Hangin with the Fradkins

After Christmas, we headed up to see the Fradkins in MD. It is so nice that Josh has family so close to mine. We can make a quick trip up and see everyone. Nick, Carolyn and the boys also made the drive to hang out. We had a blast! I swear we ate the entire time we were there. That seems to happen every time we go to a Scala household....I love it!

Grady and Nicholas had so much fun playing together. It was the first time they actually interacted. They were running all over the house, having so much fun. We also got to meet the newest addition, Connor. He was such a sweet baby.

Unfortunately, Myles was a bit under the weather. He felt awful! I just hope he didn't get anyone else sick.

Thanks for everything Patti, Steve, Brittany, Jake and AJ. It was so great to see you all!

We attempted to get a few family photos but they are pretty tough to take.

Myles was not cooperating

We tried to get a pic of all the boys for Josh's mom. Trying to get four little boys to sit still is almost impossible. This one was the best we took.

G and Nicky had the same PJ's on. It was so cute watching them run around together. They got along pretty well. I'm sure they will be great friends when they get a little older.

The newest addition, Connor

Uncle Steve with both boys. That's quite a handful!

AJ, Brittany and Jake giving the boys a little computer lesson.

Crazy boys!

Patti, Brittany and Connor

Connor meets Grizzly Adams....I mean Uncle Josh

Christmas at the McPhail's

Santa sure found the Scala's at Mimi and Papaws house. We had a great Christmas with WAY too many toys and presents. Despite having pretty bad colds, Grady and Myles loved every minute of opening presents.

It's a McPhail family tradition to have gigantic stockings. They were so big that Grady could fit inside one. They are SO fun to go through.

Myles received a wonderful book from Aunt Dot.

Myles first look at the presents under the tree. Man, was he excited. I think he liked the boxes and paper better than the gifts.

Grady was all smiles while opening his presents. Poor little guy didn't feel well but you couldn't tell. He was such a trooper.

Myles was the first one up on Christmas morning. Did you really have to get up at 6 AM, Myles?

Winter Wonderland

We got our first snow of the year yesterday. They are saying we got about 12 inches but I think it's a little less than that. Nothing like the 20 inches my folks got! Grady loved playing in the snow but I don't think Myles cared for it that much. It didn't help that we put him on a sled and he immediately did a face plant off the sled and into the snow. Myles and I stayed inside after that. We left the snowball making to Josh and G.

Grady and Myles watched the snow fall. When we woke up that morning there was snow everywhere. Grady looked outside and then asked, "Is it Christmas?" I guess he assumed it snows on Christmas day. Who knows...

My dad fixed up my old sled for Grady. It's a great one....practically an antique! Thanks Dad

Happy Snow Day!

One Hot Outfit!

So, Josh got the boys ready for bed the other night as I had to go out. When we woke up in the morning I noticed something a little strange about G's PJs. Josh had dressed G in Myles jammies. Uhhh...did he not notice that G was wearing a belly shirt and capri pants??! Grady didn't seem to notice either. MEN!

Towel Time!

I cannot resist taking pictures of the boys after a bath. Babies in towels are just too cute. Especially, in these great towels that Gramma and Grandpa gave them for Christmas. Myles is a frog and G is a monster (fitting :) ).

Grady's Quote of the Day: This one goes along with the bathroom theme of this entry.

G was sitting on the toilet and looked up at me. He stated, "Mama, my bum is magical"

I could not stop laughing. I guess bums are pretty "magical"!!

The Moo Man

For you all that don't know, Myles has a strange nickname....Moo. Grady started calling him that and it has stuck. We all refer to him as Moo more often than his name. Poor little guy! Hopefully, he won't still be called Moo as an adult!! He is such a funny little guy. Super laid back and smiley. So different than intense big brother, Grady. Myles prefers to just go with the flow. He is crawling all over and can stand up without holding on to things. I bet the little man will be walking before we know it. He is growing up too fast!!

Moving Mountains

What do you do when you've been stuck inside for three days with a sick baby....offer to move a mountain of firewood. I was so in need of getting out of the house I told Josh that I would stack the firewood that we just had delivered. I think he thought I was joking! I know I stepped into his manly domain of firewood but I had to get out. I don't look very happy in this picture (I didn't know he was taking it) but I was:)

Poor little G! He has had a viral infection that just won't go away. He's had a fever for 3 days. I blame it on starting school. Getting use to new germs!

