staying in Columbia all week while I handled single parenthood in Georgia.  Before he got those orders and the kids' schools were closed, the boys had their Spring Break so we rode with Eddie to Columbia to scope out our new home.  We arrived on Sunday to visit the zoo which was actually its last day of being open for business before being shut down for the pandemic.  Many of the exhibits were already closed that day, but we enjoyed the visit.  Eddie's aunt has a family pass to the zoo so it did not cost us anything.  We do plan to make this zoo a regular family outing because it has a lot to offer with a carousel, train, climbing wall, and splash pad in the summer.  (Note:  all of these photos were taken with my son's older iphone because my phone had died on the drive and needed to charge and I didn't even bring the camera for this trip.  Oops!) 

It was a bit cloudy and drizzling on and off so this was our best attempt at pictures by the zoo sign. 

Brody was not cooperating of course.  

Attempting a picture with Daddy by the orangutan statue.  

We enjoyed watching the playful otters as they swam and played ball. 

The otters would swim up their little water fall.  Maggie and I with the sleepy bear. 

Wake up, Mr. Sleepy Head! 

Silly lions and lionesses.  One was chewing another's tail. 

Cool tigers. 

Tiger on the prowl. 

The koala house was closed, but we could see him through the window.  He was actually awake and moving which you can see better in a video.  That is very rare for these sleepy creatures. 

Cool birds. 

Bright pink flamingos are the girls' favorites.  

We sat and watched the seals and sea lions for a bit.  They do a fun show. 

Mattox's Out of this World 5th Birthday

Mattox has definitely developed an obsession with Buzz Lightyear, spaceships, and going to the moon.  Those are his favorite topics to talk about.  With a child who does not talk very much, you want to do anything you can to encourage his communication.  He had received a Buzz Lightyear action figure earlier in the year to encourage him, and after Christmas, we had discovered the coolest Buzz Lightyear spaceship that he could "fly."  I had asked him if he wanted that for his birthday, and for the next couple of months, when we would ask him what he wanted for his birthday, he would say "Buzz Lightyear spaceship."  After Christmas, he was also very excited to go back to school, and his teachers and speech therapist were able to get him to talk by offering him incentives like watching Buzz Lightyear videos on their phones.  It was the most progress he made all year.  Can you guess what his birthday theme would be?  Yep, Buzz Lightyear and spaceships!  I know this boy is going places...maybe even to the moon one day!  

Since we didn't have a big party for him, I wanted to splurge a little.  I got him this "lifesized" Buzz Lightyear balloon to party with him.  I also used my newfound trick of blowing up my own balloons for a large bouquet, and that bouquet is still going strong three months later!  I was going for colors that resembled Buzz although my green was a little more teal than his.  

We ate dinner at our customary favorite Mellow Mushroom.  Since Grayson's birthday, the statue outside changed from the giant minion to a cool E.T.  I love E.T. so much that when we visited Universal Studios when Mattox was a baby, I bought him a little E.T. stuffed toy.  We took our E.T. with us to see the big E.T.  The manager of the restaurant was quite impressed.  Sadly, the big E.T. has not been holding up well because he is made of fiberglass instead of metal.  He has several broken fingers and a bandaged arm.  Mattox tells him, "Owwww!" like E.T. says in the movie.  The manager said he would be leaving them and be replaced by a different sculpture soon.  

Mattox was pretending to let E.T. drink from his cup.  There is also a cool Spiderman on the ceiling.  

I just love this kid!  He really is so very special to me. 

He is so special, I could not resist attempting to make him my most fantastical cake yet.  I made him a huge rocket ship like Buzz Lightyear's.  I think Buzz approved. 

I just love all of these boys!  I never would have imagined my life with four boys, but I wouldn't change it for the world! 

Mattox and Buzz defending the galaxy. 

The big 5 year old is ready to blow out his candles. 

He just needed a little help from his teammates.  He actually blows the wrong way so air really isn't coming out.

I was trying to "teach" him the proper way to blow.  

It did kind of make me sad to cut into this cool cake, but the kids all enjoyed it.  

