WeinmasterFive

Snow Day

2011-11-02T22:00:00.019-06:00

Our first snow day of the winter. We headed outside for some fun. And before I go further, for those of you that know me so well, NO I did NOT plan the coats/attire! They are actually all hand-me-downs. But, I do like the look! (And they are perfect for Go Big Red Football season too!)

Lila wasn't too sure what to think about being bundled up. She tried to walk but fell over and then got very irritated when she couldn't stand back up. Once in her sled, she settled down and was content to just watch her big brothers in action. She wasn't a fan of her sled moving at all!

We had about 7" of snow on the back yard hill. Unfortunately, it was difficult to pack down and the sleds kept getting stuck.

We even tried spraying the bottom of the sleds with cooking spray, but it didn't help much. The boys enjoyed being outside though and I enjoyed them getting all tired out!

And of course, I couldn't resist a picture perfect moment -- oh, how cute can this girl get?

Halloween

2011-10-31T22:00:00.066-06:00

Mario ... Luigi ... and our flower child!

Braden and Dylon have become facinated with the Wii and playing Mario Kart over the past few months. So, it seemed only fitting that they dress up as the "Mario Brothers" this year. They were so excited and couldn't wait for the big day! Even the fake mustaches were met with excitment!

Lila was a flower. They brothers really wanted her to be princess peach, but Mommy was worried that we would just have to cover her costume with a coat. And, the flower was just way too cute to pass up! She loved her "pretty" outfit and never tried to take it off. Actually, we couldn't get her to take it off even when we got home!

On Saturday 10/29, we headed off to Southlands Mall to trick or treat. The outside mall shuts down main street and the stores hand out candy to the masses of children. A little crazy, but nice to be outside when it is light and enjoy some fun with friends. This year, we met Zayne and Bryn (pirates/Pastor Ryan & Gena's kids) and baby Jameson Bailey (dragon/friends Jon & Nicole). Pastor Geoff and Brittany even came to hang out with us for awhile.

Braden, Bryn, Lila, Dylon, Zayne

Lila finally "wilted" ... so we headed home!

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On Monday evening (10/31), we spent some time getting our jack-o-lanterns ready. These were special pumpkins that Pa grew in his garden for the kids. We started painting the pumpkins a few years ago since the boys weren't ready to carve ... and they love it. It's fun to see the array of colors they create. This year, they also talked Mommy into carving pumpkins after the paint dried.

Braden -- BEFORE:

and AFTER:

Dylon -- BEFORE:

And AFTER ...

Lila -- BEFORE:

and AFTER (w/ Daddy!)

Our porch looked so happy and fun for our trick and treat friends.

Here are the kiddos before we headed out for trick or treating around the neighborhood.

We met up with our friend Connor while we were out trick or treating too!

We made it around the cul-de-sac behind the house and 2 streets. By the time we got home, we had 2 FULL buckets. Both boys said their hands hurt because the buckets were too heavy! It was a fun Halloween time for all of us.

Dylon's Pumpkin Patch Day at Preschool

2011-10-20T19:00:00.040-06:00

Dylon's preschool class had a fall pumpkin party. Mommy got to go to class to spend some special 1-on-1 time with her little man.

It was fun to watch him gathered together with his class. Ms. Kelly mixed up pancake batter that they later decorated into personal pumpkins.

The preschool brought in pumpkins for each child and turned part of the playground into the pumpkin patch. After recess time, the kids picked their pumpkin. Dylon picked the "biggest one ever"!

(friend Elijah & Dylon)

Dylon got to decorate his pumpkin with funny face stickers and made a spider hat. It was such a fun few hours together and I am so thankful for the special time with my boy.

Braden's Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

2011-10-19T21:24:00.002-06:00

Kindergarten for Braden has brought many "firsts" for our family. Today, it was the FIRST school field trip! Braden and Mommy headed off to the Berry Patch Farm for pumpkin picking fun.

What was the most exciting part of the day? Missing school? Pumpkins? No -- the ride on the big yellow school bus! My kindergarten boy looked kinda small today sitting 3 to a seat with his buddies Andrew and Matteo.

They loaded all the kids on for a hay ride out to the pumpkin field. The parents all got loaded onto a seperate trailer. Not sure who thought that putting 45 children and no adults was a good idea?! But, everyone made it safe and sound.

Braden was very intent on watching where they were going. He's the handsome guy on the left of this picture in the blue coat. He finally relaxed and started waving to me.

It was a gorgeous Colorado day for Braden's first hay maze.

He was a little nervous until he realized it was just like mazes in his book at home. Then off he went ...

And out he came ...

The pumpkin patch was a bit disappointing. I'm used to our WI adventures where you walk through the field, over the vines, in search of the perfect pumpkin. Here -- all the pumpkins were set out neatly in a dirt area. And of course, the perfect size for Kidergarteners.

The ride back was on a "big" wagon and the kids enjoyed bouncing along. Some even looked over the edges and made the adults a bit nervous. But, no injuries so I guess all was good.

We watched a video about how pumpkins grow and learned about bees pollenating pumpkin flowers. As Braden would say: "The bees fly in the punkin flower and turn it into a punkin and then it grows."

Before leaving, we shared a picnic lunch together. Braden was so excited to SHARE everything! He had informed me the night before that we only needed one sandwich and bag of chips, because we could share. I loved this special day with my boy who is growing up way too fast!

And a few pictures of Braden and his classmates:
Matteo, Andrew, Braden -- our buddies for the day

Braden, Hayden, Henners -- they chase each other on the playgroun almost every morning.

?, Jasmine, Braden - he thinks she is pretty cute and is excited to be sitting at the blue class table with her each day.

A fun and exciting day at Berry Patch Farm!

On the bus ride home with friend Lucas (they were on a t-ball team together this summer)

Braden even snuggled with Mommy on the way home! I enjoyed the one-on-one time with my little guy (even though there were 40 other kids with us! :)

And lastly, the prize pumpkin! He picked the "biggest, heaviest one" he could find!
(But then traded with his teacher b/c his stem broke off!)

Go Rockies!

2011-09-09T23:00:00.039-06:00

We took the boys to a Rockies game today. It was Dylon's first pro-baseball game.

The adventure started with a ride on the Lightrail from Aurora into downtown Denver. Dylon and Braden were very excited to ride on Daddy's train (he takes it every day too and from work).

Best Buddies - sitting by themselves - they thought they were big stuff!

We got off the train and found a pedal-cab. The boys couldn't believe we got to ride in the cart and that the "guy could pull us all with his bike". I'm not sure who had more fun. Our boys riding or the driver listening to their chatter and answering a multitude of questions.

Eyes got big and little feet could hardly stay in control as we entered the stadium. We were able to convince them to stop for a brief moment to take a few pictures -- but only briefly!

As we excited the elevator to go to our club level seats (yes, our kids are spoiled -- but it also helps that Wells Fargo has LOTS of seats!) we encounter Mickey Mouse. The boys wanted to atake a picture to show Lila -- who was at home with the baby sitter. So cool that even in the midst of a fun day they were thinking of their sister!

And then began the traditions ... PEANUTS,

CRACKER JACKS,

and POPCORN (sorry, forgot the photo)

Followed by a dinner of COTTON CANDY!

And yes, this was Mommy's doing!

The delight on their faces was worth the mess (and brief sugar rush)!

Binnoculars came in handy as the boys looked for their favority player -- Todd Helton.

Braden was insistent that he sit in seat #17 -- "this is Todd's chair"

A fun night with our 2 little guys!

And a very special night with my FAVORITE guy! I am so blessed to be married to this guy!

Dylon starts Preschool

2011-09-08T19:00:00.014-06:00

Dylon started preschool today at Eastern Hills Church. He is so excited to be a "BIG" boy and go to school just like his brother. He will be going for 2 days/week.

Dylon was so excited to use his new froggy backpack. He thinks that everything green or with a frog belongs to him.

He went into class and knew to go wash his hands. I guess that watching Braden's routine last year payed off. He had no fear and went right into his room. Mommy & Daddy had to go into the room just to get hugs goodby!

Dylon - we are so proud of you!

We can't wait to see how you grow and develop over this coming year.

Continue to be YOU and don't loose your zest for life.

We love you!

Braden starts Kindergarten

2011-08-15T19:00:00.016-06:00

Our little man started kindergarten today. He was so excited to go to his school with the "blue roof". We've been driving by it for 2 years now with the anticipation building. He was nervous about the fact that none of his friends would be there though and had a bit of difficult with the 3rd new school in 3 years. But, he's tough, outgoing, and so brave!

He was proud to take his first homework with him (yes, homework before school even started!) His "self portrait" character was complete with Huskers, Rockies, and Mario Kart printouts.

Daddy & his kiddos -- too soon we will be taking them all to school I'm afraid!

Mommy's big man -- it was hard to let my boy go for ALL day. 7:45 - 2:30 seems way too long for him to be away from me.

Braden - you are growing up so fast! We love you and are so proud of you.
Continue to be the good boy you are and be friends to all.
We are looking forward to your reading stories to us soon!

Another ER Visit

2011-04-24T23:00:00.000-06:00

Braden woke up this morning with a HUGE goose-egg under his stitches. Appropriate, I guess, to have a hidden egg in your head on Easter!? But, alarming to your parents when there had been NO swelling since about Thursday. We called the doctor in the morning and agreed to keep on eye on it. However, around 7pm, we noticed that the swelling was migrating down into his forehead, nose, and eye sockets. So, the doctor sent us back to the ER.

It’s never great when the ER nurses and doctors are puzzled. A CT-Scan was ordered to rule out any bleeding or fractures.

Braden was excite to take Boof for a ride with him to the xray room.

He layed perfectly still, “just like a statue”, and never complained. The xray staff was amazed at his good behavior. He even received a Lion finger puppet as a reward and quickly named his new friend, Simba.

