We've been so spoiled in having my parents come out about every month from California to join in on festivities and family time. With most of her kids in Utah now, my mom might as well find a house out here...now we just need to get my brother in Philly to move out west. :)

prepping the pies before heading over to Tony's for the big feast

I think they're both doing my job while I wouldn't stop taking photos :)

left: Sydney and the cousins building forts     -     right: Valerie, the baby-whisperer

while the women cooked, Dad entertained the kids

instead of football, everyone played a round of hockey in Tony's cul-de-sac

Malinda made these adorable Pilgrim and Indian hats

Kathleen's been documenting all the family festivities with her new camera/video camera. Now I know what I look like, hiding behind the camera all the time. :)

27. It sounds so grown up (yet I'm still just as silly and childish as always...still waiting for the day that I feel like an adult).

I got spoiled by my sweet hubby and family. We started celebrating the day before all the family arrived, where Tommy planned a surprise date up to Salt Lake of fun shopping, eating, and watching a good chick flick (Tommy was the only guy in the whole theater watching Twilight...that's true love right there).

when we got home, I walked upstairs to our room to find it transformed into a day spa! A real massage table, and Tommy gave me a true 45-minute massage...unheard of!

The next morning (my actual birthday), Tommy took us to IHOP (my FAVORITE birthday tradition...yeah, I'm classy like that), and surprised me by arranging to have all the family there!

Thanks to Kathleen for taking all these photos (and the beautiful sign)

mom and sister, Valerie

me and Kathleen

Sarah and Leah

Max was excited about the bacon and sausages

Tony and Ben

Max loves his aunties

Sydney and her best bud

That night we partied it up with songs from my Dad's guitar, pizza, cake, and presents. :)

Ever since Max was born, Sydney spends almost every evening with Daddy as she gets ready for bed. It's their special time together, and I love spying in on them. 

Sydney's other routine is to sneak out of her room countless times without us knowing. One time we walked upstairs to go to bed around midnight and she was standing in the dark hallway up against the wall, trying to be sneaky. We freaked out. Another time we got upstairs to find her tiny hands poking out from under her door, where she had fallen asleep. I think I screamed.

But this one time she did something a little less freaky, and I quickly grabbed my camera....

Every book was lined perfectly in this path. It was hard to keep a straight face as I put her back to bed.

I have wanted to capture a photo of Max sleeping for a long time. I feel like a picture is the only way I can really remember a moment. But Max happens to be a very light sleeper, and the slightest sound of the door opening to his room results in him scrambling to a sitting position with a sleepy, confused smile. 

But the other day after errands and appointments that kept poor Max awake all day without a nap, I put him down in the late afternoon, and nothing could wake him. I crept into his room with my camera, and after taking some shots, I just sat next to his crib and watched him sleep. It was like a gift was placed in my hands...this chance to capture my sweet little angel asleep...for the first and probably last time in a long while. Is there anything sweeter in this world than a baby sleeping?

Max has been the sweetest, happiest, easiest little guy. He chirps and squeals very loudly, but I guess I should be grateful they're happy sounds. We just can't take him in public without getting lots of stares and comments like "he sure has some vocal chords!"

He's still crawling around (who needs to walk when you are the speediest crawler on the planet?). I've gotten some sweet arm muscles from this big guy. 

Max is very cuddly and social. He will bat his eyes and plunge towards strangers arms for them to hold him. I feel very lucky I get to hold and cuddle him all the time (although I won't complain if he decides to finally walk one of these days....).

**Sydney just walked up to me, looked over my shoulder at these photos and said, "Wow. He's handsome." She also says she's going to marry Max when she grows up.

he growls for car sounds

one of the only distraction that worked was a big red apple. He wouldn't let me take it away.

These three photos were taken within seconds of each other. Posing for photos is no laughing matter.

Max has a special friend. Tommy doesn't like it when I call it his doll. But it is the one thing he's absolutely attached to. A $9 IKEA boy doll. He saw it in the store at around 10 months old and started squealing. I let him play with it in the cart, and he wouldn't stop squeezing it tight. Now it's his permanent buddy. I can't decide if the doll looks cute or creepy.

hahahaha....I didn't realize until just now how much the buggy is sagging to the left. Yeah, I probably shouldn't have waited until Max was 14 months old to stuff him in here...heck, he was probably too chubby as a newborn.

suckers make great distractions

I found this adorable crown HERE and have been dying to use it with Max for a "little prince" shot. Max wasn't so sure about it...

I tried several times, and every time it touched his head, he'd start to cry. Apparently I've got a spoiled prince on my hands. ;)

So apparently it comes with parenthood to find anything new your child learns or creates to be brilliant. But seriously...Sydney went from scribbling in big circles to suddenly THIS masterpiece:

"boy"

and then this incredible pig

and then this perfect ghost on halloween.

The other night my sister, Kathleen, came by, and I told her of Sydney's recent artistic accomplishments. Sydney overheard and quickly grabbed her pen and notepad. I tried not to smile too big with pride as I waited to see what she'd come up with next. Then she showed us a squiggly unrecognizable creature...and Kathleen gave an exaggerated, "Oooh!!" And then I realized I should probably hold off on showcasing my 3-yr-old's brilliant abilities to everyone that comes by.

Here are some little Sydney shots from the past month. Just randomness from around the house, but I need to record all of these moments. I could watch and listen to her all day and not get tired of the things she says and does. There's never a dull moment with a 3-year-old around.

cuddling up to a movie

counting her duckies

I find her in the pantry 10 times a day in exactly this same position (the treats are on the top shelf, and apparently it's not high enough anymore).