it has been a crazy week or so...

It's never good when a neighbor comes knocking on your door and asks your husband if he knows what is going on in our backyard...especially if we don't know what's going on in our backyard!  Crazy as it may sound the backyard was on fire...UGH!  While we sat and ate dinner with our blinds closed behind us our backyard was in flames...to bad they don't make smoke detectors for the outside of your house:)  Daddy and our wonderful neighbor headed out back to stomp out some fire while mommy called 911!  Apparently we weren't the only ones with a fire there were three other yards and the fire dept. was already on the scene just not our scene...yet!  Luckily they pulled their pumper truck up and got to work on our backyard before it got any closer to our house!  Everyone says the grass will grow back greener, we shall see about the trees and for whatever reason the play set didn't burn and of course so thankful no one was hurt, no homes caught on fire and it wasn't our fault.  A neighbor walked away from their grill and came back to their backyard in flames...UH OH!  Dalton was super excited and I let him take a quick peak out the window before taking him to our neighbors...I didn't want him to have too much of a visual of his backyard in flames and who am I kidding I didn't want a visual either!  

Where it started...

Where it went...

Close enough...

 And then Wednesday morning after Dalton and mommy dropped cousin Melanie off at MDO we headed to the car wash and as we are pulling away from there we get a phone call from daddy!  And he has been in a car wreck downtown...oh no!  Once again we are so thankful that everyone including the other people involved were not hurt...however this time there was some damage to the daddy's favorite truck in the whole wide world!  Trying to be the responsible parent I talk to Dalton on the way down there about all of the different emergency vehicles we may see and that everyone is okay even though there may be an ambulance, fire truck, etc.  He is totally cool with it and was totally impressed with the big tow truck that took his daddy's truck away...daddy not so impressed.  And even less impressed when he found out it was a total loss:(  Later that afternoon mommy and daddy went down to the tow yard where the truck was to clear out the rest of daddy's stuff and we snapped a few pictures.  He was actually able to pick up his new truck this evening but it was way tooooo cold to take pictures so those will be for another post!

The following pictures aren't part of our crazy week just a part of the week!  We have been helping out and taking and picking up Dalton's cousin from MDO a couple of days a week and they have been enjoying hanging out with each other before and after!  Caught a couple of pics...

One of Dalton's and now his cousins guns...I have fought this battle and lost!  Boys will be boys and apparently girls like the cool sounds they make and the foamy things that fly from them too! Of course this picture was taken right before mommy got shot in the eye with a Nerf bullet...ouch!  It was an accident he knows better than to aim at people!

A little bit of love...

even more love!

Dalton tells me it says I love you mommy!  I totally believe him!

check it out

 A couple of weeks ago we had family pictures done...our wonderful photographer just posted another one of Dalton's fun photos on her blog...check it out!

http://www.sherylsalisburyphotography.blogspot.com

daddy's christmas break is over today

Even though Dalton has been back to school for a week our family has still been kind of on Christmas break!  Since daddy is a college professor he gets some pretty cool breaks...but because mommy stays home daddy also usually works on those cool breaks too!  This one was no different but he worked from home and we definitely tried to work in some extra fun while he was home!  

We spent New Years Eve with our play date pals mommy-Katie, daddy-Aric and brother and sister team Luke and Maddy!  We had them to our house to check out Dalton's Christmas toys...we were at their house earlier in the week to check out Luke's new train set and all of Maddy's barbies!  We had pizza that Katie and mommy went to pick up and left the daddy's in charge...it's funny because when we left the daddy's were on the couch watching football and upon our return they were both up putting out fires with kiddos.  See staying at home with kiddos isn't so easy after all:)  We also had yummy sparkling grape juice and ice cream sundaes with chocolate syrup whipped topping and sprinkles:)  We toasted to the New Year about 6pm or so and watched a little Dora and then our play date pals headed home to hit bed time routines...Dalton, mommy and daddy were in bed WAY BEFORE MIDNIGHT! 

Mommy and Dalton spent one day at Unpluggits...the indoor play studio!  We hadn't been there in awhile and Dalton had to miss a birthday party there while he was sick a couple of weeks ago so I promised I would take him when he was better and he was so we went!  He met a new little friend there...that has kind of been his new thing lately...wanting to meet new friends when we go places!  So we played some air hockey which was new for us...Dalton was pretty good and then he played with one of his new friends he made there.  We did some painting, some play doh, some stamping and a little more running around and then ended our visit with a bag of popcorn and a juice box on the way out!  

We spent a day at the Oklahoma Science Museum with all three of us...it was WAY crowded!  When we got there Dalton says something like those people had the same good idea I did.  The idea of coming to the science museum.  We are pretty spoiled since I stay home and we don't have to worry about too many crowds when we go places...today was VERY different!  Lots of BIG kids running around with no supervision and lots of little people getting ran over...we just tried to keep moving!  Mommy didn't realize that daddy had never been with us to the museum...we will have to try another day when it's not so crazy!  We even tried the science live show...Dalton lasted about 15 minutes...it was a bit obnoxious and very loud!  The first experiment had fire in it and Dalton is all why are they catching things on fire...exactly!  I forgot to mention too that we ate lunch at the McDonald's over by the museum...DO NOT DO THAT!  They were under construction and the whole joint was SO NASTY...but Dalton had a great time playing on the play equipment because we had to eat in the play room because the dining area was under construction.  