Feeling a bit hungry, he enjoyed a snack of mini-cheezits. Unfortunately, a CLEAN pan was all I could find for him to eat out of. Kinda gross to us, but he wasn’t bothered by it a bit!

CT-Scan was negative and we were able to go home. He was very patient with the wait and enjoyed his alone time with Daddy & Mommy again. We even got to watch a new movie – Shark Tales.

All of this was a bit worry some for Daddy & Mommy. We are so thankful for the friends and family who supported us in prayer during this time. It gave us a peace we would never have had otherwise.

4/25/11: The swelling stayed the same under the wound, but his nose and eyes got even more swollen. It was strange to look at my boy and have him not really look like himself.

4/26/11: A follow-up with his doctor today confirmed that everything is ok. They are pretty sure that a blood vessel started to re-bleed on Saturday night and caused the new swelling. Because of gravity, it moved down into his eyes and nose. Should clear up in a few weeks. So thankful that our boy is ok!

Easter Dinner w/ Grandpa & Grandma

2011-04-24T17:00:00.000-06:00

Grandpa & Grandma came over for Easter Dinner today. It was fun to see them for a bit.

Braden had to show Grandpa how to play the video game.

Dylon was a tease, but finally gave some hugs.

Lila snuggled into Grandpa and melted his heart (again!) Hmmm, I have a feeling he was having a few flashbacks to the day when another girl was in his arms like this!

Lila decided that she needed to sit like a big girl on the stool next to Grandma. So big – too soon!

I took advantage of the day and was able to get a picture of all 3 kids with the grandparents. All 3 “almost” look happy! But at least no one is screaming!

Easter Day

2011-04-24T09:04:00.000-06:00

Easter morning arrived and the boys rushed downstairs to see what the Easter bunny had left them. By the time that the Easter bunny and everyone else left them a few things – it was almost like Christmas in our house.

The boys were excited with their frisbee golf and wiggly sprinkler. Now if it would only warm up again so that we can play with them outside.

Great-Auntie Cathy decorated some mailboxes for the kids. Orange slices inside were a huge hit!

Lila was very excited with her M&M egg from Uncle Josh & Aunt Kristi. She sat on the floor for a LONG time putting it in the bucket and taking it back out.

Dylon, however, was not very happy with the Easter Bunny. He actually called the bunny to tell him that he was naughty and shouldn’t have brought Lila M&M’s. “Because she is a baby and they don’t eat chocolate. That was not very nice. You need to bring her a new treat.” Such a protective big brother!

Lila also enjoyed giving her new pink lamb lots of kisses!

Before leaving for church, we were able to grab a quick picture of the kids. I’m partial – but I think they are way too cute!

After church Lila posed for a few more pictures. I love having a little girl to dress up!

This is Lila’s “cute girl” expression.

I am so thankful that my daughter has such an amazing Daddy! You can see the pride and love every time he holds his precious girl.

Easter was a great day! What a gift we received through our RISEN Savior! It was a busy day at church, but we were able to be a part of sharing God’s love with over 287 people at The Edge during 3 services.

Easter Egg Hunt

2011-04-23T23:00:00.000-06:00

We headed out for an Easter Egg Hunt at the YMCA this morning. There will be one at church tomorrow, however with the business of the day and Daddy & Mommy’s responsibilities – we wanted a morning to just enjoy watching our boys as they raced to collect eggs.

Our friends, the Spillman family, joined us for the fun. It is fun to have friends the same age as our boys – they all get along so well together too.

Dylon & Rohan waiting for the hunt to begin:

Dylon was so excited, that he ran PAST more eggs than he picked up and put in his bucket!

Dylon was very proud of himself! He ended up with quite a few eggs in his bucket and had such a fun time running around.

Braden & Aragorn waiting for their turn.

A family Easter snapshot.

Braden scouted out his “area” and was ready to go! He raced away from the other kids and grabbed a lot of eggs. You could hear his excited laugh the entire time!

Can you tell that he was proud of his efforts?! We were VERY proud of him too when he went to give a few of his eggs to another child who only got one or two. Such a generous heart!

A fun morning together as a family! And so blessed to enjoy it with our friends too!

Making Easter Eggs

2011-04-23T21:00:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite traditions from Easter and growing up was coloring Easter Eggs. I loved to watch the egg take on a new color, mix colors, and make patterns on the eggs.

Tonight, we continued the tradition with the boys. Braden remembered it from a few years ago. He was exited to do his OWN eggs this year. Dylon wasn’t really sure what was going on (last year we skipped – pregnant Mommy just wasn’t up for it!). Once Dylon realized what was going on though, he was thrilled. Next year, we are going to need to do a few more eggs. 6 eggs each was just not enough!

I promise that we do feed Dylon! However, from the looks of this picture, you’d never know it.

Braden was excited to have a “chick” egg sticker just like the one the his bunny tells a story about. The bunny talks and tells how traditional Easter items relate to the true meaning of Easter as it centers on Jesus’ resurrection.

Boys will be Boys!

2011-04-18T23:00:00.000-06:00

Chad was flying to Austing tonight at 7:30pm.
Pa & Ma were flying home from Cali at 6:00pm
Mommy and the kids went to the airport to eat dinner with Daddy and pick up the grandparents

Dinner is over. Mommy is in the bathroom. Daddy is with Dylon. Pa is getting Lila snuggles.
Everyone is having a great time.

Especially Braden ... He was swinging between the tables and thought he was big stuff. You know, you put one hand on either table, lift your feet, and swing. 1, 2, 3, 4 - all great swings. And then, on number 5 ... CRASH!

Yes, boys will be boys! Braden fell and cracked his head open on the hard tile floor. We later discovered that he must have hit his head on the corner of the metal chair on the way down as a "chunk" was missing.

So, we enjoyed a brief visit with the airport paramedics, dropped the younger two kids off with the grandparents at the house, and went to Children's Hospital ER in Parker.

Braden was a very brave boy. He cried for a quite a bit at the airport, but then settled down. He actually laughed and played with Lila on the way to the house. His video game kept him entertained on the way to the ER. He sat patiently and waited for triage and again to get back into an exam room. He asked me to take a picture so he could see what it looked like. When I showed him the picture he said "Oh, there is a crack!"

He flinched when they looked at the wound but never cried or tried to move away. He layed perfectly still while they washed the wound with cold water and let them apply the numbing gel with only a few "owies". We kinda liked the Ninja look ... maybe he could be one for Halloween -- minus the hole in his head!

When it came time to stitch, he layed completely still. The numbing gel didn't work completely and you could tell that the needle going in and out was painful -- but he took it like a champ. He is a one tough kid!

We headed home with 3 blue stitches and a soon to be battle scar. But, I hear that chick's dig scars! And it's so close to his hairline that I don't think it will be a big deal. Makes me wish I had gotten to that haircut he needs a little sooner though. Not sure I'm excited to cut around a newly healing head wound.

We are so thankful that he is ok and nothing serious. We were a bit concerned b/c he was initially complaining of neck and stomach pain too. So glad that it's a temporary headache and he'll be back to himself -- probably in the morning!

April Moments

2011-04-17T20:00:00.000-06:00

4.11.11 Brooke doesn’t realize that she is a DOG! I was folding laundry tonight and she layed beside me on the couch. More often than not, she tries to find a “people” place to hang out.

4.13.11 Braden helped Mommy make Lasagna for dinner. We had to get rid of the extra noodles together.

4.14.11 Lila is on the move. She is a pro at moving backwards and often finds herself stuck against walls or under furniture. I am starting to wonder if she’ll ever figure out how to go forwards?

4.15.11 Braden went on his first “friend” sleepover tonight. He was so excited to go to Connor’s house that he ran out the door without giving us hugs goodbye. He had a fun time eating pizza, watching scooby doo, and sharing a bed with Connor.

4.16.11 The boys used some of their money from past holidays and birthdays to buy a picnic table today. They were excited to have friends Owen & Boston Treadwell over and eat dinner outside. They thought they were pretty cool sitting outside under their own umbrella.

4.17.11 Our Home Group met tonight (as we do every Sunday night). We stuffed 1200 eggs with candy while we discussed the sermon questions. It is such a fun group and we are so glad that we can spend time together each week!

Overnight at Pa & Ma’s House

2011-04-10T21:47:00.001-06:00

The kids and I spent the night in Colo Springs. We had a fun time hanging out with the grandparents.
Pa and the boys planted seeds for the garden. Some flowers, vegies, and “gourd snakes”. Perfect timing too as Braden just finished a week long series on seeds & plants in preschool.

Dylon tired of the planting and came in to relax a bit. That smile gets me EVERY time!

Lila is working on trying to crawl. She can move in circles and goes backwards often. She can stretch farther than you’d ever think possible. But moving forward is still not happening. Although, I kinda like being able to sit her on the floor with her toys for an hour and not have to worry.

Cousin GiGi’s big blue bunny made a fun snuggle friend.

Should have brought our tea set – the 3 of them look like they are ready for a party.

Braden and Pa got in some special snuggle time while they watched “The Fox and the Hound”.

Dylon opted for a bath instead of movie time. He loves to close the doors and “swim” (splash!).

A fun overnight trip at Pa & Ma’s house. Thanks!

A Walk to the Park

2011-04-07T21:22:00.000-06:00

A beautiful spring day lured us outside. A brief walk turned into a trip to the park. A moment of play time lasted even longer.

SMILES, LAUGHTER, and SUNSHINE!

Miss Rachel (our frequent babysitter) was here to go with us. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. She is amazing with our kids and one of my dearest friends. She is basically family!

Lila loved the swing. She quickly figured out how to kick herself and rock back and forth. She loved the movement and was excited to go higher and higher.

Blowing kisses …

One very happy girl!

