Color Me Rad and Light the Night

Matt's brother, John, is currently undergoing cancer treatments.  Back this summer, John decided that he wanted to do a 5K.  Of course, Matt said that he would do it with him.  John, Dana, Matt, and a bunch of other friends did the Color Me Rad 5K at the end of October as part of "Johnny B's Cancer Team".  The money raised goes to Special Olympics.  I think they all enjoyed it and will do it again next year. 

BEFORE

John AFTER

Joe, John, and Matt AFTER

John, Dana, and crew AFTER

Group shot AFTER

Also, Light the Night was a few weeks ago.  Light the Night is the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society walk to raise money and awareness for blood cancers.  John, Dana, Nana, BB, and our friends from church, the Toomey's, formed a team.  We walked in honor of John and in memory of Joe's dad.  The walk is held at night in downtown Raleigh.  Each person is given a balloon with a light inside.  As you walk, you truly are "lighting the night".  It was a very special event and I am glad that we were able to participate. 

John's shirt says "I walk because MY life depends on it" and Matt's shirt says "I walk because someone's life depends on it"

Halloween and Fall Fun

As always, we headed to Hillridge Farms this fall a few weeks ago to enjoy the crisp fall weather, the hayride, train ride, and to get some pumpkins.  Lilly enjoyed seeing the animals and watching the train go by. 

Hillridge Farm Hayride...Lilly wasn't impressed

While Matt and Bradyen were on the train ride, Lilly and I hung out.  I couldn't believe that she actually stood still long enough for me to take her picture in front of this sign!  We will have to do this every year now!

Picking out the perfect pumpkins!

 A week or so before Halloween, the kids daycare held a Fall Festival with games, prizes, and food.  They also said that the kids could dress up in their costumes if they wanted.  Our good friends Amy and John (Scooby-Doo) came with us.  Unfortunately, we hadn't finished getting Brayden's costume so he wasn't in full outfit yet.   The kids had a lot of fun playing and running around on the soccer field.  Brayden also got to show John around his school some.

 

When we got home from the Fall Festival, the missing part of Brayden's Halloween costume had arrived.  He was SO excited!!  He wore it ALL.THE.TIME when we were at home!!

 Once again, our small group got together and went trick or treating together.  This year we went to the Westfall's house, had dinner, and then ventured out with the kids.  Their neighborhood was great...just the right size and number of houses for our boys!

On the way to trick or treat. 

Brayden's 4th Birthday!!

Wow!! Where have the past 4 years gone??  I mean really!  Just yesterday, we were bringing Brayden home from the hospital and now he is a wide open, sports loving, funny, imaginative, 4 year old! 

He has grown and changed SO MUCH in the past year...actually...if I really think about it, in the past 2 months.   Just last night, I asked Matt when did he turn into a kid instead of preschooler?  When he wants to be, he can be so very mature, sweet, thoughtful, and loving.  However, Brayden is still 4...which means that he still has his fair share of tantrums, melt downs, etc when things don't go his way.  People keep telling us that we are doing such a great job raising Brayden...that he is so well behaved and polite.  I am glad that he doesn't show is "ugly" side when we are around other people :)

Tailgating with Paw

Exhibition basketball game with Daddy

One thing that I love about his new 4 year old class at school, is that Brayden has learned that it is not polite to interrupt when someone else is talking.  He always says "excuse me Mommy" if he would like to say something.  However, I don't think the concept of waiting until Mommy (or whoever he would like to speak to) has acknowledged him, has been grasped quite yet.  He is a work in progress.  I mean...he is only 4, right?

Brayden continues to be very sweet & watchful of Lilly and all that she does.  He is very quick to point out if he thinks she is hungry, thirsty, tired, etc.  He also loves to play with her and chase has become a favorite game of theirs recently.  It is rather fun to watch them chase each other around the island in the kitchen.  Sometimes she will stop or fall and he catches her and she squeals so loudly!

I am also loving that he "gets" stuff.  I love our conversations in the afternoon on the ride home from school (as long as no one is overly tired, hungry, etc).  I learn so much about what is going on at school, who did what, who said what, what he learned about, and what he has planned for the evening.  This week they are learning about pilgrims and Indians and that Indians lived in long houses :)

Earlier this fall, Brayden moved from the nursery at church to actual Sunday School.  He is really enjoying learning about God and has learned 2 memory verses so far.  He has also learned about David and Goliath, Samson, and Daniel. 

Now for the stats (these are from about 2 weeks after his 4th birthday, but close enough, right?)

Weight: 31.8lbs
Height: 38 3/4"

Brayden continues to be so small in comparison to most of the kids in his class but then again, neither Matt nor I are very big people.  He can easily wear 2T pants based on the waist still but they are getting short!  Actually, for Halloween he needed knee length pants and I bought 12 months (they actually fit in the waist!!).  Crazy...I know!

The day before Brayden's birthday, Matt and I took cupcakes to his class at school.  He and his friends had so much fun eating cupcakes and singing Happy Birthday!  Ms Genna made a special Birthday Crown for Brayden to wear as well :)

We were able to celebrate Brayden's birthday with all of his friends from school, church, and family.  We had about 12 little boys show up for his NCSU Wolfpack Football party!  We had the party at the park in our neighborhood, which turned out to be the PERFECT place to have a party!  Matt and BB took all of the tailgating gear and set it up in the park (super easy since we had everything already)!  We took our soccer goal, a bunch of footballs, a baseball and bat, and just let the kids play.  They eventually headed into the playground area as well.  The weather was perfect...75ish with not a cloud in the sky.  Everything ended up just wonderfully!

Birthday Breakfast (cinnamon rolls with a candle)

Brayden requested the NCSU Wolfpack Football party with a football cake and a football field cake.  When I showed him the finished cakes, he said "those are exactly what I wanted Mommy!"  I am so glad that I was able to make my baby boy happy on his birthday!! 

 

 

 

The Invitation (this is actually 2 invitations)

The Party set-up

 

Brayden and his best buddy Aedan

Football time!

Time to take a break for some cake and juice

Happy 4th Birthday Brayden!!  You are such a sweet boy and we are so blessed that God has entrusted you to us!! We love you very much!! 

Mommy, Daddy, and Lilly