My IU Boys!

I realized today when I was looking for an outfit for Ethan to wear that I haven't seen him in a sleevless shirt yet. I always love when you can see their chunkies sticking out. I now know having Braden that their little baby fat goes away so quickly and they start looking like a big kid way too fast!! I put him in this little IU outfit that used to be Braden's which turned into Braden having to get his on too. I thought we needed these pictures of when they are little in case they get to wear the real uniform one day!! :)

Ethan today-8 1/2 months

Braden at 8 months in the same outfit :)

Both of my ball players...Ethan is getting into his defensive stance-hee hee

Funny boys

Memorial Weekend

This weekend was SO busy but also so much fun! On Friday night we went up to Hardy Lake and hung out with Chris' dad & Carol at their campsite. Braden isn't quite sure what camping is all about but he got to eat a lot of junk and run wild so he thinks he likes camping...even though he didn't spend the night. On Saturday morning I headed up to Bloomington for my friend Melissa's bachelorette party and didn't get home until 11:30 that night! It was great seeing so many high school girlfriends and hanging around the pool all day without kids!! Can you imagine? :) Then yesterday morning we got up and headed to Patoka Lake for the whole day. Nick, Jen & their kiddos came with us and then we ended up knowing a few other families on the lake too. It was a great weekend but I am completely whooped!!! Thankfully today we had nothing planned and I took advantage of a big, drooly nap.

The island was a hit again with so many kids. That's Ethan being held up by Chris. I "allowed" Ethan to be on the island or the boat but I'm not quite ready to let anyone hold him in the lake yet...scares me a BIT too much! :)

The McAfee's were boating too so swam on over for a visit

It was so hot everyone needed to get in for a swim

Ethan cooling off on the boat and having a drink :)

I couldn't resist that wrinkly foot from swimming. Ha!

Braden was big stuff yesterday...he didn't really want me this close. He kept pushing my hands away wanting to swim by himself.

Where are the kids? Jen and I pretended we were all alone laying out. Ha! We thought maybe they would all forget about us on the boat....that lasted about 4 minutes until we heard, "mommy, mommy, mommy."

Snacking

Yeah! We finally got to use our grill for the first time. Chris grilled some yummy steak and chicken! It will be hard to ever go back to PB&J sandwiches now. :)

Carson & Braden-Big boys swimming by themselves!

There always has to be some event boating...Braden had to poop SO bad that he was starting to cry and wanted to go home to "his toilet." So Chris tried to swim him to the bank thinking maybe he'd squat over there and go (yuck) if he had to go bad enough. Chris swam with wet wipes in his hat! Ha!

No such luck...Braden wouldn't go...he wanted his bathroom and I can't hardly blame him. What in the world did the other boaters think? Sheesh!

Event #2!!! I'm sure the picture already made your skin crawl!! I am still SOOOOO creeped out I can't stand it. This was towards the end of the day and was at the other end of the lake (not that these aren't everywhere). Thankfully we were not in the water! This brave creepy thing swam between boats across the lake like he owned the place...well I guess he does but I was scared to death just being in the boat! Chris assured me he couldn't get on the boat :) but I was still freaking out! From now on my swimming may consists of quick dips to cool off and jumping right back up to the nice safe boat!!!

Little artist

I saw this idea on a friend's blog (thanks Alicia) and thought Braden would really enjoy it. We got out the finger paints and he went to work. He kept working on his "rainbow" at the top which was one color on top of another color in one long line. :) He was so proud and it's now hanging in his room. I have another one all ready for Ethan to do as soon as he's ready to not eat the paints. :)

Boating...

Last Sunday the Lewis' followed us to Patoka to go boating. Let's just say the boating part was fabulous but that was only after several bumps in the road. :) If you've read Janelle's blog, then you already know this story but if you haven't, let me sum it up quickly for you. Basically as we got about 30 miles from home on our way to the lake, the tahoe just blew up (not literally but the motor did bite the bust). So we were on the side of the highway with two toddlers in swimsuits and no way to get to the lake (Ethan stayed home with Papa T & Mimi since it was going to be a long,hot day). Chris called his dad and his dad and the tow guy were on their way. In the meantime, Braden and I jumped in with the Lewis' and found a playground at a school in the middle of nowhere and played until Chris called us and was ready to go again. So back on the road again pulling the boat w/ Chris' dad's truck (thank goodness for Papa T-our hero!). :) Then when we got to the lake our friends Jen & Nick were having boat trouble so we had to go help them with our battery etc.. etc...SO after a few fiascos, we were on the water sweating our butts off but ready to have a good time and so we did!!

