Feels like spring!

Time to mow the grass...

and play outside!!

You little stinker!

So, I leave Austin happily drawing at the table, where I told him to stay in his seat while I went to change Braeden's diaper. When I got back, he is under the table. I asked him why, and he went and stood in front of the wall. Then I saw it. Austin's first (I say first, because it probably isn't his last) time to draw on the walls. I could not get it off without taking off paint! That little stinker!!

Here is the pen line, about 6 inches long.

T-Ball

Braeden and I took Austin to his first t-ball practice. Thank goodness Aunt Kelly helped me hold Braeden so I could snap some photos. Braeden wasn't understanding why he couldn't be out in the game too! The second practice was better, he didn't mind standing on the sides.

Here are the boys at the first practice (we have two practices weekly). Some of them played last year, but most of them are new this year. They are all kind of standing around waiting for someone to hit the ball to them, not sure exactly how this works, but they look really cute!

Ummm, Mom, can you help me get this glove back on. Most of the first practice was spent explaining which hand the glove went on, where we stand, how we run the bases, and when we catch a ball, throw it to first base. It was funny to see how we really have to teach every single detail. Austin, along with a couple of others, tried to throw the ball with the glove. That is hard!

By the second practice, he was starting to look like a pro! Look at that hit!

He didn't need help getting the glove on anymore, and stood in the field watching for the ball to get hit so he could "catch" it....well, chase it and pick it up off the ground.

Austin seems to like t-ball, and it is fun to watch. We have our first game on March 7. I don't know how that is going to go since most of them get bored with it after about 30 minutes, and no one understands rules or anything. It will be entertaining to say the least. I can't believe he is this big already!

Proof!

Austin folding towels for me. Oh this is just the beginning! He doesn't mind putting dishes in the dishwasher either. Now to teach him how to vacuum....

What's going on around here?

So what is going on around here you ask? Time for an update on things you can't see. This is pretty long, but I felt like I needed to write all of this.

Austin is 3 (which he says "free"). He knows his letters, the sounds they make, and can even write a few. He signs his name with an "A" on cards and pictures. He is starting t-ball next week with the YMCA and a bunch of the neighborhood boys. I am super excited because it is as close to dress up as I can get (not having a girl in the house) when I put that adorable uniform on him! It is non competitive, and he really only knows how to hit the ball off the "t" but can't catch one, especially not with the glove. It will be cute to watch the boys. He is trying his hardest to skip naps recently. I wouldn't care if he didn't have a nap anymore if his body could handle it, but he can't. The thing about Austin is that if he is tired, he winds up like a crazy Tasmanian devil. Somehow his ears close and he just runs around crazy. Usually someone ends up hurt (either Austin hurts himself, or Braeden ends up getting hurt from Austin). This starts about five p.m. and goes on until Austin's head hits the pillow where he is out like a light. Therefore, I know he is not ready to give this nap thing up yet! You try bathing and putting p.j.'s on a kid like this. It's a bit like stuffing an octopus into a mesh sack and trying to keep all the tentacles in, harder than heck! So the other day, in an effort to keep him from waking his brother up when he was supposed to also be napping, I let him get up. I told him that if he wasn't going to nap, he had to help me with my chores (since this is when I usually do them). He enjoyed helping me fold the clothes. Well this basically consisted of sorting and stacking his socks and underwear, but then I taught him to fold towels to which he asked me "Momma, why are you making me do this?" My reply was that if he wasn't going to nap, he had to help mommy with her chores. Then he was happy to fold some more. He is just at a really fun age right now.