Braden was a good brother – once again! He enjoyed pushing Lila, seeing her excitement, and making her laugh.

Dylon enjoyed the time with Miss Rachel. He loves the one on one attention and is very possessive of her.

Thanks Rachel for a fun time at the park. Thanks for hanging out and being extra hands too while Chad has been on the road. You are a special friend!

Bed Head to Pig Tails

2011-04-06T21:09:00.000-06:00

I wake up to hear a tender voice talking to herself. Kicks and giggles when she hears me enter the room. Big eyes sparkle back at me when I reach to pick her up from the crib. And then I see it – the morning hair. Another new experience with a girl!

But with a little detangler spray, a couple rubberbands, and a bunch of kisses – the pigtails are in place and bedhead is a memory of the past.

Regardless of the hair – this precious girl still is way too cute!

Proud Moments

2011-03-24T21:52:00.001-06:00

Dylon’s 1st Sticker Project:
He had to watch his big brother make these last year. For Christmas, he got his own set. Today, he used his knowledge of shapes and colors and matched them up to make his rocket ship. He was very excited and proud of his handiwork. It was given to Mommy first, and then taken back and given to his friend. He's a smart boy and it is so fun to see him growing up each day.

Lila’s First Pig Tails:
Her hair is getting so long on top! It was fun to add a new hairstyle to the mix. I've waited a long time to have a little girl and am loving it!

Grocery Store Date

2011-03-24T21:51:00.001-06:00

How do you make the day to day of life more special? I've discovered that sometimes is all in the name.
Today, it wasn't a trip to the grocery store. It wasn't a chore that had to be accomplished. It wasn't another check off the to do list.

Instead, it was a date. A date between me and my froggy boy. A date complete with a personalized bakery creation (a free kid's cherry chip cookie), a stop by the amusement park (a penny ride on the horse), and a coffee shop creation (white hot chocolate).

Amazing how the simple things in life become treasures in your memory!

Thanks for a special date little man. Thank you for being my boy. I love you Dylon!

Special Moments with Lila

2011-03-21T21:49:00.001-06:00

March 20: Tea Time with Daddy

March 21: Hair Styles by Dylon

Ski Time in the Rockies

2011-03-19T21:48:00.001-06:00

Excited doesn't begin to descibe how Braden was feeling! He was happy to get up at 6am, he was happy to ride in the car up into the mountains, he was happy to wait in line for his ski equipment, and he was THRILLED to ski for the first time!

He thought he was pretty big stuff when he got his equipment and was ready to hit the slope.

He enjoyed skiing with the other kids and his instructor. He learned how to get up when he fell down and how to "pizza" with his skis to stop.

Pa went with us for the day. It was fun to have some time to just hang out and enjoy being with this special man in our family. I'm so glad that he was there to share this first in Braden's life with us!

I took lessons in the morning and then Chad came to ski with me. He was impressed that I had improved so much. There might be hope for me learning this sport and not being left behind by my kids after all!

It was fun to see Braden ski down the hill. He did pretty good too! When he got going to fast he forgot to "pizza" and instead did the splits and a face plant to stop. But -- he got right back up again!

We enjoyed the amazing weather and beauty that God created. A special day as a family together in the mountains.

Braden was already asking when he could go back. He enjoyed everything about skiing -- well, almost. He didn't eat much breakfast and was hungry for lunch. He saw some of the other kids heading inside before his group was ready and got worried they would eat all the food. So, he asked to go inside. Poor guy didn't realize he had to wait for his class before he could eat. Water and a cookie didn't fill his hungry tummy and he was quite worried that he was going to "starve" when Daddy stopped by to check on him. Fortunately, there was plenty of food to go around and with a belly full of food he headed out again after lunch for more skiing - and falling - fun!

In addition to skiing, Braden enjoyed the hot chocolate! He wore the proof proudly in the car on the way home!

Looking forward to the next time we are able to head back to the mountains for a family ski trip!

(And a HUGE THANKS to my mom for watching Dylon and Lila here at the house for us. I know that they were in good hands and had a great time together!)

Grampy is 60!

2011-03-17T21:48:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday Dad!
We enjoyed an early Birthday celebration with my Dad. It was fun to tease him a bit with some gag gifts.
He loved the collage that we put together using our newborn pictures, current pictures, and a personal note from each of the 4 kids.
It was a fun night celebrating together.

Lila was excited to see Grampy!

Geezer Tweezers & Pill Box

Uncle Matt & "Head" watching the gift opening

Daddy and his "little twin"

Uncle Jer approves of the fashion depends

The collage brought tears of joy

Birthday banana pudding

Dad - I love you!

A MiniVan Moment

2011-03-16T22:19:00.000-06:00

The kids and I were driving in the car this evening on the way to a meeting. I was doing the typical mom talk -- "remember to be nice to your friends... no fighting so that mom and dad can get their meeting done... share toys with your friends ..." You get the idea.

From the back of the van, Braden interupted - "Mommy, I have an owie on my finger".
"I'll check it when we get there, I'm sure it will be ok."

I continued to talk to them and remind them of rules and discuss what was going to happen at the meeting.

Again, an interruption from the back, this time it was Dylon:
"Mommy, be quiet please. Mommy! Stop talking"
"What Dylon?"

And then, a moment of silence followed by my youngest son's voice:
"Jesus - please help Braden's finger feel better. Please help us to be good boys tonight and play nice so that Mommy and Daddy can get their meeting done. Amen."
So simple, so pure, so much faith.

Of course, being the tough mom I am, tears started to fall and I managed to say, "I love you Dylon".
Concerned, Dylon asked "Mommy, what's wrong?
To which his much wiser big brother replied "Don't worry Dylon. Sometimes Mommy's just get so happy they cry!"

Such a simple conversation. Such an amazing moment in a minivan!

Lunch Time

2011-03-16T21:47:00.007-06:00

Today's lunch was full of special foods. Braden asked for a tuna sandwich and that is just what he got. He was suprised to see an actual fish on his plate. I think I earned "cool mom" points for that one!

Dylon was excited to share the special treat that he picked out for his brother. The yoplait swirls were a huge hit!

1 good lunch + 2 happy boys = a good day!

Lila’s Best Friend

2011-03-14T21:46:00.002-06:00

The other day I was wishing for a friend Lila's age. I remember back to when my boys were this age and they had little friends to play with, crawl with, and learn all the baby things with. However, Lila has "big" friends.

And then -- there was this moment. When my little girl called for and reached for one of her favorites in the world. (Ok maybe THE favorite in her life!) I sat her beside Brooke and the two of them looked outside, played together, and were oh so cute. Maybe getting a dog wasn't really for the boys in our home. Maybe God knew that my little girl would need a special playmate and prepared for this ahead of time as only He can!

So while it is kinda odd -- dogs ARE suppose to be man's best friend!

My 3 Kids

2011-03-11T20:45:00.001-07:00

I love these kids!!!
What more is there to say?!

Spring’s First Walk

2011-03-10T20:44:00.008-07:00

SPRING is coming! We enjoyed our first walk of the season today. So nice to be outside! So nice to be together! So nice to have 3 amazing kids! So nice to be in CO instead of WI on days like this!

Braden was excited to ride on his birthday scooter. It's been waiting since December for nice weather! Dylon was excited to ride his new scooter too! So glad that hand-me-downs are still "new" to a 3 year old!

Mmm!!!

2011-03-10T20:44:00.002-07:00

Lila is loving food. For being such a "little" girl - she can sure pack it away. Today she ate a nutrigrain bar and loved every bite. However, I'm not sure if she loved putting them in her mouth or smearing them all over the tray!

“Super” Friend

2011-03-07T21:07:00.000-07:00

What makes a good friend?

Someone you can take your mask off around and just be yourself
Someone who you can lounge around with
Someone who makes you smile

Connor - you are that kind of friend!

And of course, Dylon couldn't let Lila feel left out. Even without a costume, she is "super" special!

When Uncle & Aunt Babysit

2011-03-04T20:42:00.011-07:00

Daddy and Mommy went out on a date for 5280 week. They enjoyed a delicious Fondue Dinner with their friends Brian & Terra.

Uncle Jeremy & Aunt Erin came up to babysit the kids. What a fun time! I don't know if the kids or the adults were most excited to spend the time together.

We came home to find a few pictures on the camera. Thanks Aunt Erin for capturing some special Lila moments.

Big Booger? No, just a Banana?

Uncle Jeremy is getting an early start teaching Lila to love computers.

#1 Lost “Tuf”

2011-03-02T21:00:00.002-07:00

So, it happened! Braden lost his 1st tooth! He came downstairs after his nap and showed me his tooth. It was laying at a 90 degree angle and barely holding on. He was very brave and let me give it a little tug. A tooth in my hand, a hole in his mouth, and a huge smile on my BIG boys face!

At bedtime, he made sure the tooth was safe inside his special pillow (Aunt Kristi-he finally understands that this pillow is for more than stuffed animals to sleep on!)

The toothfairy brought him $0.50 and a huge lollipop. Braden had informed us that is what toothfairies do. Aopparently, Shark (on the cartoon Word World) got a blue lollipop when he lost his teeth. Braden thought that he needed a red one, but was excited with his rainbow surprise. We even printed a copy of the 1st picture below so he could take it with to school and show all of his friends.

At school the next day (3/3), Braden drew this picture. I love the spiky hair, fingers, and his big tooth. He also tried to write the date in the upper right corner. 3 + 2011 He reversed his 2 so it looks like a 5. He even sounded out and wrote the sentence below.

Braden was very excited about his “#1 lost tuf” as he called it. #2 is loose and wiggly, so it shouldn’t be too long before it makes a departure too!

Baby No More

2011-03-01T20:34:00.001-07:00

So, I discovered today how you know that your baby is no longer a baby.