Black Mountain Christmas Parade

The annual Black Mountain Christmas Parade was last weekend and happened to be on one of the coldest days we have had yet. It was FREEZING but we bundled up and headed out. There were dump trucks, fire trucks, horses, dogs and tons of other crazy things you would expect at a small town parade. Gramma was lucky enough to be in town to join in the festivities. It might have been cold but we had a great time.

The boys waiting for the Parade to start.

Bundling Myles up in his snow suit. It was the first time we have used it this year.

Cold but very happy!

Gramma and Myles enjoying the marching band.

I forgot to mention....all the floats threw candy!!! It was like Halloween all over again.

Christmas with Gramma and Grandpa

Gramma and Grandpa came to visit for Josh's birthday and to celebrate Christmas with the boys. They came bearing gifts....tons of great toys and clothes for Grady and Myles. Grady was so shocked he didn't talk for 10 minutes or so and if you know Grady that is quite a feat. Thank you, Shelley and Peter. You all are so generous, we cannot thank you enough.

Great picture! Check out Myles. This is what he was like all weekend. Mom, mom, mom....

Gramma and Grandpa found these really cool digger forks for Grady and Myles. Grady insisted on opening his presents with them.

This was Myles's first Christmas present ever! He loved it.

Happy 30th Birthday, Josh

Happy 30th Birthday, Josh!! We really celebrated Josh's birthday this year. Gramma and Grandpa came to visit and watched the boys. Josh and I went up to Boone for the night and left the boys with their WONDERFUL, saintly grandparents. I can't believe they volunteered to watch them over night. Considering the fact that Myles cries if I am 10 ft away from him, won't sleep through the night and doesn't take a bottle. THANK YOU, Shelley and Peter!!

Josh and I had a great time. We went out to a nice dinner then did a little bar hopping. We haven't done that in years. We even enjoyed the very silent car ride there and back. Oh, the little joys in life....

The next night, I threw a surprise party for Josh at a local bar in Black Mountain. He had no idea and was completely shocked to see all his friends there. Overall, it was a very fun weekend.

Grady got the honor of "blowing the fire off" of Josh's cake.

Great blue frosting. G picked out the cake as well.

G and the birthday boy. Myles isn't in any pictures as he really wouldn't let me put him down after I came back home. He is punishing me for leaving him!

First Day at School!!

Grady started school yesterday! He is going two mornings a week to a great pre-school. He has been asking to go to school as most of his friends go. We went and checked it out a few weeks ago and he really enjoyed it. After getting to know him, they moved him up to the 3 year old class. He is the youngest by far but it seems to be a good fit.

He cried a bit when I left but it didn't last too long. He started talking some kids ear off and seemed happy. When I came to pick him up he said, "I was sad. You left me!" Then he told me about the fun activities and games they played.

He began telling me about a song they sung. He said, "mom, we sung a song about almonds." I was a bit confused and asked "almonds?". He said, "Yup, the food, almonds." Then he started to sing the song and I cracked up. You see, it's a church pre-school so they are introduced to the bible, Jesus, etc. So the "song" was really a prayer. It went like this....

"God our Father, God our Father. We give thanks. ALMONDS, ALMONDS."

HA HA!! It was really "AMEN".

It was a rainy first day of school. He insisted on wearing his frog boots.

Check out this shiner! Grady crashed on his bike this weekend. As you can see, he landed right on his face. Just in time to start school. This is his "look at my hurt face" look. It doesn't look that bad in the pictures but in real life it's pretty nasty.

Thanksgiving in Florida

It can't get better than a huge turkey and 70 degree weather! We had a blast visiting Pops, Gram Jenn, Morgan and Taylor. Grady was in Heaven, going from golf cart to motorcycle over and over again. The girls were great babysitters and played with G the entire time. Thanks, Taylor and Morgan!! Gram Jenn made a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner while Pops played with the boys. We had a wonderful time.

Ahh...the magic golf cart. This amazing machine managed to get Grady to take a nap. The kid hasn't taken a nap for almost a year. We need to invest in one of these things.

Grady and Pops being silly. Pops sure can make G laugh!

Gram Jenn let G help make the mashed potatoes

We all enjoyed the playground after stuffing ourselves full of turkey.

The ice cream man still comes in November!! We had to flag him down and get a treat for Grady. FYI...Sponge bob ice cream stains!

G caught a SHARK! Not really, it's plastic but he loved it. We ended up walking to a pond just so he could through the shark out and reel it in.

The girls dressed up G with some pretty stickers.

Trying to keep these rocks out of Myles mouth was quite a chore!

G loves Pops's Harley. He is still talking about it. I think he wants one for Christmas. Keep dreaming kid....