Birthday Bowling

So I am way behind on my blogging...I cannot imagine why!!! Ha! Anyway Braxton celebrated his birthday with a little bowling. We tried to talk him out of a "party" but he insisted on doing something. We asked a few little boys to join and it was all good with him. If Braxton wasn't so competitive he would have had a much better time! If he isn't winning he is a little pooper...so he had a little melt down but at the end of the day, he said he had a good time. That's all that counts I guess. Next party will have to be something that involves no winner and no loser.

Happy 9th birthday Braxton! You are so much fun and I love your enormous heart. You are so giving and caring and love BIG! You are sensitive, smart, and the biggest worry wart!! HA, you do worry about way more than you should. You want to make everyone proud...AND we are so very proud and so is everyone around you! You are a gifted athlete...way better than you give yourself credit for. You have a lot of friends that enjoy being around you, and from what quite a few Mama's have told me, you are all their little girls can talk about!! WHAT??? Thank goodness you do not even know and you do not even care yet...hopefully that will last a few (about 10) more years. We love you  more than you will ever know, and we are so glad that we were chosen to be your parents! What a blessing you are!

Christmas

We had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas Day this year. No where to travel, stayed in our p.j.'s all day, wonderful prime rib lunch at mom and dad's (just down the road), and the boys were beyond excited with all their toys! The boys get 3 gifts from Santa and they had no problems coming up with the 3 they wanted...and really they never mentioned another thing. It was the same 3 for months and months so we knew they were set with their picks. Braxton wanted a knew ipod, an xbox game, and a trampoline, and Santa delivered. Mason wanted an ipod, an electric scooter and a swimming pool. Even though we tried to convince him that Santa couldn't build a pool in the winter he still held on to hope and he never stopped asking Santa for that swimming pool. Oh how I wish Santa could give him a swimming pool, and us too!! How nice would that be??? Mason had to settle for a wii game instead. He said that it was ok, he would just ask for a swimming pool for his birthday!!!!!! Sweet baby Cullen never asks for a thing...or at least we cannot understand it. He jabbers all day but we have no idea what he is saying. He got a cozi coupe truck, a grocery cart, and chair for watching his 5 minute quick glimpses of Barney (before he is gone again and on to something else). Brian and I got them some fun goodies as well as the grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. They are stocked with under armour all the way down to their socks, itunes gift cards, academy gift cards, money and new baseball equipment! They are so blessed, not with the amount of gifts they got, but with all the people that spend so much time with them and love them so very much.

Merry Christmas 2012

Spelling Bee

We were so proud of Braxton for winning the 3rd grade spelling bee!! He on the other hand was trying to figure out ways of getting out of doing the county wide spelling bee. He obviously did not "mean" to win. Despite his attempts of getting someone else to fill in for him, he ended up doing it and did fine. He made us very proud just by getting up there and competing against so many other (older) students. Yay Braxton!

Award and first tooth

Mason has had two accomplishments here lately...he received the "student of the week" award at school. We are so proud of Mason. We weren't sure how he would do with me being at the same school, and if he would be able to control himself and follow the rules. Mason is a bit of a rebel, full of energy, and can be extremely "rough". He is all boy for sure! So far...he has been a dream,(at school ha) and I hope he stays that way. I do know that when that bell rings at the end of the day he is DONE...I mean one can only be good for so long, right?!?

And today, he lost his first tooth!! Yay, finally that tooth is out. It has driven him crazy over the last few weeks. This is only the beginning...he has 3 more loose!!

Treasure Box

This week was a very sad week in our family. Brian lost his Paw Paw, someone whom was very special to him. He grew up with him right next door his whole life. He was such a sweet, sweet man, and my boys loved him and enjoyed being around him. I am so thankful that they were able to know him, love him, and spend lots of time with him, and have just a piece of what Brian felt for him. Mason had 1001 questions going into the visitation and we debated on letting him "see" PawPaw. He was very mature about it and tried to understand it all in his 5 year old brain. He touched him, he talked to him, he was very concerned for him being in that "treasure box". He doesn't understand it all, but what he did know was that his PawPaw was special and only special people get a treasure box!! How true it is and what a treasure he was to his family and we will miss him dearly!!

Sweating it out at one of Braxton's baseball games! (That's Mason)

One of my favorite pics!

At Cullen's baby dedication...Cullen is named after him :)

Christmas 2011

Cullen's first birthday

We have so many wonderful memories and a ton more pictures, which I am so very thankful for. We will look back on the them as the years go by and  remember how blessed we all were to have him in our lives!

Goodbye Tonsils!!!!

Braxton finally had his tonsils removed this week, after many years of having strep and tonsillitis it was definitely time!! I know he will not miss them. Although right about now he probably wishes he didn't have to go through all the pain to get rid of them. He has been a trooper and done much better than I thought he would. I know he must be hurting so bad but has not complained one time. He has been sleeping a lot and I think that is probably the best medicine. I am sure everyday will be better, I know he cannot wait to be back to his old self again...I know I can't wait for him to!

Love that smile...and we haven't seen it since this pic! Soon enough he will be back!

Poor thing was a mess trying to wake up, he was all over that bed trying to get comfortable. I was so happy when he finally settled down and went back to sleep!

Still resting...

 

We took this pic for Mason...he was wondering if he would have to  have a ride to the car!!