First Day of Kindergarten

My baby has started kindergarten!! Excitement would be an understatement for him right now!

He could not wait for today- he is so eager to get in there and learn (I hope that never dies!), and make new friends. As crazy as it has been for us, I don't think that our move could have been timed any better- for him to be able to get right in on the first day, not have been here all summer without knowing other kids, and for it to be kindergarten vs. a later grade when the kids have all been together in the past, and have friends already.

Last night the school had an open house so that we could meet the teacher, drop off supplies, etc. He was so thrilled, he didn't want to leave to come home.

Here he is on his way down the kindergarten wing:

And in front of his locker. (They use towels to lay on during rest time. He purposely chose the bright orange one so that it would stand out from the other kid's...... notice the towel in the next locker, which happens to belong to the other Brayden!)

Here he is this morning, all dressed and ready to head out to the bus stop:

Here comes the bus!

And he never looked back, waved, gave a kiss- He was a man on a mission!

Six Flags for a SIX year old

Months and months ago, we had promised Brayden a weekend of going to Chicago and taking him to museums. This is all he wanted to do for his birthday. Well, the fact that we suddenly had to move, and were in the process of doing so, during his birthday week, put a damper on those plans. So instead, he chose to go to Six Flags for 2 days while Jason tied up loose ends at the old house, and we were waiting to get into the new one.

He had a BLAST! He loves meeting the different characters, and loves riding the rides- the scarier the better! He was disappointed when he couldn't go on certain rides because of being too small. Fearless!!

Meeting Bugs Bunny at the Main Gate

Posing in a car from the Screaming Eagle- a huge wooden roller coaster, and one of his favorite rides

Shark Bait!!

His good friend from Champaign came down to spend the night at the hotel with us, and Brayden's actual birthday at the park. They were so happy to see each other!

Swimming at the hotel pool after dinner

The two buddies- such innocence

Our whole gang

They Say It's Your Birthday

Brayden celebrated his 6th birthday (and last day in Champaign) with several friends at the Children's Museum. He had a great time! He had chosen a "Go Green" Theme (honestly, I didn't see what they did to make it a theme, basically let the kids play- but they had fun, so it doesn't matter). It was a great time, and a wonderful way to see all of his friends before moving to our new city.

Oh--- and by his own suggestion, he requested not to receive any gifts! Instead, he asked his friends to bring pajamas or books to donate to children in need/homeless/waiting for adoption, through The Pajama Program. He was thrilled to see a good sized box pretty well filled up with donations, that we will be sending in for him (as soon as I find the box in this move!). We were very proud of him for wanting to do this, and to see how proud he was of himself after collecting everything was amazing. We are hoping to make this a tradition- our boys want for nothing, but I find it heartwarming that a child so young can understand the concept of having his needs met, and others in our world being less fortunate.

Petting a snake during the animal presentation

Guests playing at the museum

CAKE!!!!

Proud Cousins

Just a few shots of my little guys hanging out with their new little cousin, Ian. The pictures say it all, they are completely in love with the little guy.

A Day at the Museum

I had to go to my hometown for a little over a week, to take care of some business. But who could take a week of all business, and no fun? So, I took the boys to the Children's Discovery Center-and they had a wonderful time. We are members of our local Children's Museum, but it is really small. This place was huge- as in our whole museum would fit into one exhibit! So many cool exhibits, that were right up Brayden's alley. They had space, weather, pulleys, human body, airplanes, I could go on and on- but if you have ever met our son, you know what I mean about this being his kind of place!

Brayden in front of a tornado forming

If this handsome delivery guy doesn't get the girls at the office talking, I don't know what would ;)!

Rhylan playing in the Water Works

Mommy and Rhylan on a space mission

I'm Looking Over

Our FOUR leaf clover!

Here is to hoping for a change, that the luck of the Irish will be now be with us!!

Brayden was so excited to find this, he came running in the house. I didn't believe him at first, that he actually found a four leafed clover- I have never even seen on in my life. Honestly, I thought that they were a thing of legend/myths.

A date with Brayden

Brayden and I set out on a Date "Day" today- A day for just the two of us. We had lots on the agenda: Lunch, Optometrist appointment (for his kindergarten screening), pool, and/or going to see the movie UP.

Here he is, enjoying the lunch (of his choice) with some sushi:

And being a goof ball at the doctor's- notice the model eyeball "popping out" of his head?

We ended up having to cut the date short, when I got the call on the way to the movie, that my sister's water had broken! Brayden was not happy, but I have promised him, we can finish the date upon my return home. All in all a fun day, and looking forward to meeting our newest family member in a matter of hours!

Kids Night Out at the Children's Museum

When one door closes, a window opens.... Or so they say!

Our park district has offered a "Kids Night Out" program, once a month, for quite some time, that Brayden just LOVED (as did we!). A night of fun for the kids, while giving Mommy and Daddy a chance to have some down time. Well, for whatever reason, they discontinued this program; much to our collective dismay :(.