Braeden is almost two. Let me make that more clear. Braeden is almost T-W-O! Boy can he act like it. He has gotten really good at going boneless in your arms, screaming, and even biting or throwing a few punches when you want him to do something he doesn't want to do (change a diaper, wash his hands, hold your hand while walking in the parking lot, help him brush his teeth, carry him up the stairs instead of waiting the 10 minutes it takes for him to go up on his own). On the other hand, he is starting to talk in two word sentences all the time. One of his favorite phrases is "No Mommy" followed closely by "Me Up!" He has gotten back into the Mommy-is-the-only-one-for-me stage, which I am trying to cherish because I am sure one day he will want nothing to do with me. He can tell you all sorts of animal sounds, but my favorite (and I think his too) is when he makes an elephant sound. It almost sounds like he thinks something is really delicious but at a higher pitch (MMmmmm!) I have been trying to teach him to give kisses. He blows kisses, and when you ask for a kiss, he turns his cheek so you can kiss him. I've had to switch to the word pucker instead of kiss for him to actually kiss me. He loves to do ANYTHING Austin does, and watches his brother like a hawk. He has the longest eyelashes, and knows how to use those eyes when he gets in trouble. He is our jokester. Anytime you try to discipline him, he tries to make you laugh, and he is really good at it. Besides I love you, the second most popular thing I say all day is "on your bottom Braeden!" He climbs up on the couch or any chair and is always standing up on them. Nothing scared me worse than when I caught him the first time standing in his booster seat at the kitchen table (I had only turned to get the milk from the fridge for a second). I think my shock and panic this first incident cracked him up so much that he tries to get me to act it out again all the time by constantly standing on the furniture. Again a jokester I tell you.

These boys (and their Daddy of course) mean the world to me, and I can't imagine my life being any better than it is now. I am just so blessed to have such sweet and charming children, who are now waking up from their naps.....(yes, Austin did nap today!!)

Plain Ol' Cute!

Playing at the park

My guys....how I love you all! You are the best things in my life. I am so happy to be your wife and mommy. Always know that I love you more and more deeply as each day passes.

Ppplllfffttt!

Will you be our Valentine?

We are a bit late, but it is never to late to share our love! If you'll be our Valentine, we'll share our bubbles with you.

Um, Daddy and I aren't sure we like this picture of Austin with the bubble pipe, he kind of looks like he is smoking!

Braeden's smile could melt anyone's heart!

A new family member!

Austin and Braeden's new fishing buddy (and second cousin) arrived Friday, Jan. 23! Wyatt Reese Hart is precious, and the boys can't wait until he grows bigger and can go on the boat with them!

Yummo!

Have I told you about my FAV-OR-ITE thing to eat for breakfast? It's a donut with cherry icing and sprinkles. Yuuuuummmmmmmyyyyyy!

Hi Ya!

Um, like, hi there!

Austin, the Art-eest

We were outside playing when Austin told me to come see what he drew. I went into the garage expecting to see a line, swirl, squiggle, snake, or circle. Those are the things he always draws. Imagine my shock when I saw his first drawing of a person. I had to run in and get my camera.

Look at all of those toes would you!?!

Braeden Talkin' and Dancin'

So, you have to know what he is saying most of the time to understand him, but Braeden talks all day long. He even uses two word sentences! "Me up" and "No Mamma" are the most often used sentences. Here he is showing you his animal sounds.

And for even more entertainment, Braeden loves to dance. His favorite show is the "Imagination Movers" on Disney. If you watch this film, you will see near the end how he loves to look at things upside down. He is our little clown.

Campin' in my room

So this is a few weeks old, but we got out the tent (after searching everywhere for a few days to find it), and Austin had a camp out in his room. All of his friends were invited...there was Donald Duck, Blue the Hippo, Lightning McQueen, Moose, Quack Quack, Shamu, and all of the other "friends" that sleep in Austin's bed. He slept great. He says he may be ready to go on a real camping trip, but his friends might get a little scared outside. Well, we wouldn't want to put any pressure on them, so we'll just wait until they are ready.

Just as sweet as pie..

So, the other day we were at a friends birthday party, and I had to take Austin to the restroom. Once he finished and was washing his hands, he looked at me and said (out of nowhere), "Momma, I love you as high as the highest birds." Well you know I immediately got tears in my eyes, and I squeezed him as hard as I could and told him back, like I always say, "I love you to the moon and back!" It was just such a sweet thing, I had to write it down.