We were in the van to run some errands this afternoon. From the back I heard Braden complaining that his snack was hurting his teeth. Being the ever compassionate mom, I told him that graham cracker bites could not hurt him. He continued to “owwee” with each bite.

When we stopped at the store, I took a look at his mouth (thinking that this would pacify him and prove that I was right!). Much to my surprised, it was VERY clear that the graham crackers probably were hurting him. My not so baby boy is soon not to have two of his baby teeth! His bottom two teeth are “wobbling” as Braden describes it.

How did my little baby (ok, so he never was “little” at 10#!) but you get what I’m feeling. This is the beginning of him loosing the last of his baby-ness! Funny, I never thought that loosing teeth was a huge deal. But as I am faced with this for the first time as a mommy, I find the tears running down my cheeks as I come to grips with the fact that this is it. My baby is truly a baby no more!

But the tears are not just sadness – they also are joy filled. Joy at the fact that I have been his mommy for 5 years, joy that he is growing into an amazing boy, joy that this is another step into new and exciting adventures, joy that my baby is a baby no more!

Braden – Oh, how I love you!

Bath Time

2011-02-24T21:00:00.001-07:00

Daddy is out of town, Mommy is tired, Three Kids are dirty.
And then, this happens ...

I looked at these precious faces before me and my heart overflows.
I revive and take advantage of these few precious moments making memories.

Funny hair -- so simple - so precious - so forever embedded in my heart.

Play Ball!

2011-02-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

We bought Lila a ball (pink of course!) at Walmart today. The big brothers could not wait till after naps to teach her to play catch.
It took a bit, but she caught on. She laughed and giggled as they rolled the ball into her lap. She even figured out how to pull it from beside her and pick it up.
What a blessed little girl to have Big Brothers who love her so much. They enjoyed rolling to ball back and forth and encouraged her every move.

Giraffe

2011-02-24T13:05:00.000-07:00

Lila has had a “death grip” on this little giraffe today. I gave it to her when we left to go pick up Braden from preschool. She held on to it all the way to school, carried it with us inside, back to the car, while I rebuckled her in the carseat, all the way home, into the house, and to her highchair. She is enjoying chewing it’s ears and keeps talking to her new friend. Normally, toys are tossed aside after a few minutes with anticipation of one of us returning them to her. Hmm, maybe she’ll trade the giraffe for some real food!

Bison Pride

2011-02-24T13:04:00.000-07:00

Braden earned his second "Bison Buck" at school today. His teachers reward various students every few weeks for good behaviors -- respectful, responsible, and safe. This is only the second time his class has done this and he has recieved one each time.

Today, he also received a "Bison Pride" pin! This only goes to a select few students who have gone above and beyond. His teachers honored him today for "helping to keep the class on schedule". Apparently, he helps everyone remember what is happening next and makes sure that the bus moves along the day schedule on their board. He was so excited to show me his reward today when I picked him up. As you can tell, he was beaming ear to ear.

I'm so proud of him and his responsible and helpful attitude. He is growing into such a good boy!

I think this came at a good time for him too. He told me yesterday that he wasn't sure he liked school anymore. When I asked him why not, he said:
"Because I have to do stuff. Like journals.... and going outside.... and stuff." I didn't have the heart to tell him that this is only the beginning of LOTS of school stuff he's going to have to do over the next 16 years!

Braden’s Artwork

2011-02-22T22:22:00.001-07:00

Braden is enjoying his days at preschool. I enjoy all the artwork that comes home. Valentine’s day brought many loving pictures that I just couldn’t resist sharing with you.

“I’m WILD for you!” – this painted ape was for Daddy and Mommy. However, the heart drawing Braden is holding in the picture he brought home and gave to his best buddy Dylon – “For when you miss me when I’m at school and you can remember that I love you.”

“Mnke” – This is the first animal drawing that he has made. I love how he sounded out and spelled the Monkey’s name too. And I can’t explain why Braden is spelled wrong – he’s been writing his name without problem all year!

“I love you Mom!” -- This one melts my heart. He traced the stencil, cut out the shape, and wrote and spelled all the words on his own.

“Lovin’ Lion” – Braden was so proud of his heart lion. He cut out the shapes and glued it all together.

I can’t wait for the next round of artwork to come home from preschool! It is so fun to see his imagination and skills soaring!

Finger Food

2011-02-19T22:17:00.001-07:00

Now that Lila’s teeth are coming through, we’ve started to introduce finger foods. For her first try, she had banana chunks and peas. Both were a huge hit. She was so excited to figure out how to get the food in her mouth. And she didn’t do half bad – only about 50% of it ended up her bib pocket and on the floor!

Tea Party Time

2011-02-19T19:34:00.001-07:00

Lila is discovering a whole new world around her now that she is sitting up. One of her new favorite pasttimes is to have a personal tea party. She doesn't want anyone else to join in - all the snacks are hers! She laughs, talks, and carries on. It makes me smile thinking of the many parties ahead with Lila and her baby dolls. I hope to get join in on a few of them too! And I'm sure Daddy and her brothers will be very frequent guests too!

Anyone else want to come on over for a tea party?

Happy Valentine’s Day

2011-02-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

There are times when I wonder how so much love can fit inside my heart and fill these walls of our home!? I am so thankful for these 3 precious children and the love they bring to us and those around us.

And while I didn’t take his picture today, I am SO thankful for the love of my life, my friend, my husband. He makes me life overflow and complete!

Yes, she already poses …

And knows that she is - way – too – cute!!!

Hmm, I can’t get enough of those eyes!

Dylon was excited to wear his “froggy boy” shirt. And he got more than his share of kisses today!

Braden seems so grown up. But, he still loves to hug and snuggle – especially when he first wakes up. He had a fun Valentine’s party at preschool last Friday and was excited to take heart ring pops in for all his friends.

We hope that each of you had a wonderful Valentine's day celebrating those that you love too!

Dylon’s Day

2011-02-11T20:00:00.002-07:00

A day in Dylon’s life is full of adventure and creativity. Today I happended to have the camera handy to capture a few moments as they occurred. Usually I’m not able to catch his antics – by the time I get the camera he is already off and running to his next escapade.

(just to be clear, these diapers are for Lila -- not my big boy who is completely potty trained!)

Can you believe that Brooke lets him just use her as a pillow?

Yummy!

2011-02-10T21:42:00.002-07:00

Lila enjoys eating! And she is loving her new found independence and being able to feed herself.
The Mum-Mums are Mommy’s favorite because they make no mess!

The Wheat biscuits are a bit more tasty, but require a bath when finished. What a mess!

Blueberries are another favorite! And if you look close at this picture you’ll see one little tooth poking through on the bottom. Two more on the top have just broken the surface!

Finger Painting

2011-02-07T15:58:00.000-07:00

After dinner, we got out the finger paints. This is something that tests me a bit since I don't like messes!! But, every once in a while you have to let boys be boys. And its a good thing to do with grandparents too.

Dylon was very intent on getting just the right colors.

Neither boy was sure about actually "mixing" the colors on their paper -- they tried to keep them separate. Now where would they get an idea like that?

Dylon finally got into it and enjoyed all the mess. He was as proud of his hands as he was his artwork.

Braden started to enjoy experimenting with the colors to see what happens when you mix them together.

Even Ma got in on the action -- the mountain range, trees, and a sunset where quite impressive.

With a boy who looks like this -- a bath was the only option! And of course, that was almost as much fun as painting!

Of course, an overnight at Pa & Ma's wouldn't be complete without a bedtime treat. Tonight, it was chocolate cake. Braden loved his right down to the last lick ... yes, LICK! He cleaned the plate with his tongue. And for those of you that know me well, yes, I let him! (Thanks for the picture Uncle Matt - sorry we didn't get any of you ... next time!)

A fun few days with the grandparents. And we are heading back in one week!

Cousin Day at Focus on the Family

2011-02-07T15:42:00.003-07:00

We went to Focus on the Family today with our cousins -- Jenn and Rebekah. It was fun for the kids to get out, play, and run around after all the cold weather we've been having.

Braden, Rebekah, and Dylon watched "Adventures in Odyssey" in the desert theatre.

Dylon took Lila for a ride in the row boat.

Lila loved hanging out in the boat and watching the big kids.

I love that the boys enjoy time w/ Rebekah. They were all so willing to pose for a photo.

Lila and Aunt Jenn got to hang out for a bit too. Lila showed Aunt Jenn all her funny faces and how she LOVES to take off her socks.

Braden was FINALLY tall enough to go down the twisty slide. It's a 3 story enclosed twisting slide that you can go down inside a fabric bag. He was hesitant to go, but Rebekah went first and showed him on fun it was. His first ride, you could hear the giggles all the way down. When he got to the bottom he said "That was FUN! I'm going again!" and ran back up the stairs. Unfortunately, he only got to slide 3 times. As the kids slid down chunks of ice started to come out with them. We discovered that the inside of the slide was coated in a sheet of ice about 1/2 an inch think. They closed the slide because of safety issues. (the slide itself is outside the building with the entrance and exit to the slide inside). Next time we go to Focus, I have a feeling this slide will be FIRST on his list!

Dylon spent most of the time pushing buttons inside the big airplane. He was so excited to "drive" and loved taking other kids for a ride on the plane. He even took Mommy and baby Lila for a "ride".

We had such a fun time and look forward to the next "Cousin Day" adventure!

A few days with Pa & Ma

2011-02-02T16:07:00.008-07:00

Mommy and the kids headed to Colo. Springs.We had 1/4 of a cow in that Pa & Ma were holding in their freezer for us. And since Braden had a few days off school and Daddy needed to head to CA, we stayed for a few days. It was fun to have a few relaxing days and spend some time with them. It was a fun couple of days.

Pa & Lila enjoyed some snuggle time.

Ma & the boys enjoyed making tater-tot casserole together. It is a food with many great memories attached for me – my adopted grandmother used to make it for us growing up.

