Cub Scouts and 15 month olds...

With Brayden turning 8, that meant the beginning of Cub Scouts. Which also meant the beginning of an era... I now sew patches onto a scout uniform. Having 3 boys... I dare say that I will quickly become and expert at sewing on scout patches over the next several years.

He was so excited to start scouts. He has loved it so far. 

Doesn't he make a cute little Cub Scout?!?!?!

In other news around our house, Landon has turned 15 months old. He is just growing up way to fast for my liking, but is such a dang cute little guy that I might forgive him for that. 

Some things about him right now...

-he says exactly one word, "hi" but it sounds more like "eyyyyyyyiiiiiiii" when he says it.

-he loves to throw stuff in the trash can

-he gets very excited if you ask him if he wants to go bye-bye, he will run to the garage door. If you ask if he wants to go upstairs, he will run and climb onto the first step.

-he is a little tornado, destroying everything in his path. If he can reach it, he wants it on the floor.

-he likes to pick his own snacks from the pantry. And if by chance the pantry door gets left open by his older brothers... well, it's a free for all as far as he's concerned!!!

-he's still very much a momma's boy!

-he has the cutest little run

-he is still super ticklish on his ribs and will laugh and laugh if you tickle him there.

-loves to wear and hold Daddy's hats

-is already starting the terrible 2's... this should be fun!

-loves to play in his big brother's room and find each and every Lego, Bakugan, or Beyblade part that they didn't get picked up. He's super helpful that way!

-doesn't like us to feed him, he wants to do it himself. Another independent child...

-his favorite foods are apple juice, Nurta-Grain Bars, Nilla Wafers, bananas, and granola bars.

-he will bring me a diaper if I ask him if he has poops

-he is scared to try to go down the stairs by himself

-he really hates it when you tell him "no" and gets either a super sad face that makes me laugh, or a super mad crying face that makes me roll my eyes.

-he has 10 teeth, two of which are his top molars he just got before Christmas.

-he has a crazy obsession with remotes and phones. He does anything and everything he can to get one in his hot little hands!

-if you ask him for "loves" he'll come and put his head on you... it's his version of a hug I guess, but it's super cute... especially when he does it to his brothers after accidently hurting them or something. So sweet!

-he loves to play try to play catch with any ball he sees
-I don't have too many good (at least as good as I'd like) pictures of him right now because the kids just doesn't sit still! Such is the life of a busy little boy!!

I love this age. So many fun things to watch as they learn and discover their little world. He just cracks me up on a daily basis. And lately, on the tough days when my world around me gets too much, his little "loves" or smile make all the difference!!!

He constantly is doing something funny...
The other day I was making lunch for him and Conner, and I hear him start screaming like something has happened. I search around for where the screams are coming from and I find him trapped in the diaper box. He'd tried to sit on it, but it was almost empty, so he fell in. I just laughed and ran to get the camera before I helped him out. I'm a great Mom like that!!

At Thanksgiving... one night we decided to get some ice cream cones. He was VERY upset that we all got one and he didn't. And he let us know of his strong opinion on the matter. So we shared to make it up to him. 

Brayden's Baptism

This has been a few weeks of celebrating Brayden! 

On New Years Day he got baptized!!!!! That should be an easy date to remember... 1/1/11.

His grandparents, cousins, and friends came to watch him get baptized and officially become a member of our church. He was SO excited to get baptized!! He got his very own set of black scriptures and a black carrying case, just like his Dad's.... just as he had requested. He got his own small Hymn book and a new white shirt, belt, and tie for the big day!

It was quite surreal to watch my own child get baptized. I guess I'm still in denial that he's that old! On our way home from the church, I asked him how he felt now that he was baptized and he answered with a very enthusiastic "HAPPY!! SO HAPPY!" I love it! It makes my heart so happy that he was so happy to get baptized and to become part of this gospel that we love so much and to be such a great example to his little brothers.

We went home and enjoyed a great dinner with our family and some friends that had traveled so far and in horrible weather to be with him on his baptism day. We ate good food, laughed, and visited while the kids ran around and played and had a great time. 

Thank you to all who came from near and far. We all appreciated it. It was a wonderful day that I will always remember!

Christmas at our house....

We had a great Christmas this year!! We must have had some very good little boys around here, because Santa brought them some pretty good things!

There were Lego's, Tech Decks and Ramps, games (board games and DS), all sorts of things that were on their lists... and a few surprises! They were also pretty spoiled by their grandparents.

Landon also loved finding the Candy Canes that Santa had left for everyone in their stockings and on the tree. It didn't take him long to figure out that if he broke them where they bend, he could open them and eat them. There were many Candy Cane casualties on Christmas morning!

We had our traditional Christmas breakfast of scones. So yummy!!! Then we played and played all morning with all the new toys, games, and Lego's. It was so funny to watch how intense Brayden was as he was putting together his new Harry Potter Lego set that Santa brought him. Landon enjoyed his new Giraffe toy, but the ball popper may have been his favorite. He kept running back and forth with it. He also loved to stand on any and all boxes he could find. We spent the whole day in our PJ's and just relaxed and had a yummy Christmas dinner.

(Someone was VERY fascinated with the tree this year and loved to bring mommy all the ornaments he could reach!)

We are so grateful for this time of year to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We have been so blessed recently and we are so thankful for our Savior and our family!

It was a fabulous Christmas!

Brayden turns 8!!!

I don't believe that my little boy has turned 8! 

How did that happen??? How has it already been 8 years since we became parents?? 

Brayden was the first of our crazy cute little boys and he was a great way to start off our little family. 

He is an energetic, opinionated, loving, smart, funny little boy. He thinks he's a teenager or something sometimes and can make me laugh and drive me mad all in the same day! 

 We started off his big day by opening up his presents. He got some great stuff! 

He got this Lego Harry Potter game from mom and dad.....

We all had fun playing it together later that afternoon. Brayden won!

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books from his Grandparents....

He's already read one book and is onto the next one.

And this huge crazy remote control car from his Grandpa Patton...

Can you see Brayden???

I'm not sure who had more fun with this remote control car... Brayden, Landon, or Daddy! Landon thought it was the funniest thing to chase the car around and try to catch it. He just giggled and giggled as he ran after it or as it zoomed passed him.

He also got a Bakugan Wii game and a Harry Potter Lego set from his brothers. (Does anyone else see a Harry Potter and Lego obsession going on here?!?! Just wait until you see what Santa brought him the next day!!)

After presents, Brayden chose to have cinnamon rolls for breakfast. We went all out and had Taco Bell for lunch (again his choice!) and his favorite dinner of Fideo. 

Since he had already had a cake at his party the week before, he decided to have his favorite, Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, after dinner with a candle and we all sang to him and enjoyed the minty chocolaty goodness before bed.

It was a great day! We all played together and laughed and had a fun time celebrating Brayden's 8 years in our family! When the day was over, we put out cookies and Dr. Pepper for Santa (that's what he likes at our house!) and some carrots for the Reindeer. I attempted to get a picture of the 3 boys in front of the Christmas tree....

This was the best I got. Landon was not exactly willing to sit still.... I mean after all, it was Christmas Eve... so much excitement, and one year olds pretty much never ever sit still.

Happy Birthday Brayden.... thank you for choosing to come to our family 8 years ago and for making us your parents!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!!