Braden & Jackson enjoying going fast

Chris thought we had to have this island for boating and I thought it was a bit big and excessive :) but boy was I wrong! It was a good purchase. :) The kids played in the middle and we lounged around...it even has a slide but we didn't have it hooked up yet in the picture. It was perfect on this hot day!

Tubing-this was so much fun! There was room for all 4 of us!

After boating the boys had to relieve themselves side by side and discuss the day's events. :)

Fun, fun day!

Today was one of those days that you realize how blessed you are to have an awesome family and just time together! Chris has been mowing like mad lately and the boys and I loved having him around all day today. After Braden's t-ball game we went to lunch with Papa T & Mimi and then we stopped by Sam's Club to peek around. It was our first time having the boys in the cart together. You can't tell based on this picture, but they had a lot of fun sitting together. :)

Then we headed home and the boys took naps while Chris and I washed and waxed my car and the boat. After naps, the boys were ready to play!
First the water table...Love those chunky legs

Big stuff standing up all by himself

We bought this slip-n-slide over a year ago and finally got it out today.

Braden was apprehensive but when he saw the neighbor kiddos wanting to get in on the action, he became interested too.

Chris had to give him a little boost (or a throw) to get him to actually go on his belly.

The whole gang...Braden either ran beside it or just ran down the middle...he wasn't into the whole belly flopping idea but the Rousters sure were!

I love this picture of Justin-too cute!

Tball pictures

Today was game #3 for the awesome White Sox (or the Bad News Bears) and also team picture day. I can't believe my little boy is big enough to have team pictures (tear!). They looked so cute! The other moms and I were being annoying and trying to snap pictures behind the professional until the guy had to actually ask us to stop because the kids were looking at us instead of the photographer. Oops! Don't they know we have blogs?? :)

Game time...Ethan hanging out with Papa T, Mimi, and Chris

One action shot for the day...throwing it home. Of course I took several more pictures but we still have 5 games to go so I'm trying not to overload the blog. :)

Yard Sale Time!

Tis the season for some serious deals!! Chris and I have been finding some great deals at neighborhood yard sales the last few Saturdays. Since we have t-ball, we only get out for about a half an hour but we have still managed to snag some great toys...not that we need ANY new toys at all, but they are such great deals. Braden is spoiled rotten and I'm not sure if he will need any Christmas or bday gifts after this season. :)

Chris bought this tractor this morning before the game...25 buckaroos and it works great. Now Braden can mow the grass too. Hee hee!

Two weeks ago we found this bike-$10! Love it...these suckers are at least $50 at Toys R Us. :)

Oh, the love of Buzz Lightyear in this house! I found this costume for $5 and Braden would sleep in it if I let him.

Gma Cindy found a real set of kid's drums! Braden has been dying for drums for over a year...not sure if I've been dying for them in the house but the boys (including Chris) have enjoyed jamming on them.

Ethan got a new jumparoo from a yardsale too but I still need to get a picture of him in it. He LOVES it and jumps like crazy. :) Like I said, these kids are spoiled rotten but these deals are hard to pass up. We just need to put away anything else fun we find for awhile and save them for a rainy day...or at least a holiday. :)

Peek-a-boo

Ethan and I were having a little peek-a-boo time underneath his play gym. I just love this boy's smiles and laughs!! So sweet. :)

Still trying to crawl...it's a lot like a swim right now. :)

Preschool

I haven't posted many pictures of Braden at school lately. :) I keep a preschool blog so I sometimes forget to put Braden's school stuff on here too. Last weekend was our annual trike-a-thon. This is such a blast! Unfortunately it was raining so we moved it into the gym at Floyds Knobs Elem. but it still turned out to be great. We had bike riding, bouncers, face painting, a balloonist, the bubble truck, tumble bus, and the popcorn going. Braden was in heaven with his buddies.

Chris gave Ethan a ride on the BIG trike.

Making some laps with his buddies

Gma Cindy & Pop were the popcorn makers. :)

Braden & I taking a spin...this is Braden's "I don't want to smile" face.

My wonderful teaching staff! We have grown SO much. I love all of these girls!!

This was not at the event but a picture from last week. This is the whole class. Doesn't Braden just blend right in with these 4 & 5 year olds? He is big stuff. :)