this and that...

Just wanted to share some of our week...

Playing with mommy... we have so much fun!

Cole has said uh-uh instead uh-oh for a while now, but he has recently mastered the oh sound. I just love hearing him say it. He concentrates so hard on it. Haha.

He has also completely mastered his rocking horse. He loves it!! Thanks Easton for passing it on!

Cole got this puzzle from his great grandma Sara. He loves it and wants to play with it all the time. I think you'll see that he hasn't totally figured it out, but it keeps him entertained either way. Haha.

Cole's friend Wyatt came to play yesterday. They had a great time together. Can't you tell? Haha. No seriously, they really did. Cole enjoyed being the older friend for once... even if he wasn't any bigger. ;)

Cole kept giving Wyatt these very serious looks.

I think he was thinking... Dude- that's not what you do with that toy!

On a wagon ride... again they were so excited.

Here is a cute video of Cole sharing with Wyatt... he didn't always share this easily, but I won't post those videos- just the sweet one. Haha.

We are looking forward to a great weekend with Mimi, PopPop, and Easton! I'm sure we will have lots of fun to post about soon!

Dancin' Man!

We have a kid who really feels the music! Whether he has rhythm or not is still to be determined...




Hope you enjoyed these videos as much as he enjoyed making them!

Perfect Saturday Morning!!!

We have had such a great day so far today, and it's only 1:30! This morning Cole woke up at his normal 7 o'clock in the morning... mommy and daddy were not feeling it- especially since Murray actually didn't have to work at all today. Luckily (and unusually) he fell back asleep while he was eating. He was a little restless at first while he was laying on me so I transferred him to the bed between me and Murray. Know what time we all woke up again? 9:15!!! This may not seem like sleeping late to many of you, but it felt like a gift from Heaven to us!

Isn't this just the sweetest picture you have ever seen? You know I had to capture the first time he ever slept in the bed with us. We may not always think having him between us is so sweet, but it was awfully special this morning!

Enjoying his BabyFaith movie with Daddy... every little kid needs cartoons on Saturday mornings- right?


After we got good and awake, we headed to IHOP for pancakes and then to Bass Pro Shop so Murray could get some hunting stuff. Breakfast was great, but Cole definitely takes after his Daddy when it comes to Bass Pro Shop. He LOVED it there! Who needs a zoo pass? Haha. Here he is checking out some black bears with me.

I barely got this picture because Cole would hardly sit still long enough. He just kept running around pointing at all the animals saying "da" (translation- that or dog or duck or we don't really know).

I thought this one was so cute. He was mesmerized by the fish swimming around.

Listen close because he only says it once, but here is Cole telling us what a duck says. So smart!

This was definitely a nice way to spend at least part of a very hot day! He passed out in his carseat on the way home and is still asleep right now! Who knows what the rest of the day has in store for us, but, if it is as fun as the morning, we may have to write this one down in the history books! (Do you think that this day is really that great or am I just so happy to have slept in? Probably a little of both. Haha.)

For Mimi...

This post is a special one meant for Cole's favorite Mimi (but everyone else is welcome to enjoy it too)! She is most likely, without a doubt, our blog's most faithful follower. Since I haven't blogged much this week I just thought she might be going through Cole-withdrawal. So here you go Mrs. Jennifer- nothing out of the ordinary, but I know you think the ordinary is pretty special. We love and miss you! Hope this kicks off a great weekend for you!

Our little firefighter. Had to snap this one quick because he is not a fan of hats. He pulls them off in about half a second. Too bad because he sure does look cute in them! (Of course what doesn't he look cute in?!?!? Haha.)

We take a bath all the time now I feel like. I guess that's what happens when you have a little boy who loves being outside. You can't skip a day when you have sweat, bugspray, dirt, and sunscreen to wash off! Good thing he likes his baths almost as much as he likes being outside.

Murray's workout equipment is up in the attic. I know it seems cruel, but there is central heat/air up there so it's not quite as bad as it sounds. The only way up there though is by a drop-down ladder, and Cole makes a beeline for it as soon as Murray pulls it down. Here is a video of him climbing up... he usually goes much faster, but I guess since we were both down with him he didn't have as much motivation to get upstairs so fast.

