New Addition

We have a new nephew!! And the boys have a new cousin. We are so excited that Draycen is finally here. He is a beautiful healthy baby and we are so happy for Lauren and Jeffrey! 

Draycen Thomas Eiland 7lbs.9oz 20 1/4 inches long

little angel

I took Cullen the next day to meet him. He loved him!

Success

Cullen has been trying so hard to get his feet to make the peddles go round and round on his trike. He finally succeeded this weekend. He was so excited and has been riding all over the place ever since. He is so proud!

...And then there were three...

Three baby boys in my bed! I am going to have to get me my own room! It used to be just Mason and Braxton coming to get in our bed at various times in the night. Cullen has always stayed in his bed until this week. This is what I have rolled over to every morning this week...

I don't even hear him come in, he is as quiet as a mouse. I guess he is because he knows if he wakes me, I will put him back in his bed. Smart boy!!

Grandparents Day

Braxton had Grandparents Day at his school this week and he was so excited to have his Papa there to represent this special day. I think it made Papa's day as well, he loves getting any opportunity to spend time with his boys. I hope Braxton stays excited about these types of things for years to come.

First Day

Oops just realized I never posted this!! Oh well better late than never :)
Another first day in the books! Boys had a great day and we are looking forward to a fantastic year!!

The Dirtbags

So I am so far behind, and I have had the entire summer that I didn't blog about! I knew I needed to hit the highlights because tomorrow I will need to post "first day of school" pics!! I cannot believe our summer has come and gone...it always goes so fast!!
The Dirtbags have kept us pretty busy this summer. There haven't been a lot of weekend that Braxton or Mason wasn't playing ball. We spent a week at the beach for the World Series and I have one word for that...HOT!! Thank goodness we got a shower every now and then to cool off. One day was even rained out. Braxton had a good time hanging out with his friends and sharing this week with them.

The Dirtbags World Series 2013 (Orange Beach, Al)

Evan, Taylor and Braxton at the pin swapping

All Braxton's pins from the different teams. Some traveled a long time to play ball!!

Cullen, keeping us all busy 

 After we returned home we had several weeks off and his coach had them a party at his farm. Braxton and Mason had the best time, and I know if we had something like that we would never see them. They love the outdoors and this was right up their alley.

Ending the party with a little game of baseball...imagine that.

Beach Break

This is way out of order because I am having to play catch up on the blog...so far behind! We were able to get away for a little beach break in April and it was fabulous. We knew it would be awhile before we had a weekend free (bc of baseball) so we took full advantage. The weather was beautiful and the boys always enjoy being at the beach. The water was FREEZING but it didn't stop them from getting out there. We are looking forward to our next trip down south very soon!

Spring Baseball

We have been very busy with two boys in ball this spring. Mason played great with his precious little team, The Tigers. He loved his team and made some new friends as well. He is so happy just to play ball, he doesn't care where, when, or with whom...just give him a bat and ball/glove and he is good. He was so sad when he had to miss so many games due to his surgery but he came back strong for the last game and went out with a bang. We are so very proud of our baseball boys! We love to watch them both!! Braxton is having a great season with the Dirtbags and it is definitely a learning experience for all of us. He is getting ready for state and then later this summer he will go to the world series in Orange Beach. He is growing and maturing on and off the field, and he makes us so proud. He is a fantastic ball player and hopefully he will soon realize that and get the confidence he needs to push him further. Looking forward to many more days at the ball park.

The Tigers

First time playing pitcher

Here we go Mason, here we go....

Ready to run

DIRTBAGS

Braxton and Taylor

Cooling off

Appendix

What we thought was a stomach bug ended up with a trip to the hospital to have an emergency surgery to remove Mason's appendix. WOW what a day! Bless his heart he was such a big boy and hardly cried a bit. He felt so bad and by the end of the day could barely walk it hurt so bad. We are so thankful our sweet friend and nurse practitioner was overly cautious and sent him to have a CT scan. It could have been much worse had we just waited. We are thankful for the kind surgeon that took such great care of him. We are thankful for all the prayers, calls, texts, and visits. He is doing well now and back to his "old self". I took pictures throughout and he loves to look back at them (bc he doesn't remember much from the day).

So sick...and such a trooper.  Waiting patiently to get that nasty appendix out.



Right before going back...he would have taken my hand with him if he could have!  He wanted  Brian and I close by at all times!!

Getting some good rest!



Dalton came bringing gifts from the 9U Dirtbags and  13U Dirtbags.  His younger brother Brody is on the team with Braxton. Mason loves Dalton and it made his day to see him and to get a hat like the "big boys". 

Walking the halls...it was actually nice to get out of that room!



6

Dearest Mason,
     You are now a big 6 year old...where has the time gone?? You bring so much excitement to our home. You are so full of energy all the time, you never stop because if you do you are asleep in about 30 seconds. You have a smile that melts my heart,  and I love how you still sit in my lap and love on me. I have so enjoyed this year with you, being at the same school was such a wonderful experience and I will miss seeing you light up when we pass in the hallway and your trips down to my room just to get a hug. You let me kiss all over you in front of everyone and it doesn't bother you one bit! You have turned out to be quit the student this year...serves me right for doubting you!! We are so proud of you and we are enjoying seeing the changes in you. We love you so
much!!
6 year stats
height: 47 inches
weight: 63lbs
Shoe Size:
Clothes: 7-8
Favorite Foods: Yoohoo, honey buns, gummies. You still have to have chocolate milk before your eyes are even fully open. First words out of your mouth...Can I have my chocolate milk?
Activities: Playing outside is about all you do, if it is raining you will occasionally sit and play your ipod but that is about all you do. You love to play with our neighbors and with Braxton. You are such a good little athlete.
Some pics from your 6th birthday party at Wonder World...

Sweet friends...Deon, and Sam

Even Cullen wanted to give skating a try

Mason's cake, that Cullen got into before the party!!!!!!!!!! Poked his finger all in it and ate part of the skate off top!

You were so excited about getting your hermit crab from Nana and Papa