Mommy and Dalton spent an afternoon at the mall where we took Dalton's tennis shoes back to Stride Rite!  We got them when school started back in late August and the soles were coming off...and I am happy to report that they offered us a brand new pair no questions no receipt, etc.  And that is why we shop at Stride Rite...Dalton couldn't be happier with his new shiny shoes!  Well he got happier when we headed to the play area and he got to run around like a crazy person for about 20 minutes and once again made a new friend.  He noticed the movie theater and mentioned that he wanted to go there again...we talked about daddy and Dalton going but they just never made it to the show...bummer!  

Daddy and Dalton did lots of playing with light sabers and watching Super Hero Squad...Dalton is convinced that Iron Man or Spiderman will be at his party come February...we shall see!  As I am posting this entry daddy is working away in his office closing out one class and opening up another one, Dalton is starring at the TV watching Scooby Doo on Boomerang ( I am not proud but it's the truth) and this momma is fighting a head cold with runny nose, stuffy nose, headache the works.  Dalton is too but for some reason he is a MUCH better sick person than I am:)  Oh and there is snow falling...I hope we get a little something since we bought our $12 plastic sled this year:) 

this is harder than i thought

Boy and Bike...we meet again!

And he's off...

Flying past his Harley...that's what Santa brought last year! 

I am loving his green frog boots more and more each time he wears them!  And he started wearing my green old navy fleece scarf last year....he loves it!  It's quite a look:)

Those legs needed a break...back to the battery operated Harley! 

Dalton has mentioned this several times...regarding his new bicycle!  NOT so hard that he can't do it but definitely harder than his battery operated toy...one of the reasons we encouraged him to ask Santa for this wonderful present!  He rarely needs our help anymore getting started...he is growing up!

i want a hippopotamus for christmas...

That song has cracked Dalton up since the first time he heard it this year and daddy found an even sillier you tube video to go with it so Dalton was REALLY beside himself then with the giggles!  Luckily the closest we got to getting a hippopotamus for Christmas was the game Hungry Hungry Hippos from Aunt Dawn, Uncle Todd and the cousins.  And he loves it and we have played it many times since Christmas Eve.  Anyhoo...back to our Christmas story!  

Grandma Wanda arrived on Thursday and Dalton was SOOOO excited...it's like having a non-stop play date the entire time she is here!  She will do whatever he asks her to do...watch him play, play with him, watch TV, read him a book, go outside!  It's really handy for mom and dad too because we can have guilt free time to do what we want and not feel like we are neglecting his needs or wants!  Mommy used her time to finish cooking, baking, wrapping and getting things ready for Christmas!  Grandma Wanda lives in a small town with only one restaurant so when she comes to visit she likes to eat out...who can blame her!  So Thursday night we headed to Mimi's Cafe and had a nice dinner and then headed out to look at some Christmas lights...it was nice other than Dalton kept stating that he wanted to go home so he could watch his shows...he was so worried that he was going to miss Dora & Diego on Nick Jr!  I am not sure if that is because that is part of his bedtime routine or if we are allowing him to watch WAY to much TV?!?!?  Probably a combination of both...a resolution in 2011 is less TV time for Dalton and more one on one time with mommy!

Friday was Christmas Eve and we spent the day at our house...mommy cooking and baking as well as assembling the ginger bread train that I just knew Dalton would be SO EXCITED about decorating...it's still sitting on my kitchen counter untouched.  He did however want to help mix the cookie dough for Santa's oatmeal chocolate cookies.  Dalton spent the majority of the day playing with Grandma Wanda and that was how it should be and then after lunch we opened gifts from daddy's side of the family...their gifts arrived several weeks ago and we have been waiting!  We try to spread Dalton's gifts out so that he doesn't get them all at once...it makes me sad to think that Dalton has SOOO many gifts that we have to spread them out so he will appreciate them and other kids don't receive near enough!  Such a struggle this time of year!  He is a blessed little boy who have lots of family that love him and love to buy for him...Aunt Cindy & Uncle Mike got him super hero dress up clothes (Robin, Batman and Superman) as well as a puzzle, stamp sets, John Deere lunch box and a John Deere dry erase board.  Grandma Wanda picked him out a Buzz Light year laptop computer and a Diego Rescue Pack that he loves!  And then later that evening we headed to Aunt Dawn and Uncle Todd's house for dinner and more presents from mommy's side of the family!  He got the Hungry Hungry Hippo game from Aunt Dawn, a huge set of Tinker Toys from Uncle Kevin, the Imaginext Batman Cave from Grandma Beverly and Pa and one of those singamajig (Sp) he was SUPER SUPER excited about it... Great Grandma Zahner got him that.  The kids were all on their best behavior...gosh I wonder why?!?!?  We had yummy potato soup PBJ if you are Dalton and by choice have a very limited menu...another resolution for 2011...expand the little guys menu with or without his consent!  By the time we got home...oh my goodness it was super late there wasn't much time so we hurried and got Santa's plate ready...Dalton thought we should leave him 4 cookies and an apple juice box and then some carrots for the reindeer!  So that's what we did and opened the fireplace doors and headed straight to his bedroom for pj's and Twas The Night Before Christmas...Grandma Wanda got to read this year!  And Dalton was finally in bed asleep at 10pm...just about 2 hours past his regular bedtime...oops!

