Happy 1st Birthday Drew Stephen McClellan

It is so hard to believe that our baby, Drew Stephen McClellan, turned one.  What a year!  When you deliver a baby that struggles at birth, I think that you remember their true "birth" day much more clearly than you do when you are able to deliver and then hold your baby right away.  With Drew, he struggled to breathe on his own for 24 hours.  It turned out not to be anything serious, for which we continually thank God, but it was none-the-less a very scary 24 hours.  When I was finally able to hold him - it was the greatest gift in the world.   So as I look back to one year ago, I give thanks - not only for a perfectly healthy child, but for a child who has a beautiful inner spirit, who is mischievous and who loves others so deeply at one  year old. 

Drew's actual 1st Birthday night - March 31, 2011 (as of today, he has had three birthday cakes...this was the first!)

Presents! Presents! Presents!

As with all one year olds - he still prefers to play with the boxes and the wrapping paper rather than the actual toy!

Jason always has two helpers by his side (for better or for worse!)

Drew's first Birthday was a Circus theme!  We had a great time and I think the kids did as well.  We had hot dogs, chicken, soft pretzels, nachos, popcorn and a cotton-candy machine!  The kids had fun playing carnival games: pick-a-duck, plinko and bean bag toss.  Mom, Tiff, Pauline and Emily painted faces; Adam dressed up as a clown and helped the kids break the pinata; and we had a bounce house for everyone to play in.  It was a great party! Thank you to everyone for helping us celebrate Drew's first birthday!

 The cake!

 Drew's smash cake!

 Cupcakes (it is all icing - even the part that looks like ice cream!)

 cookies!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY DREW! 

Sneak Peak of Spring!

I have been really bad about posting lately - mostly because it has been so nice (until today) that we have been spending every possible minute outside!  I love everything about Spring - the best part though is hearing kids laugh and giggle wherever you go. Here are a few pictures of the boys enjoying their time at the park!

 Drew is also walking and running (and falling) all of the time now.  It is amazing how one day he just took off.  He is doing great - just has quite a few bumps and bruises from the learning curve!

Conner thought he was so funny driving through all of the mud puddles after a rain storm.  He drives by and I see that he and Drew have mud everywhere.  When I asked him what he was doing - "I am just takin Drew muddin for the first time - I will give him a bath Mommy, okay?"  I can only imagine what the next few years are going to bring - I am sure a little mud will be the least of my worries!

 Conner was allowed to ride his 4-wheeler all by himself this last week (with the governor turned down - VERY LOW).  He did a great job and is a fantastic driver. 

 See how big Drew is? 

 I had to post the picture below because right now, hide-and-go-seek is Conner's absolute favorite game.  We play as often as possible (of course we have to hide in the same spots every time) and as you can see, Drew is very good at finding places to hide!

 I had to post a few pictures of the Ice Storm in February.  Even though it was quite a mess and caused quite a ruckuss - it was absolutely beautiful!

Drew's 9 month Pictures

We are a little late getting Drew's 9 month pictures back, but here they are!  He is getting so big!  He is almost 11 months old now.  He has six teeth, babbles all of the time (his favorite words are deer, da da and bub bub) and he is cruising around like he has been doing it for years.  He takes about 3 or 4 steps in a row now - so I know it won't be long before he just takes off.  He loves to make this squishy face when he is laughing and breathes in through his nose at the same time to make it even cuter. He is a joy and such a blessing!

Here are a few of Conner and Drew together.  It is amazing how much they love and care for each other.  Over the past few months, they have begun to argue as well.  It is funny to watch Drew "yell" at Conner.  I can only imagine what the next few years are going to bring!

Conner tells Drew what to do, how to do it and when to do it!

Here are a few pictures of Conner!  He is getting so big as well!  This week, we signed him up to start school at St. Susanna's in Plainfield.  We are very excited - but nervous at the same time.  August will be here before we know it.  Some days he wants to go to school and other days he says he needs to just go to work.  You know, he has a job at AT&T in Cataract.  Conner loves to talk, tell stories and play pretend.  He is still not in to TV, movies or video games but instead loves to play outside (no matter what the weather is like) and loves to play pretend with all of his toys.   

Jason was the first person in our family to make it into a "hall" or "wall" of fame!  Jason's 14-point buck made it on to the Indiana Deer Hunter Wall of Fame (which is shown every year during the Boat Sport and Travel Show).  We are very proud of Jason!

"Icing" on the Cake

This winter has been crazy in Indiana!  To all of our friends from Michigan - I believe that we have finally had what you guys call a "real" winter!  The boys are loving every minute of it!  On February 1st the freezing rain started and continued throughout the night.  Thankfully, our power stayed on (although that is probably because Jeremiah and Ron made sure we had a generator handy!)  Here are a few pictures of the storm.  The last true ice storm I remember was when I was in second grade - so the boys may not see another one for 20 years (or at least I hope so!)

So, what is the icing on the cake?  Well, because of the ice storm we been spending tons of time together as a family!  I brought work home with me - so Drew helps me revise documents while Daddy and Conner make their lists for next Christmas!

We were afraid we would lose power so the boys have been taking warm baths mid-day - not only stay warm but to prepare in case the well went out!

The other icing on the cake - our basement is almost "finished" (we are going to finish it to drywall and then wait a few years to totally finish it!)  This means we have plenty of extra room to play and run - and the boys have all of their toys in one room - WHEW!

Here is the new toy room!

Here is a guest bedroom (Drew's future room)

And here is the other guest room (Conner's future bedroom!)

Conner and Daddy also recently had a guys night out with Toby, Brody, Beckett, Bob and Colton.  They all went to Monster Jam!  So we have also been playing Monster Trucks constantly - well, the boys have.  As Conner says "only dudes can play monster trucks"  Oh well - that has given me a little time to order stuff for Drew's birthday party that is only two months away!!!!