Lila was proud to show off her sitting up skills. And her favorite “squishy face”. She is quite the camera ham.

Dylon loves his baby sister. He is always trying to “help” her. This time, he decided she needed her corn teether to vibrate (you have to squeeze the end). So, he pushed down on the end while he held it in her mouth. Lila was very tolerant and actually seemed to appreciate his efforts.

She finally had enough and decided to take the teether into her own hands. She is getting more and more independent. I love this picture … and that tongue! She seriously has the tongue of a giraffe!

Ma had the whole day off work because of the cold weather. It was an unexpected surprise and we enjoyed the extra time with her.

Ma & Lila got their own snuggles in too. Lila loves to “pose” for the camera – I only wish her expressions weren’t quite so funny lookin! But I do love this little girl!

Before bed, Pa built us a fire and we roasted marshmallows inside. Oh, the fun things you get to do at the grandparent’s house!

The boys LOVED the smores! Sticky, gooey, warm, sugar before bed – who wouldn’t love it!

Braden looks like such a BIG boy lounging on the pillows like this!

We finally had to cut Dylon off - he had about 8 marshmallows and 2 smores -- and still wanted MORE!

Obstacle Course

2011-02-01T15:16:00.001-07:00

With all the cold, we’ve been stuck at home for a few days. And with no school to occupy him, Braden got creative. And of course, Dylon had his part him helping too! He created an obstacle course in the living room. Makes me glad that we have a big empty room for the boys to play in. The obstacle course started as a few pillows, footstool, and chair – but evolved into an ENTIRE room of challenges. Both boys had so much fun and couldn’t wait to show off their creation to Daddy when he got home. It was fun to see their creative minds and their ability to work together!

April 8: Just some pictures

2010-05-14T17:05:00.000-06:00

I found Dylon in his bed this morning with one of his best friends ... Brooke! This dog sure loves her little boy, even though his love is hard and rough in return.

The boys asked if they could eat their marshmallow Easter suckers for breakfast. And yes, I allowed it! You can only be a kid once, right? So Yummy! Anyone want a bite?

April 4: Easter

2010-05-14T16:41:00.000-06:00

I love Easter morning. I love that God loves me. I love that Jesus is alive.

I love having a day to just enjoy my family!

We started the morning off with Easter baskets for the boys.

They got a chance to quickly go through them and

eat a couple of candies before we headed off to church.

In between the 2 services, we had an egg hunt for the kids.

It was a mad rush with ALOT of kids, but the boys each got a few eggs.

And after the egg hunt the night before at Pa & Ma's, they really were not lacking in goodies!

(Connor, Braden, Dylon)

Dylon thought he could eat the plastic egg and

didn't realize there was something better inside!

We ate lunch with Melissa and Connor Pope.

It was so nice to not even have to cook!

And we needed to have a family photo ...

In the afternoon, we enjoyed some family time

playing the new Cootie game.

We had fun creating our silly bugs and the boys were full of laughs.

We ended the day with a "pizza picnic" and

watched the movie Planet 51 together.

Daddy even got some snuggle time from his two boys!

Even though we didn't have the traditional meal or lots of people over,

I think it was a perfect day with the just the 4 of us!

Apr. 4: Easter from MaeMae

2010-05-14T14:04:00.000-06:00

Mae Mae has a way of spoiling her grandsons ... and already her grand-daughter. Here's some pics of them opening their presents from her while she listened on the phone.

(Marshmallow suckers)

(Matching shirts/shorts)

(Telling MaeMae "Thank You"!)

(Ice Cream Playdough Factory)

(If we say cheese, can we play-dough?)

Apr. 3: Easter Egg Hunt at Pa & Ma's

2010-05-14T13:55:00.000-06:00

Pa & Ma had an Easter Egg Hunt for the boys at their house in the afternoon! They loved looking all over the yard and finding eggs. Dylon decided he needed TWO baskets.

Braden was on the go and enjoyed hunting for all the eggs. He was very good at finding them - even ones that tricky Uncles hid.

Braden hunting for eggs w/ Pa & Ma:

Braden hunting w/ Ma & Uncle Matt:

Dylon enjoyed finding eggs - he didn't care how many he found!

Daddy and Dylon made a great team:

So much fun ... so MANY eggs!

Apr. 3: Zoo w/ Shank Family

2010-05-14T07:11:00.000-06:00

We had the pleasure of meeting Erin's parents, Dave & Rhonda, today and going to Cheyenne Mtn. Zoo with them. (In C/S).

It was a fun day! They have raised an incredible daughter and we are so glad that my brother found her!

This deer statue has been at the zoo since I was a little girl. It was fun to see my brother, Erin, and the boys climb on up!

The boys were excited for a caurosel ride w/ Daddy (Mommy wasn't sure she was up for spinning around in that many circles!) Braden loved it and would have ridden all day! Dylon lasted for about 3 'laps' before he climbed off the horse and into Daddy's arms.

When we caught back to up to Miss Ewin, Dylon was quick to need consoled. And she was more than happy to oblige!

Dylon was intrigued by the skunk (descented of course) and followed him around as he roamed the room.

Braden kept himself occupied talking to the parrot and trying to get it to talk back.

The boys had fun going through the play caves...

and even talked all the adults into joining in on the fun!

(Chad, Dylon, Trista, Braden, Erin, Jeremy, Rhonda, Dave)

Another highlight at the zoo is the "Budgie Buddies". The boys love to feed the birds! We were there early enough this time too that they were still VERY hungry and "attacked" us to get the bird seed off our sticks.

We even found a strange animal at the zoo! You never know what Uncle Matt is going to do.

It was a fun morning at the zoo!

Misc. March Pictures

2010-05-13T15:38:00.000-06:00

Here's just a few more pictures from the month of March:

March 18: Both boys love coffee! When they sleep like big boys in the bunkbeds and don't get in trouble, they ask for a reward in the morning --- COFFEE! Maybe if I get them hooked now, I can get them to go for coffee and talk as teenagers? Worth a try! Actually, their coffee is mostly milk with a splash of coffee in it - but they still think they are big stuff drinking it!

March 24: If only they always got along this well!

March 29: Braden had the flu and was laying on the couch with his "protector"!

March 18 & 30 - Nana & Auntie's Visit

2010-05-13T15:27:00.001-06:00

Nana and Auntie Cathy came for a visit and we had a few special days with them!

March 18: Auntie brought gifts (of course!). A special Thomas the Train and movie for each boy. Mavis for Braden (which is one that he has been asking for and we could never find) and a honey car for Dylon.

After they visited our Colo. Springs family and enjoyed some time with new little Mason in KS, we enjoyed a few more days together before they traveled back to Washington, D.C. where they live.

The boys enjoyed some snuggle book time with Nana (great-grandma). I love to see them together! I can't tell you how often the boys ask for their Nana and wish that she lived much closer!

They also had fun painting with Auntie while Mommy was fixing dinner! I, of course, loved the helpful distraction!

We're looking forward to another visit from them later in the summer to meet our new arrival!

March 24: Spring Snow

2010-05-13T15:16:00.001-06:00

We had a wet spring snow and the boys were so excited to go outside and play. Braden's friend Connor and his mom Melissa came over and helped us build a snowman and tackle the sledding hill in the backyard.

I love how warm it gets in CO after a snow -- makes it much easier to want to go outside and get wet.

March 13: Baby Shower

2010-05-13T15:08:00.001-06:00

My dear friend and nieghbor, Melissa Pope, hosted a baby shower for us! It was so much fun to be blessed and showered with PINK! This little girl is already so loved and I was overwhelmed with everyone's generosity. It was fun to share this special time with our family and friends!

(Melissa & Trista)

One of the games involved having the guests guess how big my belly was. Hmmm ...

(Sarah - nice guess at 36". Erin - I still don't think I forgive you!)

Erin (my youngest brother, Jeremy's girlfriend) and I hung out in the morning while the boys went to the St. Patrick's Day parade downtown. It was fun to have some girl time and get pedicures together.

(Erin & Mason)

Another great suprise of the day was when my sister-in-law showed up with my mom for the shower. Added bonus was that my new nephew Mason came along too! He even wore pink in support of our new little girl!

(Grandma & Mason)

Mar 11: Puppy Love

2010-05-13T14:53:00.000-06:00

Dylon was so happy to be home and his Brooke back! He couldn't get enough of her!

When he wasn't playing with Brooke, he was trying to recover from the long trip home. Our flight from WI was delayed and it was almost 11pm when he finally got to bed the night before. Poor guy couldn't quite figure out that he would feel much better if he would just SLEEP!

Mar. 4-10: WI Trip

2010-05-13T14:48:00.001-06:00

We traveled to WI to visit friends and attend the launch of Epic Church in Indiana. Here's a few pictures/highlights from the trip.

Thursday, March 4: Mommy, Braden, and Dylon flew to WI. The boys were awesome on the plane!

(Daddy was in St. Louis for the week prior and would join us on Friday)

Tony, April, & Shelby Brodzeller were so gracious and let us invade their home! We more than doubled their size and gave Tony a new perspective on having multiple children live under his roof! :)

Friday, March 5th: "Uncle Mike" (one of Chad's previous coworkers) picked him up from the airport. It was great to see our friend after so long away! The boys looked at him with some recognition and gradually warmed up.

Friday night we went out to dinner with a bunch of our friends from Northbrook. It was bittersweet to see them and reconnect. We just wish that we had more time to spend with all of them!

3 of us were pregnant and had to take a photo comparing our baby bumps! So fun to share this special blessing with my precious friends!

April (gave birth 4/20 to Sydney Faith)

Jenny (due 8/09 w/ boy)

Trista (due 5/24 w/ girl)

Saturday, March 6: We loaded both families (4 adults, 3 kids) into a borrowed mini-van (Thanks Leedles!) and drove south to Mishawauka, IN for the launch of EPIC church on Sunday. We had two sleepy boys on the drive -- Thank Goodness!!!