Mr. Grayson likes Buzz too and has Buzz Lightyear sneakers. One of the first real sentences he would say was answering the questions "Who is on your shoes?" and "What do your shoes do?"  He will reply, "Buzz."  and "They light up."  

Mattox is ready to take on the evils of the universe in his very own spaceship.  

We love you to infinity and beyond, Space Ranger Mattox! 

Fairweather February {2020}

February is often our most beautiful month down south.  It really is more like early Spring here.  We enjoy playing outside much more because it isn't too hot yet and the bugs haven't come out.  The azaleas usually start blooming too.  I am thankful we got to enjoy this month before the Covid pandemic stopped everything.  

Maggie got to play at Chick-fil-a and practiced standing up. 

Making funny faces in the fun mirror. 

Maggie loves playing with her big brothers now. 

The sweetest thing you will ever see!  Big brother Grayson having a tea party with his little sister. 

The boys did not want to come inside for lunch so we brought lunch outside to them.  No, they still didn't really eat, but we tried. 

 

Maggie and Grayson had fun at the park while big brother was in school.  They loved swinging together. 

Grayson is becoming our most adventurous and independent child so he was fine with going off to play with other kids on the bigger equipment while I watched Maggie. 

But little sister is still his favorite.  He shared his cars with her. 

Little sisters with four big brothers will like cars and other boy toys.  

Maggie did more practice standing.  No steps yet. 

Maggie got a new hi-tech hearing aid.  She is trying out a bone anchored type of hearing aid on a soft band.  This kind of hearing aid bypasses the ear canal and sound goes straight to the cochlear bone.  We think her ear canals are still a little small for a traditional hearing aid to work well. 

Maggie loves ice cream! 

Maggie and her brothers sitting together in their little chairs at the doctor's office. 

Bath time! 

Brody and Mommy had a date to see Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker since big brother was at Disney World. 

Brody likes the comfortable recliners at this theater. 

He was pretending to hold his light saber. 

Maggie and I had to check out our azaleas that were just beginning to bloom. 

And Grayson too. 

Mattox had a big appointment for a psychologist evaluation, and he did so well that he deserved a special treat.  We stopped at Krispy Kreme to get "eyeball doughnuts."  He's so silly! 

I love this boy!  

Big brothers take little sister for a drive. 

Bike riding fun in the neighborhood. 

More tea party fun with big brothers. 

Yes, Mattox and Grayson like Maggie's toys more than she does. 

Just special time with our growing girl. 

Heart shaped biscuits from Chick-fil-a and some Valentine's love for Brody. 

Bundled up for an early morning soccer game in Florida. 

I found a four leaf clover on the field.  I hoped it would bring Evan good luck. 

Making flower crowns. 

Our fairy princess wearing her crown. 

Mommy and her fairy prince Grayson.

Mattox showing off his Valentine mask he made at preschool and cheesing for me at dinner. 

Just our usual Wednesday night at Zaxby's kids' night. 

Grayson looking cool in his aviator shades. He feels the need for speed. 

Maggie had a big day enjoying her first Chick-fil-a grilled chicken nugget kids' meal with apple sauce. 

Some silly selfies with some silly kids. 

Yum!  First taste of Chick-fil-a.  It was a big hit! 

Ice cream cones for the win. 

Maggie enjoying feeding herself some snacks.

Jedi Maggie is ready to fight. 

More silly selfie fun. 

Standing up playing at the eye doctor's office. 

Brody Bunny is so silly. 

It's ba-ba time!  She prefers holding her own bottle. 

Mr. Mattox loves to help me drive in our neighborhood on the way home from school.  It really became an everyday event.  Sigh. 

Astronaut Maggie is ready for take off.

Daddy received a very special gift for his service to the Marine Corps.  The folded flag was flown over his bomb range his last week of employment.  

Just some cuteness from Maggie and Grayson.  Grayson was blowing kisses. 

Goodnight from sweet Mattox and Grayson.  Grayson fell asleep on the couch cuddling Maggie's girl yeti that big brother Evan bought her at Disney World.