It's Derby Time

Rylan had his pinewood derby race for Cub Scouts and we are happy to say that he took a proud third place.




Rylan picked his design and color scheme and helped good ol' Dad put it all together. I'm pretty sure Spencer enjoys pinewood derby time as much as any of the cubs do. I hope he enjoys it just as much when he has to build three at once!


Way to be awesome Jake! We think you did great!

I Love It When He Sings

On Thursday was Bryan's spring concert. They had a switch in director's after the Christmas concert and all of the kids have had to make quite an adjustment including going from singing in a beautiful chapel to on risers in the school cafeteria. Bryan has had to work extra hard to be in the choir this year since his schedule got filled up with classes to help him pass his TAKS tests. (It payed off for science but we've got only one more shot at the math before graduation. Prayers please. Lots of them.) All the help classes combined with his required classes left him no room for any choirs but he worked with his friends and passed off his music with the director who lets him continue to sing with his Men's Ensemble group, the Varsity Mixed choir and even compete in the UIL competitions.


It's been a great gift to Bryan who loves to sing and is really talented at it.


It was the first time I've ever seen Bryan need his music though.


This is him surrounded by some of his best choir buddies.


Rylan loving on his big brother.


And of course the night ended with a photo op. He is so handsome. And big. It's hard to believe that in just 8 days this baby of mine will be 18. What a journey it's been for this Mom. I have loved him for almost two decades now. That's a long time and yet when I do something simple like touch the Easter basket he's had as a baby, it all comes rushing back. That little baby of mine.

A New One For Brayden

Brayden tried soccer before and it was not a good fit so when he said he wanted to try out baseball this year we figured, what the heck. Maybe this will be the sport that grabs him despite all the new rules to learn and LOTS of people who really are "watching him." It's interesting to see his brain in progress. You can tell he is intensely trying to soak it all in and does get a little frustrated with the other T-ballers who don't learn and follow all of the rules as quickly as he does but he swears he is
enjoying it. It's so cute to once again see such a little guy learn how to use his body that way.


Throw that ball!


Hit that ball!


Trap that ball!


But I have to admit that this is still his favorite part of the game. Ahhhh... the look and smell of red dirt flying through the air.
Here's to many more days of baseball for Brayden. We hope you love it!

Look What I've Got

This morning Haven came into my bed at 7:20 AM. Mind you, it is a Saturday which means they were all up late on Friday and SUPPOSED TO sleep in this morning! Mommy likes her Saturday sleep in. Waking up at 8:00, trying to push it to 8:30; that's almost heaven for me. But yesterday I made the mistake of telling the kids that we would be going to the park today for Trevan and Brayden's opening ceremonies. When she came in my room she was exclaiming that the sunshine was up so it was time to go to the park. I convinced her that the park trip was later and she should lay back down and go to sleep which... TADA it happened! So the first thing I figured out is that I must have some kind of magic cause Haven NEVER goes "back to sleep". But when she did this is what followed.
I hear her yell with a voice of amazement and a hint of worry, "THEY'RE MELTING!" I ignore that one cause dangit, I want to sleep! But then immediately following comes the explanatory and somewhat freaked out exclamation of "THE CATS!" This time I respond with a reassuring "Shhhh Haven it's OK." I don't know if I convinced her that she was OK or if the fact that cats are melting is OK but either way we all got to "sleep in" 'til 8:30. So the second thing I found out is that I got a sleep talker. So now not only does she talk all day but apparently she talks all night too! Sorry Payten.

The Firsts Of Many

This first picture is from back in January on Haven's first day of primary. She has that February birthday so she had been waiting a long time to "get to go to class with the big kids." It's not surprising that she loves it but it is somewhat surprising how well behaved she is. Haven is a talker. Everywhere. Every time. All the time. We are often amazed and bewildered by the fact that her little jaws and tongue don't just get sore from all the motion. It's one of the many reasons we love her! So here's to many more happy days in primary. Many many many more!


