A few pictures

Cooper LOVES riding with Big Bro!
We love playing outside!!!

I have a SWIMMER!

I'm one proud mama!! Today, at Maddox's swim lesson, he swam all by himself with his face in the water!!! WOO HOO!!!! This was his fourth lesson (he has 2 more to go) and he did great! I was so proud of him. This has not been the easiest 4 classes ever. He was a bit disappointed in the beginning when he didn't "get it" immediately. He likes to be great at whatever he does (who doesn't?) and was getting frustrated that it wasn't coming naturally to him. He has 4 cousins that are excellent swimmers and he wants to be just like them. Well buddy, today proved that you are well on your way!!!! He's been practicing putting his face in the water and blowing bubbles every night in the bath. All his practice, hard work, and bravery paid off today. You could tell how excited he was after he did his first "solo swim" (although the coach was ready to grab him as soon as he needed her). He was grinning ear to ear...which makes it a little difficult to keep your mouth closed to hold your breath!! His confidence just got a major boost. He walked out of Swim Atlanta with his head held high! To make it even more special, Bebe had come to watch his lesson today! So, she too, was able to see him do well. He's a proud pumpkin and I'm so happy for him! Way to go, Maddox! I LOVE YOU!!!

Funny

A quick funny from Maddox:

Daddy, if you are going to take me to the lake today, then you need to act like you are going to take me to the lake!

Donuts with Dad

Jim and Maddox had "Donuts with Dad" this morning at the preschool. Maddox filled out a questionaire about Jim...here are his answers....

My Dad, by Maddox 4-14-10

My dad's name is JIM
His hair is BROWN and his eyes are BLUE
His favorite food is DEER and he likes to drink MILK
My dad's job is A FIREFIGHTER
My dad's favorite show on TV is TO WATCH DEER
My favorite thing to do with my dad is TO GO TO THE GYM
I love my dad because HE IS SO SWEET.

Pretty accurate, I'd say!

Maddox said Daddy ate all the donuts, but he didn't eat any (surprise, surprise!). Jim said it was a sweet morning with his little guy. He also received a framed poem with Maddox's footprint. Here's the poem (get your tissue ready)...

Footprints

"Walk a little slower, Daddy," said a child so small.
"I'm following in your footsteps and I don't want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they're hard to see.
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.

Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who'll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you."

Now That is Dedication!

The boys and I went to Macon for a little Cherry Blossom Festival fun. We went to Central City Park where the boys rode some of the rides and then listened to ECHOSPEED (Ben's band) play on the Coca-Cola stage. I think of all the festival go-ers, Cooper had the most fun! He was thrilled that he, too, got to ride a couple of rides. He was so proud to go around and round!! He was not so thrilled about having to get off! He pointed and cried each time he was pried out of the seat. He quickly forgot how upset he was about the end of the rides when the band began to play! That baby DANCED!!!! He danced full out to EVERY SONG that they played! The last two he began to slow it down a little...he leaned against my leg to relax, but still shook his booty! Maddox, Alex, and Anna Kate put on a good dancing show, also! They had quite an audience to perform for...and as you know, the Alford children/grandchildren do like an audience!

When we went back to Mom and Dad's after the show we had dinner. We thought we had the boys all taken care of and could then sit and eat ourselves. Well, as always, a mother's/grandmother's work is never done! Alex had started eating his pizza but decided that he would do better to have it cut up like Maddox's....

Alex: Gram, please cut my pizza.
Gram: Ok (stops eating her own dinner, gets up to get fork/knife, back to the table to cut pizza)
Maddox: Wow! Now that's what I call dedication!!

The boys had a wonderful time together. Maddox and Alex had a great time playing together, running, and being loud!!! When Emily and Naomi arrived on Sunday to join in the fun I told her we had to figure out a way to make them get quiet so that Mom and Dad would be more willing to consider our proposal for CAMP ADAHI TRAIL (or A Doggie Trail as Maddox calls it) for the summer! The idea would be for Maddox and Alex to go spend a few nights with Gram and Grandad during the Summer and have a little special time with their grandparents!! Heeheehee!! I'm not so sure the grandparents are up for it!

It was a fun time. The boys really enjoyed themselves. They were both asleep (and slept the entire way home) before we even got to I-75. NICE!!!

My Funny Maddox

Baby Brother for Sale!

Maddox: Hey, I have a great idea! If we put Cooper for sale, we could sell him to Aunt Emily.
Me: Why would we do that?
Maddox: Well, then she could sell Nomi and we could buy her.
Me: So, you want to switch your brother for Alex's sister?
Maddox: OK!!!

Keeping it Clean...

Maddox: You know what's healthy? Cleaning out your nose!
Me: Yes, but you should use a tissue to do it, not your hands.
Maddox: Well, yes, but you know, a napkin hurts my nose. And I don't really like to use the paper that you wipe the poo poo of your bottom. Oops, sorry Mommy. Poop is a bathroom word. Is it ok if I say it in the car?

Crabs...

Maddox: Oooooouuuuch!
Daddy: What’s wrong buddy?
Maddox: My bottom is scratchy!
Daddy: Why is it scratchy?
Maddox: Cause a crab is biting my bottom!
Daddy: What!? How did you get a crab on your bottom?
Maddox: Well…Crawford went to the ocean real fast, got a crab & put it in my bottom!

I have to tell you something...

"Mommy, I have to tell you something" is often how conversations with Maddox start out. Last night, while hanging out with Jim and I, Maddox dropped this one on us....he said:

Maddox: Mommy, I have to tell you something.
Me: OK, what is it?
Maddox: Well, I got some bad news at school today. The frog saw his shadow!
Me: Oh no! What does that mean?
Jim: Laughing hysterically!!!!
Maddox: I don't know.
Me: Will there be 6 more weeks of winter?
Maddox: OK.

Happy Groundhog's Day everyone!