Music Concert

Tonight was Brandon's 3rd grade music concert. It was a great night, not only because we didn't have to sit in the very old, very small middle school auditorium in the old creaky wooden seats, but instead in the new Performing Arts Center but also, Ryan and I actually were able to sit and enjoy it and NOT have to stand outside because all three little ones were quiet and watched the show so well.

Brandon was a narrator. He's in red, second in line on the left.

Brandon on the right.

half of the 3rd grade. That's Brandon's profile on the end on the top row.

my children watching intently

Brandon's class

He's the middle guy in the floor

a little ice cream treat after the show!

she's a chocolate lover, like her mama!

Note: Brandon turned 9 on the 23rd. I have yet to post anything because we aren't done celebrating til next Saturday!!

Visiting the Space Museum!!

Monday before leaving for "school," Blaine excitedly said, "I wonder what I'm going to learn about today..." After I chuckled I said I didn't know but I couldn't wait to hear about it. He was very excited to tell me that evening all about rockets, which was the theme AND that they were taking a field trip to a space museum Thursday.
So today was the big day, the long (to my 4 year old) awaited field trip and I was able to join them! It was so much fun. I took Gracelyn because I knew if I put her in the stroller and kept moving that she would do well. And she did. YAY!
It was a lot of fun spending time with just Blaine and not Britton and Blaine. As bad as that sounds, I don't mean it that way at all. The boys are 16 months and 1 week apart so understandably they are always together, are best buds and really equated as "twins" almost.

The kids listened to the rules upon arrival

Blaine in his beanbag chair in the planetarium. They watched a space movie, starring Big Bird and Elmo.

checking out the rockets

with a rocket engine

thoroughly enjoying his echo!

L.O.V.E. that cheesy smile!!

Blaine's class was excellent!

the boys finally found the astronaut's potty.

 

Blaine and his buddy for the day Nate flying.

Blaine thanked me for going with him today. That melted my heart. He had an absolute blast and asked when he can go back.

Blastball 2011

Finally! After about a month of waiting, since we signed him up, it's Blastball time!! Blaine is so excited. I'm not sure what exactly he's most excited about...playing Blastball (which he informs me is "close to baseball, mom.") or having his dad as his coach, oh and having people clap for him (he is a ham!) I think it's all three combined. With 2 games under his belt and 4 more to go, he is loving it and Britton is asking if it's his turn to play Blastball "tomorrow."
And a sidenote: Blaine's Blastball team is the White Sox. Being the loyal Red Sox fan that he is, he wears his Boston hat.

a pep talk from coach (AKA dad)

Blaine waiting for his turn to bat. 

His second time on the court I gave him his glove and he actually played. He told me later that it made him get the ball.

Blaine hit the ball really well!!

great follow-through with the bat

the pic is very out of focus but I think you can still get the excitement!

Happy Easter!

In Easter tradition we went to OKC on Saturday to celebrate Easter with Mimi and Pappy. My stepsister, Meleia and her husband came too, which was so nice. Saturday was also Brandon's 9th birthday so Mimi made him a chocolate honeybun cake, as he requested. It was a really great day! Good food, great conversations and lots of laughs.

Gracelyn really got into hunting. If you pointed in a direction she really did look for them by herself.

Britton found a "gween" egg!!

Blaine hunting as a "power ranger/race car driver."

Brandon's were eye level and up.

Gracie's basket was getting heavier

B1 finally found the last egg! Ryan hid it really well.

G "counting" her eggs

The kids hunted eggs after naps and desserts, which may have been the cause of some craziness; like certain get-ups and Gracelyn cheesing.

shades from Mimi and Pappy!

Sunday after an amazing church service, we went to Ryan's parents. We ate a good lunch and the kids took naps and then played. We had a great time with our nieces and their mom and dad!  It was raining and the parents of the little ones suggested an egg hunt indoors but it never happened. The kids had fun anyway!

Easter Sunday, the 6 of us. A normal/decent picture....

until literally 3 seconds later.
Gracelyn has a total meltdown, Blaine informing us "she's not happy." Britton very worried about his "bubbey Lucy" and Brandon stuck in the middle.

Blaine was VERY proud to be wearing Brandon's old suit.

Mom and her kiddos. A typical picture.

B3 got "gween" bubbles!!

G is finally happy!

Christ is Risen!

Easter is my most favorite celebration! We have been talking with the kids about Jesus' sacrifice for us, all of us, for several weeks now. Our preacher has done a series from a few days before and leading up to Jesus' crucifixion, which really prompted the conversations. I also purchased Resurrection Eggs from Hobby Lobby so we have read a passage and opened an egg with a symbol of that day in the Easter story.
This holiday is very emotional for me. Brandon is a Christian but I guess I didn't expect him to know as much as he does about the story. Ryan and I were blown away, in a good way.
Our family's most favorite song right now is Christ is Risen by Matt Maher
It seriously chokes me up.


and a glimpse at Gracelyn, when it was her turn to open one of the Resurrection Eggs. We really need to work on sharing, as you will see.


Each of the kids had 3 turns and it just so happened on the night of Brandon's turn, he had his first sleepover. He offered his turn to his friend WITHOUT a single prompt from his dad or me, It was touching. I mean it was simple but it's what we teach and he did it. Such a proud moment as a parent.

Happy Easter everyone! He is Risen!

18 months!

I cannot believe Gracelyn is a year and a half old. It honestly doesn't seem possible. In so many ways now she is not a baby and that is really sad to me.

Gracelyn isn't saying much, mama (for me and her mimi. We are working  with her on the long "e" sound,) dada, bye and more. She is signing  quite a bit.

Gracie is a master fit thrower. The  girl has talent. She knows what she wants and if you say no, she will  let you know just how upset she is, even resorting to throwing herself  down. Timeout is used quite often these days.

Miss G does love her baby dolls, specifically her "Pretty Princess." Mimi gave her Pretty Princess while she was in the hospital a year ago so PP has been with her through alot. When the surgery center called last week regarding her surgery and told us to bring her favorite toy, we knew Pretty Princess was a must-have. (She came with a crown that when you put it on her head it makes a cute little sound but G doesn't like the crown on the doll's head.)

Sleep is still a foreign concept but I am praying once she heals from this surgery that it will start happening. We both need it!

Gracelyn loves to dance, jump on her brothers for a "horsey ride"   or just jump on them for fun! She is fun girl who is smiling and  laughing so much. We read a lot and a book almost always accompanies her  in the car.

I told her to smile and this was the result

Just looking at Gracelyn you would never know how sick she was. She has come so far and it's not without prayers, amazing doctors and of course our most gracious