Haven had her first primary talk this past Sunday. Her topic was obeying her parents. She made up her own story about two girls named Kylie and Hannah who were having a play date together. Kylie's Dad told her not to take her new doll but she did anyways and then when Hannah was playing with her it broke and Kylie felt bad because she should have listened to her Dad. That's where the story ended when she practiced with me but Haven was enjoying her assignment so much that when I nudged her to get down from the microphone she said but "Mommy. I'm not done!' She continued with her story saying that "then Hannah and Kylie started fighting!" What the???? I had no idea where she was going with it and tried my best to persuade her to "tie up the loose ends" but Haven is difficult to persuade. To our amazement she finished up by saying that we have to listen to our Mommys and Daddys but we have to obey Jesus too who says "No fighting." Good girl Gracie. And here's to many more well prepared, practiced and insightful talks from our obedient four year old.



After church my photo shoot with Haven turned into a sisters photo shoot. So cute sisters.
Side note. I just spent 30 minutes getting the slideshow of these pictures perfect and it's being stupid. So here they are. One by one. Sorry.

I'm Telling Ya. They Walk All Over Us!

At least this time I mean it literally! It is one of the kids favorite times when Daddy comes home and needs a "back rub". The kids call it "popping Daddy's back". I call it... "At least I don't have to do it!"

100% Rylan

In Texas we have those standardized exams which most kids dread but not our Rylan. They practiced for weeks prior to the big day and he was excited for quite some time. Then the day of the test hit and he was 100% literally making himself sick with all of his fretting and worrying. "What if I don't pass it Mom? They won't ever let me into middle school if I don't." I kept reassuring him that he had absolutely 100% nothing to worry about and tried to get him back into the more common Rylan test taking role of "Tests are fun!"
It took two weeks for the scores to come back and TA DA! Rylan got a 100%! He is a 100% awesome kid who sets such a good example for his brothers and sisters about working hard and sticking to it. We are 100% proud of you for all you do and all you are! Love you!

Already?

So Spring Break officially began as the boys were released from school Friday afternoon. Just a short 24 hours later we were already in the ER.
This is Brayden's second trip to the ER. He went for stitches when he was just two years old. From that trip we learned that
"windows are not doors." From this trip we learned that monkeys really should not be jumping on beds!



So he has a total of five stitches in his little shin. Two under the surface and three on top. He is very proud of his ID bracelet and was upset that I did not show everyone his red NKA band around his ankle! I have to insert what an incredibly tough guy he was/is. He has an extremely high tolerance to pain and doesn't generally show a variety of emotion but I thought maybe strange places with lots of strange people would bring out some water works if not the actual needle sewing through his skin! He was far too fascinated with all of the new computers and intriguing equipment to be bothered by the pesky pokeys. (Plus Mom had the ever trusty orange starbursts on hand.)


And I think Payten was feeling a little left out on all the "ouchy" attention Brayden was getting. What do you think?


I really enjoy having one on one time with the kids. We try to keep up with that but it is very hard. On this trip with Brayden I got to listen to him talk and talk about what ever his little heart desired which always makes for interesting conversation. This time on the way home from the ER was he telling me about his incredible memory. The time we went camping when he was two and there was a big radio tower he could see from our tent. The green truck we used to have. (when he was three.) All of the old appliances we've ever had. He's such a funny quirky guy. :) He was telling me about how he can close his eyes and just see pictures of everything. Ahhh... I guess that's how he does it! Then he started telling me how he can still remember his Nana and Rachael but that he misses them very much. That is the first time Brayden has shown or verbalized any feelings about the situation. I asked him if he wanted to call them and this is how the rest of the conversation went.
Brayden says, "No thanks."
I say, "Talking to people on the phone can help you not miss them so badly and help you to always remember them."
"That's OK Mom. I don't really like to talk on the phone much. Besides, I won't forget them. You know how Nana said to do those hugs like these." (wrapping his arms around his own body and squeezing tight imagining you were getting a Nana hug. Pretend is not Brayden's fortei.) " Well. I don't have to do that because I can just close my eyes and see her."
Must come in handy.

Oh Brother

Rylan has been growing up so much lately in so many ways. One of the fun parts is seeing him take to his "Big Brother" role with smiles ands laughter. I remember always wishing I had a big brother. They just seemed like they were fun to play with but very protective too. (At least from the ones I had seen.) This is just one of those times when I got to stop and think... so cute. I think Haven is loving her big brothers.

