Update on the kids

I am going to try to start updating weekly on things that have been going on with our family.  My friend Stephanie does this and I love the idea of not posting big posts but just jotting down the little things that happen in life each week.  To catch up on the past few months, here are some updates on the kids.

Brayden
 - is now officially 4.5 years old (and he is quick to tell you that as well!)
 - is LOVING soccer
 - is also very much into football and baseball - we play both out in the drive way just about every night after dinner now that it is warmer
 - is a great big brother (most of the time)
 - I introduced him to video games a few weeks ago.  I was hoping that the old original Nintendo would work but I couldn't get it connected correctly.  He settled for the joy stick video games (Pac Man, Galiga, etc)

- Helped vacuum the playroom a few weeks ago....the vacuum is bigger than he is so it was quite difficult for him but he managed to do just about the whole room with little/no help from me :)

Lilly
 - is now 20 months old and acting more and more like a 2 year old
 - has gone pee pee in the potty now twice!
 - loves to have bows, etc put in her hair but will not leave them alone!  Here are pics from her very 1st pigtails!  How CUTE!!

 - has lots of words now including: please (which sounds more like a snake hissing), outside (s-side), dank you (thank you), sucse you (excuse you), more, help, up, sit, "no no no", "sit sit sit", "not nice", hat, shirt, shoes, socks, bow, off, on, out, mommy, daddy, mama (what she calls the paci), bankie (blankie), books, roo roo (the cat's name is Buckaroo), bird, wa wa (water), nana (banana), sberry (strawberry), woo woo (fire truck)

Sitting in the fire truck at Wesley's birthday party

 - is making some animal sounds although she gets a lot of them confused still: elephant, cow, dog, cat, sheep
 - loves to play outside
 - is mostly sleeping through the night now.  I say this and tonight she will get up 4 times!
 - can eat with a spoon/fork but still prefers her hands because, well, it is just more effective that way!
 - loves her teachers and friends at school but is always happy to see me in the afternoon :)

Bananas!!

Helping clean (gardening gloves and a paint brush)

 - LOVES bananas, graham crackers, strawberries, and blueberries along with most other fruit but she is getting pickier about other foods (at least at home)

Having a little snack during Brayden's soccer game

 - is still very much attached to the paci...she doesn't have it at school but at home she thinks that she needs it all the time.  I am trying to limit use to just bedtime/naptime but it isn't going too well.

Girls weekend at the beach

The last weekend in April, I headed to the beach with my 2 best friends from high school.  Renee and Susan, and I did everything together in school.

We have lived far apart since high school but now Renee and Susan both live in Concord (near where we all grew up).  You would think that we could get together some time, but between kids, work, family, etc we just never seem to be able to schedule just a dinner together.  We started planning this weekend back in September or October!

Thankfully, Renee's parents have a house at the beach that we were able to use for the weekend!  It was a cute trailer that was perfect for us!  There was lots of late night chats (and early morning chats for Renee and I - Susan could sleep till 3pm if we let her)!  We also did lots of shopping, at lots of yummy food, watched lots of girl movies (most of which we had all seen many times before), and played lots of cards.

The 3 amigas - Renee, Susan, and I (20 years after meeting!)

The weather was actually pretty nice (mid-70s) but it was still pretty chilly down on the beach.  We went out for just a few minutes after dinner on Saturday night to take a few photos and we all got cold pretty quickly!

It was what this girl needed after the winter/spring that we have had!  Thank you to my wonderful hubby for handling the kids all weekend by yourself!  Brayden had his 1st soccer game while I was gone, but thankfully Uncle John and Aunt Dana came to the game to help out!

NCSU Baseball game

We took the kids to a NCSU baseball game a few weekends ago.  One would have thought that the 1st weekend of May would have been warm, but no.  It was a chilly, breezy 65 for the high which meant that the evening was even colder.

Thankfully, the game was good and NCSU won 8-1 against Presbyterian!!  We had great seats behind the net (my requirement) along 3rd base.  The stands were not crowded so we were able to spread out a little and let Lilly more around a bit.

Since the Wolfpack are doing so well this year, we may try to go to one of the ACC tourney games at the DBAP.  Not sure yet.  I know Brayden would enjoy it!

Easter 2013

This year we decided to stay in town for Easter.  On Saturday, the weather was so nice...upper 70s and sunny.  We spent most of the day outside with the kids playing and dying eggs on the deck.

Bradyen dying eggs. He was very "into" it this year and didn't want/need much help once we were set up.

Being silly.  It is VERY rare that he let me take a silly picture of him :)

Poor Buckaroo.  It was so nice outside so I forced him out to enjoy the warm weather and fresh air.  He has never been outside (except in the carrier) since we have had him and he was terrified!

Lilly was not as excited about the egg dying process.