However.... I just happened to take the boys to the local Children's Science Museum one day, about a month ago, only to find out that they are now offering a similar program. (In June they are going to start doing it EVERY Friday/Saturday night!!!)

This Saturday night was the second one that Brayden has gone to, and he absolutely loves it! Each one has a different theme: This week's being puppet making, and at the end of the night, the kid's put on a brief show for the parents when we come to pick them up.

Here is Brayden showing his bird puppet:

An up close view of "the bird":

Showing off puppet creations with close friends, Z and A:

Not sure who enjoys these evenings more- Brayden hanging out with his friends, or Jason and I getting the chance to have an evening for a double date with his friend's parents........

Yellow Belt

Brayden took his test to become a yellow belt in Tae Kwan Do this evening, and passed! We are very proud of him- he has enjoyed partaking in this sport, but hasn't exactly taken it very seriously until recently- Which is fine, I mean he is only 5! But all of a sudden, something has clicked and he has become really focused on what the meaning of the sport is, and wanting to really do well.

He has, unfortunately, probably been ready to test, as far as skill, for quite some time- but with the craziness that we call "life" we have successfully missed every single testing session at the Academy that has been held in the past 8 months. The director gave special permission for a private testing session, for Brayden, to be held tonight (probably because he has been the world's longest white belt!!), as a result of our schedule.

I have to say, I have never seen him so proud of himself as he was tonight for getting this belt. I am actually glad that the timing, and that life's idiosyncrasies have played out they way that they did- I think that he appreciates this belt, and respects it all the more, knowing all that has gone behind earning it. When he was leaving tonight he told us, and his instructor that he felt "different, and so proud".

Way to go Brayden!!

taking his test

After finding out he passed, he was instructed to lose his white belt, and prepare to earn his new yellow belt.

Recieving the Yellow Belt.

More Conversations at our House

Me, pointing to Rhylan: "Who are you? What's your name?" (trying to teach him to say his name)

a bit of silence

Rhylan, patting his chest: "I, Cute!!"

Oh Geez, another ego. I don't know if we can handle another male with an ego around here......

Halloween.... it is finally over!

November is now here, and another year of Halloween festivities is just a memory.... until next year.

This past Tuesday, we met up with other members of my Mom's Group at another nursing home to have the children visit the residents. This was the first time that we had ever visited this home, and I think I will be arranging visits there again next year. (I organize the nursing home visits every year- it is just something that really means a lot to me.)

Here are 4 of our group's newest members getting ready to go on the Trick or Treat Parade.

Halloween Day Brayden had his class party at school, and wanted Rhylan (aka "Bubby") and me to join him. He decided to give the Fireman Costume a rest for that party, and instead dressed up as a Ghostbuster.

On our way home from his school, I had to stop at the store to pick up something- he was in luck, the grocery store was doing a "Monster Walk", so he was able to participate in that. Then we got home and got ready for trick or treating. We went with a couple of friends (and ran into a couple more!) to the recreation center and then to a local church.

It was a busy Halloween season, but Brayden really enjoyed it this year- and we had a lot of fun watching him having so much fun with all of the activities that he participated in.

I am not a fan of using this blog as a venue to draw attention to ailments or complaining. But, this is just too darn weird not to share!!

Our Halloween evening had actually not gone as planned, and we ended up at convenient care. When we went to get Brayden changed for the night, we noticed that he had HUGE welts on his legs. He had also had a reaction to a tattoo on his face (a picture of the tattoo can be seen in my post from the other day- the last picture, where he is with a couple of friends). It had started turning red around the tattoo, so I removed it with a little baby oil and a cotton ball a couple of days ago. The next day it was really red. The doctor noticed it when we were in for Rhylan's check up and said to keep an eye on it and come back in if it got any more red, inflammed, or any fever. Well, it was more red when I picked him up from school yesterday. So, we went to convenient care to play it safe before he was around anymore kids during trick or treating- and they really had no answers for us, other than he "probably" was allergic to some unknown thing, and again, if it gets worse to come back to the doctor.

This morning the welts were larger, and all over his body, his face looked worse, and he was running a low grade fever.... so, back we went. The doctor that we saw today was absolutely stumped! He called him a "dermatological mess". He is thinking that the welts are possibly severe hives, and the face is (as I suspect) a reaction to the tattoo, that he equated to a severe 2nd degree burn, that has become infected. It is weird though, because where the tattoo actually was is fine, it is the area around it that is affected- it looks like a rug burn, and then redness around that. (In the clear spot, you can clearly see the outline of the pumpkin shape that had been there- weird!) He isn't sure if the welts and the face are connected to one another, and doesn't know why they would be, but at the same time has no answers for them individually either. He prescribed a couple of different things, and we are keeping our fingers crossed that they work, and that Brayden is more comfortable soon. Poor little guy- Leave it to our family to have some crazy ailment that can't be figured out!