Play Ball

Bryan loves playing church basketball and as every Mormon person knows, we can barely insert the word "church" in there with a straight face. I think I still do it more to describe where the games and practices actually take place but also as some kind of last ditch effort to convince ourselves and others that it is just some guys getting together to play some ball in a happy friendly atmosphere where everyone is so kind and forgiving at all times. NO NO NO. We all know better! "Church basketball" is where Bryan has severely sprained his ankle and received countless bloody noses. I believe it is also where my brother broke his hand so badly only surgery could repair the damage. (right Aaron?) Let me sum up by saying that Bryan and the others take this game very seriously no matter where it is played.


Playing hard has paid off for our boys. They are 8-1 for their season and will be playing for the championship of two stakes this coming Thursday.


This past Thursday was the first game I got to go to this season. (Bryan drives himself and the others this year.) ;) When we got there the official score keeper who is there for all the games every week said to me, "Oh you are Bryan's Mom! I love that boy. He is such a sweet heart. I love that whole team. I love all the boys but I really love Canyon Lake. They are a group of great boys!" She went on and on and on about all the reasons she adored our boys. What gets better than that? In the championship game by playing hard but earning the reputation for being the boys who upheld their standards and integrity while doing it! GO CANYON LAKE! Here's looking to Thursday and a lifetime of compliments like those!

(This shot is for those of you who keep commenting on his blue "Get Lost" t-shirt. This is the back!)

And as Bryan's basketball season comes to a close, we have Trevan right behind him opening up his baseball season.


Trevan loves baseball. I tried to convince all of my boys to play the same sport so I wouldn't be pulled in so many directions but soccer is Rylan's thing, basketball is Bryan's and baseball is Trevan's. He has got so many natural abilities in the sport that it comes more easily for him than for others and he's really good at it too. He also has the drive to learn everything about it so that he can be the best.


He is the first to be in "ready position", the first to hustle everywhere (everyone watches him and laughs as he runs around the bases because it's so funny to see such a little guy run so fast!), and plays "belly button ball" at all costs. He's taken several balls to the arm, gut, leg and head just to keep it in front of him. And we are happy to report he has yet to cry about any of it! After all... There is no crying in baseball!



We are excited for his first game and can't wait to see .... MORE BALL!

Meet Chewchi

And there there were five. Can you believe we have five dogs! As a friend pointed out... that is almost one per child. (Thanks Clark.)



Sooooo..... Chewchi is 100% Rylan's dog. As everyone knows, Rylan was having an extremely difficult time with Nana, Grandpa and Rachael moving to Washington. The timing for a friend to offer up one of her baby weiner dogs couldn't have been better. Without a doubt, I know that this little creature has kept Rylan's heart in one piece as it gives him something tangible to hold onto and love and loves him right back. It keeps his mind on someone who needs him and Rylan is doing an awesome job at keeping up with all the gazillion responsibilities that come along with a puppy. He wouldn't let anyone else hold him for days and then he had to go to school. As he left that morning he held his Chewchi (named by Rylan himself) up into his face and said "I'll miss you so much but I promise I will be back so soon. And I won't be that far away. Just right down the road. When I get back you will see that I keep my promises." I knew what he was drawing those emotions from. He misses his Nana beyond words.


And as you can see, Chewchi is getting along great with the others.


When Rylan goes to school he leaves Haven "in charge." Haven takes her job even more seriously than Rylan. The poor puppy hardly gets to walk the whole time Rylan is gone because Haven carries him everywhere.


But at night it is whoever is on the couch that gets the night time cuddles. This time it happened to be Payten. (Oh. I mean Snow white!)


But it's always back to Rylan. It's amazing how this little guy knows exactly where and with whom he belongs. I think he knows that Rylan needs him just as much as he needs Rylan.

Big Boy Brayden

It finally happened. We cut off Brayden's "floppy yellow hair". I'll be the first to tell you that it was far more traumatic for me than for anyone else. Brayden let me know it was time and in my heart I knew he was right but my goodness.... it was the thing that kept him looking like my baby boy. Here's one last look at the cuteness of my little guy Brayden.



And here he is now. (Minus his two front teeth!)


Doesn't he look so big? Handsome for sure and so big right? After all... how long can a Mom expect her big guy to sport the bowl cut willingly?
Big guy... whatever. He's stuck being my baby boy forever! Big boy haircut and all!