My family brings such joy to my life, and I watch these boys grow bigger every day. I think to myself, "stop it, stop growing bigger, stay just like that!" I try to cherish all of the moods we go through every day, and love every minute of it. Each week seems to fly by and before I know it another month has passed. I am just feeling really thankful for my little bitty spot on this great big blue ball.

Great-Grandparents

Mommy took the boys with Mimi and Uncle Ben to Louisiana to see the Great Grandparents. We stopped in Lake Charles and visited with Mama Mickey. She is really doing so much better. She fell and broke her pelvis before Thanksgiving, but now she is at home, and she even was out of her hospital bed yesterday!

We also stayed in Lafayette to visit with Poppy. The boys loved playing with the toys that Mommy used to play with when she was little, and they loved their "cowboy" Poppy.

Braeden loving Poppy.

When we were in Lake Charles, we also stopped by Mommy's Great Aunt's house. Aunt Eva looked beautiful, and her son Walter was super fun too! It was a great trip. It is getting easier to take the boys on trips, but the sleeping arrangements still leave a bit to be desired. The boys were up at 5:30 in the morning, and that made for a long day!

Happy New Year!

Our new pet. Spike the Dinosaur. Santa brought him to Austin, and I think Austin's face speaks for itself how he feels about Spike. The dogs surprisingly don't mind this dinosaur that walks, roars, stands up, eats a bone, and does all sorts of dinosaur-y things.

Austin playing like Spike.

A sweet moment captured in Daddy's truck.

We took the boys to the park to play on the most beautiful day! Just had to capture some of the fun with my new camera!

So cute...all my boys.

Plum Tuckered Out

All this Christmas-ing really does a number on a growing boy!

Christmas 2008

Christmas Eve began with a trip to church. We were lucky to attend a children's service at our church that had puppets for the kids during the story of Jesus' birth, and glow sticks (instead of candles) for the kids to hold during Silent Night at the end of the service. It was the best service we could have gone to with these two boys. They had a great time, and we didn't have to worry about them disturbing anyone else.

Afterwards we went to Grandma and Grandpa Giffhorn's house for dinner and opening gifts. Aunt Jennifer was in town (we haven't seen her since last Christmas), so that was a special treat. Here is a picture of Aunt Lisa, Braeden, Aunt Jennifer, and Austin.

Grandpas are so much fun. Especially if they are really tall like ours is!

Christmas morning began with Austin coming out of his room and looking downstairs then yelling, "Look Mommy, Jesus is here!!" Baby Jesus was born on Christmas eve while the boys slept, and he appeared in our nativity on Christmas morning. Austin was so excited. Then he noticed that Santa had been there. He ran over to the plate of cookies and milk we left for Santa, then polished off the leftover cookies. Looked at the carrots that we left for Rudolph and noticed they had been munched on too. We got Braeden out of bed, then they opened presents like experts. They were so excited, and Andy and I loved watching every minute of their joy. But we have a serious problem with the toy companies and their overuse of twist ties in the packaging. I mean seriously, how many twist ties do you need on a toy to hold it in place? And why must they be tied so short that we get injuries from untying them? The people at NASA could probably come up with something better in a manner of minutes, and I think I speak for all the parents out there when I say we would pay a couple of extra bucks to buy a toy that was easy to remove from the package.

Uncle Ben, Daddy, Braeden, Austin, Mommy, Mimi, and Pops

Aunt Lisa, Braeden, Aunt Jennifer, Grandpa, Grandma, Daddy, Austin, and Mommy

Later on Christmas Day when the toys were removed from the packages and set up the boys had a great time playing.

Braeden and his dinosaur.

Austin and the trains.

Austin learning to ride his big boy Spiderman bicycle. Braeden and Daddy practicing on the tricycle in the back ground.

Ok, so the lighting is horrible on these videos, but I am posting them so you can hear the excitement from the boys on Christmas morning. Austin is thrilled to get Spike the Ultra Dinosaur from Santa just like he asked for, and Braeden is too happy to get the Thomas "Choo Choo" train he wanted.