Chad enjoyed the time with his buddies: Chad, Jeremy, Tony

Braden is still madly in love with his "bethrothed" and we were amazed at how well the two of them still play together. He didn't want to go anywhere without "his Caitlin" and was very sad when it came time to say goodbye.

We had a great time celebrating the launch of Epic Church and are so excited to see all that God is going to continue to do there!

Left to Right:

Jeremy, Ann, Caitlin LeVan

Tony, April, Shelby Brodzeller

Chad, Bradenn, Trista, Dylon

Dave, Debbie, Jennifer Roy (also friends from Northbrook Church in WI)

Monday, Mar. 8: The moms and kids got together for a playdate in Germantown and then had lunch at Pizza Hut. It was so fun to reconnect and watch the kids play together. Braden was thrilled to see his best buddy Cooper. He keeps asking when we can play together again! Distance between states is so hard to explain to a 4 year old!

We were also able to meet up with our neighborhood crew at Culver's one evening ... but I completely forgot to take pictures! Urgh!!!! We still missing living in Dallman Village and the "family" we had there.

Mar 10: With sad hearts and tears, we said goodbye to the Brodzellers and headed home (Daddy got to go on the airplane with us!) Next time we take a picture of our kids together, there will be FIVE!

We had a GREAT visit and are looking forward to the next time with can be with our friends!

We're hoping that many of them will take us up on the offer

to stay at the Weinmaster Bed and Breakfast sometime SOON!

Our Boys - End of Feb.

2010-05-13T13:48:00.002-06:00

5/13/10: I realized today that it has been TOO long since I blogged! I keep thinking that "I'll get to it" and today is the day. Better hurry up before another little one joins the family and takes up more time! :)

Feb. 18: The boys love to raid my hair supply drawer and use my headbands to turn themselves into little ninjas. Maybe that's as close to "being like mommy" as they can get!

Feb. 19: They still enjoy dressing alike, which makes my job easy when we get clothes out in the morning. This day they wanted "regular" hair -- no spikes. Such handsome little guys!

Feb. 22: Braden is enjoying drawing pictures. This is one of him driving our van. He is on the right (at least his face is) and the steering wheel is to the left. And we have an amazing van ... 5 wheels! :)

Feb. 23: Dylon has so much personality and it shows through in all he does. I wish I were able to capture more of the faces and expressions he makes.

2/14: Valentine's Day

2010-02-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

I've always enjoyed Valentine's Day. This year I am again reminded of how blessed I am to have FOUR special loved ones. What amazing gifts from God! To celebrate the day, we gave each of the kids something special for the day.

For Braden, a DVD w/ "big" boy movies. He has only watched Little Rascals so far, but really enjoyed it!

For Dylon, a Handy Manny fix it boat. He loves to take it apart and put it back together again.

And for SweetPea, her first baby doll. I love that it has brown hair. Now watch, she'll probably be a blond.

2/15: Dylon's Flu

2010-02-23T15:39:00.000-07:00

Dylon woke up crying in the middle of the night. I laid in bed thinking, "If I just leave him, will he go back to sleep?" After a few minutes I decided I needed to go and check. And good thing I did. By the time I reached him he was standing in the hallway crying ... puke all over his pajamas, and his bed, and his blankets! Somehow, and fortunately, he avoided the floor and his beloved dog woofie.

Thankfully, this was a night when Daddy wasn't traveling so he took care of our little guy while I cleaned up the mess. I was so thankful for Chad throughout the night. The flu is not something he normally can tolerate, but he knew how tired I was and pitched right in. He took the first shift and slept with Dylon for the next few hours -- dealing with everything like a pro! He even worked from home the following day so that he was here to help out. Wow! I am so blessed to have a husband that shares in raising our boys -- even in the rough times. I love you Chad!!!

2/18: Organization Monster

2010-02-23T15:31:00.000-07:00

So, I don't know if the following story says more about my 4 year old or his mommy!

We had home group for church at our house on Sunday. It was fun to havea houseful and we are excited for the friendships we are building. They boys enjoyed having their friends over and playing with them upstairs. The kids and parents were extremely helpful and cleaned up the playroom before the left (THANK YOU!)
However, the next few days my OCD boy had a problem. His toys were not put away like Mommy does it and he had a hard time finding what he was looking for. So, he asked me to solve the problem:

"Mommy, dis is not wight. Can you make pictuwes for the shelves like we have at shool so that all my fwiends know where to put my toys, pwease."

I don't know what is worse ... that I have created an organization loving "monster" or that I actually complied with his wishes! Either way, I now have a very happy boy with his shelves all labeled and all the toys in their proper places. And mommy doesn't mind it either! Dylon even seems to be happy knowing where to put everything when we sing the clean up song.

So if you ever come to our house for a playdate, look for the pictures so that you don't get in trouble with Braden! He will be sure to tell you if you don't clean up just the right way.

2/20: Dylon's "bone"

2010-02-23T15:19:00.000-07:00

There are times that our kids say the funniest things and I think, I really need to write that down! Many times (ok most times) I forget and it doesn't happen. But this one, I did remember to capture.

Dylon was fussing this morning and just more whiney than normal. He didn't really want to eat breakfast. He was walking around and then looked up at us and said, "I want my bone!" At least that's what we thought he said -- but since it didn't seem to make much sense, we asked him to repeat it. "My BONE!" he sayed emphatically -- "stwawbery one". Still, two confused parents. We offered him all sorts of things and tried to figure it out to no avail. He finally started pulling on the freezer door and said over and over, "my bone, my bone!" I opened the freezer door and asked him to show us. He reached inside and pulled out the teether toys from the door. "My stwawbery bone!" he exclaimed and stuck the strawberry shaped teething toy in his mouth with a smile. Then he changed his mind and got out the bear one with deep contement. As you can imagine, we found this hilarious. I guess to a 2 year old with a dog -- anything you chew on must be a bone.

So, if you are ever watching our kids and Dylon asks for a bone -- head to the freezer please, not the doggy treats!

(Not to be left out ... Braden had to get in on the photo shoot!)

2/20: Big Boy Bunkbeds

2010-02-23T15:14:00.001-07:00

We've been watching and finally found bunkbeds for the boys on craigslist. We got a great deal on a set that was just what we were looking for. The drawers and desk will give us extra needed storage in the room. Chad and our friend Adam went to pick them up this afternoon. We now have two very excited little guys!

Braden will get to the sleep in the top bunk. And in a few days we will undertake moving Dylon into the lower bed. I'm a little nervous about sleep vs. play -- but they'll get the hang of it!

The boys are excited to have a "boys" room and leave the nursery for the "girl". Even writing that, it still seems a little strange to think of how are lives are going to change in a few months.

2/12-2/13: Albuquerque, NM

2010-02-18T14:47:00.001-07:00

We made a quick trip down to New Mexico to see my Great-Aunt Jane. We haven't been to see her since Dylon was just learning to crawl. It had been too long between visits with such a special woman!

The boys did great in the car -- we didn't even have to use the DVD player on the way down! With Ma's help they counted mile markers, timed how long it took to pass semi's, drew pictures, ate snacks, went up and down the hills, and were incredibly good little boys!

When we got there, they were anxious to go see the fish (in the ponds at the condo unit). Unfortuantely, it was too cold and they were down deep in the water. The boys did get to see a bunch of ducks and enjoyed feeding them some bread crumbs.

After dinner, 2 tired boys got to go swimming for awhile. They both enjoyed jumping in over and over again. It is fun to see how much more adventerous they have become in the past 6 months. Braden jumped in without his swim belt and didn't mind ggoing completely underwater and kicking his way back to the surface. Dylon loved having the water splash into his face. He was shivering after about 10 minutes inspite of the warm water, but didn't seem to mind -- he was having too much fun.

Saturday, we went to lunch at Applebee's. On the way there, Braden was asked what he wanted for lunch. Without hesitation ... "Steak". Hmm, is he his daddy's boy or what?!

It was a fast visit, with lots of driving ... but we had so much fun. Some people are just worth the time and effort. Aunt Jane is one of those people!

I'm looking forward to another visit soon when we can take our new little bundle for an introduction!

2/9: Day 4

2010-02-09T20:21:00.000-07:00

We are currently at day 4 of Operation Goodbye Paci. I was hoping we'd hit the magic day 3 and life would be back to normal. However, the squirming, fussy, awake little boy upstairs conveys otherwise! While we no longer have to resort to putting him back in the crib, sleep is still not coming easily to poor Dylon. He seems at a loss to know how to relax without his beloved paci. Even "Woofie" - his beloved stuffed puppy - isn't filling the void. A few more days to go and maybe we'll turn the corner! But if not, Dylon might win and Paci might come back! I'm not ready to trade an empty mouth for my perfectly good sleeper!!

On a funny note, Braden came over to my belly tonight. He asked if the baby was kicking and I told him no, that she was sleeping. He paused for a moment, then leaned over and pushed my belly button. "Ding Dong! Baby, you there?" So sincere - so serious - so completely adorable! I laughed so hard I was almost in tears. How I love his amazing little mind.

2/6: Bye, Bye Paci -- Hello Batman

2010-02-09T20:15:00.000-07:00

Today we officially are getting rid of Paci. Dylon was excited to give his paci to the Walmart cashier in exchange for his new Batman action figure. He agreed that he is a "big boy" and no longer needs paci.
Well, he agreed to all of this until naptime. Then there where tears, body flailing, and very little sleeping. My normally thank you for putting me to bed, right to sleep, peaceful little boy is no more! After 4 hours he finally fell asleep for about 1 hour. I wonder ... is it really worth it?