Sweet girl before church on Easter Sunday

After church on Sunday, we headed to Matt's parents house for a late lunch.

Getting in the rocking chair at Nana and BB's house

After lunch, Brayden wanted to play outside and he requested that they play baseball.  BB, Uncle John, Aunt Dana, and Daddy all obliged while Nana and I played with Lilly and hid eggs multiple times.

Hunting eggs

After hunting eggs several times and playing lots of baseball, we took the eggs across the road and Brayden and I took turns throwing them into the woods to see who could throw them the farthest.  I think Brayden won!  That kid has an arm on him!

We had a wonderful, relaxing weekend Easter with family.  Throughout Lent and Easter, we talked with Brayden about what Easter is all about and that Jesus died for us.  I pray that as our kids get older, that they come to know and love Jesus and to fully understand what God has done for us.

Soccer

This spring, Brayden joined his 1st soccer team.  Most of the kids on the team are in his class at daycare and the coach is one of this friend's dad which makes it much better.  Typically Brayden is really shy in new situations, but not on the soccer field.  He is outgoing and active...I guess because he knows most of the kids and the coach.

Coach Kelly is great with the kids and is really trying to teach them some fundamentals and positions to the game.  It is all about having fun but each week, you can see them picking up on little things here and there.  Light bulbs are going off :)

So far, they have had 3 games and 4 practices.  Each practice is 30 minutes followed by a 30 minute game.  Brayden is doing really well and has about the strongest leg on the team.  Now if we could just get him to understand (while he is actually playing) which goal he needs to go towards!

Lined up ready to practice a drill (Brayden is 2nd from the right).

Practicing a drill with Coach Kelly

Practicing dribbling the soccer ball

Ready for the game to start

Brayden is in the far right corner ready to play some defense :)

Ready for this 1st game with the Blue Tigers!! (Not a fan of the carolina blue color)

Another action shot

Post game huddle with Coach Kelly

All the boys (All but one of these boys are in the same class at daycare!)
From L to R: Kyle, Brayden, Andrew, Zachary, Brady, Drew, and Davis

Full Team shot...And we add the girls, Hadley and Chloe

Happy Birthday Wesley

Our Godson, Wesley, turned 4 on April 20.  He had a Firetruck/Fireman themed party at the Greensboro Children's Museum.

This was our first time visiting the museum and I thought it was great!  Just the right size and not too crowded at all!  They had a real firetruck, tractor trailer truck cab, plane, and race car that you could climb in/on. 

Sitting in the drivers seat of the fire truck!

They also had a rock climbing wall that Brayden enjoyed as well as small "rooms" set up like different stores, constructions sites, houses, Dr. offices, etc. 

Starting up the wall...he only needed a little help from Daddy to kept going.
I think it was more moral support than anything!

By far, Brayden's favorite thing though was the wooden blocks...1/2" thick, 4" long, 1" wide.  He designed and built an entire town all by himself with the blocks!  He stayed at the block table about 3/4 of the time we were at the museum!!

Brayden designed and built all of those buildings himself  :)

Lilly decided to help as well!

Happy Birthday Wesley!  Thank you for inviting us to celebrate with you!  We love you!!  Thanks for letting us share your special day with you!!

Brayden's 1st Circus

Yes, I am WAY behind on the blog but I am going to try to catch up on posts this afternoon (or at least make a dent in the list of blog updates)!

Back in February, yes 3 months ago, we took Brayden to the circus for the 1st time.  Ringling Brothers was in town and we decided that he was old enough to actually sit through the entire performance and enjoy it.  We are so glad that we waited until this year to take him...he LOVED it and was enthralled by all of the acts.  I don't think he would have enjoyed it nearly as much last year!

The one thing that Brayden kept saying he wanted to see was the lions & tigers.  He couldn't wait for the circus just to see them.  We got there a good bit early and watched (from our seats) all of the action down on the floor.  We could have gone down on the floor and met some of the performers and clowns but decided not to.  We had great seats and were able to enjoy it all quite well from there.  I don't remember what the 1st big act was now, but once the 1st major performance was over, Brayden again said that he wanted to see the lions and tigers.  We told that he would but that he would just have to wait.  Well, once the "between act" was over and the main lights came back on, what do you suppose was the next act?? 
                                                      The Lions and Tigers of course!!

My favorite was the elephants of course!

Another favorite of Brayden's was when 8 motorcycles got in to this big sphere and rode around!  It was really loud and crazy!!

As we were walking out, Brayden looked at us and said "That was the best basektball game ever!!" - the circus was in the same arena that we watch the Wolfpack play basketball, so to him, basketball is the only thing that happens in the building!

Brayden continued to ask about going back to the circus for several weeks.  We told him that we would wait until Lilly could enjoy it before we go back...Brayden liked that answer because he enjoys doing things with his sister (at least for now!)