Trouble...with a capital T!

Caleb is officially completely mobile.
He crawls on his hands and knees....everywhere.
And gets into....everything.
Safety locks and gates, here we come!
Days of Mommy getting anything accomplished...OVER!

Deep Thoughts by Mommy

So the boys are both ridiculously sick, but we had a funny moment this afternoon that I have to share. Brayden finally has some sort of an appetite, and asked for chips and turkey for lunch. After devouring his chips and leaving his turkey untouched, the conversation went as follows:

Brayden - "Can I have more chips Mommy?"

Mommy - "Yes you may, but only after you eat a few bites of turkey. You need to eat something good for you so you get better"

Brayden - "But chips ARE good for me, cause I like them!"

Mommy - "Well, not everything we like is good for us"

Thanks for the life lesson Mommy... I'm sure he is still pondering that thought!

Go Tangerine Tigers!

Brayden had his very first soccer game this morning...ok, so I wouldn't actually call it a "game." It was more like soccer chaos! I'm not sure who had more fun, the kids playing or the parents watching! Here are a few of the highlights:

Ready for his first game - with his bear from school as his cheering section!

Look out Caleb, you will get trampled by crazy kids wearing orange!

Making his first goal during practice - a natural!

About 10 minutes into practice and he says "I need a break, I'm tired"

Ok kid, then explain to me how you can run around my house non-stop all day long and you don't seem to need a break?!?

He loved kicking the ball... in any direction... on any field... to any player!

This is what it looks like when you put a bunch of 3 year olds on the field and attempt to play!

How many kids can you fit in one goal?? Apparently a whole team of them!

So handsome :)

Coach Andy says "Ok kids, head to the field to start the game!"

Kids immediately take off...and don't stop!

Brayden and JP takin' a breather on the field

A much needed after-game snack

Caleb and Aunt Gigi cheering for Brayden (and Notre Dame of course!)

The beginnings of teaching good sportsmanship:

Mommy: "Brayden, say good game to the nice boy..."

Brayden: "..."

Mommy: "Give him a high five at least!"

Brayden: "..."

Mommy: "Ok, let's go eat your snack"

At least I tried!

Our Texas Adventure

We had a wonderful trip to Texas to visit ReRe, Pops, Hollie and Melody! We went to the Fort Worth Zoo (which, by the way, is soooo much cooler than the Phoenix Zoo!) but forgot our camera, so you'll have to take my word for it! We ate lots of good food, including Karen's famous chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, pinto beans and cornbread, and spent lots of time just hangin' out with the boys :)

We love you guys and can't wait to see "y'all" again soon! :)

These headphones paired with a DVD player = amazing

Caleb loves his Aunt Hollie and Aunt Melody!

Pops and the boys :)

The second day we were there, the weather was surprisingly cool and not too humid, so we decided to go to a nice park to go fishing. Hollie and Melody bought Brayden his first fishing pole and we headed out!

Dear Brayden,

This morning we dropped off you for your very first day of preschool. This day marks the first day, for at least the next 15 years , that we will be sending you to school. The first day in your short 3 1/2 years of life that you will be in someone else's care besides your family.

This day comes with mixed emotions, of course. I am so excited for you to have your own experiences, with new friends and new adults to love and care for you. But, you are my baby and part of me wants to keep you close, always. I imagine this feeling never really changes...which is why my parents cried when I was 18 and they dropped me off for my own adventure at NAU. After all, wasn't it just yesterday that you were only this big?

And now you are a big 3-year-old (or 4 according to you!), with a lunch box and new shoes...and no idea of what life has in store for you. All you know is that school will be fun, you will play games and paint pictures, make new friends and have a snack.

We are so proud of the boy you have become and can't wait to see what's next!

Rub A Dub Dub...

both boys in the tub!

I have been a little nervous to stick both boys in the bathtub at once, as Brayden still doesn't understand the fact that Caleb is a baby and not his 3 year old playmate! I started slow, pretty much just long enough to snap a few cute bath pictures...and then they came out as quickly as they went in!

Whatever you do...

don't take the phone from the baby!

For all of you who have been waiting to see Caleb do something besides smile....