I know I'm biased but...

this kid is stinkin' cute!

Easter fun

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday with our family!  Brayden loved searching for eggs in our backyard...and Mommy had fun dressing up the boys :)  We went to church, had a yummy "linner" (that's lunch and dinner if you didn't quite catch that one!) and spent the rest of the day outside playing at the park and enjoying the beautiful weather.  What a blessed day! :)

Dyeing the eggs

Daddy and Brayden

Mommy and her little man

"I found one!"

Grammy and her 2nd great-grandson

My handsome boys (plus an alligator and mouse!)

Making cookies... Brayden style!

While Caleb was down for his morning nap today, Brayden and I decided to make some cookies.  He has his own little baking set, so he promptly put on his apron and was ready to help!  Let's just say that although I believe my child is pretty good at a lot of things, this particular activity was not one of his strong points!  Here's what happens when you let a 3-year-old be in charge:

Once I accepted the fact that we weren't going to win any bake-offs, he had a great time rolling the dough and using his mini cookie cutters.  I stepped in at the last minute and managed to make at least a few recognizable shapes...and into the oven they went!  

They actually looked fairly decent in the end (the one on the top left is a person, in case you couldn't quite make it out!)  haha

The best part...eating the dough!

He may not ever be a professional baker...but he's darn cute :)

Brayden Turns 3!

My precious boy on his birth day - March 19, 2006

Eating his first cupcake

2 years old (and still innocent!)

3 years (and only looks innocent!) 

We had Brayden's 3rd birthday party at the park across the street from our house.  He had an absolute blast and was quite the host.  At one point he directed guests to the tables saying, "We even have party snacks!"  The kids bounced their little hearts out and it was fun to catch up with friends and family.  I can't believe my little boy is 3 years old!

Caleb and Mimi getting ready to party!

The set up (doesn't Corbin look thrilled??)

Baba and the boys

The cupcakes...some are topped with chocolate dipped oreo molds of jungle animals (I got ambitious as usual!)

"Happy birthday to Brayden"

Brayden and his friend Cole in the bouncy

I couldn't figure out how to rotate this video, but it is well worth turning your head sideways to watch!

Batter Up!

We got Brayden a really cool baseball tee for his birthday.  It loads the ball onto a velcro arm (eliminating the balancing-the-ball-on-the-tee issue!) so all you have to do is swing away...and swing away he did!  Corbin is convinced we have a little baseball player on our hands (I'm not sure who was more excited about it, Brayden or Daddy!)  Look for our little man in a Diamondbacks jersey in about 20 years!  :)

Check out my new trick Mommy!

Caleb recently figured out something new he can do with his lips...and hasn't stopped doing it since!  I love babies!

Meanwhile, my 3 year old has figured out something new as well....it's called "I can take off my diaper and pee on the floor."  I didn't see it, so I'm not totally sure if it was on purpose or an accident (the peeing part!).  I think he thought it was sincerely funny, til he saw my face!   

No video of that moment... 

Missing her...

The boys and I went up to Mariposa Gardens today to visit my mom's grave and put some new flowers in her vase.  Brayden picked out a pink rose, but couldn't quite understand why he couldn't take it home with him.  How to you explain all that to a 3 year old?  I am sad that neither of them will ever know her.  I try to show Brayden pictures and talk about her, hoping to keep her memory around.  As it gets closer to it being 1 year since she passed away, March 27th, I find myself thinking about her a lot.  One whole year has already gone by...one year of memories she was not a part of.  I still find myself wanting to pick up the phone to call her while I'm driving, just like I always did.  I miss her.