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

A Day at the Museum

The boys and I went to the Children's Museum in a near by city today, with some friends. They had a blast with all of the different exhibits (it is much larger than the little one we have here!), running around, and being with their good friends. I am so glad that we have finally broken down and gotten a membership to our museum, which allows us reciprocal visits to other Children's and Science museums throughout the country! I think we will totally get our money's worth- especially at the ages that the boys are, and how much Brayden is into science! (He is already asking for a trip to Chicago to go to Science and Industry, Field Museum, AND the planetarium as his only birthday gift this year!! All of which are included on our membership- so that alone will cover our cost, and probably even a hotel room!)


Rhylan painting on the paint wall

Brayden showing Rhylan how a ball can "float" if you line up the airflow the right way

Rhylan "shopping" in the grocery store exhibit

Brayden's "smiley face" pizza he made- just for me :)

I should have taken a picture of it, but didn't think about it.... this museum has an exhibit of a hospital nursery- and the babies were all in cloth diapers!! Woo Hoo! I thought that was pretty cool, and so did Brayden- I just hope that as we learn more about what we have done to our planet, it only becomes all the more mainstream. But hey, things like this are a step in the right direction for letting people know that they are out there, and how easy they are these days!

What's Up?!?!

I have really been slacking on keeping up on here like I used to (blame it on Facebook!). So, I just thought I would share a quick glimpse of what we have been up to!

Here are some shots from the boys' last Book Cooks class, which ended today. They love that class, but we have decided to enroll in other stuff for the summer, that will allow us to enjoy being outside!

Today's book was about Sunflowers, so what else would they "Cook", but Sunflowers?!?!

Rhylan "Cooking" his sunflower

Brayden showing his off

The finished product!! (Aren't they too cute?!?!)

And finally, the boys eating their work!

I have finished my semester, which means summer has officially begun at our house, and the boys are spending every minute they can outside. Rhylan will stand at the back door, rain or shine, yelling "Ow-Siiiieee!!!"- translation "Outside!!"- while pointing to the backyard. We have spent lots of time out there, and lots of time at various parks- often times with friends, or having picnics.

Enjoying an afternoon at the park

The boys' preschool had their picnic, finally, this week- after being rained out, and then the rain date getting rained out! It was really fun to meet other parents, watch the kids play, and try various foods that people had brought. Their school has a very diverse ethnic base, which equalled lots of yummy food!! I was able to catch a picture of Rhylan enjoying his time- but Brayden was off, doing what 5 year olds do, and running with his friends!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to chaperone a field trip for Brayden's class. I have never been able to do it before, because I am at work when he is at school. He was so excited to have his Mommy there, and had to sit next to me, both ways, on the bus. Ahhhh, I had better take it in and enjoy it now, that he is still proud to have me show up, not totally embarrassed!!

Here he is on his field trip to "Touch A Truck Day".

So, there you go- a short recap of what we have stayed busy doing lately! Never a dull moment around here. Looking forward to heading into the rest of summer!

Hippity Hoppity

Easter's On It's Way.....
And tonight our family started getting ready by baking some cookies and dyeing the eggs. The boys really got into it this year, and did it all by themselves with just a little supervision from Mom and Dad. We were really surprised at how much Rhylan not only enjoyed, but understood, what was going on.

After all the eggs were finished, and the mess was cleaned up, the cookies had cooled enough that they each got to have one before taking a bath. Yummmm.

Halloween Portrait

Our little "monsters" all ready for Halloween 2008

Fall Fun

Fall weather is finally here, and just in time to make our annual trip to the local orchard to pick our pumpkins for Halloween. I take the boys to the orchard fairly frequently to play, but this is always a special trip because Daddy comes with us, it's during the weekend- which means that there are lots of extra fun things to do like face painting, pony rides, and tractor rides. Brayden insists that there is no other place to even think about getting a pumpkin..... and I think Rhylan now agrees:

After picking our pumpkins, and spending an enjoyable afternoon at the orchard, we came home to decorate them. Rhylan did more licking of his pumpkin than decorating, but he enjoyed it- and that's all that mattered. (Right?) Brayden requested painting pumpkins again this year, rather than carving- and did a great job on his Space Pumpkin. (Are you surprised at the theme he chose?)

Brotherly Love

I am sure that all families that have a second child wonder how the older one is going to react to the new addition. I know we certainly did- I wondered if Brayden would be jealous, if he would act out for attention, if he would understand, if he would be good with the baby, etc. I can honestly say that in the 5+ months of him in his "new" role in life, as big brother to Rhylan, that we have been truly doubly blessed- a perfect, healthy baby, and a wonderful big brother! The boys absolutely adore each other. Brayden will run around the house being silly, and Rhylan will just watch him with such intensity and crack up laughing. Brayden has to be near his brother all the time- "reading" him stories, playing on the floor, "teaching" him things. It truly touches my heart to see so much love between them. (Don't get me wrong, I know that my time is coming- from the back of the van "Mommmmm, he's touching me", from the bedroom "Mommmmm, he is messing with my stuff", "He's hitting me", and the like! But for now, it is just so neat to see them interact.)

Here are a couple of shots of the boys playing on the floor together the other night:

Last night they took thier first bath together. Brayden was so excited to have "Bubby" in the tub with him - Daddy was excited to only have to give one bath instead of 2!