Super cool dress up clothes from Aunt Cindy & Uncle Mike...he loves them and every friend or cousin that has been over has tried them on! 

He loves the red pull on boots with Superman's costume and the way the cape flies behind him when he runs around the house...yes the boy runs and runs some more inside the house! 

Helping mommy make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for Santa...and there is Diego's Rescue Pack in the background!  He wanted a jet pack for Christmas we convinced him that the rescue pack from Grandma Wanda was pretty neat too...so far it has worked!

Another sweet treat mommy made for Christmas day...red velvet cupcakes with white frosting and candy cane crumbles...thank you Uncle Todd!  He is the only one who ate one on Christmas day...the rest went in the trash...they looked cute though...right?!?!?

If we scoot Miss. Melanie in just a wee bit more we have all the cousins in a picture from Christmas Eve at Aunt Dawn & Uncle Todd's house!  They are watching the cool Christmas train Uncle Todd got for their Christmas tree this year...Dalton is a big fan:)

He loved all of his gifts but this one got the best reaction...lately he has the best giggle!  And the singamagig he got from Great Grandma Zahner!  By the way it is still cracking him up and it even went with us to the Oklahoma Science Museum!

Grandma Wanda reading Dalton The Night Before Christmas...in his last pair of cheesy footed pj's for Christmas...I promise:) 

We were all a little on the sleepy side...I don't think Dalton even protested the one book!  Usually daddy reads him two and mommy reads him two as well!  We love it because it is the only time that crazy kid sits still:)

Christmas Day morning and of course Dalton rose at his regular scheduled time 7am...ouch this is going to be a long day!  And he came into our room and said something like there are presents there are presents!  We went and got Grandma Wanda up because of course she didn't want to miss a single minute of the excitement!  Santa left Dalton a drum set, a spider man bike and a magic hat with lots of trick...including a cape, magic wand and white rabbit!  He has been into abracadabra for awhile...lots of reading for mommy or daddy to do before we get any tricks but it will be lots of fun!  Santa thought he had been extra extra good and left a couple of more gifts like a shooting gallery game, Super Hero Squad DVD and Iron Man book.  His stocking was packed with a stuffed  scooby doo, a matchbox snow plow with a kit to make snow, a slinky...that's already broke, chocolate Santa's, p-butter cup Christmas trees and gingerbread cookies!  Mommy, Daddy and Grandma Wanda too got a few presents from Santa too...I guess we were extra good too!  Santa was sweet enough to take some time to eat a cookie or two and write Dalton a note...he even shared the carrots with the reindeer! After all the presents were opened Dalton began his rock concert for us...he loves those drums.  There has been a cut out from a toysrus sale add since spring on our fridge...the boy knew what he wanted for Christmas!

Santa made his way to our house...

Our rock star!  In super cool PJ's!

The coolest kid on the block spider man bike with training wheels of course!

Stocking stuffers are fantastic too...a snow plow with a little science experiment on how to make real snow!  Or enough to play matchbox snow plows in daddy got a snow plow in his stocking too!  Luckily mommy got bubble bath and body cream from Bath & Body Works in hers:)

Way fun snow plow with snow...

A special note from Santa left for Dalton by his countdown to Christmas Santa reminding him not to forget his last cotton ball and to thank him for being an extra good boy this year!  He always signs it Claus because when Dalton was little (because he is all of almost 4 now...) he would call him Claus not Santa or Santa Claus but Claus!  This year he called him St. Nick a couple of times!

Mommy, daddy and Dalton at Grandma Beverly's and Pa's house on Christmas Day!  Daddy even wore his Christmas shirt that mommy bought...he was a good sport!  Dalton wore his cool but kind of too big Batman shirt with cape attached! 

Family pic with Grandma Wanda and Dalton being done taking pictures...we tried!  There is a family picture from Christmas Eve floating around on Aunt Dawn's camera we will post later! 

Decorating sugar cookies with Grandma Beverly...hers turned out SOOOOO cute this year!  I should have gotten a picture of them:)

The cousins minus one who was with her other Grandma...decorating more sugar cookies!

More drum time when we returned home...Grandma Beverly and Pa came back with us to check out Dalton's toys from Santa...lucky for them his drums didn't fit into the car because that was what he wanted to bring to their house earlier in the day.  We went with the Batcave instead!

Bike time...he is doing really well!  He wasn't a big fan of the tricycle but he is a big fan of the bike with training wheels...we had one crash and busted the spider man plate off the front and scraped the handle bars but daddy was able to fix the front plate and scrapes are bound to happen!  No bones broke or scraped elbows or knees so we are good!