The McGuire Family: January 2013

Jack's friend Matthew was turning 4 and we were invited to a train party. We started off at the Amtrak station in downtown Fresno....

They couldn't wait to take pictures of "real life train tracks!"

Demonstrating how to chug like a train.

We discovered that it is physically impossible for these two to look at the camera at the same time.

Nate was feeling right at home strolling through the station.

Now comes the sequence when Nate found out he would be riding on a train and it was chugging down the tracks right now.......

"I'm gonna get to ride on a train?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?"

"Whoa - there it is!"

"This is fantastic!"

"A train Mom - and I get to ride on it."

"I call caboose car."

Here comes the train.

After a short ride we reached our destination - PIZZA!

These two loved hugging all day.

And check out the size of that pizza. Sorry boys, you have to share!

Another friend hug.

Wow Jack, you were sure hungry!!!

A pause in present opening to give another hug.

After pizza we got some ice cream and burned off the sugar playing at the park.

Nate thought Sophie was especially cute.

You can have a lot of fun with a ramp...

I actually bet Jack he couldn't finish the GIANT scoop / bowl / gallon of ice cream they have him. Yes, we ordered the smallest size possible.

Guess who lost that bet...

A couple of trains chugging on sugar highs.

"I'm going to ask Sophie to play cars with me."

"Hey Sophie- where should we take your car?"

"What do you mean you don't want to go shopping, Nate?!?!?!?!"

"Maybe it would be best if we just took our own cars."

"I do not understand women."

What an awesome time we had on our first train ride! Happy Birthday Matthew!!

New Year's resolution for 2013 - SLOW DOWN - this could equal more time for blog updates. Wow - has it really been 2 months?!?!?!?!

Nothing catastrophic has happened to our family - except maybe that Nathan has learned to run and gets into everything. But seriously, we just got really busy so here are several updates of what's been going on for the last 60 days.

Our fun starts with a birthday party at our favorite park for friend Clark -

MMMMMM - cupcakes with sprinkles!

"Hmmm, how can we get our hands on these presents?"

"Tell me all the secrets of life Godweasel."

Happy Birthday!

Next up was a BIG surprise for Gramma Jean and Auntie TC. We drove up to WA for Thanksgiving after telling my Mom repeatedly there was no way we could make it up. Boy was everyone shocked!

While helping Gramps make stuffing we got into a bit of a food fight...

"Take that one Gramma Jean!"

Just a little rest with the best blanket in the world.

Nice boots Jack.

Then it was time to turn right back around and get home to prepare for Christmas by making a Gingerbread house!

Next up was Nate's baptism. Fr. Jerry was gracious enough to perform a ceremony at Bellarmine for Nate. It was very special since Fr. Jerry married Ryan and I almost 10 years ago now.

Getting ready for the ceremony to begin.

Godmomma / Auntie TC.

Us with Sister Mary - Ryan's Great Aunt.

With Nate's Great Grandparents.

Fr. Jerry and Me!

And then in the blink of an eye it was Christmas! This year the boys were extra good so they got some sweet rides from Mom and Dad - a new bike for Jack and a Mini Cooper for Nate!

Nate and Mr. Bear.

Hey Nate - Guess What?!?!?!?!?! You get a New Car!

"I got a freakin' car!!!!!"

"I got my very own car!"

"I can't believe I got a car."

"How do I look in yellow?"

"Now I can really pick up chicks."

"Don't worry Mr. Bear - there's always room for you too!"

It took this dare devil no time to start zooming around the house on his Lightning McQueen bike.

Just watch your toes - and legs - and really your whole body around our house - you never know when a bike could come flying around the corner!

Christmas always makes us smile!

Having an indoor snowball fight.

Nate was better at opening his own presents this year.

A shared gift - nice job boys.

This tractor boy is all tuckered out and snuggled up with his John Deere blanket!

"Forget the presents - I got bananas in my stocking!!!!!"

I'm starting to sense that Nate must really like yellow - Mini Coopers, John Deere, bananas...

Jack built the Onceler's house from The Lorax movie.

"This is really for me???"

Then came Gramps' big reveal - he built a combine harvester. Anyone that knows Jack knows that this is his all time absolute favorite piece of farm equipment.

"Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?!"

To make the story even better, the night before he opened this he found Gramps' catalog of wood building plans and specifically targeted the combine. "Gramps, I sure like that combine harvester. Maybe you could build me that one day."

Now, the downside for Gramps is that Jack, at age 3, probably believes he just whipped this out in a night - sorry Gramps!

Some puppy love.

Aunt Gail got a new Chihuahua puppy named Bentley. Oh how Jack loved that dog.

Just Nate goofin' around.....

And just like always - Christmas was over so quickly and we headed home. On New Year's Day we spent some time breaking in all our new toys and getting some fresh air...