2/4: 3 Boys

2010-02-04T11:03:00.000-07:00

Braden's friend Connor is spending the day with us. He was coughing through the night, so no daycare today! Mom, Melissa, had tons of meetings and Dad, Bill, is oversees serving our country.
It is fun to see my boys "taking care" of their friend. And to try to keep us all healthy -- the hand sanitizer and orange juice is out in full force! The boys have been playing superheros all morning and there has been very little fighting. Maybe 3 boys is better than 2! Think this is what will happen when we add a girl to the mix? It does make me look ahead and wonder what is in store for life with 3 kids all the time?!

1/30: Ice Skating

2010-02-01T21:06:00.001-07:00

Saturday morning, 11:30am
52 degrees
Sunny with a slight breeze
Ice skating outside at Southlands Mall
Uncle Jer and Miss Erin happily with us
Does life get much better?

Braden was excited for his first ice skating adventure.

Dylon was unexcited and refused to even try stepping on the ice.

Daddy and Braden - Ready to give it a try!

Making it around the rink -- no falls yet!

Braden was very proud that he was one of the BIG boys!

Braden decided to give try out the bucket --

once he got the hang of it, he was cruising around the ice.

Uncle Jeremy loved helping out his Godson.

Dylon had no desire to get out on the ice.

He preferred to stay on the bench hidin' under the coats.

Peek-a-boo ... nope, still not ready to try ice skating!

Uncle Jer and Miss Erin got a few "romantic" moments away from the boys.

Dylon finally decided to give the ice a try --

he'll do almost anything to be with Miss Erin.

(Uncle Jer better watch out ...

someone might be moving in on his girl!)

Dylon decided he needed to use a bucket too --

he just had different plans for it than Braden had.

Braden copied Dylon and got a ride too.

And before long, a race was underway.

I'm not sure who was having the most fun.

We had a great time! Living by family in CO is so much fun.

The amazing weather isn't too bad either.

1/29: Mason's Homecoming (updated 2/4)

2010-02-01T16:59:00.001-07:00

My brother Dan and sister-in-law Tara flew home from Ethiopia today with new nephew Mason! We were so glad that there flight came through the Denver Airport and we were able to meet up with them during their layover. Braden and Dylon both made their own signs to welcome Mason:

Notice Mason's name written on the top right and Braden's name on the lower right.

He wrote these all by himself!

Dylon went for the handprint technique to sign his poster.

Dan, Braden, Tara, Mason, Dylon, Miss Erin (Jeremy's Girlfriend)

Proud Uncles and Daddy (Dan, Jer, Matt)

We are so excited that precious Mason is HOME! He is such a sweet little boy. I think he's confused by the English language -- he kept looking at us with a funny look. We did get quite a few smiles and an almost laugh out of him though! We are happy for Dan and Tara and the new family that God has created. We look forward to watching him grow and are so thankful he's apart of our family.

We got a little extra time with all of them too when their flight was cancelled. They spent the night with us and then drove on to Garden City in the morning. It is nice that we live in CO now instead of WI and are so close to the airport! We are looking forward to seeing them again, soon we hope.

(More pictures to follow when I get copies of them ...)

2/4/10: Here's a few more pictures from the airport with Mason.

Proud & happy Aunt to be able to love on her new nephew!

Uncle Matt found a fun way to entertain Braden and Dylon. If I don't watch, they won't get hurt, right!?

1/24: Just some pics

2010-01-25T09:31:00.002-07:00

Just a few more pictures from the weekend to share:

Boys eating pineapple - I just love these little guys!

Braden loves to say cheese ... and help Brooke do the same.

Dylon decided to dress up in his Pooh costume and Engineer hat.

(1/23) Dave&Buster's

2010-01-25T09:24:00.002-07:00

We took the boys to Dave & Buster's on Saturday.

They were excited to play the arcade games - something they haven't had the chance to do very often. Skee-ball, motorcycle racing, and airhockey where their favorites.

It was a fun day as a family to just hang out and enjoy being together. We enjoyed having Karen Lash and Ma join with us too. They had a great time seeing an arcade through the eyes of 2 rambuncious little boys.

Our precious nephew! (1/24)

2010-01-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

My brother and sister-in-law, Dan and Tara, are in Ethiopia right now. They are picking up their son, Mason. We are so excited that they finally get to hold the little guy and share all the love they have for him.
They fly home through Denver on Friday so we will get to meet them and see Mason too! I can't wait to hold him and give him hugs and kisses from this Aunt who loves him.

(1/12) Dylon's Buddy

2010-01-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed having Dylon's buddy over for the day. Zayne is the son of our pastor and a few months older than Dylon. When they see each other at church, Dylon runs to greet his friend. Zayne has learned to brace himself for the bulldozer hugs.

The boys enjoyed a morning together playing trains, cars, race track, and watching a Thomas DVD. We almost made it through the morning with no problems ... ALMOST! If you ask Zayne, he'll show you the owie on his finger where Dylon bit him. Someday I hope that my son will outgrown this phase of his behavior.

I am very thankful that my son has this friend. What a precious gift after moving and adjusting to a new life here in Colorado.

(1/16/-1/18) Fun Weekend

2010-01-21T21:32:00.003-07:00

What a fun weekend! Saturday morning we went to have pictures taken. Braden was due for his 4 year pics and we also had family photos done. The boys were so good and we got some great shots!

Then we went looking at bunkbeds for the boys. They were very excited once they discovered what bunk beds really were. And we were not so excited when we found out how much bunkbeds cost! So, we are going to be watching craigslist VERY closely to see if we can find some "used" beds.

Sunday Pa and Ma came up and took me out for a belated birthday dinner. We enjoyed delicious BBQ at a restaurant in Parker (just don't ask me the name right now ... pregnancy brain!). It was the best BBQ pork, ribs, and coleslaw I've had in a long time! Almost made me not homesick for Jerry's in Germantown, WI ... Almost!

Monday we enjoyed the amazing 50 degree weather and went to the zoo. It was such a relaxing day and I loved the time with my family.

Braden's favorite "animal" was the big snake. He was so mesmerized watching it slither around the cage. We almost had to make him move on to the next exhibit.

Dylon's favorite was the elephant. He stood with Mommy and watched for the longest time.

Both boys were very excited to see the big brown bears too. One was digging a hole in the dirt and then sat on it.

It was so fun to see them interested in the animals instead of just rushing through. They were very interested in the maps and "helping" Daddy with the wagon.

(1/14) Excited Big Brother

2010-01-21T21:16:00.001-07:00

Braden is very excited about the new baby --- and seems to have quickly adjusted to it being a girl.
We went shopping a few days ago and Braden found the following items that the little girl REALLY needed to have. As he said, "this shirt is just sooo cute!" I am so thankful for this loving little boy. What a lucky little girl to have him for her big brother.

(1/10) New bed

2010-01-11T15:20:00.007-07:00

Last night we moved Dylon from his crib to a twin bed. The final goal is to move him into Braden's room and get the boys bunkbeds before the baby arrives. His room is a little crowded for the time (we left the crib in there ... just in case!), but he doesn't seem to mind.

We went shopping last week and he helped me pick out a new blanket for his big bed. We were also able to find the same material I used for Braden's comforter 2 1/2 years ago so we can make them to match for their shared room. Dylon was so excited that he climbed right in to the bed and layed down.

He talked and moved around a bit, but never got out of bed. And he slept all night long! Now we just have to wait and see if he truly is this easy or it was just a lucky start. He's always been our good sleeper and says thank you when you put him to bed, so maybe this is one battle we won't have to have with him!
Naptime today (1/11) went fairly well too. He played a bit, but after about 1 hour was sound asleep - again, never climbing out of the bed. I had to sneak in to take a picture -- so very cute!

A new year ... a new gender!

2010-01-11T15:05:00.005-07:00

2010 is here and I'm determined to blog more often! Sorry to all that I got so far behind. This new little life growing inside has taken it's toll on me and I've used my downtime for naps instead of household chores and fun stuff like blogging.

So, here's to a new year full of lots of changes!

One BIG change coming our way is PINK! We found out on Friday (1/6) that this precious little one is going to be a girl. We are so excited!!! A healthy baby is all we really wanted - but we are overjoyed that God has given us this special gift. Both mom's/grandma's were able to be at the ultrasound with us. It was fun to share the experience with both of them.

Here are a couple of pictures of our little girl. She is already on the go alot and has decided that her thumb is her best friend.

The ultrasound also took a couple of 3D photos for us. In this one, we watched her as she put her thumb in her mouth.

Braden and Dylon are excited for the baby to come. When we showed them the pictures and told them it was a "girl baby", Braden smacked his head, fell to the floor and said - "Oh, I thought it was a boy baby!" Dylon has said all along that he thought it was a "dirl" and was happy to hold and kiss, kiss, kiss the ultrasound picture. Daily, Braden asks when he can feel the baby kick. He is so interested to know everything that is happening. Dylon loves to give the baby kisses and hugs. This little girl will definately be loved and protected by her two big brothers. And probably very spoiled by everyone else!

Baby #3

2009-10-05T07:51:00.005-06:00

Some of you have heard, some have not ... but Baby #3 is on the way!

We are so excited about this newest little blessing that God has given to us!

This past Thursday, Oct. 1st, we had the first ultrasound to confirm dates and make sure that everything looked ok. It still amazes me that when your baby is only the size of a pea, you can see and hear it's little heart beating away. Daddy and both boys were able to be there to share this special time too. Braden was facinated to see the heart moving on the ultrasound screen. Both boys loved listening to the heart ... if you ask them what the baby says they will both tell you "boom, boom, boom!".

If you look at the picture below, you'll get your first glimpse of the little one. We highlited it with the green circle.

Daddy is very happy to have his family growing! He has been telling EVERYONE and couldn't keep quiet from the very beginning.