Birthday Bash #2

Because we hadn't celebrated our little boy's 1st birthday enough, we had his "friend" party at our house today. Haha. We just thought he needed a few more presents because we didn't want to be able to shut his toybox. ;) Honestly, we really enjoyed getting all our friends together and being able to just eat pizza and hang out. As you can see from the pictures below, Cole had a big time. He is really starting to get into this birthday thing... too bad this was the last party.

Really excited for all his friends to get here!

Enjoying his birthday pizza with all his friends.

Happy Birthday to Cole!

After we ate, we all headed outside to blow bubbles. It was definitely a hit!

See... Cole loved it at least!

Can you feel the anticipation???

Momma~ Something is wrong with these bubbles...

He loved running around and playing outside with everyone! He must think he is a big one year old or something.

We took a break from the heat to come back inside and open some presents!

He got some really fun new toys!

Cole spent the rest of the afternoon checking out all his presents. As you can see, he really likes them!

Thanks to everyone who came over to celebrate! We had a really fun day thanks to all of you! Guess it's back to normal life for another year... how boring! =)

Stats & Lake Fun

So for those of you who are dying to know... Cole weighed 19lbs 10oz (5th %), was 28.25in (10th %), and his head circumference was 48.5cm (90th %). Haha. Still claiming it's just because he is so smart! And just glad we are still hanging on to the growth curve... even if it's just barely!

Here are some pictures & video of our lake fun this past weekend. We had a great time with my immediate family all weekend, and an especially fun time on Saturday when all the rest of our family got to join us. Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed making them!

Little tough guy... hair to match his awesome new lifevest!

Mr. & Mrs. Hopkins... So cute!

Swimming in the water! Very seriously swimming might I add...

Murray was working hard to pull all of us in. We are enjoying being pulled. Haha.

The kneeboard queens! Neesh is a little pro out there!

Poppy helping Cole out when he was needing a little dunk! It was hot out there!

Our boys... they had too much fun out there trying to spray each other! I have a couple of great videos to share later of their kneeboarding tricks and some waverunner frisbee if I can get them from my dad's computer. Kels and I had a lot fun laughing at them! Never dull with these 2!

Ummm... Cole that is supposed to go in the fish's mouth... not yours!!! Gross! Haha.

Kels & Cole fishing... for turtles?!?!

Daddy & Cole wrestling on the floor... as always!

Oh how I love this picture! Mr. Walter is too funny. Now you see where Murray gets his craziness.

Playing with Mimi and Easton in his pool on the dock. Check out his cool Lightning McQueen swimming trunks...

My aunt and cousins enjoying the sun & the water!

Joseph & Megan racing Thomas & Easton... Joe isn't too happy about losing!

Mrs. Jenn & Murray's Aunt Stephanie were smart... they found the cokes & the shade!!!

All the Butler kids... minus Cole. Where was the birthday boy in this picture?!?!

Collin, Kenneth, & Thomas trying to cool off.

Murray & the girls taking Thomas for an exciting ride on the tube!

See... really excited!

Murray taking his family out for a spin in the fishing boat.

I loved seeing Cole napping under the dash in the boat. All our foster babies always slept there too. He was passed out!

Look at that air... and that face! Haha.

He loves them so much! So sweet!

"Hey... who is that handsome baby in the mirror?"

"He needs a kiss!!!"

Logan and Jennee' having a romantic moment on the kneeboards...

The old married couple will show them what real romance is though!!!

Here are a couple of quick videos of the two of us kneeboarding...

This one is by far the best. It is about a minute, but trust me, you will crack up if you just watch it till the end.

All that fun will wear you out! Good thing the cabin is such a great place to relax too!

Our little Harry Potter addict!

Anybody up for watching the Black Stallion (50 times)? Love that girl!!!

Just a swingin'! What a great trip!


***Don't miss Cole's birthday post below!!!***