Mommy is hanging in there. I'm very tired all day long! Nausea seems to come around 4pm and lasts through the evening. Makes dinner and bedtime routines interesting.

Braden enjoys telling the "secret" that there is a baby in mommy's tummy. He is very excited to be able to feel the baby move. The other day I made the comment that "this baby is kicking mommy's rear". Braden ran over and held out his hand ... "Let me feel!".

Dylon even seems to understand what is going on. If you ask him where the baby is, he says "mommy tummy", followed by a kiss to my belly each time.

9/10: Lunchtime Conversation

2009-09-10T11:42:00.002-06:00

We sat down to eat lunch - blueberries, cheese, and turkey meat. All the boys favorites.
Braden then turned to me and started his negotiations.
Here is the conversation that occured:
"Mommmy, can we watch a show"
"No, not right now. You already watched a couple this morning"
"But it will make my body feel better"
"What?"
"Watching a show will make my body feel much, much better!"
"Does your body hurt?"
"Yes, it needs some TV"

Alright - he is definately turning into a little man! I couldn't help but smile and laugh at his creative negotiation tactics.

9/8: Our Cubby

2009-09-09T19:42:00.005-06:00

Braden started AWANA Cubbies tonight. Can my little baby really be that big? Since our church is just launching, they don't have extra activities like this. So, we signed up for AWANA and MOPS at a nearby church (Colorado Community Church). We had visited this church and liked it, but found it just a little too big for us. It feels a little strange to be seen as a "non-church" person coming to events. But, it's also a good perspective for us/me to gain. It's very cool too for him to participate in this program, since it is what brought Chad and I together.

Braden was excited all day about going to church and doing verses. However, about 10 minutes before we were to leave he told Daddy he was scared. Talk about making it even harder for this mommy! I'm so thankful for the kind of Daddy Chad is. He took Braden onto his lap and enveloped him in his arms. He gently told him what a good kid he was, how nice he is, how much his friends like him, how brave he is, and that we love him so much. Within a few moments, my brave excited boy was back and ready to go.

We checked him in and took him to his room. He ran right in, walked between all the kids, and sat down right in front of the teacher to join in with the song - hand motions and all. It still amazes me to see how outgoing he is. He definately gets that from his daddy! We walked away, thankful that our son is growing into such a great kid and excited to see his faith roots deepen through Cubbies.

I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I held Dylon even closer. This is probably the first time that I've left Braden anywhere without us (other than friends/family for babysitting). I can't wait to go back and get him (I need to leave in 8 minutes, but who's counting?!) Dylon even realized that this was wrong and asked "Whewr Brover" all the way home. We told him that Braden was at church and he replied "Go, get". He wasn't sure what to do without his best friend.

So, I'm off to pick up my now BIG boy! I'll write more when I return ...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I got to the church a little early and was able to watch Braden during the game time. He was just getting up for his turn! He put the bean bag on his head, ran around the circle, and tossed it at the pin -- knocking it down! I don't know who was more excited - me or him! It was fun to watch him from a distance - to see him interact with the other kids, obey his teachers, and laugh with delight. When I finally was able to pick him up from his class room, he talked a mile a minute. So much to say! He told me about the other kids with their blue shirts and bears on them (the vests/uniforms). He is already working on his verses for next week and has the first one pretty much memorized: "God loved us, and sent His Son".

I am glad that he had fun and VERY glad to have him back home and in my arms. I know, overprotective mom!

8/8: Sand Fun

2009-09-09T15:15:00.001-06:00

We enjoyed another afternoon of fun at the lake in Scottsbluff. Hope you enjoy sharing our pictures via smilebox.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

7/25: Go Rockies!

2009-09-07T17:14:00.005-06:00

Braden got to go to his first game at Coors Field today. He enjoyed a special day out with Daddy and Mommy while Dylon stayed home with Uncle Jeremy. His adventure started with a ride on the light rail train to downtown Denver followed by a bus ride down 16th Street Mall and then a brief walk to the stadium that was so BIG! Lots of cheers for Todd Helton - his favorite player. He watched quite a bit of the game while he taste tested the food ... lemonade slush, funnel cake, peanuts, cotton candy. I think we only missed the cracker jacks!

Getting on the light rail train

Proud Daddy
Adoring Mommy
Excited Rockies Fan

At the Game

Mmmm... Cotton Candy!

Chad's boss, Ed, and his daughters were at the game with us and Braden enjoyed hanging out with the pretty girls.

He got snuggle time in with one ...

And photographed the other!

We had one happy, but very TIRED, boy when we headed home.

For dinner, we took Uncle Jer to PF Chang's -- had to pay our babysitter somehow?!

7/25: "DeSimmsnydmelchandermaster" Picnic

2009-09-07T16:36:00.007-06:00

We went to Colo. Springs today for a picnic with life long family friends. It was fun to reconnect and have so many of us back together again. We enjoyed playing games outside and a yummy BBQ.

Brother Dan

Brother Jer and Chad

Hugs for Mommy

Dylon & Braden -- sitting at a table I used to sit at with my brothers when we were kids

The Girls: Sarah (family friend), Tara (sister-in-law), and Trista

We even made the best of an afternoon rainstorm by huddling together under the awning. Braden and Dylon really enjoyed the rain and were shocked when we let them run around and get soaking wet!

Trying to stay dry, while packed like sardines!

Photography by Braden (self portrait)

Photography by Braden (Uncle Dan)

Rain changes everything - little boys get soda!

Maybe next year we'll have to host and turn this into an annual tradition!

7/24: Fountain of Fun

2009-09-07T16:18:00.005-06:00

We went to the water fountain at Southlands mall this morning. So much fun! I love that there are FREE places to go and cool off from the summer heat.

7/22: Boys, Dogs, & Water

2009-09-07T16:06:00.004-06:00

Brooke is quickly finding her place in our family. We are all loving our new addition. Boys and their dog ... need I say more?! Braden can't wait to hold her on his "wap". Dylon tries to pick her up ... by the fur. She is patient, tolerant, and overall a good dog. I think I'll like her a little bit more after the potty training is done!

Brooke and Daddy are quickly becoming pals too. After the boys are in bed it's time for tug of war and playtime. And maybe even a few snuggles - although those usually go to Mommy instead.

And who couldn't love this face? You'd fall in love with her too!
We spent time outside today on the slip-n-slide. Braden was thrilled! He climbed the hill over and over and would have stayed outside all day if weather (and naps) had permitted.
Dylon enjoyed sliding a few times, but was content to sit warmly in his towel and watch his brother. Brooke enjoyed watching too!

7/11: Pool Fun

2009-09-07T15:53:00.004-06:00

We have enjoyed having a pool so close to home that we can enjoy this summer. It's great to just go for an hour or so whenever we want. The boys love the water and are getting more and more comfortable all the time.

Here's a few pics of one of our pool visits.

We just bought Braden a swim belt too. He loves being able to "swim" around the big pool on his own. I'll try to get pics or video one of these times when we go.

7/9 - 7/13: Life in July

2009-09-07T15:32:00.005-06:00

7/9: Still little? Most days I see Dylon turning into a little boy. But sometimes, I catch a glimpse of my baby boy. Watching play with the toys, for a moment, he was that baby that is quickly disappearing before my eyes!
7/10: Playtime outside. Dylon is enjoying learning how to work his bubble blower.

And Braden loved trying to cover Dylon with the bubbles!

7/10: Dylon the daredevil - he was all about trying to climb the curved ladder and almost made it to the top on his own.

7/11: Snuggle time with Mommy & Daddy! We take it whenver we can get it -- thankfully, our little guys give snuggles quite often.

7/12: Uncle Jer! Two little boys sure love their big uncle and couldn't wait to run and give him hugs.

7/13: Braden loves helping me cook! And I love having the help. It is so fun to have him in the kitchen with me measuring, mixing, and making messes.

7/13: The boys love to sit and watch for Daddy to come home from work -- truly the highlite of the day! Lately, they have chosen to sit in the doorway from the garage to the house. It is so fun to see the anticipation and excitement from my little guys. How blessed they are to have such a great daddy!

7/8: Old Friends

2009-09-07T15:21:00.004-06:00

One of my best friends from high school called and said they were going to be in town. It was perfect timing and we were able to get together for a short time at the park. How fun to see her and her family again. Amy is one of those forever friends. You know, the ones that you can not see or talk to for months and then pick up just like you were together yesterday! It was awesome to see my friend and catch up a bit while the kids played at the park.

Dylon has decided to slide "big boy" style

Rick (Amy's hilarious husband!) hanging out with my boys

The Z Family w/ Dylon & Braden

Abby, Rick, Chrissy, Amy, & Tim

(Z Family: Thanks for taking time to see us! We love you and look forward to the next time we can connect!!!)

7/7: Teddy Bear Picnics & Finger Paints

2009-09-07T14:54:00.004-06:00

The boys and I went down to Colorado Springs today for some fun with Ma & Pa.

Woodmen Valley (their church) was having a teddy bear picnic for the kids. Braden and Boof were excited to go! I'm not sure who had the most fun though? Boof (the bear)? Braden? or Ma!!! From story time, bear ears craft, bear doctor visit, games ... even a bear shaped sandwich for lunch. What a special event to watch my son and mom share together.

Teddy Bear Ears:
Dr. Braden:

Teddy Bear Sandwiches:

Braden, Mommy, and Ma:
We stayed overnight with them too. After dinner, Ma pulled out the finger paints! I was actually quite suprised. My normally messy Dylon was less than thrilled to get dirty and quickly was bored and moved on to eating a popsicle instead. However, Braden - Mr. Clean - was very excited with the paints and enjoyed purposefully getting it all over him. Needless to say, baths were in order before bed that night!

Finger painting -- the perfect "grandparent" activity!

Ready for a popsicle ... with a little paint!

Mr. Clean?